(Reish Lakish): If one does any of the following four things [which cause Ru'ach Ra'ah], he is responsible for his own death - moving his bowels between a date tree and a wall; passing between two date trees; drinking borrowed water; and passing over spilled wastewater, even if his wife spilled it in front of him.

If there are four Amos between a date tree and a wall, one may eliminate there (Shedim will not harm him for they can pass through);

Even if there are not four Amos, if there is another path there is no problem.

If Reshus ha'Rabim is between two date trees, one may pass between them (Shedim may not harm public thoroughfares).

If an adult borrowed water, one may drink it - it is problematic only if a child borrowed it;

Even if a child borrowed it, it is problematic only in the field, where water is scarce (Shedim fight fiercely for it), but not in the city, where it is plentiful.

Even in a field, only water is problematic, but not wine or beer.

If dirt was put on spilled wastewater or if one spit into it, one may pass over it;

If the sun shone on it or 60 feet passed over it, there is no problem.

If he is riding on a donkey or wearing sandals, there is no problem.

These leniencies are regarding Shedim, but where there is concern for witchcraft, they do not help;

A man was riding on a donkey and wearing sandals [and passed over wastewater] - his sandals and feet dried up.

(Beraisa): There are three things that [no one of them] should not be allowed to pass [between two men], and one should not pass between [a pair of] them - dogs, date trees and women;

Some say, also pigs; some say, also snakes.

Question: If one passed between them, what remedy is there for this?

Answer (Rav Papa): He should [say the verses that] begin with 'Kel' and end with 'Kel' ("Kel Motzi'am mi'Mitzrayim...; ...Mah Po'al Kel"; Maharsha - in the middle are allusions to Shedim and witchcraft - "Lo Nachash b'Yisrael...");

Alternatively, he should begin and end with 'Lo' ("Lo Ish Kel...v'Lo Yekimenu." Tosfos - we may not use Divrei Torah to heal, but we may use them to protect.)

If a Nidah walked between two men:

If she was beginning Nidah, this will cause one of them to die (some say that Esther invited Haman to the banquet in order to walk between him and the king, according to the opinion that she turned Nidah - Megilah 15A. Some say that she can kill one through witchcraft);

If she was at the end of Nidah, this will cause the men to quarrel.

Question: If she passed between them, what remedy is there?

Answer (Rav Papa): They should begin and end with 'Kel'.

If two women sit at the crossroads on opposite sides of the road facing each other, surely they are doing witchcraft!

Question: What should one do?

Answer: If there is another path, he should take it;

If not - if there is another man with him, they should walk through together;

If there is no other man, he should say 'Agra Azalta...' (an incantation; these are Shedim used for witchcraft, and it says they were already killed).

If one encounters a woman returning from immersing [to permit her to her husband], the first of them to have relations will receive a spirit of Zenus (illicit relations. Tosfos (Bava Metzi'a 84A) - R. Yochanan used to sit where women would see him after immersing - this is not called 'encountering'. Alternatively, it is a problem only if he sees her undressed.)

Question: What should one do?

Answer: He should say "Shofech Buz Al Nedivim va'Yas'em b'Sohu Lo Derech."

(R. Yitzchak) Question: What does it mean "Gam Ki Elech b'Gei Tzalmaves..." (the shadow of death)?

Answer: This refers to one who sleeps in the shadow of a lone date tree or in a moonlight shadow.

The shadow of a date tree is not dangerous if the shadow of another date tree reaches it (Shedim will go to the other tree);

Question: A Beraisa teaches that if one sleeps in the shadow of a lone date tree in a Chatzer or in a moonlight shadow, he is responsible for his own death - what is the case?

If the shadow of another date tree does not reach it, the same applies in a field!

Answer: The shadow of another date tree reaches it - nevertheless, it is dangerous in a Chatzer.

A moonlight shadow is dangerous only if it is western [at the end of the month, when the moon is in the east] - an eastern shadow [at the start of the month, when the moon is in the west] is no problem.

