Spiritual protection for ghost hunters – basic tools
Apr 10th, 2008 | By Fiona Broome | Category: Ghosts in your home, Psychics guide, Spiritual issues
Many ghost hunters carry — and recommend — spiritual protection in dangerous and profoundly haunted settings.
There are three main issues to consider when choosing protection. They include innately powerful tools, your own spiritual references, and the spirituality of the ghosts.
INNATELY POWERFUL TOOLS
Regardless of your beliefs (or lack of them), a few tools have been used successfully by believers, skeptics, and non-believers alike.
GARLIC
The most familiar protection may be garlic. Long associated with vampires and werewolves, garlic is supposed to repel evil spirits and entities.
Generally, people carry a garlic clove in a pocket, or wear it on a string around their necks.
Fresh garlic is usually used. You can buy it in almost any grocery store and some convenience stores, in the produce section.
SALT
According to many traditions, spirits cannot cross a line of salt. Others believe that salt generally repels evil spirits, and the salt can be carried in any container, worn in a small pouch around the neck (or carried in a pocket), or cast in the direction of the problem entity.
There are two main kinds of salt used for this purpose: White salt and black salt.
White salt is the common table salt found in most kitchens. Many people prefer to carry pure sea salt for protection, and some favor kosher salt, but any table salt or cooking salt can be used.
Some ghost hunters — including Hollow Hill researchers — carry blessed or charged salt. This is salt that has been blessed by a religious person, sometimes a priest or other spiritual minister.
The person carrying the salt can also charge it, using personal prayer or rituals over the salt before using it during a ghost investigation.
Or, it may be charged by the full moon. One way to do this is to put sea salt in a clear glass bowl. Place the bowl on a window ledge where it will be in the light of the moon during the three days around the full moon.
Black salt can be one of two kinds of salt. One is edible and the other usually isn’t.
One is a specialized mineral salt, generally mined in India. It is a dark pinkish gray, and tastes somewhat like sulphur. It’s available in ethnic stores and often sold in health food stores; its vegetarian uses include mixing the salt with tofu to mimic egg salad. This form of black salt can be used for protection, but it’s not the one most popular.
The other kind of black salt is the one more commonly used for protection. It is often made with sea salt — the white kind — but mixed with an ingredient to turn it black. Among witches, those ingredients can include ash or powdered charcoal from a fire, scrapings from a cast iron pot, or even black pepper.
Because black salt is often associated with voodoo, some people aren’t comfortable using it for any purpose. However, in voodoo and related traditions, black salt is used as a powerful means to lift or repel curses, and keep away evil spirits.
HOLY WATER
Catholics and non-Catholics alike use holy water as protection from ghosts and evil of all kinds.
Holy water can be purchased in some Catholic stores. However, most people visit the nearest Catholic church. In the church entry or lobby, there is usually some sort of drum or container with a spigot. Church members bring their own bottles to decant the holy water, and leave a couple of dollars as a donation.
Technically, anyone can bless their water to make it ‘holy’. In older Catholic traditions, an individual makes the sign of the cross over the container of water and says, ‘I bless this water in the name of the Father…’, and so on.
In other religious contexts, any blessing prayer or ritual can be used for holy water. Some Pagans also place a clear glass bottle of holy water in the moonlight for three nights, similar to the practice used with salt, described above.
Among non-Christians, Bibles aren’t quite as popular as holy water. However, we’ve met ghost hunters who are Atheists or non-Christians, and they believe implicitly in the power of the Bible as a tool for protection
CHARMS, AMULETS, TOKENS
While many ‘lucky charms’ and protections refer to specific spiritual traditions, some are successful whether the person believes in that religion or tradition, or not.
These include holy medals (St. Michael medals are especially popular), pendants representing a lucky horseshoe, iron nails (may repel faeries more than ghosts), or a lucky rabbit’s foot (not widely used during ghost hunts, due to their association with animal cruelty and death).
There are also ghost hunters who wear ‘lucky socks’ or a similar item of clothing, and firmly believe that they provide protection from evil… or at least bad luck.
