Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) was first observed by Celtic Pagans. Samhain marked the Celtic New Year, the end of summer, and the end of the harvest season. It also signaled the beginning of winter, which is associated with death and the dark half of the wheel of the year. On Samhain, the Celts believed the veil between the material and the spiritual realms was especially thin.
But what exactly is the veil? Why is it thin and why does it matter? “The veil” refers to the liminal space or “in-between” energetic barrier that separates the physical world from other spiritual realms, such as the realm of the ancestors, the realm of the gods and goddesses, the realm of the fae, and so on.
During Samhain, when this veil is thin, there are extremely heightened energetic happenings as spirits come and go more freely than at other points during the year. While this may not impact practitioners who are more accustomed to interacting with spirit realms, for those who are less in tune with other realms or newer to interacting with energy it can be an incredibly intense season.
This is a time though, that whether someone has been a spiritual practitioner for ages or is barely connected to spirituality at all, people across the board feel the draw to connect with those who came before them. This is our favorite way to celebrate and honor the Samhain season by connecting with our protective ancestors, the ones who walked before us and are loving and benevolent.
Life is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, meaning that spirit never dies, just as physics teaches us that energy is never destroyed only transformed. The family unit is composed of both the living and the departed, the essence of the departed is ever-present and as such can be activated anytime. Whilst the ancestors are no longer present in the physical they still can communicate and act as spiritual guardians to their descendants by offering support and guidance along their life to help overcome challenges and tap into one’s potential.
While countless ancestors have come before us and are a part of our heritage and family lineage, that does not mean that they are all inherently good people, have our best interests in mind, or are energy that we want to carry forward with us. Ancestors who perpetuated patterns of abuse, trauma, and harm, not only do we want to be intentional to avoid carrying the negative aspects forward with us, but we also want to ultimately unwind and break the generational cycles that have been created. That doesn’t mean that those who were not good people should be discarded, as they are still a part of us. But instead, we can send them love, cleansing, and healing energies while maintaining boundaries to protect ourselves and future generations.
This is why, as practitioners, we are intentional about calling forward our protective ancestors in our workings, communications, and rituals. This ancestral communication can take place in various ways including through meditations, dreams, visions, synchronicities, nature, signs, sounds, and so on. The most important thing to understand about connecting to and communicating with your ancestors is the power of your intention. Once you make the decision to connect with your protective ancestors, you will find that the pathway of communication opened.
Below I have put together a simple ritual for connecting with your protective ancestors during Samhain. As with most rituals I perform, I start with protective and grounding exercises and then carry out the ritual using a form of representation of the spirit(s) being connected with, a beacon or fuel source to guide and honor the spirit(s), and the magickal power of my intentions to carry out the actual working.
What you’ll need:
While there are many methods for carrying out the below ritual, I am only going to highlight how I perform this ritual myself. You are welcome to replicate it in its entirety or modify it using your own preferred methods of protection, representation for your ancestors, preferred candle method, and so on.
Protection
Start with sitting on the ground. If you have a designated altar space for the deceased and/or your ancestors, sit in front of that setup with your representative item, candle, and offering. Close your eyes and envision a bright light surrounding you completely. Let this light permeate every inch of you until you feel warm, safe, and grounded.
Welcoming
Facing East, speak: “Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. As I access the ancestral realm, I welcome my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them to me. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing South, speak: “Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. As I access the ancestral realm, I welcome my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them to me. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing West, speak: “Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. As I access the ancestral realm, I welcome my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them to me. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing North, speak: “Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. As I access the ancestral realm, I welcome my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them to me. Hail and welcome!”
Representation
Place the item (I’ll be using my grandmother’s class ring that is engraved with her initials) that represents your ancestor(s) beside the black candle and offering.
Beacon
Light the black candle intended to guide your ancestors to you and place the cup or bowl of water beside this beacon.
