In a society where everything that was once considered good is labeled as "evil," the impact on individuals who are naturally drawn to healing, the earth, mother nature, homeopathic remedies, and esoteric wisdom can be profound. This shift in societal perception not only challenges their beliefs and values but also undermines their ability to contribute positively to the world.
When a society dismisses or demonizes practices that promote healing and connection with nature, it creates a disconnect between individuals and their innate inclination toward holistic well-being. Those who seek alternative methods of healing or rely on traditional remedies may feel marginalized or misunderstood. Their knowledge and expertise in areas such as homeopathy or esoteric wisdom are undervalued or even ridiculed.
This societal conditioning can have detrimental effects on both individuals and the collective consciousness. People who are naturally drawn to these practices may suppress their true selves out of fear of judgment or rejection. They might feel isolated and struggle to find acceptance within mainstream society.
Moreover, when societies disregard the importance of nurturing our relationship with the earth and its resources, they risk damaging the very foundation that sustains life. The consequences can be seen in environmental degradation and an overall disregard for sustainable practices.
It is crucial for societies to recognize the value of diverse perspectives and alternative approaches to well-being. Embracing a more inclusive mindset allows for a harmonious coexistence between traditional medical practices and holistic healing methods. By honoring both scientific advancements and ancient wisdom rooted in nature's principles, we can create a more balanced society that prioritizes individual well-being alongside environmental sustainability.
At the core of its definition lies the understanding that what we call magick is the energy that flows through everything in the universe. It’s this power, if you will, that allows us to heal, learn, grow, and evolve. To say that magick is inherently evil is to say that energy is evil, which would make our existence itself evil—and while that may be the conclusion some have come to, I’ll certainly never in good conscience be able to take a stance that plants, trees, water, blood, animals, or any other thing that has life flowing through it is evil because it has an energetic component. We “practice magick” every time we think, breathe, pray, meditate, make tea, care for others, cook, clean, dance, and everything in between. Magick is as interconnected to us as water is to the ocean.
The ancient origins of the title “witch” far pre-date the ideas of treachery muddied up in Halloween, spooky stories, and sermons of fire and brimstone. The word at its essence means someone who works with or is devoted to the pursuit of wisdom or is a wise person. So to condemn witches as being "evil" means you would also have to condemn every priest, pastor, saint, angel, nun, teacher, mystic, healer, doctor, scientist, researcher, or philosopher — after all, philosophy literally means “lover of wisdom.” Witches, or wise people, understand that wisdom is found in nature, in ourselves, and all throughout the universe, not in man-made buildings labeled holy by people who prey on their congregations' pocketbooks and fears of eternal punishment.
Having found its place in modern times as the opposite of “traditional” religious paths, such as Christianity, paganism is a way of living free from dogma and doctrine. To be pagan is to see the sacredness of life found all throughout nature, people, animals, and the elements. Paganism sees the energy woven into all of existence and says I respect and honor each aspect as having a unique place in our universe. While individual paths can vary greatly from pagan to pagan, most are connected to god/deity/source and see the different forms or personified ways that this energy can be understood through gods, goddesses, and divine beings across cultures, time periods, and lifetimes. While anyone can use their belief system to cause harm to others, there is nothing inherently evil about paganism itself.
The wisdom that is hidden or not available to the masses is often frightening to those in positions of power who aim to control what people know and have access to. Esotericism is the pursuit of the hidden mysteries of the universe that are tucked away in places we’re often taught not to look, but just because we’ve been told something is “evil” or “wrong” doesn’t make it so. Esoteric beliefs sit at the core of all religions where some teachings or rituals are only for a select group so to condemn those who pursue esotericism would require all people who study life’s mysteries and the divine to be labeled evil as well. Christian faiths have this with only certain priests or pastors being allowed to do things on behalf of the congregation because not everyone would be willing and/or capable of taking on such a role themselves. While people with access to this type of knowledge or wisdom can certainly use what they’ve learned to cause harm, that isn’t because esotericism is evil but because people can choose to misuse what they’ve tapped into. So, why not pursue what you’re drawn to?