Others wear a garment or piece of jewelry that was left outside on the night of February first or second. According to folklore and some Pagan traditions, Brigid (or St. Bridget) blesses these items, making them especially lucky, healing or protective during the coming year.
LIQUOR
Several cultures — including the Irish and some Native American nations — believe that pouring liquor on a grave (or on the ground, in general) is a way to pay respect to the dead. Several Yoruba-based spiritual traditions use this as a way to earn favor with certain spirits, including the dead.
If an investigator has established some rapport with a helpful spirit in a haunted setting, he or she may offer a gift of liquor (poured onto the ground, outdoors or in the building’s unfinished basement). After a brief time during which the spirit enjoys the gift, the investigator asks for the spirit’s help and protection during the research that follows.
These are just a few items that are used by a variety of ghost hunters, regardless of their cultural, ethnic or spiritual contexts.
In another article, we’ll discuss spiritual protection in the context of your personal religious beliefs (if you have them), as well as the importance of the ghosts’ religious beliefs.
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Uhh i just want to clarify something. ANY salt will work, or does it have to be charged or blessed?
Traditionally, any salt is supposed to work.
We rely on sea salt, and prefer charged or blessed salt.
However, in extreme situations where we weren’t adequately prepared, we’ve had success with plain table salt.
I have a question, would a small Holy cross work?
If you believe in its power, yes. It’s not so much about the object itself, but your sense that it’s powerful, and your confidence in it.
hi, i just recently signed up for this, but i’ve been doing lots of reasearch on the legends and lore of ghosts and a lot of places said that it is possible to put a ghost to rest by finding the remains and than salting and burning the remains? what is your take on this?
Ace6661, that’s one of the worst recommendations I’ve ever heard. No one, especially ghost investigators, should ever disturb any person’s remains.
If “a lot of places” actually say something like this, I suggest re-reading their advice. If that’s what they’re really saying, they’re urging people to commit criminal acts.
I carry a locket filled with the hair of someone who was very dear to me and has passed away. Is this a safe protection charm?? I feel spiritually stronger when I have it on and it has helped me through several situations.
I think that’s lovely, Temperance!
Often, our best sources of protection are people we know personally who are now in the spirit world.
So, I think a locket like yours is an ideal protection charm. Any physical connection to our spirit friends… that’s a good idea.
Thanks for asking, and for telling us about this locket. It sounds like a wonderful remembrance, and a good item to keep close to you always, whether you’re in a haunted place or not.
Fiona…
I have a problem with protection items. I have never owned any “item” That I would consider protection (except my .357). That stays home while on ghost hunts. I am not too religious either. Nor do I consider any item a lucky charm. I have always used commen sense if fear washes over me, and that’s rare. I either leave the area, or usually investigate why I have the feeling and go scouting for the source.
So, what would be the best thing to do in a siuation like this? Buy an amulet, have it blessed and just wear it? I have no idea.
Thanks.
Rich
Rich, regarding protection items: If you don’t really believe in spiritual protection — not even a little — it’d probably be pointless to carry an item like that.
In terms of things that seem to keep dangerous spirits away, regardless of your belief system, we’ve had good luck with blessed salt (or table salt), holy water, sage smudges and singing bowls.
I hardly ever visit a haunted site without a small bottle of blessed salt in my backpack. For me, it’s the .44 magnum of ghost protection.
That said, some spirits seem to react favorably to a Bible, or other Christian symbols. Personally, a Bible seems a rather bulky item to carry, but I’ve talked with other professional ghost researchers who’ve had very positive experiences simply because the ghosts responded to seeing the Bible.
Of course, when we talk about carrying things to favorably impress the ghosts, that’s not quite “protection.”
If your beliefs don’t include spiritual talismans or anything like that, I’m not sure that I’d bother with them, but… I’d still probably carry some salt with me, just in case.
Thanks, Fiona.
Salt? Hmm. What do you do with the salt? Draw a circle with it and stand in the center?
