#clairvoyance psychics

[scott-m-spangenberg-its-showtime]

This shit is just f**king crazy.

[seleneesper]

🤍˚ʚ🧸ɞ˚☁️ • 𝐣𝐮𝐥𝐲 themes

— what’s coming towards you?

— sun, moon, rising, venus

♈︎ • starting again | relearning the basics | respect and recognition

♉︎ • situations that bring fear or worry | finding help when you need it

♊︎ • a big exciting event | finding personal strength and peace

♋︎ • overcoming a problem | a short journey - either physical or spiritual

♌︎ • constructive criticism | finding the right path and receiving signs about this

♍︎ • financial issues | spiritual guidance and protection

♎︎ • a challenge - an opportunity to grow | growth in finances

♏︎ • slow and steady | celebration and enjoyment

♐︎ • legal issues | moving out or a home renovation

♑︎ • feeling low - this is a sign of spiritual advancement and growth

♒︎ • victory or winning | new opportunities

♓︎ • a promotion or a raise

[gilly-tamar-w1tch]

As it’s spooky season I am doing an offer until Oct 31st for one card tarot or oracle reading.

Don’t be put off by one card because you can get a lot of information from one card. I will also draw on some archetypes of the card for guidance as well. Special offer for Hallowe’en only for $2.50 (normal $5)

let me knows if interested and will message Happy spooky season all 🎃🎃🎃

[edensvessel]

Clairsenses — A Theory

So, this post has been in the works for quite a while. I have contemplated making this post vs not making it, but with the amount of times I happen to repeat all this information anytime somebody asks for advice on how to improve their clairsenses, I figured I'd just make a big post for myself and others to refer to when needed. It also serves as a way for me to solidify a theory I've had about clairsenses for quite a while, so there goes two birds.

I want to preface this by saying that I am by no means an expert, and that this is just a theory in the works that makes the most sense for my experiences and what I've seen others experience. This theory makes learning any other clairsense so much easier in so many peoples' experiences (because I have shared it with many people and they have confirmed that it helps), but I am no scientist or expert. While I highly recommend using this theory in your practice to develop your clairsenses, in the event that it does not work for you, that is okay. But like I said, I strongly recommend it.

With that out of the way, let's get started.

First off, what are clairsenses? Clairsenses are, by extension, similar to the 'sixth sense' concept. They are extra senses that correspond with the 5 senses we already have, but they operate on a different 'plane'. Most people use them to reach beyond the veil and into the beyond, whether that be with ghosts, spirits, deities, or anything else. Each clair operates like a radio frequency where you can tune into one or more to receive information.

There are different types of clairsenses, each of them pertaining to the 5 senses that we already have. So there is clairvoyance, pertaining to sight, and clairaudience, pertaining to hearing, and so on.

There are many theories about how clairsenses even work, but for the sake of my theory, we will go with: clairsenses are extra senses that help the individual process energy from a different plane of being through sensory filters.

A common phenomenon in clairsenses is that some people happen to be naturally good at one or more type of clairsense. I will address this later in my theory.

So, by the definition of clairsenses are extra senses that help the individual process energy from a different plane of being through sensory filters, the question that inspired this theory and this post is, how can I develop clairsenses? Everyone has the ability to do so, but just how?

In short, my theory is that clairsentience is the base and foundation of every clairsense, and to learn any clairsense, it's much easier to start by learning and mastering clairsentience.

In accordance with my definition, clairsentience is the clair that allows an individual to be aware of any surrounding energies. You cannot necessarily see, or hear, or taste, or touch, but you know it is there. Clairsentience is often the most common clairsense that many people don't actually know they have.

It all boils down to the fact that if you're able to "feel" the energies, then it's much easier to put them through a sensory filter. That's how it makes every other clair easier to learn. It's a bit of wordplay too—without being sentient, you cannot begin to process any other senses.

But Chrys, how are people born with clairsenses that they are naturally adept at without having clairsentience?

Clairsenses work like translation. I'll use clairaudience as an example here. You tune into the energy, and you begin to notice small fluctuations in the energy that are conveying a message. Upon understanding what that message is, it becomes easier to associate specific words with specific fluctuations. When you sharpen this ability, you can begin discerning a faint voice from it—one that you may not necessarily be physically hearing, but one that accompanies the energy every time it conveys a message to you. Over time, you'll begin to notice how specific energies use specific vocabulary and have their own speech patterns.

This is how I learned clairaudience by using clairsentience as a foundation, and it's how I've taught others to learn clairaudience as well.

When you are naturally born to be good at clairaudience, this entire process comes to you easily. You do not even have to think about translating; it is natural to you. To learn clairsentience for this person would still be like learning how to translate, because they did not even know what they were doing involved translating in the first place.

I'll admit, this part of my theory is definitely still a work in progress, but it makes sense to me in a way that's difficult to put into words, unfortunately.