Offering
Place out the offering (I’ll be using red wine and pie since that was my grandmother’s favorite thing to make) for your ancestors around/beside the black candle to feed them and honor them.
Connecting
Sitting and closing your eyes, envision a doorway opening and your protective ancestor(s) coming through the gate toward you. Ask that any messages they may have for you be clearly received and state any other intentions you may have, such as honoring them, getting to know them better, etc.
Once you feel that they are with you, allow any messages they have to flow toward you. If you are not yet skilled at receiving messages through clairaudience, claircognizance, or the like, focus on how the present energy feels. Sit quietly with these feelings, allowing your body to take it all in and then gently release it. If you feel drawn to use a form of divination to communicate with your ancestor(s), you may do that as well.
Closing
When you are ready to end the ritual and communication with your ancestors for now, thank those who came forward and allowed you to connect with them, and then visualize them all leaving through the same gate they came through. Once gone, envision the doorway closing and fading away.
Stand up and facing North, speak: “Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. I say goodbye to my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them back to the ancestral realm.”
Turning left and facing West, speak: “Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. I say goodbye to my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them back to the ancestral realm.”
Turning left and facing South, speak: “Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. I say goodbye to my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them back to the ancestral realm.”
Turning left and facing East, speak: “Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and allowing me to be present in this window of liminal space. I say goodbye to my protective ancestors, and I thank you for helping guide them back to the ancestral realm.”
Creating a sacred space is an essential part of many pagan, spiritual, and religious practices. An altar serves as a focal point for connecting with the divine, performing rituals, and honoring your spiritual path. Whether you are new to this part of your path or not, this guide is intended to help walk you through the fundamentals of building an altar.
For me personally, my altar spaces are treated with the same respect and reverence as an inner room of an ancient temple might have. If you have a particular spiritual path you follow, you may opt to look into the ancient temple traditions of your belief system.
Altars can be indoors or outdoors—choosing between the two is completely up to you. The main thing that’s important is that the location you select feels right to you and won’t be disturbed by others. Ideally, it should be a space where you feel comfortable and can focus on your spiritual practice without interruptions.
You can have a stationary altar that you set up on a shelf or counter space, or you can create a travel altar that is smaller in size and contained in a designated box that’s easily transportable (super helpful for people who often stay in hotels or other people’s homes), or you can create a permanent or temporary altar outdoors, such as in your garden, courtyard, patio, etc.
For me, I have altar spaces that are in my room, bathroom, and living areas that align energetically with those areas of my home and the elements of spirit that I want to connect with. For example, the altar(s) that I have for the water entities that I work with are around the bathtub (near water). Whereas the divine beings that I do astral work with, I keep in my bedroom (near where I sleep). For you, if you’re working with household spirits, you may choose your hearth for your altar, or if you’re an herbalist, you might opt for a kitchen altar.
Before setting up your altar, you’ll want to cleanse the space of any negative or stagnant energy that’s lingering. You can use your preferred method, such as smoke cleansing, sound cleansing, spraying Florida water or cleansing spray, or whatever your go-to cleansing method is. Oftentimes, this also aligns with elements of your craft that you’re already drawn to. For example, if you’re someone who typically utilizes herbs in your practice, you might be more likely to opt for burning incense or yerba santa or something similar to cleanse with the smoke.
Next, you’ll want to designate what the altar is going to be for and select items that align with the energy of the space you’re consecrating. Your altar can be a general working one that is flexible to your needs (a very common option for eclectic practitioners), it can be designated for a specific deity or divine being you’ve chosen to work with and honor, it can be dedicated to yourself, such as your higher self, inner child, or inner teen, or whatever your intentions are spiritually.
While there is no “wrong” or “right” way to set up your altar (and no two altars are alike, nor should they be), here are some things you might consider to help give you some ideas and point you in the right direction.
