Shielding, grounding and centering are basic magic techniques that every Pagan must be able to master, from the freshest “newbie” to the most seasoned high priestess. You’re going to need to shield yourself in religious situations such as a large ritual circle or group meditation, where energy can run freely. You definitely must use shields during a big outdoor gathering, especially a conglomerate of other magic-users. After all, we project our energy as a matter of course. It certainly doesn’t hurt to shield yourself during business meetings, whether it’s for your coven’s holiday planning session or your professional career.In some Earth Religious traditions, it’s up to the ritual leader to shield all the participants within the ceremony. Those with magical experience may be responsible for protecting individuals who cannot shield themselves because of a temporary or permanent incapacitation. (These people may include little children, pregnant ladies, elders and those with catastrophic illness.) Wiccan clergy are often responsible for creating a sacred space and protecting everyone within it. This could be why the traditional Witches’ coven only has thirteen members. Shamanic guides must help to facilitate their students’ journey during a trance state. This might be the reason that shamanic work is often done one-on-one or in small numbers within a ritually cleansed lodge. Yet during community meetings or in the midst of huge Pagan gatherings, it is not possible for the leaders to control all the energy of large numbers of people. Therefore it’s up to each individual to learn how to shield. Here are a few suggestions:
Using Crystals: Stones, gems, and crystals have long been utilized by magic-users to “ground” or “earth” disruptive energies. Some good grounding stones include jasper, quartz, hematite, and malachite. A crystal can act as a lightning rod, which attracts a charge and channels it safely into the earth. Hold the stone in your hand, place your feet on the earth (or the floor, if it’s connected to the earth… if you’re in a vehicle sometimes this doesn’t work, as there is rubber or plastic between you and the ground). Envision the stone collecting any baneful vibrations and sending them down into the earth. As the energy is grounded, it becomes stable and harmless.
Plain quartz can collect energies and neutralize them, while sending them “out” rather than “down”. Hematite is great for mellowing anger. Other stones and gems can collect and change the focus of energy. Two excellent sources on the use of crystals and stones, available from Llewellyn, are “Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic”, by Scott Cunningham, and “Crystal Awareness”, by Catherine Bowman. The latter includes a description of how to cleanse your gemstone after its ritual use.
A note – energy is energy is energy; in and of itself it’s neither “good” nor “bad”. Just like electricity can be used to power your toaster vs. a lightning bolt that blasts the tree… it must be channelled properly to prevent it from causing harm to any given individual ... read more ...
