Grounding and shielding

[Mariposa De La Luna]

We had an interesting workshop/discussion on grounding and shielding at our Pagan Pride day this past weekend. I had heard about it before but the demonstration has peeked my interest.

So I was wondering who practices grounding and shielding and who doesn't and why? And if you do, and you want to share, what is your shield?

[Myst]

There's a thread on how to shield and various shields in here somewhere, you might try searching for it to see what some ppl have said...

I ground and shield a lot... can be very useful if you're in a crowd or a bad situation... I always had a shield about me at school (big crowds).. and I wish I'd had a chance to shield myself Saturday night... there was lots of negative energy floating around in Circle and I (and another friend) ended up physically sick from it...

If you find yourself often becoming sick or uneasy around certain ppl or situations I think you should really try shielding...

[Wyrdsister]

Originally posted by Willow Raven
... there was lots of negative energy floating around in Circle and I (and another friend) ended up physically sick from it... Shielding is something I truly need to learn as I've experienced situations like this as well. I find it can be worse for me in magickal situations, probably because I'm open in ways I am not when in day-to-day situations.

I do ground whenever I do a magickal working, especially when I'm with other people. I get dizzy and spacey if I don't! :bug: :lol:

SAHM: I guess I don't have a particular shield. The few times I've conciously shielded I've used different visualizations - a column of thick glass, a sphere of blue points of light (that one was an image that just popped into my head before I had time to choose a visualization!).

Wyrdsister

[slvr_phoenix]

I both ground and shield, though I use no set method for either. I just improvise with whatever feels right for each situation. :) In fact, a lot of times I don't even use visualization, but more just work by feel, so a lot of times I couldn't even say what my shield would be because I don't 'see' it, I just know that it's there.

[Swanspirit]

If I didnt ground I would float away LOL , sometimes...... at least it feels that way ........ I dont think there are etched in stone methods for grounding and shielding ...... there aer many many methods...... from simple salt circles thrown in a few seconds to carrying a stone..... to walking barefoot upon the earth , and on and on... with or without visualisations , to very elaborate pillars of light that can be made impenatrable by anyone intending harm..... ...... and then there are Guardians as well ........who provide shields and other means of protection according to their nature....
I think that by learning what you feel is right with you ...... and going on experiences you have finding colors and correspondences that you respond to ....... you find the most comfortable and suitable method for you ........
Love and light
Swannie

[Draeconin]

Originally posted by Wyrdsister
Shielding is something I truly need to learn as I've experienced situations like this as well.

Wyrdsister

I have a page up that teaches methods for that at http://Draeconin.tripod.com/htm/shields.htm

[Emy]

I ground and shield all the time... :) Simply because I feel it is good for me.

Here is an easy shield to make...

Stand on the floor, hold your hands infront of you, palms down... now let your hands move around you (spin clockwise if you wish...) and visualize little flames coming out of your hands and landing on the floor in a circle around you. Make it a rather big circle. Now move your hands up over your head and as you do this visualize the flames growing taller and taller, until they are as high up as your hands are. Now bring the flames togehter over your head... tie a knot, or seal with the pentagram. When that is done, visualize a big glowing sphere over your head, now take your hands and push it down, down to your solar plexus, or even further if you wish, perhaps down to the ground...

It's done, feel protected and shielded.

[DragonMystic]

[i]and then there are Guardians as well ........who provide shields and other means of protection according to their nature....
Swannie [/B]


Guardians?

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Thanks Willow Raven, I'll look for that thread! :)

Thank you to all who responded. I'm just trying to get a feel of what people do.

Two points that were brought up were:
1) "Drawing down the light", it was said what new agers call it, may not be as effective because its used by many people, or some such, and if you find a way unique to yourself it would be more effective.

2) It may be better if your shield were more like a second skin, than a "bubble", because pricks and holes in it are easier to detect.

Any opinions?

[Myst]

Originally posted by SAHM
1) "Drawing down the light", it was said what new agers call it, may not be as effective because its used by many people, or some such, and if you find a way unique to yourself it would be more effective.

2) It may be better if your shield were more like a second skin, than a "bubble", because pricks and holes in it are easier to detect.


The first one doesn't make sense to me - in that I'm sure there's enough light going around ;) However, it brings an interesting point. Using light stuff might make you seem a more positive or divine person, but does it really shield you all that well? Besides that, there are those who don't believe in any divine, so they might just ignore the light stuff, or be immune to it.

And on the second, I suppose if you were really on the lookout for someone specifically attacking you that would make sense. In general tho I like to keep a shield to keep all negative energy out. I suppose if you had the intention of protecting yourself against a certain person and keeping your eye on their activities the idea you mentioned might work better.

