Spells to Keep a Ghost or Send Them Away.

Thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia, ghosts were considered the spirits or souls of the living who could cause harm to the living if sacrifices were not made to appease the ghosts. Over 2,500 years in ancient Egypt, Egyptians believed in the existence of an afterlife and even the possibility of a second death. Most cultures have a belief in ghosts or the soul/spirit of a deceased person.

The descriptions of the ghosts range from an invisible presence, translucent, shapes that change form like smoke to life-like versions of the dead. When a witch, gypsy or other pagan like a medicine man attempt to summon the dead spirits, that is known as necromancy. The ritual may be called a séance, a spell or many other names, but the desire is the same...raise the dead to make contact.

For centuries, witches, wizards, gypsies and others have been paid to communicate with the dead. Ghosts are known to haunt certain locations, ordinary objects and people they knew in life. On a grander scale, there have been reports across the globe of phantom ships at sea, ghostly trains that rumbled by on broken tracks and ghost animals.

Some places or homes that have experienced a great violence, tragedy, murder or suicides have been called haunted. Supernatural activity by ghosts or spirits who become lost or confused after death may fail to pass to the other side. Often an experienced medium is asked to cleanse the home or place of a ghostly presence.

If you want to live with the spirits in your home, honor them with incense, candles and say this chant three times.

Spirits of my home, you shall live,
In every chamber my light I give,
To every corner my breath I send,
This home I share you may attend.

To rid yourself of a haunting presence use this method on Samhain (Halloween).

The presence that stands upon the stairs
The unseen hands that move the chairs.
The lights that play across the wall,
The stains that stay, the plates that fall,
The mist, the chill, the wandering scents
This gentle spell must speed them hence.
At midnight, set a table neat,
With cup and plate, and wine and meat,
Invite the ghost to sit and feast,
As any host should urge a guest.
Presently, clear the meal away,
Then open the door and softly say-
"Quick or dead, thou art fed,
Cease to grieve and take thy leave"
Bid him depart but should he remain
Be calm, take heart and feast him again.

Summoning A Ghost

I've researched the family Book of Shadows for spells that will summon ghosts, poltergeists or spirits. I found two very old entries; one from a great, great aunt. My aunt wanted to speak with her recently deceased husband who'd hidden their money and she couldn't find his hiding spot. Her spell was easy enough and I'll describe her incantation below, but I want to caution you as she cautioned any family members who came upon the entry. . .DO NOT ATTEMPT this or any spell to summon the dead until you've mastered and created a protection spell from spirits with evil intent.

To see or summon the spirits inside a home or cemetary, Grimoires suggest the following incense mixture. (A grimoire is a textbook of magic to create or learn about magical talismans, amulets, magical spells, charms, divination and summoning entities like angels, spirits, or demons.

1. Create your circle.

2. Mix together aloe, pepper, musk, vervain, and saffron as a burning incense. If you know the person, add a bit of their perfume, aftershave, favorite flower, or their preferred tobacco when they were alive to attract their attention.

3. Use symbolic items to connect you to the entity. Their hair brush, car keys, comb or toothbrush would do nicely.

Use this incantation to bring the spirit to you.

I call the guardians of the Spirit World to hear my plea.
Guide me in this hour to bring ____ to me.
Those I do not call are not welcome in this place.
Only the soul known as _____ may enter this sacred space.

Repeat three times every ten minutes until you feel their presence in the room. This takes time and mental focus. You may feel their touch, their scent, a breeze upon your face or the candles may flicker. Now is the time to say your peace, ask your question or say goodbye. Once you've finished, remember to thank the guardians for guiding you.

A notation was written at the bottom of the incantation. . .my great, great aunt found the money in a sealed pipe in the basement. I guess my uncle never got around to fixing the plumbing.

Talisman & Amulets for Protection

Pagans of many faiths wear jewelry called "talismans" or "Amulets" for protection. These bits of jewelry are Charged for protection using charms and powerful spells.

