I personally don't use protections in the traditional sense. I've tried the wards, and they felt so foreign and fake to me personally (just my own personal take for ME not anyone else reading this). I've never once seen a spirit, demon, angel, deity, whatever, walking around covered in 35,000 charms and wards because they're afraid something might get them. They just are. So I approach it the same way.
My consent is my consent. I am sovereign. And, in my experience, that's been plenty.
Same thing with the astral. I banish what I don't want around me. It's fairly simple. I also don't operate from fear. What exactly do I have to fear that I cannot handle?
As for “black magicians,” I'd separate the magician from the magic. That's a category error, IMO. People can fucking suck in general, whether they're a magician or the cashier at the gas station. The whole white/black magic labeling thing is pretty silly and small to me.
That said, yes, petty people exist, and I've personally experienced what I'd consider attacks. Given enough time in occult practice, you may encounter that too. It's not particularly uncommon. You can banish, disengage, and go about your day without giving the person or the situation more of your attention than necessary. Or fight back if you feel the need.
Attention is a resource, remember this!
Negative entities are another matter. If I encounter something that doesn't align with what I'm doing, my response is basically: “If you don't align with my fire, you don't have my consent. Leave.” That's it.
I've had to repeat it a few times with considerably more force behind it, but I've had that approach work countless times with negative entities, mimics, feeders, and spirits in general, including a deity I simply didn't want to interact with at the time.
Your consent is massive. Agency is everything. That's probably the thing I'd encourage you to meditate on more than any particular shielding technique.
You're a spiritual being having a human experience. Obviously, being human comes with limitations, but that doesn't make you inherently lesser than whatever you encounter on the other side. I choose to act accordingly. And honestly, don't let reading about every astral horror story become a substitute for actually developing your own experience. Experience is the best teacher. Sometimes the horror stories come from wingding people with whatever framework you know nothing about, and who knows if its bullshit or not right?
Nobody (including me) can guarantee you safety, perfect protection, or the confidence you're looking for. That's not meant harshly, it's simply reality. Uncertainty and fear are normal. The important part is being willing to face them rather than allowing them to dictate your practice.
Fear is an illusion. Look up the actual definition of the word illusion, then compare that definition to most of your life experiences with fear and it will make sense. Doesn't mean there arent bad or dangerous things out there, it just means you dont plan your entire life around them.
Good luck with the Gateway tapes. I genuinely hope you get to experience it for yourself. You may discover that you need far less armor than you thought you did.
Last thing for what its worth; There is not wrong way to eat a Reece's (much cooler than Memento mori IMO)