We can use this theory to learn any clairsense we want, because it all boils down to clairsentience. When you can feel that energy, you can apply it through a sensory filter. Does this mean anyone who learned clairsenses a different way is wrong? Not at all! This is just like... a "hack", if you will. A shortcut.

I hope this helps! Feel free to send me any questions.

Xaire ♡

[yourwitchmama]

Free mini tarot readings are open!

What they are: I am going to pull. one tarot card for your question to give you insight on your situation.

How it works: I pull tarot cards with the help of my spirit guides to intuitively pick the best card for your question.

Rules: One question only, please! Add your initials and star sign if you feel comfortable doing so. If you reblog, you will get a higher chance of getting an answer. I cannot guarantee answers due to some energy blockages that may arise.

Readings: Message me to request a full tarot reading! If your question needs a lot of in depth analysis, it is better to have multiple cards drawn for you. I can work with you on the pricing. If you can only afford a five dollar reading, we will work with it! I will get back to you with your reading within 24 hours of your purchase.

I have been reading tarot cards for over ten years now, and my interpretation skills are advanced. I read parties as well as individuals, in person and online. I look forward to reading you, free or privately! Please consider tipping me here

[knowledge-from-the-abyss]

Psychic Abilities

What are psychic abilities? 

Psychic abilities are metaphysical powers that generally cannot be explained or observed by science (although there are scientific studies that are currently trying to understand and delve into psychic abilities). Everyone has access to psychic abilities; the most common psychic ability out there is intuition, that ‘gut feeling’ people get. I will list more psychic abilities down below. 

Please make sure that you are discerning mundane from magical; some of these abilities can and are symptoms of serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, so if these suddenly start happening (especially around the age of 20) please make sure you are checking with your doctor to make sure nothing medically is wrong. 

Clairsenses

Clairvoyance- also known as clear-seeing, this clair allows people to see pictures or images, or even visions in their minds eye or sometimes even manifesting in the real world. This is also a clair that can allow someone to see auras. 

Clairaudience- also known as clear-hearing, this clair allows people to hear deities, spirits and entities, again either in their mind or sometimes manifesting in the real world. This can also manifest as hearing music randomly or having a song repeat over and over and over in your head, or having a deities name constantly on your mind/in your head (this can sometimes be a sign a deity is reaching out or generally trying to get your attention as well). 

Claircognizance- also known as clear-knowing; this can be your intuition going off about something. Just ‘knowing’ that something is going to happen, and then it does. Being able to know what color an object is when its in black and white, etc. 

Clairempathy- also known as clear-emotion; this clair allows the practitioner to sense others emotions, sometimes this can almost manifest as if you are feeling those emotions, even if you aren’t. 

Clairsentience- also known as clear physical feelings; this clair allows someone to feel physical sensations and energies (for instance, feeling like someone is touching your head when no one is physically there). 

Clairtangency- also known as clear-touch; this clair allows someone to receive information through touching objects. This has manifested for me before. I will touch an object and sometimes have gotten downloads of information from that object about the person who previously owned it, or the energies that were commonly around that object. 

Clairsaliance- also known as clear-smelling; this clair is when you can pick up on smells that aren’t necessarily in the physical world. A good example is that sometimes I will smell my deities when they are around me. 

Clairgustance- also known as clear-tasting; this clair is similar to clairsaliance, but with taste. It allows the practitioner to taste different things in the spiritual realm. Similar to clairsaliance, sometimes when I am channeling, I can taste the things my deities have been eating. 

Can psychics read minds? 

This, along with anything you might see about psychics in media (movies, tv shows, etc) is probably fake, at least in the way it is usually presented in these media formats. Using clairsenses, and being able to pick up on subtle cues from the other person, can lead to some ‘mind reading’ or telepathic-like abilities. For example, I know my wife very well, and even if she doesn’t always outwardly say so, I can sense when her mood has shifted. There are other friends that I have been able to do this with as well, including online friends. So the answer to this question is ‘yes, but not in the ways you might think’. I cannot tap into people's minds and see their exact thoughts, but with a combination of my clairsenses, and picking up on cues I see from them, I can figure out what they might be thinking, or how they might be feeling. 

How can I train/hone my clairsenses? 

There are various ways to do this, depending on the clairsenses you’re wanting to hone. Firstly, I recommend figuring out what your strongest clairsenses are. This is basically just about observing yourself and how you experience the world; this can also sometimes correspond to your physical senses. Once you know what clairsenses you have that are strongest, focusing on using those in various settings is a good idea. For instance, if you find that clairvoyance is the strongest clair you have, practicing meditation and seeing things during meditation might be a good idea. 

How do I know it's not just my imagination and it is psychic abilities I’m experiencing? 