One who eliminates on a palm stump will be paralyzed;

One who leans his head on a palm stump will get a half-headache.

If one steps over a [fallen] palm tree - if it was cut down, he will be killed; if it was uprooted, he will die.

If he put his foot on it, there is no problem.

Ru'ach Ra'ah dwells in four shadows - of a lone date tree, of a Kanda (Shizaf, i.e. jujube) tree, of a caper bush, and of a sorb tree;

Some say, it dwells even in shadow of a boat or willow tree.

The general rule is, it dwells in the shadow of any tree with many branches or whose wood is hard, except for Karu Masha (a kind of sorb tree) - even though its wood is hard, its shadow is fine;

A Shed told her son 'stay away from Karu Masha - it killed your father, and it can kill you!'

Rav Ashi: I saw that Rav Kahana avoided all shadows.

The Shed of caper bushes is called Ruchi, that of sorb trees is Sheida, that of roofs is Rishpi.

Question: What difference does it make?

Answer: This is useful for writing amulets [to heal one harmed by them].

The Shed of caper bushes has no eyes.

Question: What difference does it make?

Answer: One can flee from it, for it cannot follow him.

Once, a Chacham went to eliminate by a caper bush; he heard the Shed coming upon him - he fled, and it tripped on palm roots - the tree dried up and it died.

That of sorb trees is Sheidi - a sorb tree near the city has at least 60 Shedim.

Question: What difference does it make?

Answer: This is useful for writing amulets.

A watchman [or officer] was by a sorb tree near the city; 60 Shedim entered him, endangering him. He went to a Chacham who did not know that the tree housed 60 Shedim; the Chacham wrote an amulet for one Shed.

The Shedim hung an instrument on the Chacham and sang 'He dresses like a Chacham, but he does not even know how to bless [on his turban]!'

A Chacham came who knew that 60 Shedim inhabit it, and wrote an amulet for 60 Shedim; he heard them say 'Clear your wares out of here (let's leave).'

There are two Shedim called Ketev - one [is found] before noon and one after noon;

The one before noon is called Ketev Meriri, and it appears in jars of Kutach, and revolves on a mixing spoon (Rashi Devarim 32:24 - the name of the Shed is Meriri; Ketev means 'cutting');

The one after noon is called Ketev Yashud Tzaharayim, and it appears in goats' horns, and revolves in a sieve.

Abaye was walking; Rav Papa was on his right and Rav Huna brei d'Rav Yehoshua was on his left. He saw Ketev Meriri approaching him on his left - he had Rav Papa and Rav Huna switch sides.

Rav Papa: Why aren't you concerned for me?

Abaye: Your Mazel is good now (you are wealthy).

From the first of Tamuz until the 16th it (Ketev Meriri) is common; afterwards, it is doubtful if it is common; it is found in the shadow of Chatzva (a shrub) less than an Amah tall, and in morning and afternoon shadows less than an Amah, and primarily in the shadow of an outhouse.

(Rav Yosef): The following three things cause blindness - combing one's hair when it is dry, drinking wine that drips from a barrel, and putting on shoes when his feet are still wet [from bathing].

Hanging bread [in a basket] in the house makes one prone to poverty - this is like people say, if one is Toleh (hangs) a [bread] basket, his food will be Taluy (suspended; alternatively, he will be dependent on others for food).

This is only regarding bread - it is normal to hang meat and fish, so this is fine.

Bran and bread crumbs in the house make one prone to poverty - on Shabbos night and Tuesday night Mazikim dwell on them.

The angel appointed over sustenance is called Nakid (he demands Nekiyus (cleanliness) - he is upset by crumbs on the floor, for they get trampled);

The angel appointed over poverty is called Naval (he comes when people are messy with bread).

A plate on top of a barrel makes one prone to poverty; drinking water from a plate makes one prone to an eye ailment.