Rule Number One.
If you, for any reason, find that you need to cast a circle for whatever it is you are doing (ritual, binding, protection, etc), do NOT under ANY circumstances LEAVE THE CIRCLE!!!
Rule Number Two
When in small groups of inexperienced people in unfamiliar turf at night, don't try to summon anything unless you're certain it won't come back to haunt you later. You might think it's cool or don't believe anything might happen, but there is a school of thought that defines magic as changing probabilities... and we don't want any increased probabilities of something horrible happening like car accidents, inexplicable bouts of madness, etc.
Rule Number Three
Don't mock the dead. They don't like it. And please remember that these people were once somebody's family members.
Rule Number Four
When you are doing something occultish, and you get an inexplicable cold breeze or shiver down your spine, and you have a really bad feeling about something, please trust your instincts. You have them for a reason.
Rule Number Five
If you're going to do a ritual or try to talk to a spirit, or so on, generally as a whole I would think that controlled substances and alcohol in excess are a really, really horrible idea.
Rule Number Six
Well this is more of a polite suggestion, but I'd hope that it would get certain individuals thinking about personal responsibility. Please, if somebody does not want to know about the occult, leave them out of it. They have a right to ignorance.
Also, if there is anything that bothers you that you are afraid you can't handle, this rule of ignorance also applies. One of our biggest weapons against the incorporeal (at least) is our ability of disbelief.
Rule Number Seven
If some spirit says it is a demon or an evil spirit, don't trust it. It might claim to be your friend, but let's be honest, the only real interest it might have in you is to control you, use you as a pawn, or to get something from you. Anyone who thinks after the first time of getting screwed that it doesn't mean you any harm should probably get some help. I don't mean psychological help, I mean some serious, soul-searching, chakra healing help. You might have an energy imbalance that makes you attracted to that kind of danger, and that is so not a good thing.
When you open yourself up to spirits, the bad come with the good, and usually, it seems like the bad care about those just starting out more than the good ones do. If you get a bad vibe, or a friend gets a bad vibe, reevaluate the circumstance and get the hell outta dodge. If you encounter this sort of spirit, refer to Rule Number Four. Subsequently, if you ignore Number 4, you may have to consult Number 2.
Now, let's define EVIL so that none of us are confused.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evilwikipedia
Evil is a term describing that which is regarded as morally bad, intrinsically corrupt, wantonly destructive, inhumane, or wicked. In most cultures, the word is used to describe acts, thoughts, and ideas which are thought to (either directly or causally) bring about affliction and death ? the opposite of life...
A similar term, malice (from the Latin malus meaning "bad"), describes the deliberate intent to harm and be harmful. "Evil", by contrast, tends to represent a more elemental concept; a disembodied spirit that is natural and yet abominable. Whereas "malice" is specifically concerned with the act itself, "evil" is the cause of a malicious act.
While I will say that "malicious" is not the same as "evil", it still does not go without saying that just because you make the distinction and separate the terms, that the spirit may. Remember wantonly destructive and causing affliction? Something evil may not want to harm a certain person, but that does not mean that they won't if the opportunity presents itself. The key is to not let that happen by avoiding the situation as thoroughly as possible.
Rule Number Eight
Never let anyone who claims to be "better than" or "more experienced" than you tell you how you must think or be. Just because someone has offered to be your teacher doesn't mean that they won't take advantage of the situation. It also doesn't mean that they actually know what they're talking about. Do your own research, and if anything this supposed person says throws you off or seems wrong to you, do your own research and speak up for yourself. There are some cases where sick people will call themselves "Wiccan" or "Pagan" or even an occultist when all they want to do is take advantage of or get a chance to sexually harass children. These people are sick and are not a part of this way of life, nor do they represent even a large minority within these groups. But it does happen. Every group has its bad apples. Refer to Rule Number Four and get your butt away from a person like this. And tell your parents or a police officer if anyone ever tries to do that kind of thing to you, even if this so-called mentor claims that "this is the way it is done" or that you won't be initiated until you do what said person says. This is not true. Do not fall for this sort of thing... they do not care about you. See Rule Number Seven under evil and malicious.
Rule Number Nine
When dealing with the supernatural, always be prepared for what you think you may be dealing with. Be extra prepared, even. Always go in groups or at least tell people where you're going, try not to go into bad neighborhoods.
Here are some things to keep handy:
Flashlight for night adventures with extra useable batteries.
Disposable camera, you can buy one at Wal-Mart for 3 bucks most of the time.
Cell phone or money for a pay phone. Camera phones are even better.
Hiking attire: heavy boots or thick, closed-toe shoes, jeans, a jacket, bug repellant, an extra pair of socks (never know when you'll be wading through water).
A very small, flip knife with a blade no larger than your pinkie finger. Pepper spray is a good alternative to the knife.
Sea salt (you can buy this in the seasonings isle next to iodized or table salt). It must be sea salt. Do not take pepper, even though it is a good laugh (ghosts respond oddly to pepper, but it does repel most faeries).
A pen and a piece of paper or notebook (you never know).
Two books of matches or a lighter (lighter preferred in case of rain).
A bottle of water for every person on the trip (dehydration does weaken you significantly).
Chewing gum (not vital, but good when you're nervous and it beats chewing on fingernails).
A watch. I prefer a mechanical pocketwatch because other watches use crystal batteries, and I've experienced my watch failing right over a rift of energy.
Ballcap or any other sensible hat (ticks are a problem where I live).
A small, inexpensive, lightweight bag to put all of this in. You can put this in the trunk of your car or just keep it in your closet for when you do need it. If you're ghost hunting, you can add your equipment to this bag. Camera and tote bags and backpacks are great for this.
Other hints:
Go in groups, even a group of two is better than going alone.
Always make sure somebody knows where you are just in case something happens (not so much supernaturally as much as bad people).
Go in larger groups in bad neighborhoods if you MUST go into a bad neighborhood.
Make sure you have enough gasoline or money to get more to make the trip there and back.
Use common sense. Refer to Number 4.
Make sure that what you're doing is not illegal or you won't get shot for going on somebody's property.
Be safe, be cautious. If a haunted house is falling apart at the seams and it's particularly windy, don't go inside. Take a peek in the windows or climb a tree to see inside. Don't risk your neck just for curiosity's sake.
If you're camping out or in the wilderness, bring a map and put it in a waterproof case and a compass. No Blair Witch reenactments, people.
Don't vandalize or destroy things. Leave it pretty much as you found it.
Don't take grave dirt home. You don't need a souveneir when you have a camera.
Rule Number Ten
Never pay for some piece of equipment, etc if you can find it or make it cheaper somewhere else. There's no reason why doing this sort of thing has to cost a lot of money.
Rule Number Eleven
Don't believe every book or movie you see. It may seem reasonable, but the writer could just be looking to make an extra buck. And obviously, Hollywood is... hollywood. It's not supposed to be accurate.
Look around Wikipedia, which is oftentimes a very credible source. Often when a topic is disputed, there is a sideforum devoted to debate about the said topic. It's a bit difficult to read and not exactly user-friendly, but it does point some things out very nicely.
Pick up a couple other books on the topic. Search the web. Shop a little harder, and when you don't know what else to do, ask on this forum! icon_whee.gif
Others are allowed to add their help tidbits, too.
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