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3
Spirits & The Spirit World
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Just like we have family and friends in this earthly life, so we have had other lives in which we nurtured friendships and family relationships among those we treasured. Some of these spirits may be again in human form and are friends or family in this life. Certainly, there are other spirits that we have known and loved from other lives that are "in spirit," living in the Spirit World. A spirit is simply nothing more and nothing less than another person. There is really nothing mysterious about a spirit. |
We are able to communicate to these spirits easily, by speaking. Sometimes spirits know what their earthly friend wants by hearing prayer, sometimes by hearing comments as we speak. These spirits are able to help us, if it is within the parameters of what is allowed. We only have to ask. This is easy to do, just speak. The spirits always hear us, whether we shout or whisper, it does not matter. But we must speak if we want spirits to directly know what we are thinking because the spirits in the Spirit World cannot read our minds.
The Traditional Crafter learns to forge relationships with spirits and to work with spirits in doing magic. Spirits can be invited to ritual and spellworkings. They help us facilitate spellcraft. We each have one or more spirits that wish to help us. Some call this helper a familiar, others call the helper a spirit guide or guardian spirit. But at other times they are just past family and friends that are interested in us and wish to help.
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We can access the Spirit World in order to form a relationship with those spirits interested in us. While spirits can easily hear us when we speak, hearing what they want to say is more difficult. Sometimes spirits communicate with us in dreams, sometimes through Going Within (meditation) we can be made aware of messages. By using Hedge Witchery (shamanistic) techniques we can gain communication, but this takes considerable training and dedication. |
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As with all people, the individual personality of spirits varies as the personality of the humans we know varies. Some spirits will be coöperative and helpful, and a other spirits will be uncoöperative and nasty. But most spirits we do not know from other lives will tend to be neutral.
In many traditions, experienced Crafters may invite the Elementals or Directionals who may also be asked for their assistance in ocassionally difficult or important spells that effect the elements.
Do not confuse spirits with angles. Angels are a different type of spiritual entity that is higher than most spirits, but they also are available for help, whether or not we ask.
The concept of the Spirit World, or the OtherSide or heaven, is also universal. The spirit travels back and forth between earthly existence and spiritual existence in the Spirit World as is necessary. This is normal. The spirit is pure energy. Energy can change but can never be destroyed. Therefore, on one level, death on earth is an illusion, for the spirit continues to live in the Spirit World. In fact, our true home is in the Spirit World. Our lives on earth are only temporary. Earth is like a schoolroom, and we come here only to learn.
When spirits cross over to the OtherSide they can choose what they wish to do. There are several options. Some reincarnate back to Earth, others live on the OtherSide, others become Spirit Guides and help humans on Earth. We each have at least one Spirit Guide during each lifetime on Earth. Spirit Guides are accessible when we need them. Speak and your Spirit Guide will hear you.
Spirits can also choose to bond with nature and become Land Spirits, becoming a part of the general spiritual aspect of Nature. Land Sprits are important as they are also easily accessible and can also aide us.
Another aspect of working with spirits is the practices of the Hedge Witch. For the Hedge Witch, shamanic witchcraft is a key element in their Craft. Hedge Witchery goes beyond Going Within, or the meditative techniques used in Traditional Witchcraft. The Hedge Witch goes into Twilight in order to Cross The Hedge, or to enter trance to journey to the Other World, the Spirit World. There they converse and learn from spirit guides and teachers.
Next, The Magical Arts.
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Traditional Witchcraft
