just a witness, then...

Sorry about writing so much here...I do have something which I hope someone can help with. Obviously, though, it has to do with magic, so I'm not entirely certain the cause-effect relationship which I suspect the situation might have is valid.

To the point, I am (or was) uncertain whether either I or one of my familiar spirits was making someone sick. I wouldn't have been concerned except for the fact that I hate this person, and don't want them tied to me after death. I did realize, though, just before I was about to post this -- that this guy probably has collected a lot of ill will over the years...so it isn't as though what's going on with him, if it is magical, has of necessity anything to do with me.

If you don't want to read the elaboration on this, there's a question at the end of the post. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s --> The only one remaining. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->

I have a family member who has taken in a very, very old man. As he ages, his health declines. Pretty much nobody likes him (seemingly including said family member), but he's continually invited to family functions (likely out of pity), where he proceeds to be gross in multiple senses of the term, make people uncomfortable, and attempt to draw attention to himself.

I'm cutting out a large swath of details here as to how he is gross and why I, in particular, dislike him.

Anyhow, this family member -- cannot, apparently, say "no," to this person. And she also, apparently, doesn't care that he makes other family members uncomfortable. She now knows the latter, and I know she knows this; this is after years of her being willfully ignorant.

It's to the point where it's like the only way we're going to be rid of this person is if he dies. Which brings me to the point that his health is deteriorating to the extent that I now consider him a public health hazard.

The problem as it stands right now is that this guy has some really nasty health problems going on, and I'm not sure anyone actually knows what they are, which to me is sounding like a curse. Or, you know, a really weak immune system that's allowing unknown diseases to crop up. Of course, it's not like I'm the only person who might have had the will or ability to curse him, either -- he's been a butt for (a lot) longer than I've been alive.

The question that was initially in my mind was whether my extreme distaste for him was contributing in a more than mundane way to his decline...but maybe I got that partially right: "more than mundane" is happening, "connection with my loathing" is not.

I have not made the effort to cast any spells or curses in his direction. I am not consciously, intentionally, throwing out energy lashes in his direction, though I have no good thoughts towards him. I'm trying as best I can to erase him from the "things that matter" portion of my consciousness when I have to be around him (which is the only way I can feel safe, which in turn is the only way I can have my extended family back).

I know that Snake is helping me with feelings of security when I have to be around him (such as when he comes to my house)...I just don't know if some other incorporeal spirit who sympathizes with my situation is attacking him on their own. Or, on the other hand, if a different incorporeal spirit from outside my circle is attacking him, and I'm just a witness.

I haven't entirely cast off the belief in karma that I obtained from Buddhism (though I have consciously cast off a lot else)...my initial concern was just that he would mess with me after he was dead, but there's the fact also that he's likely made a lot of enemies.

Thinking on this further, I'm not sure I have anything to really be concerned about, because even after this guy dies, even if he wants to be, he may not be a direct threat, so far as my own health and safety is concerned.

Question:
1) Is there a way to get this guy to stay away without direct confrontation (before or after death)?

Personally, I'd just use basic wards and shields to keep "hostility" out.

Problem...it may be simple to someone who's studied magic, but every time I begin to study it (magic[k]) I get some rather scary synchronicities. Last time this occurred, I reached the hypothesis that this could be because I'm not ready for it yet (though that reaction could have been because I was into the demonish stuff and synching up with Samael -- a different energy than the energy I was seeking)...I have not had this reaction to energy work yet so far, though.

Is there a direction, even if it's one I began and then left off (unfortunately, like the energy work...), where I could find ways of making wards and shields, that won't frighten me? I recall from way back, psipog...I also have Practical Psychic Self-Defense by Robert Bruce, which I haven't looked back into yet, but will. I suppose I could also experiment...the thing is that I want to experiment as cautiously as I can so that I don't attract random nasty energies (I've had to deal with the latter before, but had no defenses but my "spirit" friends and what they taught me).

I'd rather build up slowly and be safe, than jump in and have to put extreme efforts into controlling my own thoughts because some idiot-in-spirit thinks it's funny to screw with my mind and freak me out.

Things to keep in mind, also:

1) I tend to sync up easily with what I'm surrounded by.
2) I'm most comfortable at this point when not aligned with a God/dess.
3) I have a mental illness...a serious one...and everything I've read so far that expressly had to do with magic recommends that the mentally ill not tinker with magic or drugs. I have to be on drugs (medications) to make it easier to direct my mind, mundanely. Dion Fortune states that the trouble comes from the brain (physical) not being able to handle the power of the psyche (spiritual, if I'm recalling right). And it's worse if one actually happens to be psychic (more than normal spiritual capacity) and the brain is so far underpowered...even for a normal person...that it really can't handle it. I think she used the metaphor of having an engine too powerful for one's frame.

She makes no distinction between abuse of psychotropic street drugs and monitored use of legal psychoactive medications; neither does anyone else I've read. I'm also not sure of the matrix of thought that was going on at the time...she wrote at a time when "hysteria" still seemed to be a diagnostic label.

So this, plus the reactions I've sensed in myself (fear that if spiritual reality can affect my life in a disproportionately beneficial way, the reverse is also true), plus my lack of mental control (possibly...or probably...caused by having an open door to spirit influences, good or bad) have caused me to actively avoid learning about magic so as not to arm myself and be a loose cannon. Before you hold a gun it's best to be able to control where your arm's pointing, so to speak, even when someone's pulling it to point where you don't want to point it.

I have been told, today, that everything that's going on with this guy is complications from shingles. Which at least explains some things, but the guy's still...nasty.

I agree with Miniar; basic wards. Don't think that you can't do them because you haven't studied enough, they're very simple, and once you lay a base it'll be easier to carry on with other things. Smudging the house with sage is simple enough, there's even smokeless smudges you can use if running around the house with a burning stick of weeds is out of the question. Hanging rue above the door is a cute decor accent AND a simple little charm to keep bad stuff out. Witches bottles cover just about everything and are easy to make. A sprinkle of salt where he last stood, or even a hotfoot if you don't mind a little hoodoo.
Very easy to do, not aimed at anyone inparticular (except for the last two) and reasonably effective.