This is where discernment and using other tools can come in very handy. Double checking with divination is a very good way to know if you are really using your clairsenses, or if it's just your imagination. There may also be certain emotions or feelings that come with psychic abilities vs imagination. For instance, for me personally, I’ve found that a good way to discern my intuition vs imagination is the emotions that come with it. If I get a sudden feeling about something for instance, I ask myself if there is anxiety or other negative emotions surrounding that situation; if the answer is yes, I often use other tools to figure out if the feeling I’m getting is truly my intuition, or if it's just me being anxious about a certain situation. If there are no emotions that I can figure out are coming from a situation, but something feels ‘off’ I still use discernment, but am more likely to immediately trust the gut feeling I get. In certain situations (like if I’m driving and my gut tells me ‘don’t take this road!) I usually do trust my gut feeling, and later on am often shown why my intuition told me to do that (often it's because of road closures or traffic that my intuition was guiding me to avoid). 

Do mental illnesses (such as autism, ADHD, and dissociative disorders) affect psychic abilities/clarisenses? How do I distinguish the two? 

Yes, mental illnesses can sometimes affect psychic abilities and clairsenses. Again, this is where discernment and using other tools such as divination can come in handy. Practicing can help as well; I have autism and ADHD, and sometimes it’s hard for me to distinguish if it's a deity talking to me, or just my ADHD going ‘brrrrr’. However, as I have practiced over the years, I have learned how to distinguish between the two sometimes; a lot of times my inner voice sounds different than the voices my deities will use, which is a good way to know that I might be hearing something other than my own inner monologue (I also still use divination tools as an extra step to make sure that what I’m hearing is in fact metaphysical). 

What deities do you recommend to help with learning/honing psychic abilities? 

First and foremost, pretty much any deity can help you with learning to hone your psychic abilities; however there are a few (mainly infernals, since I work so heavily with the infernal divine) that I will list that specialize in helping with psychic abilities. 

Hermes is a good option when it comes to seeking help with honing psychic abilities. As messenger to the Greek gods, communication is part of Hermes’ natural wheelhouse; this can go for both mundane and magical communications. He is excellent at helping not only with psychic abilities and clairsenses, but with divination as well. 

Dehuty/Thoth from the Egyptian pantheon is also a very good deity to reach out to for help with psychic communication; he rules over writing and communication. 

Some of the infernals I have listed below are lesser-known or unknown, so the UPG (unverified personal gnosis) listed here are all from my own personal experiences with them.

In my own UPG, the infernal Alcanor is also very good at helping with psychic communication, clairsenses and mediumship. 

Also my own UPG, the infernal Martinet is also excellent at helping with the clairsenses. 

Acuar is another infernal who is listed (VPG, verified personal gnosis) at being good at helping with psychic abilities (especially those that have to do with emotions). 

Lucifuge Rofocale, Azazel and Forneus are also infernals who are listed as being good at helping with psychic abilities. This is also VPG. 

This is not an exhaustive list of course, and in terms of the infernals listed, if you’d like to find out more about them I have more info on them on my Reddit blog; r/DemonStudies. 

Why are some clairsenses/psychic abilities stronger than the others? 

Clairsenses are like muscles; the more you use them, the stronger they will get. That being said, everyone is different; someone who is a runner is going to have very strong legs, but their arms might not be as strong in comparison, but their arms also don’t have to be as strong compared to their legs either. Same goes with clairsenses; the ones you use and focus on more are going to be the strongest ones you have. Some people also have natural talent with certain clairs (again, similar to physical abilities, some people are way better at smelling naturally than others around them, and this might also reflect with them having better clairsaliance as well). You can always hone and practice any psychic abilities even if they are not the ones you are strongest in. 

Do I have to be honed into my clairsenses to do deity work/spirit work? 

You do not have to be honed into your clairsenses to do deity work/spirit work, although from what I’ve seen most people getting into deity work are naturally drawn to honing their psychic abilities as well. 

Can using psychic abilities give me headaches? 

Yes, just like how sometimes you get a headache from eye strain from staring at something too long, using your clairsenses can also give you a headache or affect your physical body in other ways. Taking breaks, allowing your body and mind time to rest, and doing self-care can help to prevent this strain. 

Why do some people hear specific voices for their deities/spirits, while others just hear their ‘inner voice’ as deities/spirits talking to them? 

This comes down to everyone being different and everyone experiencing things differently. Again going back to how people physically experience the world, everyone experiences the physical world slightly differently, one person’s perspective might be different from another person’s. This is the same with clairsenses and how we experience our deities. I know for me, Loki generally smells like cinnamon and smoke (like from a bonfire), but for others, I’ve heard that he smells of just cinnamon, or they say that he smells like cigarette smoke at times.  

Will I be able to hear new deities/spirits I interact with right away? 

