Simple Personal Protection Magic

Originally published October 12, 2021, on Tumblr.

Personal protection doesn't have to be complex or difficult. I rarely do any kind of elaborate working to cast protections over myself and my energy. Instead, over the years, I've adapted the mundane everyday activities in my life into a net of protection that I naturally renew every day or so.

Here are some of the things I do to protect my energy every day:

My dresser and closet are warded and charmed so that I can easily choose an item and activate the protection of every item I put on. (I'll publish a post about the method for charming a piece of furniture at some point.)
When I add sugar and milk to my coffee, I am adding sweetness and richness to my day. Before I drink it, I offer the first taste to my house spirits in return for their protection for the day. (You could do this with your deities, ancestors, etc.)
If I'm looking for a boost to my protections for the day, I'll have a hearty breakfast to keep my energy up. This usually includes eggs, toast with peanutbutter and a jelly of some kind, and turkey bacon since these are things I associate with a good day and extra energy. You can replace these with whatever you like as long as you're cooking and eating with the intent of protection and boosting your energy.
Greet the house plants and rub the leaves of the plants whose energy I would like to carry with me (usually this is rosemary, basil, and the spider plants for me).
I rarely leave the apartment without a hat on. As I choose one (to match my outfit, of course, but also to match my mood and goals) and put it on, I will trace a circle around it and activate the same protection that my other clothes hold. This is my version of veiling; you can use scarves, headbands, bandanas, sunglasses, or even the hood of a jacket or hoodie to the same effect.
The best defense, in my opinion, is a good offense. When I know I'm going to be around someone I can't stand or who has a history of invading my boundaries, I'll carry a nail or screw that's been anointed with something spicy - often pepper-infused oil or spicy pickle juice, since that's usually what I have on-hand - to mark myself as “Not An Easy Target, Asshole” and repel their efforts. I recently added an anointed clothespin to my favorite denim jacket that's holding a patch in place (a heart that says “nope”) for the same effect.
To help absorb extra energy, especially in crowded environments, carry something absorbant. Usually this is a piece of kitchen sponge for me, but you could do this with a small potato also, a la @lazywitchling! {Note, 4/25/2025: Jes has a Neocities website over here!}
I don't wear perfume, but I will occasionally make a simple herbal spray to spritz my coats and shoes with protective energy. I have a recipe for this coming soon!
Speaking of shoes, to give myself another boost of protection, I'll place a sigil in the bottom of my shoe. This could be a piece of paper or a pencil drawing directly on the inside, depending on the shoe.

These are just the everyday things. It's important to me that I use what's around me in my home so that I bring a little bit of home with me everywhere I go. It's my main source of comfort and power as a hearth witch.