They used to WHAT to their cats?
For as long as we’ve built walls and called them home, we’ve also whispered charms to keep the shadows out. Across centuries and continents, witches, wise folk, and everyday people have lined their doorways with salt, scratched strange symbols into beams, and tucked secrets into the very bones of their houses. These weren’t idle decorations. They were spells in plain sight, quiet guardians keeping watch.
In the medieval and early modern world, fear of supernatural harm was as real as fear of thieves. Doors, windows, chimneys, and even keyholes were seen as vulnerable openings where misfortune could slip in. Evil spirits, curses, and, yes, even rival witches were believed to seek these routes into a household. So, people turned to the magic they knew best, blending folk belief, ritual, and religion to seal their sanctuaries.
Witch bottles, brimming with pins, hair, and sometimes urine, were buried near hearths to trap and neutralise hostile magic. Protective marks, were etched not only to call on divine protection but also to confuse or repel anything with ill intent. Objects like worn shoes, dried cats (yes, you read that right), or iron nails were hidden in walls or above door lintels, acting as both physical decoys and spiritual snares.
These protections weren’t just superstition, they were acts of sovereignty. In an uncertain world, they gave households a sense of control. Much like locking the door at night, setting magical wards was a practical precaution, a declaration to the unseen: You may look, but you may not cross.
Even now, the urge to protect our space hasn’t left us. We may not be stuffing a cat into the wall these days (please don’t!), but we still light protective candles, hang witch bells by the door, sprinkle salt at the threshold, or programme crystals with the intent to shield. Every charm, every ritual, is both a barrier and a beacon, sending out the message: This place is sacred. It is mine. It is safe.
If you’ve never set magical wards around your home, you might begin with something simple. Trace a protective symbol on your front door in blessed water. Bury a small sachet of protective herbs beneath your door mat. Whisper an enchantment as you sweep your floors, imagining every stroke clearing not just dust but any lingering ill will.
Protection magic isn’t only about keeping danger out—it’s about declaring your right to peace, security, and belonging. When you weave these protections, you’re not just guarding your home. You’re anchoring your place in the world, rooted and unshakable.
So, next time you cross your threshold, pause. Feel the quiet shield you’ve built, the centuries of magic at your back, and know you are safe.