The short answer to this question is maybe. Again, this is about personal experiences; for me, when I first started out, I had a lot of trouble hearing new deities that I interacted with, it was very easy for me to pick up on their energies and know they were there, but when it came down to hearing and seeing them, even though I was hearing and seeing the deities I interacted with regularly, it was harder for me to hear and see new ones. Now that I have been doing this for so many years, I do find that I can very easily hear and see the new deities I interact with on a regular basis. So again, this can also be about practicing as well as natural abilities you may have. 

How do I avoid burnout when honing my psychic abilities? 

This is similar to the question about headaches above; taking breaks and self-care are very important when honing your psychic abilities. Also, don’t be hard on yourself if you’re not getting it right away. Again, this is like exercising a muscle; even if you do have natural abilities for the particular clairsense you’re trying to hone, it can still be hard and frustrating at times. Giving yourself grace, and not trying to rush the process will be the best thing you can do for yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others either, learn at your own pace; everyone's practice is different and everyone learns at different paces. 

How do I hone my intuition? 

First and foremost, trusting yourself is a huge part of honing your intuition. Intuition can often be that little voice in the back of your head warning you or telling you about something, or that ‘gut instinct’ many people talk about. Sometimes, it really is ‘just knowing’ something, and trusting that knowledge even when there is no outside evidence is very important. There are also many intuition tests you can do to work on honing (and recognizing!) your intuition and what it feels like. A lot of times I use these intuition tests to test and hone my intuition. Don’t be too hard on yourself either when you get these types of things wrong, sometimes we have off days and it is a learning experience! 

Will every deity/entity want to communicate using clairsenses? 

No, not every deity or entity will want to communicate using the clairsenses; some may prefer to use divination tools or other forms of communication to talk to you. From my experience most deities prefer to work with a combination of some clairsenses (even if thats just you using your intuition to pick up on messages they want to share with you) as well as other forms of communication. 

Are divination tools still useful even after I’ve developed my psychic abilities/clairsenses? 

Yes, divination tools are always very useful especially when it comes to discerning and verifying what you are told through psychic abilities. Using divination alongside psychic abilities is a very good way to make sure you are not going into spiritual psychosis. I always encourage anyone who is getting into any type of spirit or deity work to use divination as a way to discern what they are being told. 

As always I would like to thank my friend @astralscraft for helping me with this; they always ask such wonderful questions that I include and answer in these!

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

Robert G. Chaney - Adventures in ESP - Astara - 1975

[imaginal-ai]

"Oracle"

[witchnotic]

[arconinternet]

The STARGATE files (Documents, ~1977-1995)

Documents from the CIA's project to explore the potential of clairvoyance, precognition and telepathy. You can view over 12,000 files here.

Mnetioned, though not by name, in Jon Ronson's The Man Who Stare at Goats.

Also called SCANATE, GONDOLA WISH, DRAGOON ABSORB, GRILL FLAME, CENTER LANE, PROJECT CF and SUN STREAK.

[themaverickmage]

🐰 — Free Two-Card Readings

Like & Reblog + Follow/DM to play!

🐇 Howdy! I've just started this readings blog today, and I'd like to start off things by having a readings game for everyone to have a good time. Trust me the fun will be coming!! 😁

🐇 For the next two weeks, I'll be doing free 2 card readings. I'm willing to answer any question as long as it's not the kind of readings I'm not doing, which you can read about in my introduction pin. Check out my other services too, also in my pinned post!!

RULES:

— Follow @themaverickmage

— Like & Reblog this post

— Send me either an ASK (Anon or not) or Private DM

[clubeso]

Exploring My Psychic Clairs Tarot Spread

Spiritual & Occult PDF guides available for download.

[yourstrulyjasmine]

[j-adoremiumiu]

me when my female intuition is right, I wasn’t crazy, I was divine

[grimoirey]

🌛 The Five Clairs 🌜

The "clairs" are intuitive senses that correspond to each of the five physical senses, allowing us to receive information beyond ordinary perception.

Clairvoyance (Clear Seeing)

Intuition received visually, often as images, symbols, or colors in the mind’s eye.

Clairtangency (Clear Touch)

Intuitive information received through physical touch, sometimes called psychometry.

Clairgustance (Clear Tasting)

Insight that comes through the sense of taste, often without physically tasting something.

Clairalience (Clear Smelling)

Receiving intuitive impressions via scent, even without a physical source.

Clairaudience (Clear Hearing)

Perception of sounds, words, or messages beyond the physical ear, like hearing a faint voice or music.

Practicing each of these can strengthen your connection to intuitive information.

Here are guided visualizations that engage all five clairs, helping you develop your intuitive senses together:

Visualization Practices for All Five Clairs

The Mystical Garden

Imagine you’re stepping into a lush, mystical garden filled with vibrant plants, unique flowers, and ancient trees.

Clairvoyance: Visualize the colors and shapes of plants around you, noticing any specific symbols or glowing lights that may appear.

Clairtangency: Imagine touching the petals of a flower or the bark of a tree. Sense the texture and feel if it has any emotional energy or history.

