Spirit protection

[Humming]

So I have recently been trying to contact the spirit world, but I am not entirely sure if I'm ready.

Last night in a dream, I told one of my dream characters that I was planning on getting some crystals to help purify and focus my intent, and to protect me. He told me that I shouldn't get any crystals, because the only thing that I could get out of them would be a "low haunting".

Then I began to wake up, and as I was in that most receptive twilight zone of the soul: the place between sleeping and wakefulness, I felt a presence arise as if I were channelling it down a corridor. It was familiar, as I had felt it before while tripping mushrooms, and once before in my dreams. The presence felt like a burst of stark tingling energy across my body, and an overwhelmingly fearful apprehension of what I was doing. I choose to wake up insetad of meeting the spirit.

In previous dreams I met with a clergyman of the Temple of the Ture Inner Light, the DPT church that Daniel briefly mentions in his book, and discussed my dreams with him, telling him that I've dialogued with Satan telepathically. He told me that, if Satan was looking for me, that perhaps I should look for him.

Is this a good idea? If I call a spirit and it is evil, will I be able to confront it and shift it into a healing light? What steps can I take for my protection? Should I resist any contact with spirits until I can find a good teacher who will help me survive intact?

I've been actively trying to purify my intent through my actions, but I keep channelling forces that feel evil. Is this possibly because of past karmic ties? Is there any hope of self-cleansing?

Any advice and/or informational references would be very much appreciated.

[daniel]

when you say you have been trying to contact the spirit world, do you mean consciously through ritual or just your unconscious self through dreams etc.?

If you want to contact Satan, you probably should have a very good reason! I don't even know what that reason could be - why don't you tell us?

I see "spirits" as both manifestations of the psyche and, at the same time, semi-independent or autonomous agencies. I am not a huge fan of invocations etc as I think it pulls us away at this point from our Earthly situation - the idea of conjuring demons seems besides-the-point when rakshasas are running wild in the White House, when the media is an occult control system. For me, reality in itself is magic, by seeking to go deeper into the immanent reality of the immediate present, the correct spirits (in both human and nonhuman form) tend to spontaneously manifest themselves when the time is right and ripe. That is what I have been finding, in any case.

Generally, I think we need to deal with and confront the semi-autonomous spirits and demons already unleashed in our world (the detached predatory voices leaving recorded messages on my phone, for instance, the cold evil of the transactional economy, the alienation of the individual soul from any meaningful or real context) rather than conjuring more spirit-stuff from the imaginal plane.

[Lowlight]

Hey, daniel thats realy interesting about your phone calls! do you remember months ago when i asked you if you had heard of John Keel and his experiences in W.Virginia with the mothmen and other manifestations? prob not it was a while ago now. anyway he had the same thing happen to him. strange phone calls, beeps electronic noises, lots of things like that. They actually nearly gave him a break down at one point and actually did to a fellow researcher/friend of his. It seems to happen to people who get involved deeper and deeper into these areas. What have they been saying? (if you dont mind me asking?) Keel took his phone apart and found a piece of thin wood and metal (i think) which wasnt meant to be there. All very strange but deeply interesting.

[daniel]

lowlight,

i meant more normal ATT&T type and credit card solicitation calls... alright to be totally honest there is one repeated strange automated call that simply states a number - something in the four thousands - that I am clueless about. Still it seems more like some strange system thing then anything to cause paranoia.

i had heard the john keel story.

i think this is about what energies one invites in - i have found the more you think into certain areas, the more the gate of "chapel perilous" starts to swing open, therefore learning how to hold your energy and attention in a positive frequency becomes increasingly important. Gregory Bateson had the idea of an "ecology of ideas." I think that practicing psychic ecology is as important as practicing physical ecology.

We are still neophytes in learning how to work with the psyche - I consider the psyche to be the extradimensional object described by recent physics such as string theory. We explore the various planes and vectors of this object through non-ordinary states of consciousness - normal consciousness is like one plane or vector of the psyche, perhaps like a base.

"The reality of the psyche" is still beyond our powers to fully comprehend - if we could comprehend it, then we would be manifesting the psyche in the physical world at an accelerated rate. At this point, that would lead to total chaos - the shadow projections that do escape are bad enough already.

The concept of the "Guardians of the Threshold" is an interesting one: According to various reports, these are beings (sometimes wheezy and bad-smelling self-proclaimed "secret service" agents in old jalopies) or in Keel's case, various manifestations, that the psyche interpollates as a kind of defense mechanism to shield us from dealing with its reality.

Up to 2012, I believe we are undergoing a process that takes place in phases (like the Gurdjieffian octave), introducing us to the reality of the psyche - Steiner's Jupiter Incarnation, Gebser's Integral Phase, Aurobindo's Supremental State. Once this state is attained by a small segment of humanity, our conscious evolution picks up
exponential speed. At the moment there are still spooky things, scary manifestations, guardians - but these are all expressions of our psychic unreadiness to step beyond the frame.