When it comes to creating your altar, it is important to remember that this space is sacred and should be treated as such. It is your designated area where you can connect with your spirituality or practice your rituals. Remember that there are no strict rules when it comes to designing an altar—it is a reflection of who you are and what holds significance in your spiritual journey. So let your creativity flow and trust your intuition when arranging each element on your sacred space. Ultimately, this process should bring a sense of joy, comfort, and connection whenever you engage with it.
The human body is composed of various energy centers, also known as chakras, which are associated with different colors and aspects of our being. Understanding these energy sources can provide valuable insights into our overall well-being and help us achieve balance in our lives.
Crystals have long been used for their healing properties and can be a powerful tool in balancing and harmonizing the energy sources in our bodies. Each energy source, also known as a chakra, corresponds to different aspects of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Root Energy Source
The first energy source is the root energy source, which is linked to the color red. It represents our sense of stability, security, and connection to the physical world. This energy center governs our basic survival needs and grounds us in the present moment. This energy source is located at the base of the spine, and crystals such as carnelian can be placed over this area to promote grounding and stability. Red carnelian is believed to enhance courage and motivation. An easy way to remember this is by utilizing the rainbow order of colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) since these match up with the order of the energy sources in the body (sometimes clear or white is used alternatively to violet). Crystals that correspond with these colors are an easy way to link to energetic properties of the crystal with the body—so since red represents the root energy source in the body, it’s easy to remember that crystals like red carnelian or red jasper can help bring healing and balance.
Sacral Energy Source
The sacral energy source is associated with the color orange and relates to our creativity, passion, and emotional well-being. It influences our ability to experience pleasure, form healthy relationships, and embrace change. Located just below the navel, crystals like orange calcite, citrine, orange carnelian, or sunstone can be used to stimulate creativity and passion in the sacral energy source. These crystals are thought to help balance emotions and increase vitality.
Solar Plexus Energy Source
Moving up the body, we have the solar plexus energy source represented by the color yellow. This center is connected to our personal power, self-esteem, and confidence. It influences how we assert ourselves in the world and take control of our lives. The solar plexus energy source, found in the upper abdomen area, can benefit from crystals like citrine, yellow jade, yellow tiger’s eye, or golden quartz. These stones are said to boost self-confidence and personal power.
Heart Energy Source
The heart energy source corresponds to the color green. It represents love, compassion, forgiveness, and emotional balance. This center governs our ability to give and receive love unconditionally while fostering harmonious relationships with others. For the heart energy source located in the center of the chest, chrysoprase, green aventurine, and green calcite are popular choices. It is known as the stone of love and compassion, promoting emotional healing and harmony.
Throat Energy Source
Next is the throat energy source associated with light blue or turquoise. It relates to communication, self-expression, truthfulness, and authenticity. This center enables us to express ourselves clearly while listening attentively to others. The throat energy source corresponds to communication and self-expression. Crystals such as blue sodalite, blue lace agate, or lapis lazuli can be placed over this area to support clear communication and enhance self-confidence.
Third Eye Energy Source
Moving further up is the third eye energy source represented by indigo or deep blue. This center connects us to intuition, wisdom, inner guidance, and spiritual insight. It allows us to tap into higher consciousness and perceive beyond what meets the eye. This energy source is located between the eyebrows, lepidolite or amethyst crystals are often used. These stones are believed to enhance intuition and spiritual insight.
Crown Energy Source
Finally, we have the crown energy source at the top of the head symbolized by violet or white light. This center represents a spiritual connection with universal consciousness or higher power. It transcends individuality as it connects us with divine wisdom and cosmic awareness. Located at the top of our heads, clear quartz or amethyst can also be used to strengthen this energy source in the body. These crystals are associated with higher consciousness and spiritual connection.
Understanding these seven energy sources and their corresponding colors can help us identify areas of imbalance or blockages in our lives. By harmonizing and balancing these energy centers, we can enhance our overall well-being, emotional stability, and spiritual growth.
New to using crystals? Here are a few simple ways you can incorporate crystals into your daily life to bring about energetic balance, healing, and an overall sense of well-being. Crystals have long been used for their healing properties, and they can be a powerful tool for energy healing.