While there are certainly parasitic entities in existence that are malevolent in nature, the term “demons” is a bastardization of the original word daemon which simply meant spirit. The collective of beings often referred to as demons in the spiritual space, such as the goetic infernal beings found in texts such as the Lesser Key of Solomon and other grimoires are heavily slanted based on confused religious ideologies and take gods, goddesses, and other divine beings of old and have reshaped them into occult demons of modern day. Not only is the portrayal of many of these beings entirely disrespectful but it is also inaccurate as to who these beings were originally before religious bias was added to their stories and lore. For example, the Canaanite god Ba’el (which meant lord or lord of EL) was divided into multiple “demonic” beings with cruel-intended names including Beelzebub (lord of filth, flies, or dung), Belial (worthless), etc., the Egyptian goddess Isis was converted into the “demon” Paimon, and the Canaanite goddess Astarte or Asherah was changed into the “demon” Astaroth. These were beings of compassion, wisdom, and death & rebirth long before they were diminished to Christianity’s man-made boxes of evil. In fact, I'd even be willing to argue that El, Astarte, and Ba'el of the Canaanite pantheon were the original divine trinity.
Put simply, divination is connecting with the divine. While some may use it for knowing certain aspects of what’s to come in the future, most practitioners use it specifically for communicating with god/gods and goddesses, divine beings the spiritual realm, etc., and growing in wisdom. There are countless forms and methods for receiving messages from the divine, such as prayer, meditation, tarot cards or oracle cards, scrying or gazing, pendulums or spirit boards, runes, and so on. Whether you are asking god for a sign through prayer or speaking with a divine being through a pendulum, both are intended to connect you with the spiritual realm and give you insight.
I’ve been there…and while modern religion has a ton of flaws and the way it came into existence is riddled with tragedy and deception, we still carry SO MUCH baggage from the indoctrination even though we can clearly see the issues (and have walked away or are in the process of doing so). So, let’s unpack some of it...
Religion taught me:
Let’s break down the flaws, unwind what we’ve been taught that’s false, and replace it with a more open-minded perspective. In many examples, I may reference Christianity specifically, since that is my personal background, but this information isn’t intended to be limited only to people deconstructing from that particular modern religion.
Crystals are naturally occurring mineral formations from the earth. To say crystals are inherently evil would be to say all crystalline formations are evil and that would include salt and all kinds of fundamental elements that are necessary to sustain life and the planet. We rely on minerals to survive and literally use them all throughout the day, often without even realizing it. For example, almost every clock, phone, computer, etc. that you use has quartz in it. Most modern kitchens have quartz countertops. Most hair dryers and flat irons have tourmaline. And the list could go on and on.
Magick is simply the ability to utilize your will or intentions to direct energy for a particular outcome. To say magick is inherently evil requires saying working toward any type of goal or with any type of energy is evil. And energy is necessary for how we fuel our bodies with food, get around via transportation, and so on. We work with energy and our intentions every time we drink a cup of coffee to help us wake up, make a cup of tea to ease a sore throat, or take a walk outdoors to clear our minds.
From a biblical perspective, Jesus taught his disciples about preaching, teaching, and healing, all of which require an intention to help others by transferring our own energy to another by directing our will. So, why would it be evil to work with energy or “magick” to heal ourselves and others when that’s what Jesus did and taught his followers to do? He may not have used the word “magick” in any of his parables, but when we’re talking about using our own intentions, faith, and energy to heal—is that not conceptually the same thing in different terminology?
Witches are simply “wise women” or “wise people” who work with or are devoted to Wisdom (or the pursuit of it). To say witches are evil, requires us to say anyone who pursues greater depths of wisdom or knowledge is evil, including philosophers (philo=lover, sophia=wisdom, philosopher=lover of wisdom), scientists, pastors, shamans, healers, doctors, researchers, and so on.
