First off, happy Autumn to all of you out there.  Here's hoping that this next season will find us all happy and sharing our wealth with loved ones.  Secondly, for all of you riding out hurricane Rita, I pray that you all will stay safe and well. 

In all my years (not that I'm all that old) that I've studied magick, I've been taught that it is useless to try to stop a storm; you can only delay it or convince it to change direction.  Trying to stop the storm would be great, but it is widely believed that Nature needs to rage and arguing with Her will only make her hit harder.  The best thing to do is run for shelter, of course.  The next best thing is, while boarding up your home and safe guarding your prized possessions by ordinary means, you can cast spells for protection.  The following are a few spells I've dug up out of various books with a few variations and spells I've created based on much older ones that have helped people (that I know of).  Again, I should say that magick isn't the only means of protection you should make in preparation for surviving a storm.  Do all the normal things you're supposed to and back it up with magick for the best possible results!  Or do your magick first and back it up with the usual precautions you take before a storm.  Whatever works best. ;)

Protective Symbols to Place Over Windows & Doors

Use black marker or paint on the wood shuttering your windows and draw the following signs:

In fact, any symbol that's inclosed by a circle, a cross, or star have long been associated with protection.  For added emphasis on the interior of your home, take some olive oil, say a prayer over it to charge it with power, and draw the symbols above in the oil over each door and window.

The Magnolia Leaf Prayer

This one was handed down to me when I lived in Tornado alley.  During a storm that threatens to be severe, hold a magnolia leaf in your right hand, make the sign of the Cross (if you're Christian or Catholic) or a pentagram (if you're Pagan) over yourself while holding the magnolia leaf, and repeat the Lord's Prayer or Witch's Rune*. While praying, imagine the winds of the storm bending around your house, leaving you spared from destruction.  If you can't get a hold of a magnolia leaf, Bay, Mistletoe, or Cedar leaf are just as good a subsititute.  These plants have long been used as protection and seem to help calm the senses as well.

*Don't know the Witch's Rune?  Here's how it goes:

Darksome night and shining moon
East and south and west and north
To each we sing the witch's rune
To call the ancient power's horn

Cup of water, airy sword
A pentacle to touch the earth
Firey wand all in accord
Lady guide us to rebirth

Cord and cencer, scourge and knife
Aparapa witch's creed
Wakened by ye into life
Come ye as the charm is made

Queen of heaven, queen of hell
Ancient huntress of the night
Join us as we sing the spell
Our love and pleasure are your rite.

By all the powers of land and sea
By the might of moon and sun
As i will, so mote it be
Chant the spell and be it done.

When chanting the Witch's Rune, you can vary it with your request for help!

Wiccan House Protection Sachet (by Scott Cunningham)

In a white cloth place Cedar, Mistletoe, and Bay Leaf together and tie them up with white yarn.  While tying up these items, say a prayer.  Next hang this up in the highest place in your house. 

The Old Shoe Method (another one by Scott Cunningham)

Find an old leather shoe and stuff it with these protective objects: needles, pins, nails, broken glass, tacks, and scissors.  Add to the shoe Rosemary, Basil, Fern, Bay, Mistletoe, and Cedar.  While filling the shoe, envision white protective light encircling your house.  Next hang the shoe in the attic or basement and say these words:

I place this charm of power
To guard by home from this hour!

The Witch's Bottle

This protective charm has so many variations by so many different cultures, that I'll just give you the simplest version here.  The key ingredient is an old empty glass bottle or jar with a lid or cork.  Fill the bottle with Rosemary needles, Pine needles, safety pins, tacks, coffin nails (if you can't find any, just use regular nails), broken glass, and porcupine needles; basically anything sharp you can get your hands on.  Next (and this is going to sound weird, but you'll see why it's called for later) get your husband or other man of the house to piss into the bottle but don't fill it up, just a little bit will do.  After the urine, fill the rest of the bottle with dark wine and say something like the following:

Pins, needles, rosemary, piss, and wine;
As long as there are Gods above,
No harm shall come to me and mine!
Against all danger and enmity;
With me stand all Lords of Love
And by Our Will, it shall be done!