I am not trying to be funny or a smart aleck. I just don’t know. There’s a shot in an older movie I watch a long time ago where some teens drew out a pentigram using salt for protection. I have studied witchcraft for years as a hobby. There are a lot of styles and meanings on pentigrams. Some to call spirits, usually evil type, some are for protection against evil.
Do you and your team use anything like this?
Thanks.
Yes, what do you do with the salt or any item of that nature that’s carried for protection? How is it used?
I use salt in extreme cases. According to folklore, spirits and evil energy can’t cross a line of salt. So, let’s say you draw a line at the doorway of a haunted house. You can cross the line, but the ghosts can’t follow you out of the house. (Or, once driven out, even briefly, evil spirits can’t return into the house, if you circle the house with a line of salt.)
I’m not sure if salt actually works. It did, the one time I used it.
Other tools work different ways. Most of them, like garlic, repel evil spirits the way that DEET repels mosquitoes… or that’s what’s claimed in folklore.
Also, do you sell any protective charms or anything. Thanks
Thanks for asking! Right now, we’re not selling protective charms or anything like that. It’s under discussion. If we decide to do that, we’ll post it prominently on the homepage and in a “shop” section of the Hollow Hill website.
I was wondering fiona salt is the .44 magnum of protection against ghost/ and spirits. However, some cultures believe of “good” spirits, spirits of everything around us, nature, loved ones. will salt deter these spirits? or only those of malicious intent?
From what I’ve seen, salt seems to deter the malicious spirits and encourage the good ones. Looking at legends associated with the sea — a huge source of salt — we see some “Jolly Roger” and “Flying Dutchman” tales, but mostly good stories about mermaids. There is the occasional sea monster, but I don’t find much about malicious hauntings at sea.
I’m not sure that it’s fair to extrapolate from that, but it’s the best that I can do, for now.
During the rare times when I’ve had to use salt, the only negative feedback seemed to be from the same spirits I was trying to deter. I believe that there are good spirits visiting us all the time, and we don’t pay much attention to them. They’re the spirits of caring grandparents, etc. If the salt bothered them, I think my team psychics would have perceived a general outcry when salt was used. We didn’t, so I’m assuming that happier spirits don’t mind salt.
Hi Fiona…
I am wondering after reading this…if one suspects a presence around their home, is it possible to keep them away from it by circling that home with blessed salt? I mean, if it were possible to drive that malicious spirit out of the house to begin with…if a malicious spirit is driven out of a house, can it come back? I guess that’s more than one question…sorry. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to learn from you these “basics” for free. I really appreciate the time and energy that you are putting into this.
Thank you
Hi Genna,
If I wanted to keep a malicious spirit out, I’d circle the house with salt. Personally, I use sea salt that I’ve placed in the moonlight for three nights at the full moon. But, that’s an old family tradition… I’m not sure how much difference it makes.
Generally, that works for me when I do a space clearing on a home.
If you’re troubled by a malicious spirit that won’t stay away and you’re concerned about your safety, I recommend talking with someone like John Zaffis, Carl Johnson or Father Andrew Calder. All three work in the field of demonology and malicious spirits.
hi fiona
i was wandering if a person has a bad or evel sperit in there home already would the salt run them away when you put it in your doorways and around your house or would it trap or keep them in the house and how would you get them out of your house
thanks for your time and trouble
stella
I heard rose quartz is good too, is this true?
Oops forgot to add sapphire (one owner).. Is this true as well? Thangs for the advice and website! Ever since my trip to Vale End, I have a big interest in this. I didn’t even need a camera to see orbs. My two friends and I saw and felt a lot that night but one was right before dawn ( still dark and wet out ) we all saw these firefly looking orbs that were a really beautiful blue color. I went to get close once but it would fade. The next day we took 7 pictures and got one orb on film. That nice sunny day was completely diferent than the night b4.
Stella, I recommend using any space clearing technique — sage smudge, singing bowl, holy water, blessings, or even vacuuming (especially in room corners) — before using salt. You can use salt, room-by-room, as you go through the house.
Michael, You’re right, rose quartz can be excellent for some people. For others, quartz can attract more spirits, so you’ll need to try it out — preferably in a mildly haunted location — to see for yourself.