From a biblical perspective, Wisdom is a figure recognized throughout the Old Testament in Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Isaiah, and is discreetly revealed in aspects of the New Testament in Matthew and Revelation. So why would it be “evil” to pursue this great Wisdom figure (who is a woman by the way—goddess alert, anyone?) when Solomon himself was recognized as the greatest king for asking for Wisdom above all else?
Tarot is simply a teaching/learning method for understanding hidden wisdom in a pictorial form. The same wisdom mysteries that are hidden in the esoteric aspects of the biblical book of Matthew (and Isaiah) can be found in the major arcana of tarot and used to give insight into an individual’s spiritual journey, areas that need transformation through wisdom, and so on. To say tarot cards are evil is to say all forms of pictures, playing cards, or forms of communication with the divine (which is prayer in its simplest form) is wrong.
From a biblical perspective, tarot isn’t directly mentioned anywhere in the canon, but the same types of imagery of priests, priestesses, judges, chariots, and so on that occur in the ancient temple traditions of the time (and throughout most older religions, spiritual paths and cultures), are reflected in the imagery of the cards and can be utilized in the same two-part parable teaching method that was native to rabbis and their students.
Incense is simply a fragrant material that is burned either for its aroma, to honor the divine, to set intentions for prayer or meditation, or for other spiritual purposes. There are endless ways to use incense and a wide variety of available scents. To say incense is evil is to say that anything utilizing herbs, smoke, candles, etc. is evil, and we literally use and eat herbs on a daily basis, create smoke when we light a candle or cook food, and so on.
From a religious perspective, incense is found throughout many sacred texts, the Christian bible included, as a way to honor the divine in the temple, for a ceremony or ritual, or as part of a prayer or meditation. Frankincense (notice the second part of the word: incense) was even gifted to Jesus at his birth, so it’s no surprise that burning incense is a lovely way to honor divinity, regardless of what spiritual path you are following.
Spells are simply language taking a directed form by having intentions put into them. Spells can bring life and healing energy, or they can bring death and destruction based on the intentions of the person speaking. A spell cannot be inherently evil until the intentions put into it are to cause harm to someone or something without cause. We cast “spells” every time we say affirmations, verbally remind ourselves that we are brave or capable of doing something, wish that something would happen, pray, and so on.
From a religious perspective, the creation story in the Christian bible demonstrates a divine being speaking things into existence. This same bible also reminds its readers that life and death are in the power of the tongue, meaning people have creative power through their speech. Scientifically speaking, multiple studies have been done that show the difference between plants that are spoken to positively versus negatively and how the words and energy directed at the respective plant shape its ability to thrive.
Polytheism is more complex than many realize because polytheists often recognize that there is one “Source” of life and energy, but that it comes to life through many different personified beings who together make up the grand puzzle piece of divinity. Most (and I say most because I tread lightly with speaking in absolutes since there are always those who diverge from the majority) view there being a Source (also referred to as God, Universe, EL, etc.), and then there being many, many, many gods and goddesses who are the extensions of that original Source of energy and life, not all that different from how someone in Christianity might understand angelic beings, but for polytheists they recognize many different divine beings of god- or goddess-like status who rule over or are different energies in personified forms, including lesser beings that are not gods or goddesses but have more finite roles in the universe, such as angels, fae, elementals, etc.
If polytheism isn’t for you, that’s perfectly fine. Many may choose to only recognize there being a singular God figure or no god figure at all. However you choose to view and connect with your spiritual path is entirely your own.
Energy work is any form of healing, meditation, reiki, or prayer that utilizes the energetic field surrounding the body and the energy centers within the body. We are naturally energetic beings and understanding what our body needs on an energetic level can help us in the physical, emotional, and spiritual spheres of our lives. To say energy work is evil would be to say that any form of healing using energy, whether it be through plants, herbs, medicine, sound, frequencies, light therapy, color therapy, etc. is evil.
