. . . Practical Magick for Precautions and Protections

As the witching community responds to the increasing threat of Coronavirus, I’m seeing a lot of protections spells and rituals being shared. As a witch, I’m proud that our community comes together in trying times, for the good of all. Let’s all take a moment to be grateful for that. Then, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Simple witchcraft is practical magick, combining the magickal with the mundane. Here are some practical magick tips for keeping yourself, loved ones and community safe.

STAY HOME

If you don’t have to go out for work, stay home. Limit shopping to essential needs only. Witches are familiar with the power of the unseen, and the magic of transference. We know we can send and receive something as etheric as energy. So of course we understand how a living organism, a virus, can travel by casual physical contact, regardless that it can’t be seen.

This might be the easiest protocol for witches to follow, and I’m not talking about the stereotype of witches being mostly introverts. Even the most extroverted witches who have done shadow work, know themselves. We are comfortable with ourselves and not intimidated by the idea of spending time isolated from others. We don’t need the distraction of a busy social schedule to keep us from the truth, because we seek the truth every day.

CREATE A BARRIER

Of course we are all creating energetic boundaries. I personally have cast a circle around my home and loved ones, called on Earth to absorb the virus and transform it into something harmless, for Air to feed the Fire that will burn and purify the cells of the virus, rendering it harmless, and for Water to cleanse Mother Earth and all Her living creatures.

It might also be wise to offer contrition and ask forgiveness of Earth and Nature for the damage we have caused. There are many spells and rituals being shared throughout the community, like this prayer to Brigid from Martha Kirby Capo and this immunity boosting sigil from Laura Tempest Zakroff.

Don’t overlook mundane cleaning of your home and spaces before, during, and after setting your magical boundaries.The best information currently available is that plain bleach (the original, not any of the scented options), has the greatest efficacy for killing this virus. Having worked in food service, this makes sense to me; we were required by health department regulation to have a solution of bleach and water for wiping down all surfaces in the kitchen, prep areas, and the seating and tables in the dining area.

The proper ratio is 1/3 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water OR 2 tablespoons bleach per 1 quart water. This will give you a 1000+ ppm disinfecting solution. After cleaning the area with your favorite cleaning solution, spray or wipe with surfaces with the disinfectant. Make sure to allow surfaces to fully air dry. Do not mix bleach with any other cleaners—it creates toxic fumes that will overcome you quicker than you think and cause serious damage to the respiratory system. The safest practice is to not mix any cleaning products.

For similar reasons, I wouldn’t recommend adding essential oils to bleach, as they have their own volatile qualities. However, you can still magick up your disinfectant solution with fresh herbs or dried. I have a profusion of mint from my garden and often add that to cleaning water. Lemon rind is also a favorite. Both have magickal properties of cleansing and purifying. And let’s be honest, a little luck never hurts so I toss in a few whole cloves. I also add sage as an offering to Goddess energy. In this case, I would appeal specifically to the Mother Nature archetype.

MAINTAINING INTEGRITY

I’ve cleaned my home and vehicles and consider them safe zones. In a mundane manner, maintaining integrity means keeping those spaces as germ-free as possible. If there is any reason to let others into my home or vehicles, I have hand sanitizer and sanitizing spray (you know, the one that says it kills 99.9 percent of germs). In my house, I ask them to remove their shoes and I spray those. I ask them to use the hand sanitizer. I have masks available, but honestly, if they are coughing or displaying other symptoms of illness, I’m probably not going to invite them into my spaces. My husband is in a high risk group, with chronic respiratory conditions already, and I’m a crone over 60.

If I must leave my home for groceries or other necessities, I take sanitized wipes with me to use when opening doors, or I wear disposable gloves. If you’ve been unable to purchase gloves, wear cotton or others that you can wash regularly (simply soak them in your bleach solution, rinse, and dry).

When I return to my car I sanitize my hands and every surface I’ve touched—and even those I may not have. If I can reach it, I’ll wipe it down. At home, I wash my hands immediately, then sanitize the door handle, faucet and handles and anything else I may have touched. I spray my shoes and leave them in the entry way (it’s still quite cold where I live, dipping below freezing at night—so, germ killer). I wipe down any products I’ve brought in. I have a friend who sets his purchases by his woodstove where the heat will kill the virus—I can’t say if that works or not.

Maintaining the integrity of my safe zones magically means regular, thoughtful practice. including recharging my intentions and the magickal energy I’ve called on. I like to do this by smudging with sacred herbs. Incense, herbs, and herbal or essential oil mists (if you or others are sensitive to smoke) all work as well. I make a mist with filtered water, adding a few sage leaves, and essential oils of lemon grass, rosemary, lavender and mint.

Whether you use sacred smoke or mist, light a candle, or simply ground and center, appeal to the energies of your choosing to hold your home and personal spaces in protection from illness and harm. I don’t perform this ritual every day, just as often as I feel called.

HYGIENE

Wash your hands, frequently and thoroughly. Any good soap will do, but antibacterial provides an extra boost. There are many infographics and memes out there to help you establish a routine of thoughtful hand-washing for a minimum of 20 seconds. I’ve uploaded one I created at the end of this article. Feel free to pin and share on your social media accounts.

Hand washing is an excellent place to add your magick by including protection and cleansing herbs in commercial hand-wash liquid. Or if you’re a really crafty witch, making your own soap with desired herbs and magick. And remember that your hands are magickal tools, they receive and send energy! Call in protection and healing.