Also, I think everyone will have their own experiences of what works best. I find I can use a spikey shield or make myself seem bigger and taller when I need the confidence to get through a nasty place or rough spot, or sometimes make myself almost unnoticeable. There's also times when I'd just like some shield against the negative stuff, whether it's a bubble or me seeming to be wrapped in saran wrap... I guess it all depends on the person and the situation.

[Swanspirit]

Guardians............
and the pillar of light isnt "drawn down" ....... that is a complex structure that is created with the energies of the people creating it......it has to be done in a specific way....... and the effects are that the person when they attempt to do "whatever" only encounters more light .........and has to deal with whatever effects the light has upon them.....reflective .....life changing ......they might not "enjoy it " but ultimately it is good for them , fun to watch too ....many times they end up imitating you LOL.....using your ideas .....and words... but they dont get to exchange any malevolent intent with you .......there is more , as well ..... but .especially cannot be taught on the internet...
As for the Guardians........you will know if you encounter them......
Love and Light
Swannie

[slvr_phoenix]

Hmm....

I had to give this one thought. The idea that "Drawing down the light" might not be as effective because it's used by many people was an interesting notion. But I think ultimately, there is such an abundance of energy compared to what we as a populace need that even with as many people performing the act now, it's still just as powerful as it ever was. Like if we all took a teaspoon of water from the ocean, the ocean would still be there and still be big and plenty more people could take their teaspoon and still have a good solid teaspoon of the ocean. Or something like that. (I'm not sure if that's more an analogy or a rant. He he he.)

I do think that it would be more effective for each person to do what best meets their needs and feels the most right to them. If for most people it happens to be the same thing, then that's life. It's only less effective when you believe/know that it's less effective.

As for the shield being better as 'skin' than as a bubble, I think it all depends entirely upon which you believe. If you believe that as a bubble it might have easier to find holes, then for you your bubble shields will have easier to find holes. Someone else however could believe the exact opposite, and for them the exact opposite would be true. And some shields are neither skin nor bubble. It's all a matter of what feels right for an individual will work best for that individual. There is no ultimate 'right' or 'wrong' way to do things when it comes to magick.

[slvr_phoenix]

To pick up where Swannie left off when she said, "As for the Guardians........you will know if you encounter them.", Guardian is one term for supernatural entities (for lack of a better term) often called upon for protection or assistance in rituals. Generally it's a loose term for each entity called upon when you call the corners or 'watchtowers' in an Elemental based, Four-Winds based, or similar type of spell or ritual.

'Guardians' however can also be called upon individually for spells or just because.

Some people associate well to specific 'Guardians' and form a bond with them. Some people just call for a Guardian without really asking for a specific one. And some spirits can act as Guardians whether that's what they normally do or not.

Guardians when used in rituals usually will strengthen your shield with their energy. When a Guardian protects you outside of a ritual their actions vary much more widely. If you have a shield going, some times they'll strengthen it. Sometimes they'll place their own shield upon you. And sometimes they'll directly confront energies without the use of shields.

Generally because 'Guardians' are used for calling the corners of an Elemental spell, they are themselves associated to an Element or are viewed as an Elemental themself. However, this isn't something true to all spiritual beings that can perform as Guardians. Some are Element-neutral.

[Swanspirit]

For instance.........Some people believe that "doing binding spells" binds your energy to the person being bound..... while I personally know many long time practioners of withcraft including myself... who can easily do a binding and have that persons energy bound AWAY from you foerver......when you do it .....

So ultimately ...... there are no hard and fast rules .... other wise we would be "fundamentalist witches "
Love and Light
Swannie

[Swanspirit]

I specifically refer to those beings whose purpose is soley to guard for the purpose of protection...........not just any entity that is called upon who may ALSO have a function of guarding.......
ANY DEITY, or entity can be called upon for protection ,and results can vary ...... just to clarify what I was saying .......some of them have nothing to do with the elements as we know them........but
when you encounter them you will know .......
Love and Light
Swannie

[Danustouch]

