By Ludvig Prinn
Q: How can I defend myself against magical attack, day to day?
A: Chances are, you're never going to need any *serious* defenses, but there is more to magical attack than just praying to a demon or sticking pins in a doll. We are bombarded every day with psychic invasion, domination, coercion and persuasion that the prudent magician will indeed erect at least rudimentary barriers around himself.
Salesmen, politicians, law enforcement, advertising and even co-workers all place various burdens on our psyches. Maybe it's your friend Sally who always seems to need a shoulder to cry on, or the boss at work trying to talk you into working weekends, or the pretty blonde at the counter who has "just the perfect gift" for Mother's Day. Most forms of persuasion involunarily utilize energy manipulation, especially among the more proficient in the
trade. Those with the "gift of gab" often have a soothing effect on people, gently subduing them and silencing protesting thoughts.
For protection against day-to-day assault, a simple barrier is often more than sufficient. This can be a simple circle of protection cast periodically, maybe a talisman or amulet. I've even seen a tattoo specifically for that purpose.
Q: What about protection against a concentrated, deliberate magical attack?
A: There are various levels of protection available, depending upon the threat level. One could use a simple barrier as before, reinforced. One could also conjure and retain "guardian spirits" to protect you, absorb negative energy sent your way, and/or even warn you of attack. Stepping the protection up further still, one could always "cloak" oneself entirely, concealing one's astral form from any attempt at scrying or attack. There are further
steps still, and more difficult, but those given will suffice for most forms of attack.
Q: Okay, so I can protect myself. How do I protect my stuff?
A: Wards are a popular and effective mathod of home/turf protection. Setting physical or astral wards around one's property as part of a circle casting (simple barrier method) is often sufficient to deflect or absorb most or all negative energy sent through it. However, the simple barrier method will not protect you against attacks coming from within the circle. To protect against interior attack, you will need to *fill* that circle with the
same protective energy you used in the barrier. Invocation is typical to facilitate this.
Q: Okay, so I'm safe and my stuff is safe. Is there anything else I need to consider?
A: Yes. You also need to be aware that you are vulnerable in many other places besides your home. With the number of auto accidents in America every year, it couldn't hurt to place a ward in your car. Perhaps *you* cannot be influenced when you're away from home, but those around you can. You might wish to consider taking a ward or energy trap to your workplace.
Q: Okay, I'm safe by myself, at home, at work and wherever I travel to. Now I'm absolutely terrified. Am I protected?
A: Bear in mind that 99% of the cases of suspected magical assault are just paranoid wishful thinking. Adventure and intrigue are attractive, and everyone would like to feel important enough to attack. Chances are, it's nothing.
Q: What if I suspect I'm being attacked, but cannot tell?
A: Divination is a good touchstone, but beware of reading too much into the augury. For personal matters of such importance, get confirmation through a neutral third party who doesn't know about your suspicions.
Q: What if I attack someone else, and I'm terrified that they might retaliate?
A: If your victim is someone with the power or position to harm you should they find out about your activities, make sure you bind them before doing anything else. A simple spellbinding will often render your victims pleasantly harmless and, although they will still be *able* to perform magical rituals, the outcome will be so skewed and distorted as to never leave the roost. You could also bind their intellect from tipping to your attack, or
bind them from any unusual action at all.
Q: How can I return someone's curse to them?
A: It might be beneficial to create a "voodoo doll" of yourself and conceal it somewhere outside your warded area. This doll is to be specifically created with the intent of taking your damage for you, instead of allowing you to be hurt. Even if someone should find it and attempt to use it against you, the doll itself would anchor the astral image of you and absorb the negative energy. Your attacker might *imagine* that he's doing you grievous
injury, and divination may even support that delusion if you use this technique in conjunction with cloaking, but in reality you will be entirely safe.