Just before you go to sleep at night, fill a glass with water and place it at the head of your bed, so that it will be beside you when you sleep. This water is not drinking water... It is there to catch all the energy you don't want around you. This glass should never be used for drinking water. In the morning empty the water in the toilet and rinse out the glass three times, pouring the water used to rinse it into the toilet as well. When you flush it down, you are flushing away what was in the glass.

It doesn't matter what hand you use to draw the water, but in the morning you should use the hand opposite to the one you use to write with, to empty the glass. The symbolism of using this hand and this whole procedure is that you are refusing to take back what the water might have collected during the night.

If you feel that your sleep is particularly troubled, you can add some camphor to the water every night. The energy released by the dispersion of the camphor will assist in the dissipation of any thought forms. You don't have to use very much camphor - a few grains, or crumbs from a camphor mothball will do.

Any volatile substance placed in the corners of a room will assist in clearing the room of spirit influences.

• Mothballs and camphor are fairly safe.

• Turpentine poured in shot glasses can be place in the corners of a room slept in by an individual who is overly susceptible to nightmares, the effects of nature spirits, or the forces of nature.

• Acetone that has been colored with black India ink, can be placed in small closed bottles in the corners of a room to discourage spirit visitors. This discourages the spirit visitor by confusing his sense of direction.

• For peaceful rest, it's always good to fumigate your bedroom with incense. The best incense is a blend of frankincense and benzoin. It brings more spiritual and beneficial influences close to you as you sleep. They will keep more negative ones away.

• Burning sage or sandalwood incense clears a room of negative influences and energies.

• Sea salt water spray To clear the atmosphere of a room, mix a handful of sea salt with water in a spray bottle, and spray this in the air and on the floor around the room. Be sure to spray in the corners and around the windows and doors. This is a good method for clearing an office workspace.

To protect a room, you can go around the space to all the doors and windows, with your hands raised up, palms to the ceiling. Say a prayer and ask your guardian angels (and others), your spirit guides, and other good spirits, to come in and protect the space from negative influences.

Simply saying a prayer asking for protection is a useful method for protecting not only your physical self but also your space.