I’m a spiritworker – I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, it’s the foundation of my Craft – but some people are surprised when I tell them how many boundaries I set up throughout my house. Now, while I work with the spirits, I work with my spirits and have very strict rules laid out. There are places where they are permitted and places where they are forbidden. I’ve seen plenty of witches (or more regularly: dabblers) invite things in without parameters and are surprised when they start to wreak havoc. This is for when things go south, and you’re done politely asking them to leave.

Supplies

• (3) Brooms – hand-made are best, but any broom will work (just skip the vacuum, this isn’t Hocus Pocus)
• A Cauldron (or bowl) – make sure that it has feet or is raised/on a stand, there will be fire involved
• (3 or 6) Candles – black, white or red, any color will do
• 91% Isopropyl alcohol – if you have on hand a high-proof alcohol or a incence charcoal, they can be used in lieu  

Ingredients

• Rosemary
• Ash Bark
• Salt
• Holly Leaves
• Juniper Sprigs

Optional, but highly recommended:

• Spirit-Drive Vinegar***

Instructions

Begin by grinding to a loose powder your herbs. Start with your bark (which should be crushed and broken to the smallest size you can manage) and powder, then add in the remaining ingredients (salt can be omitted and added later) and coarsely grind to a loose meal. Once complete, arrange your brooms and candles in the above formation as near to the center of the house as can be managed with the cauldron/bowl in the center. If you elected to only use three candles, use only the ones on the “inside.”

Open (or at least crack) all the windows and any interior doors in your home (that will open) and kill the lights. I recommend doing this at night as it’s when spirits are usually most active, plus your neighbors won’t see your house smoking (theoretically) and call the law in concern (or malice, I don’t know your neighbors). It may also be wise to temporarily remove the batteries from any nearby smoke alarms, just don’t forget to return them after you’ve finished.

Light your candles from the inside to the outside and place in the bowl your herb meal (places on your briquette if you so elected) and pour a bit of alcohol over them. You don’t want to drown them, just dampen them. Give a loose mix with your finger or a spoon and prepare to step back. With a long lighter or a match, speak a little something to the extent of “get your non-corporeal ass the hell out of my house” and ignite the alcohol. Allow the smoke to waft about, fanning and leading it if need be commanding the spirits to leave. Using the Spirit-Drive Vinegar, sprinkle it with your fingers (like holy water), to the edges of your house tossing a bit through every open window before slamming closing it. Do this toward each window, closing as you go until you’ve finished and driven away the loathsome spirit(s).

When the herbs have burned all the way out, toss half of the remains out the front door (far enough away to prevent any ash blow-back into the house) and half out the back, marking each door with a bit of the Spirit-Drive Vinegar.

Learn from your mistakes and put up a damn boundary. Try these: Door-Bar Boundary && Selective-Spirit Door-Bar

Spirit-Drive Vinegar***

• Holly Berries
• Juniper Berries
• Cedar Wood
• Salt
• Vinegar

Optional:

• Elderberry or bark
  

Macerate berries with a liberal sprinkle of salt and few tablespoons of vinegar for an hour, then mash. Place in a jar a strip of cedar bark or wood and add the berry mash. Fill the jar with vinegar and let sit overnight – or a few weeks, being ideal – and strain out the solids. Wash jar and replace infused vingar. Voila!

photo source