Jane ordered three devil traps. They arrived in a simple package and were wrapped in bubble wrap so they wouldn't be broken in transit during shipping. Each one was intricately designed with sticks, moss, bones, and feathers. Jane strategically placed the traps at key points around her property – near the old well, the boundary line of her yard, and the large boulder that had become a favorite canvas for vandals. With a mix of hope and skepticism, she completed the task and waited, unsure if these small talismans could truly make a difference.

To her amazement, the change was almost immediate. The nightly disturbances ceased, and the spray-painted messages that once defiled her land were no more. Jane watched in astonishment as her property began to heal, the spirit of her home seemingly revitalized by the ancient wards. No longer did she find litter or signs of trespassers; the devil traps stood as silent guardians, their presence both comforting and mysterious. Jane couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude and relief, her faith in the old ways renewed.

Word of her success spread through the local community, and Jane swore by the effectiveness of her devil traps. For Jane, the devil traps were more than just pieces of folklore – they were powerful protectors that restored her sanctuary and brought tranquility back to her life. The ancient folk magic had proven its worth, transforming her property from a haven for troublemakers to a bastion of peace. 

*Jane requests that she remain anonymous (hence the use of the name "Jane") but graciously allowed me to share her story.

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My Story with Devil Traps

You'll never guess how a single devil trap saved me from an intruder when I lived in an apartment in Prescott Valley, Arizona. We had just moved into the apartment, a small hole in the wall on top of a mountain. We didn't have a yard, but we had a small back porch. I had a bunch of potted plants we had brought with us from our previous place, and I placed them all around the edge of the porch. There was a tree out back that Zephyr, the Italian Greyhound, (my good boy conjure dawg who has since made his way to the rainbow bridge) decided to make his own, but it was a good 50 feet down a hill and he was pretty much blind at this point. Since we had just moved and he didn't know his way around yet, I blocked any path from the porch to the tree with a devil trap. It was to block him from trying to go exploring on his own, but also served as a deterrent to any bothersome spirits that may find us to be fresh blood upon which to feed. I mean, you never know about new spaces, and especially apartments where there is a high turnover of tenants. You just can't be too careful with the kinds of energies previous tenants leave behind.

It takes a minute to cleanse and secure a new space. Placing a devil trap is a quick way to place a ward because all you have to do is simply place it in the space you want protected. It turns out that placing the devil trap on the back porch was more than a good idea.

As we were settling in, there was a knock on the door. I opened it up to find a disheveled man with an open container of protein powder that was half full. He started to try to sell me the protein powder! I looked at him like he was crazy and asked him if he was being serious, that he looked like hell and who in their right minds would buy an open container of half full protein powder from a stranger. He was obviously high, on what I don't know, but the interaction stopped almost as soon as it started. I closed and locked the door and then my paranoia shot through the roof. I hadn't lived in an apartment for a very long time and tried to wrap my mind around having to deal with these kinds of things now that we lived in an apartment setting.

Not long after I shut the front door, I see someone lurking in the back. He was peering into the windows, spying on us. I thought, not today, Satan, and decided to confront this guy, who I realized was the same man who had tried to scam me by selling used protein powder at the front door.

Some might call me crazy, but it is what it is. I refused to be scared when we just moved in and were trying to make the most out of this tiny little apartment, the only thing we could find when we had to move during the fun times of the pandemic. I opened the back door and here was this guy looking shady af, standing not 6 feet away from me behind my barrier of plants and devil trap.

He started saying some nonsensical things when I asked him what he thought he was doing. To be honest I can't remember what he said because it made no sense at all. He started walking slowly towards me and began to step over the back porch plant barrier. That is, until he looked down and saw the devil trap. He literally stopped cold in his tracks, and put his foot back down behind the barrier, changing his mind about coming at me.

By this time, someone had called the police on the man as he was apparently creeping around the place looking for apartments to break into. He ran off in the other direction and was soon apprehended by the police. We came to find out he was actually a tenant in the complex.

He was never seen again around the apartments after his arrest.

Now I believe in wards wholeheartedly, but I have never seen one work like that in real time. It was simply amazing, and I will never forget it. Now, I wouldn't ever imagine living somewhere without one. So, if you ever find yourself in a new space with unsettling energies or unexpected intruders, consider a devil trap – it might just save you in ways you’d never expect.

Railroad Spikes

In folk magic, railroad spikes are revered for their protective properties, often used to safeguard homes and sacred spaces from malevolent forces. Traditionally, these iron spikes are driven into the ground at the four corners of a property to create a boundary against evil spirits, negative energy, and unwanted intruders. The iron itself is believed to possess inherent magical qualities that repel and neutralize harmful influences, acting as a physical and metaphysical barrier. The spikes are sometimes anointed with protective oils or inscribed with sigils to enhance their efficacy. Rootworkers and practitioners of hoodoo particularly value railroad spikes for their ability to anchor protective wards, ensuring stability and security. Their association with the strength and resilience of the railroad imbues them with a powerful symbolism, making them a go-to tool in the arsenal of folk magic protection.

Check out more ways to protect yourself and your home and space here.

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Have a blessed day!