From a religious perspective, the use of prayer, spoken words, playing instruments, eating or abstaining from certain foods, and so on are all linked to methods of healing and drawing closer to the divine. Energy work methods are vast and vary across belief systems and cultures, so find what you’re drawn to, what is effective for you, and what resonates.
If there are other topics you are struggling with or would like more insight on, let me know in the comments below. Blessed be on your healing wisdom journey!
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources for people who are new to spirituality and feel like they're drowning in the overwhelming number of "resources" on the internet and things to research, so this article aims to simplify things as much as possible, while still giving helpful direction as you embark on your wisdom journey.
Spirituality is a deeply personal journey of seeking meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself. It involves exploring one's inner self, values, beliefs, and understanding of the universe. Unlike religion or other modern constructs, spirituality is not bound by specific dogmas or rituals. It transcends boundaries and invites individuals to explore their own unique paths toward enlightenment and self-discovery.
Spirituality is a life-long learning and growth endeavor because it is a continuous process of self-reflection, introspection, and evolution. It involves exploring different philosophies, practices, and experiences that help individuals deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. This journey often leads to personal transformation, increased self-awareness, empathy, compassion, and a greater sense of interconnectedness with all living beings.
By embracing spirituality as a way of life, individuals open themselves up to new perspectives, insights, and possibilities that can enrich their lives in profound ways. It encourages a sense of wonder, curiosity, and openness to the mysteries of existence, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world we inhabit.
What types of spiritual paths are there?
Eclectic Witchcraft — A personalized approach to witchcraft that combines elements from various traditions, such as herbalism, divination, spellwork, and energy healing instead of being labeled with any one particular path. Other labels/paths that witches may identify with if they prefer a singular focus to their craft include Green Witchcraft (plant-based), Kitchen Witchcraft (cooking and herb-based), Hedge Witchcraft (liminal space-based), Death Witchcraft (cycles and rebirth-based), Hearth Witchcraft (home-based), Astral Witchcraft (astral realms-based), Astrology Witchcraft (celestial bodies-based), Crystal Witchcraft (crystals and minerals-based), Art Witchcraft (color and creativity-based), and countless more.
Solitary Practitioner — Some individuals prefer to practice spirituality or witchcraft on their own, without belonging to a specific tradition or coven. Solitary practitioners often tailor their practice to suit their individual needs and beliefs. Similar to eclectic witchcraft, they simply focus on whatever resonates and fits their needs in a given season without the input of other practitioners.
Paganism — A diverse umbrella term encompassing various nature-based belief systems, such as Polytheistic religions, Witchcraft, Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry. Paganism typically honors the Earth and its cycles and often involves rituals, ceremonies, and a deep connection to nature. Anyone can choose to be pagan and paganism can be practiced in conjunction with countless other paths and belief systems if so desired.
Buddhism — An ancient tradition originating in India, Buddhism emphasizes mindfulness, meditation, and the pursuit of enlightenment. It teaches individuals to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and inner peace through the Noble Eightfold Path.
Hermeticism — Rooted in the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, Hermeticism explores the interconnectedness of the spiritual and material worlds. It often incorporates practices like alchemy, astrology, and esoteric symbolism to facilitate personal transformation.
Gnosticism — A mystical tradition that focuses on attaining direct spiritual knowledge or gnosis. Gnosticism emphasizes the importance of transcending the material world to reach higher realms of consciousness and understanding.
Wicca — A modern pagan religion that focuses on the worship of nature and the practice of ritual magick. Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, which emphasizes harm none and do what you will. Note this is a modern religion, and though Wicca practices witchcraft, most witches are not Wiccan as they strive to embrace the older ways.
Druidry — An ancient Celtic spiritual tradition that honors nature, ancestors, and the cycles of the seasons. Druids often work with trees, plants, and sacred sites in their practice.
Shamanism — A spiritual practice found in various cultures around the world, shamanism involves connecting with the spirit world to heal, gain wisdom, and commune with nature spirits.