One popular method is to place crystals directly on the body. This allows the crystal’s energy to directly interact with your own energy field. For example, if you want to balance the root energy source in the body, you might feel drawn to place carnelian or red jasper directly on this part of the body while meditating or listening to healing sound frequencies. You can also wear crystal jewelry that promotes energy balance in the body.
For many people, they may intuitively choose a crystal either being drawn to it energetically or based on its appearance. Black crystals, such as obsidian or tourmaline, are often used to protect your energy and shield a person from negative energy. Clear crystals, such as quartz and selenite, can help neutralize, cleanse, and charge energy, including other crystals. Other colorful crystals may be chosen based on which energy sources in the body need balancing, strengthening, etc.
We have multiple crystal products available for sale! All of our crystals are ethically sourced and each order is sound-cleansed before it is shipped out to ensure that you receive your metaphysical tools in a neutral energetic state ready to be used in your practice. Shop here.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on crystals, and specifically within the energy work category, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
When we hear the word “crystals,” we usually think of pretty colored minerals. But those are not the only types of crystals. Graphite in pencils, table salt, and snow are crystals, too. What all crystals have in common, though, is an extremely well-organized molecular structure.
Believe it or not, we rely on crystals every single day of our lives. We use crystals to write, keep time, season our food, operate our phones and laptops, build our homes, and tons more. Throughout history, people have used crystals in ancient medicine and spiritual practices, believing they could balance the body’s energy centers or chakras, and they are also used in magickal ways to this day beyond their mundane uses.
Scientifically speaking, all matter, including crystals and the human body, is composed of atoms vibrating at specific frequencies. These vibrations, often referred to as Dominant Oscillatory Rates (DORs), determine the energetic signature of each entity. In the case of humans, our bodies consist of trillions of cells, each vibrating at its own unique frequency, collectively contributing to our overall vibrational state.
This intricate interplay of cellular vibrations represents the biological processes essential for life. In contrast, crystals exhibit a remarkable simplicity in their vibrational makeup, typically resonating at a single dominant frequency. This uniformity in DORs allows crystals to maintain a stable energetic signature, making them potent tools for harnessing and amplifying specific energies within their environment.
The molecules in a crystal are arranged in a fixed repeating pattern. Unlike humans, this structure makes crystal energy highly stable allowing them to easily maintain their DOR. When we bring crystals into our energy field the process of entrainment begins. Entrainment is when the rhythm of a more stable energy causes another to gradually synchronize with it. This is the Universe’s way of bringing energies into balance.
Crystals, with their stable molecular structures and precise vibrational frequencies, serve as incredible resonators and transducers of electromagnetic energies. But what exactly does that mean?
A resonator is like a tuning fork for energy. It vibrates at a specific frequency when energy is applied to it. This helps to amplify or enhance that energy. Imagine them as organized blocks vibrating in harmony, creating stability. When introduced to our energy field, they synchronize vibrations, a process called entrainment. This alignment mirrors the balance and harmony in nature.
A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into another. In the case of electromagnetic energies, a transducer can take electromagnetic waves and convert them into another form of energy, such as sound or mechanical movement, or vice versa. Essentially, it’s like a translator between different types of energy.
Because of their stability, crystals are used in various everyday technologies, from timekeeping in watches to transmitting data via radio waves and powering solar panels. They’re essential as resonators and transducers of electromagnetic energies in numerous applications.
There are many ways to use crystals. Many people choose to carry them or wear them to keep the energetic frequency of the crystal near their energy field to embrace its metaphysical properties. Others may choose to meditate with them or use them in their home or sacred spaces to create a certain atmosphere that aligns with their intentions and craft. For example, someone who wants to embrace a greater degree of self-love or attract love into their life may choose to wear or work with rose quartz. Here are a few quick reference guides for crystals and some of their metaphysical benefits.