Michael, Sapphires are generally most helpful if that’s your birthstone (Virgo as your birth/sun sign) or if Virgo is your rising sign. Regarding Vale End, I’m delighted that you saw some of the blue energy that people describe. Personally, I’ll never go back there, except during mid-day. Even then, when I was filming a TV show, the cameraman saw something that terrified him. Vale End is more than haunted.
Hi there,I just started a new job at a place where they just got a present of a old v.large dining table&chairs&the atmosphere is awful.We keep hearing footsteps,knocks&noises but nobodys there.I have some ability for this sort of thing,so I put my hands on the table&got flashes of a husband and wife,the wife is crying full of awful grief,the husband is arrogant and violent,also a pale faced young boy who died.I was quite scared by all these awful emotions and decided to try to encouraage them to move on.I brought in salt[table],basil and rosemary oil and sprinkled it over over door&round the table,burnt the oil and rubbed it on my wrists and neck.shortly after some stuff was knocked over in the staff kitchen. later that same day,I felt something terrible cold against the right side of my body up to my hips[like the child]and then it moved around me touching my left arm.
I had a fall that same evening and hurt my right leg and last night a chain of dark strange bruises has appeared on my left arm like bruises left from a persons hand.
I am sacred to go back to work monday[its a large warehouse&I'm often by myself]. please give me some advice.
Hi Tera,
I recommend looking for another job, if the problem continues. Your mental, spiritual and physical safety must be your highest priority.
You’re describing so many different things… well, that’s not a simple haunting.
Frankly, I suggest that you find another job and give notice at this one, as soon as you can.
I’d also recommend talking with a minister, or taking classes related to what you experienced, to better understand what’s going on. It sounds like you are especially sensitive to this kind of activity, and — since you may encounter something like it again — it’d be good if you have a better idea of how to deal with it. That’s a personal thing, and a spiritual advisor near you is your best resource.
Look i belive at ghoust, but i dont want do belive at them.. i realy dont , this destroyed my life , please help me .. do you know how to stop belive in it .. or to ho to potect from it , i cant sleep i cant be alone at any place without freeking out. And do you realy hunt ghoust and do you seed them?
Svetlana,
My best advice is to find a sympathetic spiritual advisor, such as a priest, minister, or rabbi. He (or she) doesn’t have to be from your faith (if you have a religious preference)… just someone who understands that something ghostly is bothering you.
Ghosts — if they are real — are spirits. So, I always recommend approaching this from a spiritual viewpoint… and that usually means talking with some kind of religious person or spiritual minister.
Please don’t wait for the perfect person to talk with. Visit any church, today, and — if the minister isn’t able to help you or isn’t sympathetic — get a referral. Keep looking until you find someone who can help you, near where you live.
Hi Fiona,
I have never encountered any kinds of ghosts or spirits nor do I want to, but occasionally I do have nightmares like what most people do.
Does it make a person easier to see, or feel ghost spirits, when a person’s energy level is low (example: being sick), being too young or too old? Like you’re least likely to encounter ghost activities when you’re in your 20’s or 30’s, or when you have a very strong positive energy within you?
From what I heard from other people, not everyone has the ability to see, or feel ghost/spirits, no matter how hard they try. They have the nature ability to repel evil spirits/ghost. Is it true?
Thank you very much for your time!!
Hello Michael,
Those are good questions.
In my opinion, the younger the person is, the more likely they are to notice ghosts. As people mature, they seem to collect explanations and excuses (normal ones, that is) for ghostly encounters, and dismiss their paranormal experiences as “it must have been my imagination,” etc.
When someone’s energy is low, I think they’re more vulnerable emotionally, and they will react with alarm or fear when they encounter something paranormal. They can also interpret the ghost’s behaviors or intentions through the window of their emotions. That is, in a low-energy state, someone is more likely to decide that a ghost is angry, aggressive or dangerous.
Not everyone perceives ghosts the same way. I think that everyone is capable of encountering and observing ghostly phenomena, but some will see it, some will hear it, some will sense it physically (as a ghost breathing on them, or nudging them), and so on.
