How to Banish and Prevent Demons or Negative Entities

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Energy healing practitioner Joanna Cabot gives guidance on eliminating demons & improving your spiritual energy

Co-authored by Samantha Fulton, BA Reviewed by Joanna Cabot

Last Updated: June 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Expelling Demons
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• Warding Off Demons
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• Improving Your Energy
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• Reasons for Demons
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• Video
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• Q&A

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If you believe demons are invading your home, we’re here to help. While dealing with demons can be scary, there are steps you can take to defend your space. We’ve partnered with spiritual and paranormal activity experts to put together this guide on getting rid of demons. We’ll also provide proactive guidance on warding off demons and improving your energy. Plus… what exactly causes demons? Keep reading to find out some of the reasons you might have demons. Let’s dive in!

How to Get Rid of Demons in Your Home

Energy healing practitioner Joanna Cabot says to start by ruling out non-demonic causes for issues. If you believe you do have a supernatural entity, Cabot says to burn sage, say prayers or mantras, or play healing frequencies. You can also consult a priest or a spiritual medium to help you.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

How to Expel Demons

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   Confirm that there really are demons. It's possible to mistake ordinary problems for demons. Cabot advises checking your home for mundane things like plumbing or electricity issues before you proceed with trying to expel demons. She says if it’s recurrent and your plumber or electrician has been unable to fix it, it might be time to proceed with eliminating negative energies.

   • Similarly, check in with a therapist or doctor if you or someone you know suddenly starts experiencing unexplainable behaviors or hearing voices.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Joanna Cabot is an energy healing practitioner based in Saint Barthélemy. Her goal is to give her clients guidance, reassurance, insights, connection to their loved ones, and a more harmonious and peaceful life.

   Fr. Scott Bailey is a Catholic priest based in Denver, CO. He shares teachings and insights on his popular YouTube channel Risen Christ, and he’s known for his short, meaningful sermons.

   Dylan McElliott is a YouTuber based in Auburndale, Florida He creates content focused on investigating paranormal activity, visiting haunted sites, and researching other mysterious phenomena.
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   Burn sage to clear out demons. Make sure all the doors and windows are open so the demons can get out, then light the sage and let it burn for 30 seconds before you blow the flame out. Allow the sage to smolder and the smoke to cleanse the space of negative energy. “You can use anything that is made for a smudging or smoking ceremony, such as Palo Santo, sage,” notes Cabot.

   • Waft the smoke into the corners of the room including the nooks and crannies so the negative energy can’t accumulate there.
   • If you can’t smoke in your home or apartment, add a few drops of white sage essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water and mist the room.
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   Say a prayer to get rid of the demons. Whatever your religion, praying out loud can help you rid your space of demons. According to Catholic priest Fr. Scott Bailey, “Jesus says that certain spirits can only be cast out by prayer and fasting." Say the prayer over and over as you move through the space to ward off any evil spirits.

   • Psalm 23 is a popular verse to recite to radiate positive energy and drive the demons out.
   • Chant your own prayer or mantra that repeats a positive intention while also banishing any demons. For example, you could say something like, “No demons are welcome in this space, I command you to leave. This is a place of light and love.”
   • Cabot says you can also try meditation if prayer doesn’t align with your beliefs.
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   Play healing sounds and frequencies. Cabot recommends searching for clearing and healing sound vibrations on platforms like Spotify. She says clearing sounds are especially useful for those who may not be comfortable with meditation or prayer. Once you’ve found a good healing sound, play it as you move through the space. You can also find audio/video recordings of healing and clearing mantras online.
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   Repent and renounce. If you practice Christianity, you may need to repent to expel demons. Repentance involves prayer, confession, and a turn toward God. Following repentance, you typically renounce your sins and the influence of demonic or evil forces (i.e. Satan) by vowing to change your ways and turn away from sinful pursuits.

