Spiritual Cleansing: A Handbook of Psychic Protection

by Draja Mickaharic

This book is a manual of psychic first aid, written to help you clean your spiritual atmosphere and to protect yourself in your environment. Everyone, at some time or another, has met an individual who seems to be surrounded with negativity, or has visited a place that seems imbued with "bad vibrations." Removing these negative vibrations is what spiritual cleansing is all about. Within this book you will be able to solve most of the problems of day to day negativity that may be encountered with people, places and things. It teaches how to clean away the psychic drudge in your environment, how to clean the previous tenant's vibrations out of your house or apartment, how to cleanse your own aura. The author's "household formulas" includes recipes for herb, nut and flower baths for healing, reducing tension, increasing mental acuity, bringing love into your life, or even for economic improvement. He shows how to use incense and flowers to sweeten the home and clear the air after arguments. He also discusses ways of using sea salt to help invalids or children, and the efficacy of eggs to ease physical pain and for protection while asleep.

Genres: Occult, Magic, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Magick, Paganism

97 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

"Draja Mickaharic was born on Wednesday, April 10, 1912 in Bosnia where his father, an Austrian, was a civil servant employed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He arrived as an immigrant to the U.S. on March 12, 1937, just at the beginning of World War II. He later became a U.S. citizen in 1940. He lived in New York City until 2002, when he moved to Philadelphia to stay with a former student. Since then, and for many decades afterward, he has resided in the United States. For years, he has practiced as a consultant on Occult and other matters, but is now retired. Now he is devoting what time he has left to writing and relaxing in front of the TV, so he no longer consults or does work for others. He writes on the topic of occultism and magic. His work features a unique, eclectic, and practical blend of Eastern European and Caribbean folk magic, with strong touches of hoodoo, obeah, and brujería."
"The occult seemed to have interested him from a relatively young age, and he’s produced copious volumes on various magical themes. Despite his Old World roots, most of his magical writings focus on New World systems, such as Caribbean, Southern, and Mexican folk magic."

Reviews

[Keshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever suspected that you were a victim of spiritual warfare, pschic vampires, or absorb the negativity of others and want to add some arsenal to your already established armour (bible and prayer) this book is for you. It complements any religious practice and references bible verses.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn't explicitly for the magical practitioner, so much as its for a lay person, but nonetheless I was impressed by the thorough attention to detail and focus that the author provided. The author covered a variety of techniques and its fair to say that even experienced magicians could get a lot out of this book. What I liked the most was that it was very easy to follow the instructions provided. I'd recommend this book to any practitioner as a resource guide for magical and psychic cleansing techniques.

[Pretentia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting view into cleansing practices from different cultures and believes. It written in a detached way. It would be more interesting to know more about the whys, and it does come off a little condescending at times as the author makes it clear that they believe people should use these practices but can hardly be expected to really understand them.

[Ini · Rating 3 out of 5]

fast informative read

[Paranormal Healing Project Avalona · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this age of information overload, it can be difficult to discern which cleansing techniques are of greater use to a spiritual healer. I live in New Mexico and have connected with a number of curanderas, many of whom use techniques similar to Draja's.

What I love about this book is the wealth of information he shares with self-taught practitioners and experts alike. For instance, I used the walnut bath (for spiritual cleansing) after dissolving a romantic relationship. Because I'm an empath, at that time I was uneducated in psychic vampires and energetic relational cords. However, the results were just as effective.

Following the instructions for this walnut bath, I found great relief from my ex's negative vibrations. And he never attempted to contact me after that cleansing ceremony. I also lost 20 pounds within 3 weeks of a curanderismo healing & walnut bath. It is common for psychically sensitive people to gain weight as a form of protection from others' intrusive energy & negativity. These spiritual cleansing techniques made a very positive difference in my life -- both spiritually and physically.

I recommend this book for anyone hoping to learn more about self protection and spiritual home cleansing. The author calls his book a manual on "spiritual first aid" and I'd have to agree. For anyone ready to take back her/his power, this book shows how to use herbs, water, eggs, incense, and other natural elements to reduce environmental drama and increase harmony within the home. There's even a short section on cleansing and spiritually protecting pets, which we often overlook as pet owners.

With so many cleansing baths, limpia (egg) suggestions, and floral floor washes, this manual on traditional techniques is an enjoyable way to learn about raising our personal and environmental vibrations (and ultimate happiness!).

[Giovanni · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

Basically a cook-book of baths and other methods to spiritually cleanse yourself, with little explanation on how/why they work and no comments on how to create/customize the baths (the author is very against it); also, all the baths require that you have a bathtub to fully imerse yourself, so if you don't own one, you can't do them. A lot of the cleansing techniques are on a "superstition"-like level. My problems with this book are: (1) it feels like that the book's targeted to someone who follows a structured religion (like Christianism and Judaism); (2) most of the cleasing techniques feels like cultural appropriation from folk people from Europe and latin american countries and (3) the author has some very condescending colonialist ideas, which I quote: So-called primitive cultures have such a close tie to the concept of ritual [...] that conversion to the Christian faith is usually quite acceptable to them. This is the real reason why Christianity made such great headway among the "pagans", both in ancient and modern times. The "pagans" felt that Christian God must be more powerful than their own, and chose to adopt it.