Visualize all the things you put into the bottle doing just that; protecting you, your family, friends, pets, house, etc.  Then place a cork or lid on the bottle and drip wax from a black candle around the seal.  Bury the bottle at the farthest southern corner of your property or land.  The Witch's Bottle is used to dispell all evil influences, not just protect you from a bad storm.  The sharp objects impale evil, the piss repells it (just think of a wolf or dog marking its terrority), the wine drowns it, and the rosemary sends it faraway.

Shelter from the Storm Lavender Charm

One thing to think of is keeping your nerves calm while riding out a storm.  During a tornado or hurricane, while you're shuttered up in the basement with only the light of candles or a flashlight huddled up with your family can be the perfect time to pray and work magick together.  I've always thought that the muffled sounds of the storm outside while you are inside are most likely the scariest sounds you'll hear because you can't see what's going on and have no idea if the next bang or thud is part of your house falling apart.  To keep calm and keep your spirits up while the storm is raging outside, set up an oil burner and warm some Lavender oil (lavender is known the world over for its calming properties) or burn some lavender and sandlewood incense.  Next take some lavender oil and rub some of it in your hands (if you don't have oil, dried lavender flowers are just as good) and inhale the vapors of the plant.  As you exhale, repeat the following chant three times three:

Goddess gracious day and night

I am protected with all your might

Another tip is to wear a little sachet of lavender flowers over your chest so the scent of the plant can help you keep your nerves level.  The lavender also helps in aiding sleep and keeps stale, musty smells at bay while you're stuck in cramped quarters with other nervous people!

A Protection Gris-Gris Bag

A Gris-Gris (pronounced "GREE-GREE") or "medicine" bag (also known as a lucky Mojo or Wanga bags) are important in all of Voodoo, Witchcraft, and other magical practices.  The bag itself should be a little leather one that you can hang from a cord around your neck or (and I've seen some Texans do this) can be hung from your belt on your wallet chain.  The charms placed in the bag can number from one to thirteen, but never should there be an even number of them.  One, three, five, seven, nine, or thirteen are generally believed to be most lucky.  Gris-Gris bags are used to attract money, love, or to provide protection.  The kind I'll be talking about tonight is the kind you wear for protection and therefore the charms placed in the bag are the very ones that are associated with doing just that.  First the bag should be anonited with Ju Ju oil or High John the Conquerer Root oil by a Witch or Priest.  Next the bag should be filled with an odd number of the following herbs, gems, and other items for added protection...

Herbs: Basil, Mistletoe, Mustard Seeds, Patchouly, Poke root, Rue, Rowan, Marjoram, Mint, Lemon Verbena, Dill, Balm Gilead Buds, Five Finger Grass, Frankincense, Agrimony, Myrh, Wood Betony, Angelica Root, Anise Seed, Ash tree leaves, Cedar leaves (to name a few)

Gemstones: Tiger's Eye, Onyx, Bloodstone, Jasper

Medallions of Saints: St. Anthony (saint of miracles), St. Jude (patron of difficult cases), St. Christopher (protector of travelers), St. Martin (defender of the poor), or St. Francis (helps the sick and poor).  Another medallion to use (especially if you're Catholic) is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and/or St. Michael who carries the sword of compelling force.

Other Items: Rabbit's feet, Scarabs, a small pewter cross or crucifix, salt, photographs of your children, a lock of your lover's hair, nail clippings, tiny pentagram, Seal of Soloman, feathers; or whatever symbol(s) that connect you to things that have brought you love and luck.

You should wear the little Gris-Gris bag at all times and let it be your personal charm to help you overcome obstacles.  Think of it as a prayer that you wear!

That's all for now.  Hope you all enjoyed what I had to share with you tonight!