   • To repent, start by being honest with yourself about your sins and their consequences.
     • Have you gossiped, lied, or acted out of anger recently? If you’ve engaged in something that could harm you or someone else, you might need to repent.
     • If you're Christian, be aware of the Seven Deadly Sins (pride, greed, envy, lust, wrath, gluttony, and sloth). These are actions you might need to repent for.
   • Confess your sins. You can do this by directly apologizing to God through prayer, which involves acknowledging what you did and how you plan to change your ways. You can also go to confession with a priest to repent.
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   Bang pots and pans to scare away any demons in your home. Some people bang pots and pans together at the beginning of a new year to scare away the ghosts from the previous year. But you can also drive out any demons in your home by walking around the entire place banging pots and pans loudly.

   • Try repeating a mantra or prayer while you bang the pots and pans.
   • Warn all residents first so they can get ear protection or leave the area.
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   Sprinkle holy water around your home. Many people believe holy water will drive away demons. Call your local church and ask them if you can have a bottle of holy water. Sprinkle some of the water all over your home, making sure you get the corners and windows.

   Tip: If you can’t get holy water, say a prayer or repeat a mantra over a bowl of water to bless it.
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   Call a professional to help you get rid of the demons. Cabot says that it can be helpful to work with a spiritual medium who is specialized in clearing demons and negative entities. They can work with you to understand the history of your space, or help you determine if your negative entity is following you personally.

   • For example, a priest or healer may be able to pray over you to help you get rid of your demons.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Ward Off Demons

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   Avoid negative energy in your home. Cabot says that negative energy can come from things like dead flowers, broken mirrors, and certain antiques can carry negative energy. She advises keeping fresh flowers in the house to bring joy, happiness, and love into your space.

   • Negative energy can also come from the way you speak or interact with others. Cabot says arguing and constant complaining creates tension and can taint the energy of a space. Make sure to stay positive!
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   Charge cleansing crystals under the full moon. Crystals can bring fresh energy into a space, notes Cabot. She recommends using rose quartz, pyrite, or citrine. Crystals placed in the light of a full moon are said to absorb the energy and “recharge,” so make sure you charge your crystals once a month!

   • During the full moon, place the crystals on a windowsill or somewhere safe outside so they can absorb the moonlight.
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   Sprinkle salt in the corners of your house and doorways. According to Cabot, salt is a good source of protection against negative entities. Sprinkle salt in all of the corners in your home as well as the entrance to your home to keep demons from coming back and settling in.

   • Add more salt every couple of months so there’s always a small amount present.
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   Wear an item or talisman that is important to you to protect yourself. Crosses, necklaces, and other religious items can hold power and keep demons away if they’re important to you. Wear them to protect yourself and keep them around your home to keep demons from entering.

   • Wear your rosary to keep demons away.
   • Some examples include a crucifix on a wall or a dream catcher above your bed.
   • The item doesn’t have to be religious. For example, if a friend made a bracelet for you to protect you, that can work to get rid of demons, too.
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Improve Your Overall Energy

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1. 
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   Identify any negative thoughts to keep demons from gathering. Many people believe that demons feed off of negative energy. This means that you can get rid of demons by learning how to control your energy. That starts with recognizing any negative thoughts you may be struggling with. If you’re able to recognize them, then you can usually begin to counteract them.
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   Think positively to drive demons away. Whenever you identify or recognize that you’re having negative thoughts, try to replace them with positive thoughts. If demons feed off of negative energy and thoughts, try using positive thoughts to get rid of them!

   • For instance, if you’re looking in a mirror and you realize that you’re thinking something negative about yourself, try replacing it with something positive by focusing on what you do like about yourself.
   • Use positive affirmations like “I am worthy” or “I am enough” to counteract your negative thoughts.

   Tip: That doesn't mean you should hide from your problems. Take time to process or talk about your feelings without judging yourself or others harshly. Then think about how to make things better. Facing and working through your problems takes away their negative hold.
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   Fill your home and life with kindness, warmth, and support. Feelings of love, openness, and respect leave little room for evil. Try spending extra time being good to other people. This has positive effects both immediately and over time.