Heathenry — A modern revival of Norse paganism that honors the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon, as well as the spirits of land and ancestors.
It will feel right. It will feel like it's something that's always been a part of you or that you've always longed for or known. If you dabble in something and it doesn't feel quite right, that's okay, keep on exploring new paths until you find what sits well with you. Labels are entirely unnecessary, so don't feel like you have to know exactly what category you fit into, enjoy the journey of learning, growing, and exploring, and if it's meant to have a label, you'll find it when the time is right.
In all honesty, you should research and explore whatever you feel naturally drawn to. I'm a firm believer that we are drawn to certain topics because they either hold wisdom that can aid us on our path or they somehow play a role in who we are on a grander scale.
If you begin researching something you feel drawn to and then deem it unhelpful or not in alignment with your path, that's perfectly fine too. There's no harm in the research portion, as you can easily put down whatever you've picked up and carry on to whatever calls to you next.
If this leaves things too wide open for your taste, I've assembled some topics below that I feel are critical to ensuring safety in any spiritual endeavors, as they lay a foundation for everything else you may find yourself dabbling in later on.
Regardless of your beliefs, culture, traditions, or heritage, somewhere along the way, you've most likely been confronted with the idea that otherworldly beings exist, whether it be God/gods/goddesses, angels and demons, spirits, or some variation or adaptation of these general concepts. With so many different energies at play in the universe, it is important that anyone learning to navigate spirituality and spiritual realms understand four basic principles: grounding, cleansing, protection, and banishing.
Grounding — Grounding helps keep us balanced, and connected to our bodies, and avoid the negative repercussions of allowing our minds to venture too far off into the clouds, so to speak. We've all most likely encountered someone at some point in our lives who experienced psychosis, and it can be quite alarming. This makes grounding practices incredibly important for our mental health, as well as our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Learn more about the fundamentals of grounding here.
Cleansing — Cleansing helps keep our energy and our space in a fairly neutral state. Though both positively and negatively charged energy have important roles to play in the universe, learning to keep things in equilibrium is necessary as we dive into the spiritual aspects of life. You'll realize just how important this is when you learn how being around certain people, places, or things can impact you in the short term and long term. Learn more about the fundamentals of cleansing here.
Protection — Protection helps keep our energy and space safeguarded from unwanted energies entering, lingering, or impacting us. While there are a lot of things constantly taking place amongst the unseen realms that you'll want to learn to protect against, there are also a lot of unwanted energies that human beings carry with them that we may encounter at any given point if people come and go from our home, we spend time in large crowds, or even in toxic office spaces. Learn more about the fundamentals of protection here.
Banishing — Banishing helps remove entities or energies that have managed to find their way into our space despite our regular grounding, cleansing, and protection efforts. Though banishing is not something that will need to be done all that frequently, it's certainly important to learn and understand, so that if and when the day comes that it needs to be done, you can do so swiftly and confidently. Learn more about the fundamentals of banishing here.
From there, there are countless paths you can journey down based on what interests you, whether it be learning about divination, spellcasting, rituals, magick, energy work, dream work, astral travel or projection, lunar cycles, astrology, solar cycles, pagan celebrations, and more.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on spiritual awakening, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Spiritual awakening can be described as a profound shift in consciousness and awareness that leads to a deep understanding of oneself and the world around us. It often involves a heightened sense of connection to something greater than ourselves, whether it be a higher power, the universe, or simply a collective energy.
During a spiritual awakening, individuals may experience a range of emotions, insights, and revelations that challenge their existing beliefs and perspectives. This process can be both transformative and challenging, as it often involves confronting unresolved emotions, letting go of limiting beliefs, and seeking greater meaning and purpose in life.
It's important to note, though, that what many people describe as a spiritual awakening is actually only the beginning of the process—and a person who is truly spiritually awakened has already moved through behaviors of acting superior or more intelligent than others, have found balance in both light and darkness, have managed to keep their ego in check, and so on.