According to experts, hand sanitizer is best reserved for times when soap and water are not available. I keep a small bottle in each vehicle, and one in my purse (and of course the one I offer for use by those visiting my home). If you can’t find hand sanitizer to purchase, you can make it. Here is a simple recipe.

I made a more skin friendly version using a basic, generic hand lotion and adding the rubbing alcohol. Remember, use just enough of the carrier (lotion, witch hazel, aloe gel, K-Y if you can’t find aloe,) to give some viscosity to the alcohol. Make it magickal with additions of essential oils. I prefer tea tree, frankincense, and myrrh all of which have purported antiviral properties along with their magical energy.

Much of what I’v read regarding the novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, indicates that the virus enters through nose or mouth, and replicates first in the throat. It’s been suggested that gargling and the use of zinc lozenges can help to minimize that replication by slowing, lessening (or possibly preventing) significant proliferation in the lungs.

As a witch, I put great stock in my family’s traditional remedies. I searched everywhere in stores and online for my mother’s standby mouthwash when we had colds, Cepacol. It was out of stock everywhere. I did however, find Dr. Tichenor’s Mouthwash Concentrate & First Aid Antiseptic in a local chain pharmacy. The super-concentrated formula is meant to be cut with water. I just made a strong concoction and have been gargling with it daily. If you do this, be sure to gargle only, don’t swallow.

If you can’t find a good, antiseptic mouthwash, the effective ingredients are quite basic, high-proof alcohol and some form of menthol or mint. A good bottle of 80 proof vodka, cold steeped with mint will serve well. If you don’t abstain from alcohol, you can swallow this one without harm! Preferably in a cocktail glass over ice—practice moderation, though.

Add the magickal to your mundane concoctions in whatever ways you normally would. I like to call for the support of the elements, along with the energy or spirit of any ingredients and herbs I work with. Call them forth, ask for their physical efficacy and their magickal energy to ward the virus and protect you from illness and harm.

NUTRITION

As an herbal witch, I put great stock in healthy nutrition to build immunity, as a lifestyle, not only in an emergency. However, there are remedies you can employ to now to give your immune system a boost.

Vitamin C: Natural sources are best, like citrus fruit and many fruits we think of as tropical—cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries, also cranberries, sweet peppers, dark green veggies like kale and broccoli. However, now would be a good time to consider supplements. Vitamin C is non-toxic and water soluble, so safe to take increased amounts. Prepared doses such as those in products like Emergen-C or Airborne are easy to take daily.

Elderberry Syrup: Widely available commercially now, it’s quite easy to make your own elderberry syrup. I buy the dried berries in bulk and make up a large batch each cold and flu season. But elderberries, along with other antiviral ingredients, are in short supply in this crisis.

Luckily, they are not the only berry to offer immune boosting properties. Sour cherries (you can probably purchase them canned or frozen), and cranberries (look for frozen) offer support. Don’t forget that you can get many of these berries and other antioxidants, and anti-viral herbs in commercial teas—a lesser known source that may not be in short supply yet due to hoarding.

Some information suggests that viruses have a cold nature and should be countered with hot energies. Fire Cider is excellent for this, including many herbals that are hot both literally and energetically, but that also have anti-viral energies. A simple google search will turn up many recipes. Most will recommend cold steeping for up to six weeks. To hasten that, I heated up my vinegar before adding to the other ingredients. I steeped for a few days before straining.

Once again, whether using commercially prepared remedies or making your own, give them a magical boost by calling to the energies and infusing your intentions of protections and healing.

MAGICKAL ALLIES

If you work with gods/goddesses, spirits, daemons, or animal allies, now is the time to call them to your purpose. I have a panther spirit that’s been with me since childhood. I won’t reveal the details of how or where I’ve put this spirit to work. I have been told by those trying to approach me energetically for healing purpose, and who had no idea this spirit resides with me, that there was a large and menacing cat keeping them away. So definitely appeal to your allies for protection.

FEEDING THE ENERGY

As witches, we know that we are connected to all living things through the universal life force. The energy we send out is the energy that multiplies. Resist generating unnecessary fear and doubt—instead shape your precautions around respect for the power of another living entity. Consider too, that you are already energetically connected to the virus through the web and therefore have influence.

Fully protect yourself from receiving its harmful effect, but also send healing to it. Remember that viruses mutate—another form of transformation. Send healing energy believing that the virus can transform into something harmless to other life. A seven day candle spell would be good for this kind of magic, and the new moon would be an excellent time to begin it.

In the same vein of being mindful of what you send out, please do not share and promote conspiracy theories, woo-woo or not. This is a virus generated out of the natural world which functions supremely well to protect itself. This is not a partisan attempt, on the part of any political party or faction, to keep or gain control, enact martial law or usher in socialism, to destroy the economy, or to reduce population. And it’s not aliens.

This is an act of nature. Call it Mother Earth if you want, but She is doing her best to shake what has become a threatening parasite off her back—humankind. If you want to convince others of things that are hard to believe, convince them of that. Convince them that if and until our parasitic actions stop, we may subdue this virus, but there will be another. There will be more fires, more floods, more droughts, because Mama Earth knows that if She can rid Herself of the rapidly multiplying human virus that is threatening to kill Her, she will recover quite nicely.

Feel free to pin and share this helpful hand-washing aid I created.