I find that a lot of people forget safety when it comes to offering advice on what to do in magical and spiritual practices when said practices involve physical actions and tools. The subject is too broad to properly cover all in one post, so this is aimed a little bit more at "Stop and think before you do what you're doing." Is it a good idea? Go with it. Are there red flags or are you uncertain about something involved in any way at all? STOP. Research whatever is involved, ask for others' opinions, and follow your gut. Everything tastes good with a dash of common sense.
Some common areas that should involve safety;
The Physical Body
Are you ingesting anything? Make sure it isn't toxic and is edible.
Are you drawing blood? Research how to do it cleanly (like with alcohol swabs and diabetic lancets, then immediately covering up the wound).
Are you handling sharp objects? Always keep the sharp edge away from you and never point it at yourself.
Are you using anything that could be a fire hazard? Never leave fire or heated objects unattended. Even if you're careful or things never seem to go wrong, there is always a possibility of circumstances going wrong.
Are you going into an altered state? This is a big one that almost never gets talked about. While we do cycle through waking consciousness and altered states every single day, inducing it consciously means that you are entering a state where you do not have conscious awareness of your surroundings. If you can't get someone to watch over you, then make sure you are not putting yourself in a situation where you could get hurt if you lose physical control.
Are you fasting? We all have individual dietary needs and some people simply cannot go on a fast without jeopardizing their health. Always consult a physician or doctor to see if your body can handle a fast. For example, Type 1 Diabetics cannot produce insulin, which is what converts carbohydrates into blood sugar - something our bodies need within a healthy range. A fast for them would mess with their blood sugar levels in an unhealthy way by getting too low (which can cause diabetic coma) or spike their blood sugar when they do eat something with carbs in it (seriously, T1D can even get messed with by menstruation cycles). This just *one* example of many.
Are you using any sort of aerosol, smoke, or incense? Firstly, make sure something is safe to breathe before using it. Typically you'll want a decently ventilated area without tons of dust particles. I remember in Wood shop class, we couldn't have *anything* flammable because all of the wood chip particles would combust at the same time all over the room. If you do burn something, watch what you are going to burn as some things can contain chemicals that are unsafe.
How You Affect Others
What are you burning? Continuing with fire, make sure to watch what you burn and where you burn it. Some items can contain chemicals that are toxic in large commodities, including things like wooden planks that are meant for building. Also think about who else is affected by what you're bringing into the air - animals and children cannot tell you that something is toxic for them and you are responsible for their safety when you choose to take on an endeavor that affects more than just yourself.
Are there small children where you live? Some ritual items can be small and dangerous if handled improperly. Think about it like this. If the item were sold in retail, would it come with a hazard warning for children not to handle it? If so, keep it out of reach.
Do you have animals where you live? These guys like to get into things. Some will naturally stay away from ritual items, but you cannot count on that being the case. Same with small children, they can ingest things that are bad for them.
Do you give food offerings to local animals? Research what animals are in your area as some foods that are good for us are toxic for other little critters. If you still don't know, try contacting local wildlife services and asking what might be okay to set out. Consult a veterinarian before giving any food to your pet if you have one.
There are so many more things to think about that are important and I'd like for people to add them to this as we think of them so we have a central place to reference people if there are any questions. If you want t to leave a tidbit, that's fine. If you want to go into detail about why something is the way it is, that is also fine. Whatever anyone does, make sure sources are validated and cross reference them. There will always be more information on a subject than what is presented in a single source.
Be safe, please. <3