An Amulet or Talisman is a piece of jewelry or trinket used to protect someone or attract that which one desires such as love, money or wisdom. There is a difference between an Amulet and a Talisman. The Amulet is charged when the moon is Waning and Talisman is charged when the moon is Waxing.

From my families Book of Shadows...Here is a simple way to Consecrate and Charge a Talisman or Amulet. This easy, but powerful method avoids a complicated procedure, specifying a particular day, planetary hour with Celestial beings that belong to that one planetary hour. If you are doing a more detailed consecration, use the specific metals that correspond to the energy you desire to invoke. Remember to have a relaxed, clear mind and always practice white magick. Release all fear and thoughts of revenge when you invite the Goddess inside you.

Light a protective mix of incense or whatever calms you, as an offering to the Goddess. Now place your chosen Amulet or Talisman on the altar Pentacle.

Sprinkle the Amulet/Talisman with salt.
I consecrate you with the element of Earth.
Pass the Amulet/Talisman through the incense.
I consecrate you with the element of Air.

Pass the Amulet/Talisman through candle flame.
I consecrate you with the element of Fire.

Sprinkle the Amulet/Talisman with water.
I consecrate you with the element of Water.

Pick up the Amulet/Talisman, and hold it up high for the Goddess to behold.
You are now consecrated in the name of the The Goddess

Place the Amulet/Talisman back on altar Pentacle.
Place your hands over the Amulet/Talisman.
Visualize a Brilliant light & energy pouring down into the Amulet/Talisman.

I charge this Amulet/Talisman to serve as protection
for I (your name or magickal name) am a servant of the Goddess.

I charge this Amulet/Talisman by the Goddess
I charge this Amulet/Talisman by the virtues of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
I charge this Amulet/Talisman by the Elemental powers of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and the Spirit.
I declare this Amulet/Talisman now all empowered with the Energies of the Universe in which I have invoked.
By the name of the Goddess, you are now charged!
So mote it be!

Your Amulet or Talisman is now ready to use, keep it close to your body at all times.

Doppelganger, Poltergeist and Ghost...Oh, My!

Doppelganger is a German term for "double walker". Some gypsies call the double a "fetch" or a "waft". Some Wiccans call this occurrence of seeing oneself an "etheric double" or a "wraith".

If you believe in doppelgangers then everyone on earth has a spirit double somewhere. There is an old superstition that if you see your doppelganger, you will die.

The famous Goethe believed he saw his doppelganger while out riding. Goethe didn't die for many years, but years later he realized he was wearing the same clothing as his doppelganger years before. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley allegedly saw his double and died from drowning shortly after seeing the apparition.

Poltergeist is a "noisy spirit" that goes bump in the night...or day. This physical manifestation can be harmlessly annoying or deadly. In the scientific world, Poltergeists are generally portrayed as malevolent, disruptive, mischievous, and unusually noisy and unwelcome entities.

This type of paranormal activity has been reported since Medieval times, and to this day scientists debate the causes of Poltergeist activity occurrences. Characteristic activities may include flying objects, foul odors, loud noises, banging, pounding, unexplained electrical light activities, to apparitions.

Ghosts are considered the spirit of the dead, capable of becoming visible apparitions like wispy smoke, a translucent form, or a realistic life-like vision. The deliberate attempt to contact the spirit of a deceased person is done by a necromancer, or through a séance.

Regardless of labels, it is clear that every culture has a word for the supernatural beings. The synonym spooky is a Dutch loan word, akin to Low German spôk (of uncertain etymology); it entered the English language via the United States in the 19th century. Alternate words in modern usage include spectre (from Latin spectrum), the Scottish wraith (of obscure origin), phantom (via French ultimately from Greek phantasma.

Here is a Amulet/Charm Blessing that can protect you from the mischievous ghosts and other things that haunt you.