A lot of this comes down to personal preference. Like any spiritual or energetic practice, crystals are best used in a way that feels supportive and healing for you. Here are some ideas:
There are countless ways to cleanse your crystals (and none of them are “right” or “wrong” but the main piece of advice we have is checking if your crystals are water safe so they don’t deteriorate).
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
Happy Litha (also known as the Summer Solstice) AND Strawberry Full Moon! What a beautiful junction of two powerful lunar events and at relatively the same time. What is Litha? What is the Strawberry Full Moon? And how can you celebrate or embrace the energy of the day?
Litha (Summer Solstice)
Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice, is one of the most significant celebrations in the Wheel of the Year for many witches, especially those who love working with solar energy in conjunction with lunar energy. The Summer Solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the peak of the sun’s power.
This sabbat is a time to honor Sun Deities, such as Ba’el, Apollo, or Ra in his full glory and celebrate the abundance of the Earth. It’s a time of fertility, growth, and renewal. Rituals and spellwork during Litha often focus on themes of prosperity, success, and personal empowerment.
Traditionally, many spiritual practitioners would gather herbs, flowers, and other plants at their peak potency for use in magic and medicine. Bonfires were lit to symbolize the sun’s power and provide a space for celebration and ritual. It’s also a time to give thanks for the bounty of the Earth and the coming harvest.
For modern witches, Litha is an opportunity to connect with the natural world, harness the sun’s energy, and set intentions for the coming months. It’s a powerful time for spellwork related to career, relationships, and personal growth.
Strawberry Full Moon
The Strawberry Full Moon occurs annually in June, and it is incredibly rare for it to land so perfectly timed with Litha—but here we are in 2024 with everything beautifully aligned!
The name for this full moon comes from it occurring at the peak of the strawberry harvesting season, which symbolizes fertility, abundance, and the ripening of intentions planted during the spring. That makes this particular lunar window of time one of celebration of the fruits of one’s labor, both literally and metaphorically.
Spiritually, the Strawberry Full Moon also encourages practitioners to reflect on their personal growth, nurture their goals, and express gratitude for the blessings flowing toward them. It’s an opportune moment to perform rituals focused on manifestation, self-love, and embracing the natural cycles of life.
So how will you celebrate these two lunar and solar events?
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on rituals, including cord cuttings and this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Cord cuttings, often referred to as a “Cutting the Cord” ritual, are intended to sever the energetic cord between you and another person. People who are inexperienced with energy work may opt to have a more experienced practitioner perform the work for them, but many people choose to perform this ritual on their own as the steps you walk through can be very therapeutic and releasing feelings. This is especially true if the person you are cutting off was someone who brought a lot of trauma, harm, abuse, or toxicity to your life.
Keep in mind that when you are performing any type of ritual or spellwork, your intentions are the most important thing, so take time to meditate on and determine what your goal for the working is. It might be to move on from an ex, heal from a toxic friendship, or move past the abuse of a family member. At the end of the day, what your end goal is has to be clearly defined by you.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that cord cuttings are intended to be permanent, so if the person you are “cutting the cord” from is someone you think you might return to being in a relationship with later on in life, this may not be the ideal ritual for that situation.
Additionally, I like to always encourage people to practice safely when dabbling in energy work because our intentions hold a great deal of power, and sometimes things we set in motion through our will can have consequences that are outside the scope of what we thought might occur or happen as a result of our working. This makes it especially important to focus our intentions on separating the other person’s energy from ourselves, and not doing things on other people’s behalf without their explicit permission.
If there are multiple people that you desire to cut the cord from, I’ve found it most effective to perform the ritual for each individual scenario, rather than lumping them all together into one singular working.
The most powerful tool at your disposal is always your mind and your intentions. To physically perform the ritual with tangible ingredients, which can help you stay focused and aligned with the outcome of the ritual, here are some useful tools:
Grounding before rituals is important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for the working. 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 a 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 energy and creating a positive environment for your divination session, 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 during the ritual. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of any disturbances. 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.