Clairgustance: Imagine plucking a berry or leaf and tasting it. Notice its flavor—perhaps sweet, bitter, or herbal. Reflect on any emotions or memories the taste might bring up.

Clairalience: Smell the earthy, floral scents wafting through the garden. Note any emotions, memories, or messages connected to the smells.

Clairaudience: Listen for any sounds in the garden—whispers in the wind, a distant song, or the gentle hum of nature. Allow any messages or phrases to come through.

The Sacred Temple

Visualize walking through an ancient temple filled with artifacts, statues, and sacred symbols.

Clairvoyance: Observe the layout of the temple, colors, and any inscriptions or symbols on the walls.

Clairtangency: Imagine touching the cool stone walls or an old relic, noticing any impressions, emotions, or messages.

Clairgustance: Taste a drop of ceremonial water or a piece of a sacred herb. Sense if the taste connects to a specific energy, emotion, or past memory.

Clairalience: Smell the incense, candles, or earthiness in the temple, and notice any insights that come with it.

Clairaudience: Listen to any sounds, like faint chants, bells, or whispers, letting these bring additional insights.

The Tranquil Beach

Imagine yourself on a quiet beach at dawn, with gentle waves lapping at the shore and soft sands beneath you.

Clairvoyance: See the sunrise colors, shimmering water, and tiny shells or sea creatures around you.

Clairtangency: Feel the sand under your feet or dip your hand into the water, noting any emotional or historical energy.

Clairgustance: Taste the saltiness in the air or imagine tasting the fresh water from a nearby spring. Observe any memories or impressions tied to these tastes.

Clairalience: Smell the salty breeze and hints of seaweed, noticing any feelings or messages tied to the scent.

Clairaudience: Listen to the waves, distant seabirds, or perhaps even a voice in the wind, welcoming any guidance or insight.

The Enchanted Forest

Imagine entering a peaceful, enchanted forest where everything is alive with energy.

Clairvoyance: See the vibrant green trees, glowing mushrooms, or even fairylike lights. Notice any symbols or animals that stand out.

Clairtangency: Touch the bark of a tree or pick up a leaf, sensing any stories or energies.

Clairgustance: Imagine tasting fresh berries or the morning dew on a leaf. Let the flavors spark any emotions, memories, or impressions.

Clairalience: Smell the forest's earthy aroma, noticing any memories or messages it may bring.

Clairaudience: Listen for birdsong, rustling leaves, or even a message whispered by the wind or the trees.

The Celestial Library

Visualize yourself entering a grand, celestial library with glowing books, scrolls, and ethereal light.

Clairvoyance: Notice the colors of the glowing books, floating candles, and shimmering walls.

Clairtangency: Imagine holding a book or scroll—feel its weight and notice any impressions or intuitive knowledge coming through it.

Clairgustance: Picture yourself tasting a drop of “wisdom” elixir or a piece of symbolic fruit. Reflect on any memories, emotions, or insights the taste stirs.

Clairalience: Smell the scent of old pages, leather, or candle wax, observing any emotions or insights tied to the scent.

Clairaudience: Listen for the gentle turning of pages, soft voices, or the faint whisper of wisdom from the library.

Using these visualizations regularly can help you deepen your connection to each clair, opening up intuitive insights in a balanced and comprehensive way. Enjoy exploring these mystical settings!

[theeninthkeye]

Noticing is a Net for Catching Magick: Spiritual Discernment, The Magicians Maxim, and How to Know Who You're Talking to.

Good evening, Tumblr friends! I am back with another old blog repost. This one is a bit longer and perhaps a bit...juicier.

I wrote this one October 17th, 2023, during a very rough patch in my life. I was dealing with a painful schisming of my friend group, which had resulted in me having to move on from some unhealthy relationships. I was feeling angry, let down, and defensive. I had opened up about my faith to someone in this group that I trusted, only to realize the hard way that they were not a safe person to be vulnerable with. It left me open to a bit of mockery, and I wanted to "bite back."

These complex emotions certainly come through in this piece, and some of my language is a bit... spicy. In the spirit of being authentic, however, I choose to repost without changing it too much. This time, I removed an announcement about an art show I was vending at. I think it's important not to alter these TOO much, though. They stand as a testament to how far I've come and how much I've matured.

