Most people think curses are a thing of the past — or something that only exists in fairy tales — but curses can be real and affect our modern day lives. Really, a curse is just a specific intention for your misfortune that is aimed at you by someone else. There are many modern spiritual movements in which a curse might be a practice: Hoodoo, Voodoo, Wicca, and superstitions in Pennsylvania Dutch, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cultures. Curses are believed in by everyone from Christians who believe in literal aspects of the bible to even casual sports fans.

In witchcraft, a curse is specific adversity caused to you by a supernatural method like a spell or prayer. These spells can cause loss of money, material possessions or opportunities, feelings of anxiety, being “stuck” in life, illness or even death to you or your whole family. The worst thing about curses is that most people who have been cursed don’t even know it. You might be able to tell if suddenly it seems like everything is going wrong in your life or you find symbols of witchcraft in your home, find very personal items missing, if your plants or pets act weird or die, or if you begin seeing someone cursing you in your dreams. Fortunately, there is a way to check and find out for sure.

How to tell if I have a curse put on me

You can use a simple deck of cards to do a ritual that will tell you if you happen to be cursed. Remove the Jacks from the deck and shuffle mindfully, asking the question “have I been cursed?”

When the deck is shuffled place it face down and pull cards from the deck until you get to an ace, or until there are only 10 cards left in the deck then leave that pile face up. Repeat this process two more times so you end up with three face up piles.

If you ended up with no aces in your face up piles, congrats, you are not cursed. But, for everyone that has an ace showing, each ace is ⅓ chance you have been cursed. Three aces facing up is a definite sign you’ve had a curse put on you.

You won’t find out who cursed you, but at least now you can do something about it.

How to get rid of a curse

To get rid of (reverse) a curse, you will need to understand curse removal and curse breaking.

If you are interested in witchcraft, you can meet people who are more learned than you and read books about all the ways to protect yourself in the future, and remove the current curse on you.

If, however, you’d just like this one (1) curse gone without getting too much into it, please, there is a simple ritual for that, too. No magic beliefs required.

During a new moon (you can use any Thursday if you can’t wait for the new moon) at dawn, dusk, noon, or midnight draw yourself a bath. Get a cup or two of salt ready and say this prayer:

“In the names of my ancestors, my gods, and myself, I call upon thee, oh creatures of Earth and Water. Come forth, cleanse [name of target] of all evil and alien magicks, and restore [them, me, it] to balance and health. By our wills combined, so mote it be.”

Pour the salt into the bath. Get into the bath and relax for at least ten minutes. You should be calming yourself and making sure you are completely submerged in the salt water at at least one point. When you’re ready to get out, wash every single inch of your body so you are sure all the salt water has washed away.

When you’re done, say this prayer:

“I thank thee, oh creatures of Earth and Water, in the name of myself, my gods, and my ancestors. Be released to your homes, doing no harm on your way, and return to me with glad hearts when next you are summoned. By our wills combined, so mote it be.”

How to protect yourself from curses (banishment)

Once you’ve identified whether you have been cursed and gotten rid of any curse put on you, it’s good to know what proactive steps you can take to avoid being cursed again in the future.

[*] Be nice to others. Treat people fairly and with respect. Don’t make yourself a person that people are dying to curse.

[*] Practice good magic (if you practice magic). If you are a good witch, good magic will come back to you. If you curse others, curses will work easier on you. They will also find their way to you more often.

[*] Consider casting routine protection spells — not only to protect yourself from curses but from general evil and malevolent forces at large in the world.

Curses are definitely a part of our modern world, but they don’t have to be something you live in fear of unless you are routinely cursing other people (which, stop). Generally people who practice good magic and are happy and kind do not get curses put on them, and the curses they do get are less powerful because of their own inner vibration. Unless you’re in the high risk group (which, again, stop), burn some sage regularly and you’ll generally be fine.