Sudden Awakening — This type of spiritual awakening occurs abruptly and can be triggered by a profound experience or realization. It often leads to a significant shift in perspective and a newfound sense of clarity.
Gradual Awakening — Unlike sudden awakenings, gradual awakenings unfold over time and involve a series of smaller revelations or insights. This type of awakening allows for a more gentle and steady transformation.
Existential Awakening — This type of awakening involves questioning the deeper meaning and purpose of one's existence. It often leads to a search for greater spiritual connection and understanding.
Emotional Awakening — Emotional awakenings involve becoming more attuned to one's emotions, feelings, and innermost desires. This type of awakening can lead to increased self-awareness and emotional healing.
Intuitive Awakening — Intuitive awakenings involve tapping into one's intuition and inner wisdom. This type of awakening can lead to greater trust in one's instincts and a deeper connection to the universe.
Awakening through Crisis — Sometimes, spiritual awakenings are triggered by challenging life events or crises that force individuals to reevaluate their beliefs and priorities. These awakenings often lead to profound personal growth and transformation.
Who typically experiences spiritual awakening?
People from all walks of life can experience spiritual awakenings, but there are certain types of individuals who may be more predisposed to such profound experiences. Those who are introspective and reflective by nature often find themselves on a spiritual journey, seeking deeper meaning and connection in their lives. Additionally, individuals who have experienced significant life changes or challenges, such as loss, trauma, or a near-death experience, may be more open to a spiritual awakening as they search for healing and understanding.
People who are curious about different belief systems and philosophies, and who are open-minded to exploring new ideas and perspectives, are also more likely to experience spiritual awakenings. Those who have a strong sense of empathy and compassion towards others may find themselves drawn to spirituality as a way to connect with something greater than themselves and cultivate a sense of purpose and interconnectedness.
After experiencing a spiritual awakening, individuals often report feeling a profound sense of inner peace, clarity, and purpose. They may feel more connected to the world around them, as well as to a higher power or universal energy. Emotions such as love, joy, and gratitude tend to become more prevalent in their daily lives.
On a mental level, those who have undergone a spiritual awakening often find that their perspective on life shifts dramatically. They may experience heightened levels of intuition, creativity, and insight into their own thoughts and emotions. This newfound clarity can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and personal growth.
Spiritually awakened individuals also tend to experience a deep sense of interconnectedness with all living beings. They may feel more compassionate towards others and develop a strong desire to contribute positively to the world. This can result in a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in their relationships and activities.
Overall, the aftermath of a spiritual awakening is often described as a transformative and enlightening experience that brings about a profound sense of peace, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself.
Absolutely not. Can it be difficult and uncomfortable? Yes, of course. Can the new wisdom and knowledge you have access to be used to cause destruction and harm to others? Certainly. But is it inherently dangerous or evil? No, not at all.
Spiritual awakening can be seen as a deep inner shift in consciousness, leading to a profound sense of connection to oneself, others, and the universe. It often involves a heightened awareness of one's true self and purpose in life. This awakening is a personal and transformative experience that goes beyond religious or spiritual practices.
Practicing religion or spirituality, on the other hand, typically involves following established beliefs, rituals, and traditions within a specific framework or community. While these practices can also lead to personal growth and connection to the divine, spiritual awakening is more about an individual's direct experience of spiritual truths and insights.
In essence, spiritual awakening is a journey of self-realization and enlightenment that transcends external structures and dogma, allowing individuals to tap into their inner wisdom and connect with the deeper aspects of existence. It can be a profound and life-changing process that opens up new perspectives and possibilities for growth and evolution.
While it can sound scary to go through such a major paradigm shift and the aftermath of seeing the world in such a different way, it's also really beautiful and exciting too. Though change can be frightening, it's equally worth it.
If you're ready to welcome all that comes with a spiritual awakening, the following ritual is one you can perform to align your intentions with the transformative energy that comes through connecting with your higher self, the universe, and the wisdom that is in and all around you.