Overall, I still agree with these takes, even if I presented them in a somewhat aggressive and self-agrandizing way! I implore you, lovely readers, to keep this bit of context in mind as you read.

~~~~~~~

Today's blog is about Spiritual Discernment, the Magicians Maxim, and generally how we can know who and what we are interacting with when it comes to spirits.

The short answer, you just have to get out there and practice. What you read in books will only take you so far. I aim to touch on some ways we can practice this, as well as a few other elements that are not often talked about when it comes to practicing witchcraft- especially when your practice takes you into the realm of Theurgy and other forms of spirit contact.

There is the pervading belief that spirits are either strictly good or strictly evil. As a youth, I was exposed to this line of thinking immediately upon discovering the very concept of spirituality itself. Spirits and Spirituality are bread and butter. In Christianity we see this idea of good vs evil spirits in nearly every aspect of the religion. We also see this in modern New Ageism, what with the rise of alien conspiracies and the like. It would seem you can't have any sort of spiritual narrative without this dichotomy tacked onto it.

....But what if I told you this might not be the case?

Today's entry will definitely tow the line of UPG (Unverifiable Personal Gnosis), I am not trying to change any minds here. I know the idea of good vs. evil in the spirit world is an extremely important belief that gives some folks a sense of purpose. If you're on the CORRECT side of spirit, then the Godhead/Universe will favor you, right? I can understand why people would want to gravitate towards this.... The majority of us like to feel good, useful, justified, and generally not evil.

However, I have always thought this line of reasoning is far too simple. Things in mundane life are rarely that simple, so why must spirit be different?

​Personal Experience

As a child, I really struggled with my gifts. I am a clairvoyant, as is my mother, her mother, her grandmother, and so on. In fact, I get my clairvoyance from both sides of my family. Both my father and mother's lives have been steeped in mysticism and strange happenings. They chose to ignore it (or at the very least acknowledge the existence and stay as far away as possible), but for one reason or another I was not afforded that luxury. In my case, the spirits did not give me a chance to block them out. 

As a very young child I would experience things in the darkness of my room or the stillness of the forest that I did not understand and the adults in my life didn't give me any helpful answers either. There was a variety of responses that was usually along the lines of "ghosts aren't real, you just have an over active imagination". However, once in a while I would be faced with the most dreadful explanation a child in my position could be faced with.... It is the DEVIL sending evil spirits to haunt me and I must pray to God/Jesus for protection.

This declaration felt like spiritual warfare to me, at the time a young child, barely even six years old. I remember being frozen in terror in my bed as the swirling mass of twisted shapes, lights, and faces danced behind my eyes and in the solitude of my room. I remember crying and refusing to sleep in my own room because I knew that if I was alone in the dark, my little body could not stop my spirit from traveling to other places as I slept.

I tried prayer, I tried asking Jesus for help. I never got a response. The cold silence that hung in the air when I would pray to the Christian god was deafening. I tried and tried and tried to get a response, any response, yet it never came. I remember asking myself "What does the Devil want with me? Why has god abandoned me?"

Heavy questions, especially for a child under 10 years of age.

Eventually, I just learned to live with it. I learned ways to block it out. I'd sleep with the lights on and my cat in my bed or I'd go to my parents room. I slept in my parents room until I was nearly 13, out of fear of what lay in wait in the darkness. I also learned not to talk about it, because people just didn't understand. The experiences would happen to me still and I would confide in my mother, yet I still did not understand.

Then, in my 12th year of life, I finally found what I had been looking for. It was late summer, as I recall, when my mother and I had gone to the local Mall for a day out. Eating my french fries in the food court, I look up and see it. A metaphysical shop, full of beautiful statuary and glittering stones in the front window. This place was called the Wishing Realm and in that moment I knew I had to investigate. My mother, being a passionate collector of stones and fossils, happily obliged. We stepped into the store, the tinkle of the bells at the door stirring excitement in me. Although I could not consciously articulate it at the time, I knew deep down I would finally find the answers I sought for in this place.

We browsed the stock and my little mind was blown wide open. There were crystals I had never heard of before, immense statues of dragons and the Gods of my most beloved mythologies, shelves lined with books with titles like "Magick" and "Spellcraft". They even had preserved bat hearts, bones, and feathers. My mom bought me a small crystal that day and the woman behind the counter, with twinkling eye, gifted me a small bag of stones meant for Scorpios-my Sun sign. I could tell from the way she looked at me that she, too, was like me.

I remember looking over my stones in the car and being so excited to return. I hadn't wanted to leave! I wanted to know more, I needed to know more. That night I placed my stones under my pillow and prepared to sleep. Somehow, I was not scared to sleep that night. It was as if something was calling me, I knew I needed to sleep in my own bed that night, in the darkness.

I slipped peacefully into my dreams and found myself back at the mall, everything was exactly the same as it had been earlier that day only now it was dark, the shudders were pulled down in front of the stores. The mall was closed. I remember thinking to myself "How did I get back to the Mall?". It was so vivid, I believed I was actually there. I began walking and I found this hidden corridor that I had never seen before. As I walked, I saw a golden throne at the end of the corridor. A man wearing white sat upon the throne and a woman clothed in a beautiful blue shawl stood next to him. The man's skin was green. He lifted a hand and beckoned me closer. I stood at his feet, feeling as small as a rabbit before him.