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 with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing South, speak: “Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing West, speak: “Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!”
Turning right and facing North, speak: “Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!”
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on creating wards, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
After effectively grounding yourself and cleansing and protecting the space you’ll be working in, here is a step-by-step method for performing a simple cord cutting. Remember, after the cord cutting is created, 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. AND THEN taking plenty of time to rest and recharge your energy.
Take the candle that is going to represent you and gently carve your name into the side of it infusing your intentions that this is connected to your energy. Take the candle that is going to represent the person you are cutting the cord from and gently carve their name into the side of it infusing your intentions that it is connected to the energy you want severed from yourself.
Stand your candles on the fireproof tray a couple of inches apart. I find it helpful to slightly heat up the bottoms of the candle so the wax starts to slightly melt so that they’ll adhere to the dish without following over. Tie them together with the string (see photo example.)
Surround the entire set up of the working and/or the individual candles themselves with salt to symbolize the grounded intentions of this working and that you intend to protect yourself and the other person from harm, but while still severing the energetic cord that links the two of you.
Light both of the candles and state the following:
“As the cord is cut and the candles burned, I cut all ties with that for which I yearned.
I release what no longer serves me. As I will it, so mote it be”
Sit and meditate as the candles burn and the cord is cut, and visualize your energetic attachment to the person being severed. Feel yourself becoming detached, empowered, and able to move on without them in your life. Pay close attention to the moment when the cord catches fire and dissolves between the two candles. Allow the candles to burn all the way down or until you feel drawn to snuff the candles out, but make sure this is after the cord is burned through.
Safely dispose of all of the ritual components.
After the cord cutting is performed, take a moment to close 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 with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. 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 with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. 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 with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. 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 with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. Thank you and farewell.”
To cleanse your energy (and space if you feel it’s necessary) after the cord cutting, 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 cord cutting 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.
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 protecting against and removing parasitic entities.
When individuals are dealing with a parasitic entity leeching off their energy, they may experience various symptoms and sensations that can be unsettling or draining. Some people refer to this as “demonic activity” but this word has a lot of mixed meanings depending on someone’s spiritual or cultural background, and so we have opted not to use this phrase so as not to confuse anyone who may use this word in a particular way. Some common signs of a parasitic entity may include:
Physical Symptoms — People may report feeling fatigued, drained of energy, or experiencing unexplained aches and pains. Some individuals may also notice sudden changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, or digestive issues.
Emotional Disturbances — Those with etheric attachments may experience sudden mood swings, anxiety, depression, or irrational fears. They may also feel a sense of heaviness or oppression that is difficult to shake off.
Behavioral Changes — People might exhibit changes in their behavior such as sudden anger outbursts, irrational actions, or feeling compelled to engage in addictive behaviors.
Psychic Sensations — Individuals may report sensing a presence around them, hearing voices, or experiencing unexplained visions. Some may also feel like they are being watched or followed by unseen forces.
Energetic Disruptions — People with etheric attachments may feel a disturbance in their energy field, such as sudden cold spots, tingling sensations, or feeling like they are being touched by something invisible. It’s important to note that these experiences can also be attributed to medical conditions or psychological factors, so it’s crucial to seek professional help for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Once mundane explanations have been ruled out, and the likelihood of a parasitic entity is highlighted as being the cause of the symptoms and experiences, it is important to remove/banish the parasitic entity and restore balance to your well-being.
Parasitic entities are often attracted to individuals who are vulnerable, spiritually active, empathic, or frequently exposed to heightened amounts of energy.
Vulnerable Individuals — Vulnerabilities can come in many forms, such as when we experience emotional turbulence, unresolved trauma, self-worth or self-esteem issues, mental health issues, or heavy substance use. All of these things can create vulnerabilities in our energy field that can make it easier for parasitic entities to prey on us. While we all go through seasons where we are struggling, vulnerable, and facing hardships physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, it’s important to work through these things to the best of our ability, and seek additional help and support when needed, to move through this and back to a place of balance and stability energetically speaking.