When people begin the process of spiritual awakening, they can quickly become susceptible to ideas of grandeur, thought processes that can evolve into psychosis-like behaviors, and welcoming energies into their space out of ignorance that is not aligned with their highest good. In order to mitigate and minimize these pitfalls, I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of grounding, cleansing, protection, banishing, and parasitic entities before proceeding.
Grounding before any form of spiritual awakening ritual is incredibly important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for everything that is to follow. You can ground your energy in several ways including, spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, and more. Remember that grounding is a personal practice, so feel free to explore different techniques and find what works best for you.
To cleanse the energy of your space before performing any type of spiritual awakening ritual, you can smoke cleanse with sacred dried herbs, sound cleanse with bells or singing bowls, or utilize energy-clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends. Each method has its unique way of clearing negative energy and creating a positive environment for your spiritual awakening ritual, so use whatever method is easily doable and works best for you. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing the space you’ll be working in of any negative or stagnant energy so that you have a neutral starting point.
After cleansing the space to bring it to a neutral state energetically speaking, you’ll then want to protect yourself and the space from any additional unwanted energies from entering. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of parasitic entities or malevolent beings from sneaking their way into your space while spiritual doorways or portals are "open" — do not ever skip protective steps when performing any type of spiritual awakening ritual, even if it's a seemingly simple or straightforward practice. Protection can be implemented by setting an energetic boundary, such as casting a circle, if this aligns with your spiritual path and beliefs, wearing protective crystals, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline, or hematite, or casting a protection spell, or utilizing a protective ward.
You can protect your space and create a protective circle with the support of the elements using the steps below.
Facing East, speak: "Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing South, speak: "Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing West, speak: "Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing North, speak: "Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Hail and welcome!"
After effectively grounding yourself and cleansing and protecting the space you’ll be working in, here are a few different methods that I have personally used to welcome a spiritual awakening, whether it be for the very first time or to take you to a deeper/higher level from your current state, as taught to me by my deities and spirit guides. Remember, after the spiritual awakening ritual is performed, you will want to close out the ritual in reverse order by re-protecting yourself and your space, re-cleansing yourself and your space from any lingering negative or stagnant energy, and re-grounding yourself to diffuse built-up energy from the working itself.
After the spiritual awakening ritual, you’ll want to re-protect your energetic field to repair any places where vulnerabilities may have arisen following welcoming the spiritual awakening transitionary energy into your life. Take a moment to visualize your energy being slowly mended and strengthened before closing out the protective circle that was created with the support of the elements. These steps will be done in reverse order from how they were first performed.
Stand up and facing North, speak: "Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing West, speak: "Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing South, speak: "Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing East, speak: "Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and assisting me through this spiritual awakening ritual and preventing any energies that aren't aligned with my highest good from entering this sacred space. Thank you and farewell."
Be intentional going forward to protect your energy. Find what works best for you, whether it be veiling (wearing a head covering), wearing protective crystals, wearing a protective talisman or amulet, shielding through glamour magick, or whatever your preferred method is.
To cleanse your energy (and space if you feel it’s necessary) after performing this spiritual awakening ritual, you can utilize the same method you did at the beginning of the ritual, such as smoke cleansing with sacred dried herbs, using sound cleansing with bells or singing bowls, or utilizing energy clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends.
Alternatively, you also might opt for something that’s more personal to cleanse yourself, such as a ritual cleansing shower or bath. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs again, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around yourself or your space, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing your energy so that you feel clean, refreshed, and energized.
Grounding after a spiritual awakening ritual is incredibly important as it ensures that any excess energy is redirected back to the ground/earth. You can ground your energy utilizing the same method you did at the beginning of the ritual, such as spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, etc.
Remember, just as we tend to our physical bodies with care and attention, so too must we nurture our spiritual well-being. By cultivating a practice of grounding, cleansing, and protecting ourselves we can fortify our energetic boundaries and safeguard our essence from anything who seeks to drain it.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
