Protection Charms

The early settlers knew the value of a good protective charm or talisman and, in fact, many homes had protective charms hidden within the walls or ceiling beams. It was common to hide charms inside the barns as well in order to offer protection to the animals. The threat of witchcraft was very real to farmers, and even today there are old talismans and charms found within old barnsteads throughout PA Dutch country, some of which are preserved at the Berks County Historical Society in Kutztown PA; along with other Powwow artifacts that give an amazing picture of life in Pennsylvania over the last three or four hundred years.

The following charms vary in purpose and function, but are traditional in the sense that they have come directly from old sources of Powwow charms; either the more common published grimoires or from personal collections. As a Powwow, your greatest protective instrument is your Bible. Indeed, a lot of old written charms have survived because they were written on slips of paper and hidden within family Bibles.

Anti-hex charms

Keep in mind that many of these charms are hundreds of years old. The world was a very different place in the 16, 17, and 1800’s. So of course, many of these charms will seem unusual or downright silly. However, they were quite valid to the folks who utilized them and, in modern times, with slight variations, many of these charms are still in use.

To Destroy All Magic Being Used Against You

This charm is used to destroy all magic that is being used against you.

To Create a Protective Boundary Around Your Property

To create a boundary around your property which no evil spirit can cross, combine three silver or iron nails, a SATOR square, and some Angelica root in a small muslin bag. Tie it in three knots in the three Holiest Names. Place one bag at each corner of your property. Alternatively, these bags can be placed in the four corners of your house or the four corners of a specific room to affect the same.

When we decided to add decorative fencing around our property, we chose split rail since that looks the best with our home and surroundings. Before each post is put into the ground, it is marked with + + + INRI + + + to ensure that the fence becomes a protective border to keep away unwanted magics, hexes, and other spiritual entities.

For Quick Protection Against Hexerei

For a quick means of protecting yourself against hexerei, carry a bit of chalk with you that has been stored in dried wormwood. When you are feeling unsafe or threatened by witchery, you can draw a circle around yourself or use the chalk to draw protective sigils on the door of the room you are in. The chalk should be placed back in the jar of wormwood at the end of each day. The wormwood set aside for this task should not be used for any other task.

A Secret and Curious Piece of Marvel, to Discern in a Mirror what an Enemy Designs at the Distance of Three Miles or more

Obtain a good plain looking glass, as large as you please, and have it framed on three sides only; upon the left side it should be left open. Such a glass must be held toward the direction where the enemy is existing and you will be able to discern all his markings, manœuverings, his doings and workings. Was effectually used during the thirty years’ war.

—Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus

To Prevent Fire Arms from Being Bewitched

Take nine blades of straw from under a sow while she is nursing young pigs, therefrom put nine knots into the shaft and insert them between the two barrel loops, and such a gun cannot be bewitched.

—Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus

To Manufacture a Golden Ring, by which House and Home, and also Man and Beast, are Secured Against All Misfortunes

May God direct and rule, that this hour, day and year and all the time may be as good and blessed as our dear Lord Jesus Christ; that grant God, the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May God, the Father, make a golden ring around this house, around this stable, around all men and beasts that belongeth thereto and goeth in and out of it; also around my fields and forests, yea, this very ring encircles our beloved Mary with her dear infant, Jesus Christ — they protect, watch over, maintain, shelter, cover and defend all mankind, both male and female, small and large, young and old, as likewise, all cattle, oxen, steers, and all that is small, whatever is contained in this house and these stables and all that cometh in and goeth out; for all misfortunes, evil, colic wild fire, losses, epidemics, and other diseases; for all bad and heated blood; for all bad and malicious enemies and storms; for all evil hours, day and night; for all magic power of witchcraft, and the designs and powers of the devil and his infernal hosts, to be visible or invisible, or for all wicked people who contemplate to rob me, that they may not be able to carry or spoil aught.

When a Man or Cattle is Plagued by Goblins, or Ill-disposed People

Go on Good Friday, or Golden Sunday, ere the sun rise in the East, to a hazelnut bush, cut a stick therefrom with a sympathetic weapon, by making three cuts above the hand toward the rise of the sun, in the name of the + + + Carry the stick noiselessly into the house, conceal it so that no one can get hold of it. When a man or beast is plagued by evil disposed people, walk three times around such a haunted person, while pronouncing the three holiest names; after this proceeding, take off thy hat and hit it with the stick and thus you smite the wicked being.

—Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus

For Haunted Horses or Cattle

Take the left-hand glove of a woman afflicted with rheumatism in the right arm, steep it in fresh water, and allow the animals to drink thereof.

—Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus

Superstitions About Witches (Protective Use)

Fasten a sprig of St. John’s wort to the door to keep out witches or flies.

Put the foot of a goose on the stable door to keep the witches out.

Nail a toad’s foot over the stable door to drive and keep the witches out of the stable.

To keep away witches, draw toads feet with chalk on the bedstead or in the room above window or door.

When bewitched, lay the broom before the door. The first person to come along and pick it up is the witch.

Throwing a loaf of bread into water will drive out witches.

—from Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans by Edwin Miller Fogel, Ph.D. 1995

The SATOR Square

The SATOR square is one of the most well-known protective charms in the Powwow tradition. It is a Latin word square that reads the same in all four directions. It can be written on paper and carried, hidden in the home, placed in Brauche bags, or drawn on doorways and thresholds for protection.

Protective Fence Posts

Before each fence post is put into the ground, it is marked with + + + INRI + + + to ensure that the fence becomes a protective border to keep away unwanted magics, hexes, and other spiritual entities.