[Humming]

As always, I seem to be bound by the essential paradox of the psyche: that entities can exist simultaneously as external to my mind, yet as a manifestation of my mind. Perhaps my problem is that I'm trying to access something outside of myself that does not exist outside of myself. Maybe there is no distinction to make at all....

The rituals that I've been using are generally only for intensifying my dream awareness. I am NOT trying to contact Satan, but his sort are the only type to usually manifest and approach me in my dreams. Is the answer truly is that simple: that if I do not manifest fear and horror, none will exist?

Daniel, I am fascinated by that concept of gatekeepers protecting us from planes of consciousness which we are as of yet not ready to access. I'll try meditating on that idea for a while and see if I can untangle my knots simply by realizing that I am creating them.

This discussion very much reminds me of Ursula K. LeGuin's book, the first in the Earthsea saga, "A Wizard of Earthsea". The protagonist wizard Ged unleashes a shadow projection of himself one night when he's trying to impress his schoolmates, a product of his own ego. The creature almost kills him and then Ged spends the rest of the novel chasing his shadow until he finally meets it...

I think, if there is one coherent question that I can form, it might be this: should I be attempting to meet and somehow assimilate my mind shadows, or should I work to not manifest them at all? The latter seems decidedly less dangerous to me than the former...

[ October 23, 2004, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Humming ]

[jezebelle]

Hi Humming,
How about being "still" about it. Just releasing it to your higher self . . . to lead you next.
"forgeeet-about-it"
Certainly when you're ready, you'll get your confrontation, but its what you do that matters more. Staying in your center seems useful. I've never found my dream encounters any fun but I learn. I am reminded of a book, I think its called diary of a russian mystic. Very typical russian with its passion and wide polarity swings. excellent story.
all the best, jez

[susanna]

on the 2012 conscious shift tip.......

very insightful and interesting words on the mayan calender and 2012 from Carlos Barrios can be found in pdf format at the following address:

www.mayamysteryschool.net/ (http://www.mayamysteryschool.net/) pdf%20files/Carlos_Barrios.pdf

one of the things he mentions is the misconception about "the end of the world." according to Barrios, the mayan elders are not happy that their sacred calender has been interpreted in this way. he says that they want to stress that there will be radical change, so that the structures will dissolve and morph...perhaps the end of the world....as we know it.

about spirit communication, contact, protection.....

as far as i understand it, it seems that expereinced spirit travelers tend to draw sacred circles around themselves, whether that be physically (as with salt or other materials) or psycho/spirtually...in most cases, both. from my own personal experience, i find cleansing and grounding in certain herbs, (like sage), minerals, and meditations. these help to fortify me on my psychic wanderings. but ultimately the universe will send you an experinece, a teacher, (maybe a leaf spiralling from a tree so it catches the light just right) that will illuminate the way. again my personal experience/opinion. just a thought.......

peace

[ October 23, 2004, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: susanna ]

[Lowlight]

mmmmmm, now i look like the guy who always misunderstands stuff! oh well i guess it true anyway.

Daniel, i think this idea that the pysche is a extradimensional object is really interesting, though the ways to understand it as such seem beyond us to the point of absurdity (at this point in time). But this is a question that rises again and again to me. If the world is in the self, and the self is really a larger self, to what extent are 'gods' and all other manner of beings met in altered states real? are they like us in their selfhood (albeit on a higher plane) or are they creations of our imaginations (or the larger imagination?)? If they are...are we not creations of this higher imagination also?

[Charlie]

Hi, Humming:

In the deep oceans of dream work, I don’t think there’s anything that can be declared “negative,” but perhaps a good deal depends on how good a swimmer you are.

If you are referring to the normal dream state, anything you encounter and can later remember should be looked at from a symbolic as well as a literal interpretation, based on your experience and values—ie, your personal archetypes, literally, what you think your “demons” are.

If you are referring to lucid dreams, a more immediate response is needed, since you are “there” in the moment, and to some extent, can control the circumstances; you have the added advantage of total recall upon waking. In that case, you have to decide what your intent is, beforehand.

People I know who contact the spirit world lay certain ground rules beforehand, since anything can happen once contact is made. Here are a few of the more general rules:

Ask the spirit its name, where it comes from, and whether it has anything specific to tell you.
State your own name, why you are there, and what you would like to know, if anything. If you start to fell threatened, or think a bad intention is involved, immediately state that you are ending the encounter, in the most forceful means possible. Terminate the contact and clear your mind of it completely, until you are sure the presence is gone.

This type of negative experience is quite rare, but people I know who do this have“white” intentions, for want of a better word.