My Dear Friend gave me a WONDERFUL piece of advice for shielding once, along the lines of the..."BUBBLE". He said that I should pick a "Power Word" or symbol, and that whenever I needed some extra grounding or shielding, I should either say the word, picture the symbol (or touch it, if you are into symbolic consencrated jewlery for that purpose). Basically, what I mean is this. Suppose I am walking in unfamiliar territory..and I just get that...EEEEEEEERIE feeling of being watched/followed. Well, at a time like that, when you don't have the items from your ritual altar which you would normally use for setting up guardians, or adding protection...what do you do? Well, for me, this is what I do. At one point in my life, I did a ritual. I created a "Signal" word, which I wrote on a piece of paper, along with my name, and buried it in salt. I have that in a bottle, in my altar. So..when I get that eerie feeling, I say the word, and I believe it "reactivates" that spell for protection that I did. I picture a "bubble" of sorts, of protection around me. I don't picture it like a soap bubble or anything, but as a black/grey aura around me (black the color I associate with protection, since it's good for hiding things). Anyway..that is the method that I use. And it seems to work :)

[Myst]

Sounds very similar to other stuff I've heard about using sigils. Basically you create a sigil from letters/symbols that represent your intent, then you charge it on your altar, and when you want to access the energy you visualize that sigil.

Neat, D!!! :)

[slvr_phoenix]

That is a nifty idea.

[Mariposa De La Luna]

that is a nifty idea Danustouch! :D I like it.

I know that what you think will affect your magick or energy or whatever. One example that directly pertains. During the demonstration, they said they were going to shield and we were to throw energy at them and it would bounce back. Well I'm not that good at using energy unless I'm in a ritual mindframe but when I tried it I kept hitting a wall. I couldn't even send it out and in part I think it was because they said they were shielded so my unconscious said "no way".

That's why I brought up the subject. Its hard to get many viewpoints when you're at a workshop/class where only one person or tradition is represented.


OK another little tidbit they threw at us: Without grounding and shielding you cannot enter the circle "In perfect love and perfect trust"

I don't know how things were done before, and the people doing the workshop were Alexandrian, but I have never been asked to enter a circle that way. I've only entered them grounded and free of negativity and haven't been asked to do that either to enter a circle. I guess we may be kinda laid back here in Texas?

I know there's the whole thing about perfect love and trust but we don't have to get into that.

BTW I love how this thread is going! :D I'm going to have to keep a hard copy of it! :)

[Myst]

Originally posted by SAHM
OK another little tidbit they threw at us: Without grounding and shielding you cannot enter the circle "In perfect love and perfect trust"

Well Alexandrians do have a certain way it should be done, that's true.

For me, shielding provides a barrier between me and others, and I would think it'd put a barrier between my energies and others. I would think that wouldn't be conducive to my magick making in Circle since I wouldn't be able to transmit or receive energy nor could it flow through me. This is why I don't enter into Circles with people I don't trust, or why I don't join a coven - too much sharing of energy, not a good thing if you don't trust the people or know them well I think :)

And you would think if you have to shield yourself you're not giving anyone perfect trust (if you trust them, why would you shield?), but I don't know, that's just my thoughts. :)

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Sorry i didn't clarify. When you shield for circle its just to keep any negativity you may have from affecting the circle and to protect yourself from any that may be out there, even in the circle. Its not to keep all energy from transferring. So if you are shielded and everyone else is you can trust they are not bringing in negative things into the circle or some such. they said for them it was impossible to enter in perfect love and trust unless shielded. I don't get that because shieldind does not keep in any malicious intent but I guess that is another discussion. :shrug:

[Emerald Sky]

I ground and center every morning and every evening. I shield myself when I know I'm going to be amongst negative people... every other day or so. LOL. (Read - MIL!) ;) I usually create a bubble as someone mentioned. I disagree with the pin pricks in the bubble thing... my bubble is like a pregnant woman's bag of waters... almost impossible to pierce - even when you're trying. LOL (At least mine were.) Or has anyone ever seen the Winnie the Pooh movie called Bubble Trouble? Hee hee... Tigger makes up a batch of super, long lasting bubbles, and Pooh gets stuck in one, and noone can break it. That's what my bubbles are like. ;)

[slvr_phoenix]

Originally posted by SAHM
OK another little tidbit they threw at us: Without grounding and shielding you cannot enter the circle "In perfect love and perfect trust"

This is definately new to me. I can understand the grounding because you wouldn't want to be dumping any emotional/energy baggage onto others in the circle, even unintentionally. So I can understand that a thorough grounding is very important prior to entering a group's circle. To walk in dragging in possibly harmful energies isn't showing perfect love for the others in the circle, and anyone who enters a circle dragging in negative energy isn't showing perfect love. So that part I get. My opinion, if they can't (or won't) cleanse themself fully, then they shouldn't even participate in the circle.

I don't get why you would have to shield yourself though. If you have to shield yourself to keep any possible negative energies bound to you so that they don't affect other members of the circle, then you haven't properly grounded and cleansed in the first place and shouldn't be in the circle with them. By just participating even though you're not fully cleansed is showing a lack of perfect love.

