My friends have talked of visiting an abandoned insane asylum on the weekend before Halloween. I wish to go with them not to contact spirits but rather to take notes on watch draws a spirit to clinging to their last hopes. However before I go I wish to prepare defense against any other less desirable spirits if they exist in this place. What's I would like is opinions on even going at all to this place and how to prepare simple protective charms. Thank you for the help!
Going to any place like that has inherant risks that you will need to consider. First off, the place is likely in disrepair and/or partially deconstructed. Things like open elevator shafts, missing ot loose handrails, water damage, broken glass, loose abandones equipment, etc are all potential hazards especially when working in the dark. And, spiritually speaking there are risks of having a negative entity or two try to glomp on to you. For some it might be a malicious intent. for others it might be out of a sense of desperation and a need to acess energy or even just feel a bit of a human connection again. bear in mind that places tend to also pick up on the emotions and activities of their function over time. so a place like an insane asylum, with a history of negative mindsets experiences and events, is going to be fairly rough on the senses on its own.
Ultimately it is up to you and how you feel about the potential risk versus potential reward, no one else can really tell you if you should go or not. Personally I would jump at the chance to have such an experience regardless of potential spiritual risks. In fact in most cases the idea of a place having potent energy and beings present is more of a draw than anything.
Preparedness is key. You have almost a month so if you decide it is worth the risk, and you can get in there legally (no hopping fences young'un! *waggles a finger*) do some research. Find out the nature of the asylum. if it was always an asylum or if it had been repurposed into other roles. Find out about any significant events in or around the building. and, most importantly, arrange a daylight walkthrough with the property caretakers to go top to bottom so they can point out any potential sources of risk. Make sure you are familiar with the property enough that you can navigate it in the dark. It would also be wise to pack a small first-aid kit, flashlight with spare batteries, and a portable cell charging stick. It is a common trend for batteries to get sucked dry when paranormal stuff is happening.
As far as preparation for more spiritual concerns, a lighter and some sage or cedar would be handy. If you start feeling overwhelmed with negativity head outside, give it a light, and do a personal cleansing. Otherwise a small box of salt wouldn't go amiss if you need to draw a circle in a pinch. And maybe look for and write down a couple of choice protective prayers or affirmations that you feel a strong connection to.
And, regardless of your experiences, at the end of the visit, do a personal cleanse to release any clinging energies before you leave the edge of the property. you don't want to take anything home with you.
Any time. I admit I'm kind of jealous over the opportunity you have as well! The city I'm in doesn't have many places of interest when it comes to the spiritual or supernatural.
I vote that if you capture anything interesting you get it posted up somewhere! ^_^
I would also recommend you NOT go on the day of Halloween. Places like that tend to be a hot spot for undesirables of both the mortal and supernatural kind. Take something to protect yourself (I recommend pepper or bear spray, and at least one knife or taser-- something you feel comfortable handling, and can legally carry in your area), and personal identification, as the police tend to patrol areas like that heavily on nights like Samhain. On top of that, a first aid kit, two sources of light, a signal whistle-- standard urban exploration gear.
Also, make sure several people know you're going, like friends our parents. People who have an interest in your well-being, and would actively get involved should you not turn up afterward.