I'd not recommend this book if you're latinx and/or have european heritage. Your grand-parent probably knows all this stuff already, go ask them.

[Ashley Rheiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has quite a few recipes for incenses, baths, washes, etc., but the effect is spoiled by the constant nagging about “Don’t do this unless you’re trained” that really comes off as unnecessary. This is one of those authors that believes only the initiated should be doing spiritual work of any kind and I have never been able to get behind that belief. Your guides and belief system will guide you to what is necessary for you, initiated or not. True, you shouldn’t just mix and use stuff for the fun of it without awareness of what you’re doing but it’s not the end of the world he’s claiming it is.
All in all, I’m rather disappointed in having spent $15 on this book, but I’m not giving up on a more spiritual me in 2020.

[Vin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction is clear that this book isn’t for people familiar with the occult but rather the casual reader interested in cleaning themselves in a spiritual sense. I don’t disagree with the information but I feel like there could have been a lot more in-depth dissections on the rituals and history. This book is essentially the grocery store clinic of cleansing books - you’re getting a fifteen minute, impersonal run down on how to fix a small problem that you’re not terribly informed on. I would only recommend this to people who want to do spiritual cleansing but in the most removed and uninvolved way possible. 2 1/2

[Onyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Practice of Magic, but good nevertheless.
I think the information is a little dated...after all, the book was written in 1982...but nevertheless, it has some useful ideas that could be considered. However, the last chapter was kind of downbeat...if you're looking for a true spiritual practitioner, after reading this book, you're not left with much hope...probably even less now than in the '80's.

[Amethyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two ways to look at this book. One, it is a must for beginners who have need of several methods of accomplishing spiritual cleansings for self and others. And, it points out the necessity for learning how to use psychic protection. Two, it is a good review for advanced practitioners, to think of other options, dust off some old tricks, and to remember that even the mighty need to "clean house".

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic magical text. Clear information straightforwardly presented in an unpretentious manner.

[Thor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic as it should be. Bare bones, good explanations to help you understand why you are doing what you are doing. No mumble jumble. Good clean magic!

[JoJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who wants to learn psychic self defense, cleaning out the psychic crud left on us by lesser humans and astral beings ;-)

[Ambrosio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little book of cleansing rituals for yourself and your house. Quite interesting to read.

[Amélie Fontaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm half through it and altough i see its value (and also like that he refers to Dion Fortune's Psychic self-defense, which i loved), i find the tone of the author a bit annoying.
Like another reader mentionned, he's constantly advising not to experiment, which comes off as
a paternalistic and dogmatic philosophy to my taste...
If someone is uninterested in further study and wants a recipe book to follow, that might work, but i do believe any one of us is capable of doing research, using our critical minds and not be doomed doing so. I'm not fond of the 'my way is the only way' kind of mindset.

Also note that the author puts a lot of emphasis on christian practices and background, which could feel more or less relatable depending on your faith.That being said, if you can get passed that, there is good content in the book.

All in all, i have learned some stuff from this book, but i think it is to be taken with a grain of salt.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must-Have Book!

I have shared this book with several people.
If one believes the basic principle that they are a creation, and energy is created, then I highly recommend reading this book to educate ones self on how susceptible energy becomes to being missed when in the wrong environment. For a young adult who is learning their place in the Spiritual industry, as well as for the individual who is learning spirituality, this is such a great book to start with. Often we want things, but you need to learn how to protect the things you seek, Higher Self included!! This book does that and confirmed for me that I'm on the right path.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm conflicted on this one.
Large parts of it are dogmatic (don't do X because REASONS, but reasons I wont tell you) strongly christian in flavour (which is okay or not depending on your POV) and archaic morality.

Interspersed with several repetitive ideas are some ideas that *could* be applied in other contexts, and some straight up useful information and techniques.

It also has some very thoughtful and valid thinking points that should help people avoid exploitative charletons.

There is also the odd tidbit of information that I've never seen before.

The text style is easy enough and short enough to read quickly and mine for the parts you want to apply.

[Eva Amoroso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple book about Spiritual Cleansings. It’s a great book for those that are just beginning to delve into the Metaphysical. There are chapters on how to clear your home, spiritual baths, clearing your body using other items like a raw egg, incense or salt water. The author explains things very simply so all can understand. Recipes are easy to follow and most ingredients can be found in your kitchen. I recommend this book to all. It should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

[Megan Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't jive with me, personally. It is written in such a way as to make the reader feel that they "must" do something x, y, or z way in order to be correct, which greatly narrows the accessibility and adaptability of the methods offered within.

I'm glad I checked this one out, and I know this will for sure work for some folks. Just not my vibe. :)

[Beth Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book which deals with the root cause of spiritual attack, which is the need for spiritual cleansing. Like attracts like. Includes such things as floor washes, baths, and uses for eggs.

[Cinnimini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of info on different ways to cleanse yourself and your home.

[Roseanne]

Since I read Karen Kingston's book and I had this laying around, I thought I'd give it a try.

[Dave/Maggie Bean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll give this one two stars: It actually contains several authentic folk practices.

[Haylee Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. My only issue is that I would never use ammonia and moth balls in my home. A lot of info in here I am unable to utilize. I appreciate and respect the information though