   • Things like passive aggression, excessive complaining, gossiping, or judging others invite negativity into your life, notes Cabot. Try working on respectful, assertive, and nonjudgmental behavior.
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   Meditate to control your emotions and take away power from demons. Practice meditation and clear your mind of negative emotional responses like fear or hate. Focus on a positive mental image, like a peaceful sunrise, so you can radiate positive energy.

   • Don’t let demons consume your thoughts by worrying about them all of the time, or you’re giving them exactly what they want: control over your mind.
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   Talk to someone about your negative thoughts so you can manage them. It may be helpful for you to talk to a priest, pastor, friend, or therapist about the negative thoughts that you’re having. They may be able to help you deal with them and keep them from becoming too consuming. It's normal to have difficult thoughts at times, but if they feel overwhelming, talking to the right person can help you.

   • Prayer is also a form of communication that may allow you to talk to a higher power about your negative emotions and thoughts.
   • Frequent and intense negative thoughts are sometimes a sign of mental illness like anxiety or depression. These are often treatable, so don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor and ask for help.

   Tip: If you’re having thoughts of suicide, reach out for help. Talk to a friend, family member, your doctor, or a therapist. If you’re in the US or Canada, you can call or text a Suicide Crisis Helpline by dialing 988.
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Section 4 of 4:

Possible Reasons Why You Have Demons

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1. 
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   Your energy could use some cleansing. Having a negative personal energy can lead to demonic entities. Cabot notes that entities can be attached to your energy and may follow you from place to place. If you’re carrying negative or stagnant energy with you, it might be time for an energy cleanse. You can use crystals or healing frequencies to cleanse your aura.

   • Remember to stay positive! Engaging in negative self-talk or being generally pessimistic can taint your aura.
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   The space you're in has demons, not you. It's possible the negative energy isn't about you at all, but the place you're in. Knowing the history of a space can help you understand where the demons might be coming from. Sometimes, demons or negative entities already exist in a space, says Cabot. You can work with a spiritual medium to understand the history of a space and whether there are demonic entities present from past events.

   • Use spiritual cleansing practices if you’ve recently moved into a new home. Burning sage, using protective crystals, or saying prayers or mantras can help to clear out any negative entities in a new space.
   • To maintain a lively energy in your space, use fresh flowers or houseplants to keep things extra vibrant. Try to keep good energy flowing with happy music, meditation, and a positive mindset.
   • Paranormal activity expert Dylan McElliott says that traumatic events can lead to hauntings. If something violent or traumatic occurred, such as a death, it can lead to demons in a space.
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   You need to engage with your spiritual or religious side. Have you been neglecting your spiritual or religious practice lately? If you follow Christianity, some people believe your demons could be coming from a weakness of faith or a need to engage with your spiritual side. Reflect on your life—the good and the bad—and repent through prayer to God or by attending confession with a priest.
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Cleanse Your Spiritual Energy with this Expert Series

Is your energy feeling off? Do you suspect that you've been targeted with negative energy? Read these expert articles to defend yourself and cleanse your aura.

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How to Banish and Prevent Demons or Negative Entities

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  What is a brown scapular?

  

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  A brown scapular is a Catholic devotional item comprising two small pieces of cloth connected by string, worn over your shoulders. It symbolizes your commitment to faith and devotion to Mary, providing spiritual protection. Various types of scapulars exist.

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  Am I experiencing trouble breathing because demons can hurt me?

  

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  Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing trouble breathing. These symptoms can also stem from anxiety or a panic attack, especially when you are worried about demons.

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  What should I do if I see or hear one?

  

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  Do not be afraid, and stand your ground, but do not attempt to fight it. Instead, calmly state, "I am not afraid of you. Leave this place." If religious, pray to your Higher Power for assistance; for example, Catholics might invoke Archangel Michael. Afterward, consider performing any cultural rituals for protection from evil.

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