And if there are any negative energies in the circle then it's either because the circle wasn't cast properly (area not cleansed first, bad area chosen, or just poor casting of the circle) or because someone else brought in negative energies. Either way, NEEDING to shield yourself for that reason seems to me that you're proclaiming a LACK of trust in the other members of the circle and in the circle itself. To me, it hardly seems an act of perfect trust.

If I were a high priest in charge of holding a circle and someone told me that they had to shield themself to protect themself from any negative energies in the circle, I would feel like I had failed. As the high priest it would be my responsability to identify any negative energies and ensure that none are in the circle for the protection and benefit of all those I am responsible for. So if someone HAD to shield themself in my circle, it would mean I wasn't doing my job.

If they wanted to shield themself just because they wanted to, that's one thing. If they NEEDED to because of negative energies present, that's just plain bad.

If it's a requirement though, it's a requirement. To me it speaks poorly of the high priestess/priest involved, but then that may just be me. But if I wanted to work with those folks, I'd shield myself anyway.

That's one of the reasons I don't follow any tradition or work in covens though, is because they often have requirements and views that I just don't agree with and don't want to force myself to work with/by.

[Myst]

Originally posted by SAHM
Sorry i didn't clarify. When you shield for circle its just to keep any negativity you may have from affecting the circle and to protect yourself from any that may be out there, even in the circle.

Hm I see, I guess I don't think of that as shielding as much as I think of it as grounding. I ground out all the unhappy negative stuff before entering circle. I also drop the barriers I sometimes have around me, which can be a bad thing if there are other negative people in the Circle who haven't grounded. :-/

[Dria El]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix


This is definately new to me. I can understand the grounding because you wouldn't want to be dumping any emotional/energy baggage onto others in the circle, even unintentionally. So I can understand that a thorough grounding is very important prior to entering a group's circle. To walk in dragging in possibly harmful energies isn't showing perfect love for the others in the circle, and anyone who enters a circle dragging in negative energy isn't showing perfect love. So that part I get. My opinion, if they can't (or won't) cleanse themself fully, then they shouldn't even participate in the circle.

I don't get why you would have to shield yourself though. If you have to shield yourself to keep any possible negative energies bound to you so that they don't affect other members of the circle, then you haven't properly grounded and cleansed in the first place and shouldn't be in the circle with them. By just participating even though you're not fully cleansed is showing a lack of perfect love.

And if there are any negative energies in the circle then it's either because the circle wasn't cast properly (area not cleansed first, bad area chosen, or just poor casting of the circle) or because someone else brought in negative energies. Either way, NEEDING to shield yourself for that reason seems to me that you're proclaiming a LACK of trust in the other members of the circle and in the circle itself. To me, it hardly seems an act of perfect trust.

If I were a high priest in charge of holding a circle and someone told me that they had to shield themself to protect themself from any negative energies in the circle, I would feel like I had failed. As the high priest it would be my responsability to identify any negative energies and ensure that none are in the circle for the protection and benefit of all those I am responsible for. So if someone HAD to shield themself in my circle, it would mean I wasn't doing my job.

If they wanted to shield themself just because they wanted to, that's one thing. If they NEEDED to because of negative energies present, that's just plain bad.

If it's a requirement though, it's a requirement. To me it speaks poorly of the high priestess/priest involved, but then that may just be me. But if I wanted to work with those folks, I'd shield myself anyway.

That's one of the reasons I don't follow any tradition or work in covens though, is because they often have requirements and views that I just don't agree with and don't want to force myself to work with/by.

I have to agree with you there. I've never heard of such a thing. I think that anyone that required shielding before entering circle wouldn't be someone I'd want to circle with. My group is a wonderful group of people and I would never even THINK of shielding myself before circling with them. I guess I just found a really good group. :)

[slvr_phoenix]

Originally posted by Dria El
I have to agree with you there. I've never heard of such a thing. I think that anyone that required shielding before entering circle wouldn't be someone I'd want to circle with. My group is a wonderful group of people and I would never even THINK of shielding myself before circling with them. I guess I just found a really good group. :)
I think you must have found a really good group. Heh heh. But yeah, that's how it should be. As members of a group we should love our fellow group members enough to cleanse ourself fully before we work together in something like that, or else we should have the maturity to not participate if we know we cannot ground/cleanse ourselves completely. And the leader(s) of the group should have the responsability of ensuring that everyone there is properly grounded and cleansed for the benefit and protection of the whole group. If they don't have the ability to tell for themself, then they should be enlisting the aid of someone who does.

