Meditation: Mettā As A Protection Spell

The Buddhist practice of lovingkindness (mettā) was originally given to a group of monks who were afraid (of troublesome spirits) while meditating deep in a forest. When they went back to the forest and meditated on love, the spirits became protectors. Lovingkindness can be a kind of protection spell for us too, both in the traditional way, where we call on helpful spirit forces to protect us from harm, and in the more psychological way where we settle our hearts from habitual fear and anxiety.