I believe that everyone is able to repel ghosts and spirits of all kinds. In the case of ghosts (spirits of people who lived here as humans), it’s usually only necessary to say, “Go away,” and ghosts will leave… at least for awhile.
I also think that anyone can resist evil entities, and perhaps repel them. However, I also believe that the person’s well-being (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) will be a factor in how quickly they realize that there’s a problem, and how effectively they resist the influence of evil entities, and how completely they can repel them. In some cases, the person will need help from others. That varies with the person who’s afflicted, as well as the nature of the entity that’s bothering them.
I hope that helps!
Cheerfully,
Fiona
As we afre suffering with evil sprits , curse, Witchcraft for the past 10 years.1.family cannot sleep in wouth west bedroom 2.Break fast of DOSA i.e.,( soaking Rice+ Black cereal, grided in night used in morning )fried in pan as Dosa if we prepare daily quarrels in the home. 3. ‘we lost property wealth I am aged 64.legal cases.4 On full moondays and eclipse days the quarrrels are more one day prior to full moon days. IF WE GET SOME RELIEF THINGS THE QUARRELS WILL BE MORE BY WIFE AND DAUGHTER.THEY WILL NEVER REALISE THE ABOVE FACTS . sUGGEST ME FOR IMMEDIATEL RELIEF
P.V.PRABHAKAR,
You are describing something far beyond a simple haunting. Please speak with someone spiritual in your community, such as a holy man, a priest, or a minister.
This kind of thing does not happen at normal, haunted places. You’re dealing with something else, and you need someone spiritual — someone who can visit your home — to help you.
If you don’t get help from the first person you talk with, continue consulting religious people until someone is able to visit your home, find out what is going on, and help you.
Sincerely,
Fiona Broome
I have always dealt with some hauntings in my past. They would come and go. But,after my husband and I moved into our new apartment 5 months ago before getting married[an old apartment I lived in once when I was a teen] we have been dealing with strange voices and etc. He is a firm believer like I am and everyday I keep telling him I am going nuts. When he is away at work I keep hearing something telling me to get out and yet its using his voice. Of course here the other day I heard what I believe to be my dead brother’s voice again I haven’t heard his voice from beyond the grave since December of 2008 a month before our grandfather passes on. I use to hear my brother’s voice a lot after his death and even years later but it seemed to stop just one day for many many years until one night in December of 2008. Anyways I was just wondering if I should use the salt to keep away any ghost especially the one who keeps using my husband’s voice telling me “to get out.”
Mrs. Curtis,
You’re describing something that has a sinister undertone. When a spirit (or a prankster) is mimicking someone’s voice and regularly telling you to get out, it’s time to talk with someone outside your home, who can help you.
Don’t wait and see if things improve. Salt might help, but I doubt it. You’re describing something that could be a ghost… but it might be something else altogether.
In your position, I’d go directly to the nearest church — Catholics or Episcopals seem to provide the most immediate help, from what my readers report, but I’d also recommend Unitarians — and talk with someone there. (It doesn’t matter if you go to that church, or even if you don’t believe in it at all. I recommend them because of their activity in the field of potentially dangerous spiritual phenomena.
They can better evaluate whether you’re dealing with a spirit (and, therefore, it’s a spiritual matter) or if something else might be going on.
I’m concerned because the voice mimics your husband’s, but also because the message is hostile. Either one of those, alone, is enough to get a second opinion.
Sincerely,
Fiona
Do not forget the faith as primary source of spiritual protection. Faith in God
“Mozitrap,”
That’s implicit in this discussion. Faith is the foundation of what we do in this field: Faith in the possibility of spirits. Beyond that, I leave spiritual choices to the individual. There are ghost hunting groups that are organized around one set of beliefs, one church group, etc. Their common beliefs help protect them.
However, this website was created to share how-to information for ghost hunters and paranormal researchers. So, I avoid references or recommendations that suggest any one spiritual belief, system or practice.
Then again, I’m not sure if you actually posted for a backlink. If so, it didn’t work.
Sincerely,
Fiona