He looked at me with dark eyes and said nothing. I offered a small hello and in a thundering voice he told me his name is Osiris. A group of figures moved out from the shadows to make a circle around me. I recognized them all as the Egyptian pantheon, the Gods that weigh the human heart against the feather to allow passage into the spirit world. I had seen them in my mother's art history book.

Osiris smiled at me and told me many things, things which I forgot upon waking, but the one thing I managed to retain was "You are a child of the gods, you are to walk this path".

From that moment on, it became clear to me that these experiences were not just my imagination, nor were they some spiteful devil. This had nothing to do with the Christian god, I was not being punished. I was given a task- a task to seek knowledge and share what I learn. I awoke the next morning and made it my mission to become a witch. The rest is history.

.....So did this actually happen? Is any of this real? Am I insane? Honestly, I can't say for sure! I often times find myself wondering all of those questions, even to this day. I've had phases where I've felt like it's all made up. I've had people tell me its all Satan's lies. I've had people tell me I am psychotic and should be locked up. I've had people tell me the opposite too- that I'm a demigod, that I'm the chosen one, etc. I don't think any of these things are entirely true, but perhaps not entirely false either. I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I would encourage you, dear reader, to assume that at least some of this is bullshit because that's the safer option. 

Spiritual Discernment: The Nitty Gritty

Spiritual Discernment is a concept that you've likely heard of if you're Catholic/Christian. It is the ability for spiritual leaders to know if something is God or the Devil, it is the ability to speak for God and pass His message along. Spiritual Discernment is not just for preacher men in the house of the Christian god, however. It is something anyone can possess if they so choose. Some folks are born with it, such as myself, and others have to work to achieve it. Both ways are wonderful and valid, one way is not superior to the other and both ways have their own pros and cons.

Those born with this ability, such as myself, actually have it harder in some ways. The experiences are fantastical and feel so real. This can get in the way and can often times lead the practitioner astray. If you've frequented any New Age communities, you've likely heard of 'Ego Traps' which is when someone gets too wrapped up in their Unverifiable Personal Gnosis to function as a pleasant and well adjusted human. Those who can avoid/work through ego traps, however, can become very skilled in this ability.

Those who must work hard for this ability will often times find themselves doubting. I've seen folks get very depressed, nihilistic, and even bitter about it. It takes regular practice and dedication to rewire your brain for these things. However, when a person finally achieves it, they are usually a lot more measured in their understanding and less likely to fall for their own imagination.

So how can we use Spiritual Discernment? The mundane definition according to Google is simply "the ability to judge well". It's the ability to "read the room" or "take a hint" as well as one's own ability to assess danger. Discernment is a facet of ones intuition, your 'gut feeling'. Discernment is choosing to count your money in the bathroom stall instead of in a crowded sidewalk. It is not telling the creepy man your address, even though he's asking politely. Discernment is being able to realize Karen the 3-D starseed Warrior Woman Acrobatic Yoga instructor in your Facebook DMs is probably not actually a shaman and her over priced smoothie mixes are not worth the money. Being able to read situations, form quick opinions, and conduct yourself accordingly is what Discernment boils down to. This can all be applied to spirit contact.

Spirits are just like people, in my experience, though there are a few things that make them a bit different. In general, however, view them as people with their own personalities and agendas. This applies to all sorts of spirits- Gods, land spirits, angels, demons, deceased loved ones, etc. They are not strictly good or evil, they are all doing their own thing and have their own morals. Also consider who they are associated with. You can learn a lot about anyone by taking a look at who they hang out with.

If you have an acquaintance who's been known to hang around people who gossip, lie, and steal, would you give them a key to water your plants when you're out of town? Probably not.

Same goes for spirits, if you know a spirit is associated with some nasty business, you probably don't want to get wrapped up in what they have to offer.

'Mall Santa Effect'

Something that I feel I must touch on is something author and occultist Jason Miller calls the 'Mall Santa' effect. This is something that I've observed myself. I feel I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention it, because it certainly clarified some things for me when I learned about it. Hopefully it will be helpful for you as well.

As Miller explains it, there comes a point in every American child's life where we might still believe in the entity of Santa Claus, but we are old enough to know the man in the costume at the mall is not the Santa himself. 

Miller argues the same is said for spirits. In Greek mythology, the Gods are only a single entity and cannot be in more than one place at one time. In the ancient Greek world, the shrines of the Gods/Goddesses were thought to be spots where they resided most often, thus making it easier to get their attention there. 

Personally, this idea resonates with me as I have observed it. Jason Miller goes on to explain that while spirits cannot be in more than one place at a time, very powerful spirits have lesser spirits to stand in for them. The proverbial 'Mall Santas' who put on the image of the powerful spirit, but are more of a stand-in.

Reaching Out and Building A Relationship