[ October 25, 2004, 12:34 AM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

[durga]

feed your ancestors, simple basic starting ritual before starting to contact spirits - even if you don't particularly like them give them a little something- your physical body is carrying that genetic material. ( not to mention they may actually be the first thing you run into) This can be elaborate or not, use pictures if you have them, water in a glass or bowl, make some dish they like prepared without salt. Pour a little water on the floor light a white candle and place it in the food dish and leave it till it burns out. Wrap the food up in something biodegradable and leave it at the foot of a tree.

Since you mentioned cleaning up karma start with trying to always tell the truth--strengthens the power of your words-- and of course small unnoticed acts of kindness and charity.

I too have mixed feeling about invoking spirits-rarely have I seen people get exactly who or what they want and I have enough trouble just navigating people. Having said that I have to admit to doing sadhana every year with a coconut that gets burned in a fire on Mt. Shasta for a special deity that promises help and protection. It may just be a case of hedging my bets while I learn whats inside or outside or whatever --especially since I am very curious.

Perhaps you can find something or some thought for yourself that gives you this sense of protection

good luck

[dragonfly]

Originally posted by daniel:
I think that practicing psychic ecology is as important as practicing physical ecology. That brings to mind something that happened to me this weekend.

On Friday night I went to a fundraising party for a local environmental group. As soon as I walked in, I was approached by a strange woman with an intense gaze; she asked if I was voting for John Kerry. I told her I was pretty sure everyone there was. Then she began telling me how we should start defacing Bush-Cheney signs. She had the idea that we should print up red circle stickers with Xs through them and put them over Bush's name on all the yard signs we came across, because "then we could turn his signs into ours."

I told her I thought it was a bad idea to vandalize others' yard signs. She looked at me angrily and began sputtering about how this was the most environmentally destructive president in modern history and here I was worried about some yard signs!

I pressed on, explaining that the very principle of vandalizing others' yard signs bothered me. After all, she wouldn't want a Kerry sign vandalized, right? Besides, I don't want to focus my energy on negativity but on doing something positive.

She considered for a moment. "Well, then," she said suspiciously, "you do have a Kerry sign in your yard?"

No, I said. I saw what negative reactions the Bush signs provoked in friends of mine, and I figured Bush supporters felt the same way about the Kerry signs. I didn't want to feed that. Besides, whose mind was ever changed by a yard sign?

Eventually I got on her nerves and she went away, leaving me to eat in peace. But a little while later, she returned. This time I steered the conversation into a politically neutral discussion about the buffet offerings.

She said she wished she had come hungry, but on the way to the party she had stopped to eat.

At a McDonald's.

[ October 25, 2004, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: dragonfly ]

[Halfglass]

Humming : Check out "Entity Possession" by Samuel Sagan M.D.It is a serious look at the "Ayurveda" medicine of India. It covers the "bhutas" or entities and there influence on mental and spiritual well-being; it's the only book written for the West by someone from the East and dosen't belong in the occult section at the book store. (Although personally I find that the Other is not what we have been conditioned by those who have painted them before us to be. They actually get sick of my intrusions!)

[ October 27, 2004, 01:45 AM: Message edited by: Halfglass ]

[michael heany]

I've been through some ups and downs, scary spots etc. I've seen reality trhough many different lenses now. The government is going to collapse; it's not. God is good; The Devil is good. Save the animals; don't worry about it, because "all Suffering is an illusion". Etc, etc. Metaphors abound; it's pretty amazing.



Basically I think what we're running into here is the inherent paradox in language itself. We're going to have to learn to face these paradoxes and get past them. We're going to have to learn to be both serious and gay (sorry, I can't think of a better word) at the same time.

Let this be a clue: in Old English, the word "silly" meant "holy". (In German: selig = holy; seele = soul).

Keep your sense of humor, while doing your part to change the world.

[michael heany]

As far a Christ-Antichrist is concerned, I see these as symbols of the psyche. The Christ pole represents the altruistic part of our nature, any impulse we have to help others (family, friends, the whole world). The Antichrist pole is the ego, anything we do for our own body.

In my own journeies I've swung between the poles, and finally calmed down when I realized that the point is to balance the two; imbalance occurs when one imagines one can smoothly navigate reality by denying either side of our nature.

Please don't try to use to picture to explain cases other than your own. It might not work. It's only a picture I'm currently using that keeps me grounded. Humming, it might be a good way to look at your own situation.

[Humming]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I think what I need is consistency, but I get entangled in so many intricate webs of distraction. The seed I am planting is to grow a permanent tree of clarity.

I was able to control time in a dream the other night. That was easy, but I was still accepting delusional manifestation as to the true nature of my surroundings, and my motivations were ego-bound.

I realize that this is what should change, before I even approach the question of intra-self contact.