To me, anyone who wouldn't do such lacks responsability. So requiring members to shield themself in order to participate sounds really irresponsable to me. A circle should be the one place in the world where you don't have to worry about negative energy.

I don't know. I mean that's just my opinion, but to me it sounds kind of scary that anyone would require you to shield yourself, for any reason.

But then if people are comfortable with doing it that way, then it's fine for them. I guess. ;) You wouldn't catch me comfortable with it, but I'm not everyone. :)

[Sequoia]

hehe I guess i'm kind of silly. . .the "keyword" I use is actually "shields up" LOL. . . you know, like on a starship or something ^^;;; hehe

[Myst]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix
As members of a group we should love our fellow group members enough to cleanse ourself fully before we work together in something like that, or else we should have the maturity to not participate if we know we cannot ground/cleanse ourselves completely.

The thing is, that should be true, and WOULD be absolutely true in a perfect world. But the world isn't perfect. I would avoid joining a Circle where people like that are, but sometimes you just don't expect it, and I know I've been in a Circle where I felt sick because people couldn't do that.

I don't know, just my thoughts :)

[slvr_phoenix]

Well that's true. It's not a perfect world. In a more perfect world the High Priestess/High Priest/whoever running the show, would be responsible for making sure that everyone was fully cleansed and grounded first and would keep those kinds of people from hurting others, even if it is unintentional.

Still, it's not a perfect world. But even then you at least have the option of putting up your own shield if you want to. It's still not a requirement though.

It's the thought of it being a requirement that upsets me the most I think. It's like an aknowledgement that they're not doing their job right or taking it seriously enough and putting such a burden on everyone else to handle their lack of concern or skill. Or something like that. Does that make any sense?

[Dria El]

Makes sense to me.

[slvr_phoenix]

Okay. Cool.

But hey, if that's how they want to do it and no one has a problem doing it that way, I guess it's all good.

I'm always fond of other forms of protection than shielding though. I mean I like shielding too, but wards, charms, talismans, and such stuff are also just as good. :)

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Originally posted by slvr_phoenix
Okay. Cool.

But hey, if that's how they want to do it and no one has a problem doing it that way, I guess it's all good.

I'm always fond of other forms of protection than shielding though. I mean I like shielding too, but wards, charms, talismans, and such stuff are also just as good. :)

How do wards, charms, talismans, and such stuff work? Has someone seen a thread on it somewhere?

[slvr_phoenix]

I'm not sure if there has ever been a thread specific to them, though there probably should be. :) I hope they've at least been mentioned in other threads.

But basically there are numerous methods of protecting yourself and your home and, well anything, that don't involve shielding. You could inscribe protective runes or symbols on your door frame. Or wear a neclace with a rune of protection on it. Or wear a pouch / medicine bag holding herbs and/or crystals with protective properties. Or write a protective spell on a piece of paper and keep that piece of paper in your pocket or at wherever needs protection. Or carve a figurine of a god or goddess or protection from a stick or a bar of soap and carry that with you. Or write protective symbols in the air with burning incense at each door and window into your home.

There are tons of various ways to protect yourself from negative energies that don't involve shielding and work just as well. Each culture has it's own specific traditional methods, so usually it's more fun to research the methods used by the culture(s) you best associate with than to just use any old method. But then, whatever works, works. :)

And each method can be tailored to a task just as specifically as a shield can and is just as powerful, and in fact can even be argued to be more powerful for some things.

And in fact some methods are easier to use because you have a physical reminder to continue the upkeep on the energies going into the protection, and they work 24/7, whether you remember to raise your shields or not. Plus that physical reminder can also be soothing when you start to worry about protection because it's something you can see and touch.

Shielding has it's place and is useful, but as far as protection goes, it's just the tip of the iceberg. :)

[Dria El]

Darn tootin'!

:thumbsup:

[Myst]

Maybe you should start a new thread on talismans and wards (ie. physical protective tools) too, so everyone can see it and talk about it without getting too OT here, Slvr :) :)

I think a lot of people might enjoy that :D

[Twilight Garden]

I find that in circle, with my regular group, is the one place I NEVER have to put up my "shields." My sheilds "go up" when they are needed. I have to listen to them, rather than have them listen to me. It's kind of an instinctive, intuitive thing that happens. I can't actually describe the process. It's something I've done for ages that I really should pay more attention to. On occaision, around really bad energy, I have to make it happen. I blank out for a second (always seeing baby blue) and there they are. ???

To me grounding and sheilding have always been two completely different processes, not really related. That's just how I deal with things and put them together, though.

Protective energy is something else to me. It's like shields are for my aura (maybe my psyche, I'm not sure) and protection is for my complete well being, and for others.