Firstly, meditation. You can't get anywhere if you don't meditate. You have to know the fabric of your own mind before anything else. This is because the imagination is our window into this world. For whatever reason, we can't comprehend spirits in their truest and most unadulterated form so our imaginations act as a buffer. This can make it tricky to know where real experience begins and imagination ends. Through meditation you can start to see the boundaries.

Meditation also gives you patience and the ability to observe. It slows you down and lets you perceive the subtle, both within and without. 

Second, JOURNAL. It doesn't have to be a complex journal, just write something down. Keep a record of what happens. Trust me, you will thank me later.

Thirdly, this is probably the most tricky, allow yourself to be open in the moment but seriously question it afterwards. If you question too much as its happening, the experience will stop because your brain will not allow you to perceive it. If you don't question at all, you will get yourself in trouble.

Think of it this way, you shouldn't believe everything you hear right away. If a person tells you fish are made of chocolate, you're going to question it. Do that with spirit contact. 

A spirit might come to you and say something like "Do this spell for me and you will be rich". Question what the spirit has to gain, question if the spell is even possible, question if this is a real experience or just your imagination. Look at it from all angles before proceeding.

Fourth, if you are scared of spirits, start by asking a spirit guide to help keep you safe. Honestly, you shouldn't usually start with this stuff right out the gate. This is more advanced working in that you need to have confidence, understanding, and the ability to handle it. Magick is like working out a muscle. You don't try to deadlift 315 lbs your first day in the gym! Work up to things by learning to meditate and protect yourself.

​Dealing with Unwanted Visitors 

Failure is inevitable. You will eventually fuck up and likely have to deal with some unwanted house guests. It's okay though, the majority of the time you just have to ask them to leave in a firm but polite manner and they will leave.

There are a variety of spells, talismans, rites, and rituals to help remedy this problem as well, so just know it's not hopeless if you find yourself in this situation.

Types of Spirits as I Know Them

This is another one of those completely UPG moments that you can either take or leave. I'm going to do this section in a list format because its easier.

• Deities- This includes the gods of mythology but I would also put other named spirits like spirit guides, archangels, demons, and catholic saints.

• Deceased Human Spirits- This one is self explanatory. 

• Ancestor Spirits- For me, these differ from deceased humans in that they tend to be much more ancient.

• Land spirits- Spirits of the land, plants, animals, and general environmental spirits.

• Egregores- Spirits that arise from collective belief.

• Parasitic spirits- These spirits feed on energy such as our emotions. Not great to have around but not like Hollywood demon movies. Think of them like ticks or leeches.

The Magician's Maxim

 Do you know the Maxim? Many modern witches don't and I think we would all do well to consider it.

The Maxim is Thus:

To Know What One Must Do

To Dare to Do it

To Will it to Be

and To Keep Silent (*with Discernment)

Essentially this means you need to know what you're doing, you need to have the confidence to do it, you need to have a plan on how you will accomplish it, and you need to work on it silently. I add 'with discernment' as a caveat, as I believe there are benefits to sharing this information. After all, I'm writing a blog about it. 

Personally, I find it embarrassing when I see the majority of people on the internet practicing witchcraft. I find it appalling how so many people read one book and decide they are a professional. I find it upsetting that the people with the least knowledge are not only the loudest in the room, but also the folks who have the biggest following. These days, people listen to those who have the best aesthetic and the snappiest tik tok transitions. That's not to say I am the one you should all listen to. I'm not a professional either. What I mean is that it seems no one listens to the spirits, no one listens to the elders. You will learn a great deal more listening to nature than you will listening to anyone on tik tok. Not only this, but posting pictures and videos of your practice CAN and WILL have real consequences. If you want to post pictures of your altar or videos of your spellwork, I can't stop you... but it will change how things work. People do not need to be in your business like that, point blank. I wish folks saw these things as more sacred, but that's just my opinion I guess. I bring all this up because I want to drive home the point that spirit discernment begins and ends with YOU and YOUR relationship to the divine, other people will generally just complicate things.

To Keep Silent is a very important of our history as cunning folk. Born out of necessity, keeping silent was a matter of life and death literally. Just because society has moved past burning witches does not mean you should just throw this entire tenant out. From a mundane perspective, posting about these things can affect personal relationships and jobs. Religious family members could cut you out (which is not always a bad thing), in America family members could have you locked up believing you're having a mental breakdown (5150). In other parts of the world like parts of Africa and South America, there are still literal witchhunts that take place. That is partly why the majority of witches use fake names online.

From a magickal/energetic perspective, posting these things publicly can affect your magick. Emotions, intellect, and imagination are the seat of magick within oneself. Someone having a strong negative opinion can cause your spell to fail. Not only this, but there are baneful magicians out there. By posting pictures of your altar or tools, you could be making yourself a target for Magickal Attack.

Again, I cannot stop you from doing what you want to do. That is why I add the last part... with Discernment.

That's all for this entry, friends. Thanks for tuning in! If there is something you'd like to see me write about, don't be afraid to reach out!

Until next time

~Sigrid