Question: "How about maintaining protections. Refreshing and keeping alive front door, window, etc charms and helpful spirits".I am going to be completely honest and say that I may not be the best person to tackle this subject. My own personal practice does not put to much emphasis on maintaining a lot of protection. I keep one broom/evil eye charm by the front door of my home that I do no upkeep on. I have protection included in my mojo hand, that I of course feed on a regular basis. I actually keep no charms specifically for protection in my altar room, but instead charge the spirits that I work with to that task.
Basically any protection that I make is geared toward to repelling any spirit that mas malicious intent, that includes those still housed in a corporeal being (i.e. a person). I really don't put much focus on protection, because I really don't worry too much about being susceptible to attacks, especially magical attacks. My advice is to have one good charm or form of protection for your whole house, I don't think it is out of the realm of a spells reach to protect front, back, and all areas of the house simultaneously. Keep some form of protection that you can carry with you as you see fit. Of course prayers as Psalms can work for both home and personal spiritual protection. Finally ask the spirits that you maintain relationships with to keep an eye out for you. Putting your spirits to work for you is the best protection that you can have. Whatever you do, it is best to be consistent with it, but don't obsess over it or feel that moment that you don't maintain your defense that the forces of darkness are going to swoop in and carry you to the 9th circle of hell or something.
I don't worry too much, because I know that at the very least my ancestors have my back in the small likelihood that I am attacked. I also train for self defense for the occasion where that might fail. To me, going overboard with protection is like wearing full body armor everyday because you may get shot. Doesn't seem to be worth the hassle. I know there are some that put much more emphasis on this in their own practice, and I don't knock it. There are some that are involved in communities, and circles where magical attack is very common, and something that needs to be prepared for. If that is the case with anyone reading, I say by all means be prepared, or hey remove yourself from circles full of such petty people. I tend to keep to myself and have yet to find the need to engage in magical battle. I hope to keep it that way. There is my two cents.