1. Hold the chosen amulet or charm between your hands.
2. Visualize a blue light of protection around your body.
3. Once you've achieved a full body bubble of light, you're ready.

I instill blue light, love and life
I give you plan, purpose and sight
Raise a shield to protect me
So mote it be, do as I ask of thee

Wear this charm or amulet at all times.

Herbal Protection From Evil Spirits

Herbs are used in magick for their "vibrations" or "essences". It is believed by many cultures that Herbs have gender, are ruled by a planet, an element, and are often sacred to a God or Goddess. This is known in Wicca as the herbal correspondence and an important element in Wiccan Magick Spells.

Growing and nurturing herbs in your own magickal garden can give you the advantage of your own energy infused into the plant. Angelica, ruled by the Sun, will then have all of the influence of the Sun and fire, along with your personal energies.

Wiccan Ways to use Herbs

Charms and sachets - Fill a small bag, of the correct color or material, with herbs to make a charm or sachet. You can carry the charm with you, hang it in the house or car, or bury or burn it, depending on the purpose, and the spell you are performing.

Incense - Herbs can be burned as a ritual incense, such as the sage smudge used to clear negative vibrations from a space.

Bath - Make a sachet, and place it in your ritual or healing bath. Fragrant herbs like lavender make a very relaxing bath, and you can use certain herbs to alleviate skin and other conditions, such as using eucalyptus in a bath when you have a cold or flu.

Oils - Place herbs in an oil, let them steep for a few days, then strain. You can make annointing oils for you ritual work, beauty oils for your hair, skin and nails (try coconut or jojoba), or flavor oils for cooking and seasoning, such as steeping rosemary in olive oil.

Teas - Use herbs to make teas for healing illness. Some herbs can be used to mildly alter consciousness, such as valerian or kava kava which can facilitate trance like states.

Smoking - You can make herbal smoking mixtures which will also facilitate altered states of consciousness.

In spellwork, herbs can be sprinkled or placed around or within boundaries (such as your home, altar, or magick circle) defining a "territory" for your magick to work. You can also use flavorful herbs in cooking and seasoning your food. There are many healthful benefits, and they taste great! Always give all plant life respect, wherever you are- remember, the word "weed" is simply a value judgment!

Dandelions have many healing and nutritional qualities which are not only beneficial to wildlife, but you as well! Learn to recognize the herbs around you-even in a city.

There are many wonderful herbs growing wild that you can gather and use for warding off evil spirits. No one knows exactly why certain herbs will ward off evil, but when used alone or in a powerful combination, herbs are a great weapon. Whether the scent or potency of the herb the Celtics, Wiccans and Gypsies used these gifts from mother nature for thousands of years. According to my gypsy journals and Wiccan Book of Shadows, if you're having bad dreams, dealing with evil intent or have a less-than cooperative manifestation--try the herbs below. This is NOT a complete list, but an easy start to give you the protection you seek now.

Aloe - Guards against evil spirits and accidents
Angelica - Protection from evil spirits, can be used in exorcism
Boneset - Use this powerful herb to ward of evil spirits
Caraway - Protect against evil spirits, attract a mate, and a bag of caraway seeds in a child's bed can protect from disease
Fennel - Protection, ward of evil spirits, purification and healing
Foxglove - Grow in your garden to protect your home
Garlic - Protection, exorcism, healing
Hazel - Protection against the dark side
Majoram - Used in straka, this herb protects the home and chases evil spirits away when sprinkled.
Nettle - Removes curses, protects from evil, and can be used in purification baths (cook first to remove sting).
Pure Salt - Very powerful in protecting the home and against unwanted demons.
Vervain - Great for personal protection and exorcisms.
Violet - Carry this flower to protect against evil and bring good luck your way.
Willow - The willow wood makes an excellent wand, branches make excellent besoms. Carry the leaves to guard from evil and use in moon magick. Drink willow tea to purify your body.
Wintergreen - Used to protect children against evil when left under their pillows at night.