Spiritually Active Individuals — People who are naturally spiritually active, such as healers, energy workers, shamans, witches, magicians, mediums, psychics, spiritual practitioners, oracles, priests or priestesses, and so on, have a vibrant light within them that acts as a beacon of sorts attracting parasitic entities like a moth to a flame. I repeat this phrase often because it’s the easiest way to visualize the magnetism of these entities to an energy source that would be highly sustaining for them if they can manage to latch onto the individual. This does not mean the spiritually active person is doing anything wrong but is an indication that they need to be intentional with cleansing and protecting regularly. Spiritually active individuals could also include people who astral project or travel (even accidentally), dream frequently or have vivid visions, work with spiritual tools to connect with the spirit realm, and so on.
Empathic Individuals — An empathic individual is someone who can understand and share the feelings of others. They are highly attuned to the emotions of those around them and can offer support and comfort in times of need. Empathic individuals are often compassionate, and sensitive, and have a strong sense of empathy towards others. Those who are naturally very sensitive to other energies around them in this way can absorb a lot of the energies that they may encounter throughout the day whether they’re consciously aware of it or not. This makes it especially important for them to get into a routine of cleansing and protecting themselves to mitigate parasitic entities or negative energy from attaching itself to them.
Individuals Around Heightened Energy — Those who are around heightened energy may be those who are spiritual practitioners themselves, such as healers, energy workers, shamans, witches, magicians, mediums, psychics, oracles, priests or priestesses, and so on—but it can also be people who are not directly working with the spiritual realm overtly but rather work in places where many types of people and energies frequently come and go, such as hospitals or medical facilities, schools, large events or functions, funeral homes or cemeteries, places of healing or worship, historical sites or sacred sites, and so on. Again, none of these things are indications a person is doing anything wrong but should encourage them to cleanse and protect themselves regularly to prevent having to deal with parasitic entities.
After having a parasitic entity removed, a person may experience a sense of spiritual relief, lightness, and increased clarity. They may feel a release of negative emotions or physical symptoms that were previously weighing them down or causing distress. This removal process can create a significant energy shift, allowing for a renewed sense of well-being and balance. It is common for individuals to almost immediately feel more grounded, centered, and at peace. It is important to remember though, that removing/banishing a parasitic entity isn’t a one-time thing but requires continuing self-care practices and maintaining healthy and balanced energy to prevent attachments in the future, as a person can be susceptible to parasitic entities at any stage of their life. This is why I repeat the importance of grounding, cleansing, and protecting regularly, and when necessary, banishing anything that has somehow slipped through the cracks.
They are beings that roam the unseen dimensions around us and are like spiritual leeches, feeding off the energy and life force of humans. Just as physical parasites attach themselves to a host to survive, these beings latch onto individuals to drain their vitality.
Imagine these entities as spiritual insects of sorts. They are found in astral realms and places with heightened levels of energetic activity. They are lurkers and wait for moments of weakness or vulnerability to attach themselves, which is usually the result of not grounding, cleansing, protecting, or banishing in the spiritual sense regularly. People who are naturally empathic or who work in places with heightened spiritual activity or dabble in magickal arts are more susceptible to encountering these types of entities. This is because their energy, light, or magick act as a beacon of sorts, attracting parasitic entities like a moth to a flame.
An energy vampire is a person who siphons energy from another person to sustain their practice and life. These individuals, whether consciously or not, latch onto the energy of other people and redirect their energy toward themselves. Though similar in feeling, parasitic entities are not human beings behaving as energy vampires but are beings that preside in non-material realms that latch onto humans.
Ghosts, apparitions, or deceased people (which are all nearly synonymous terms), are those who once presided in the material realm but have passed on (died) but their spirit lingers here still. Though many people associate all spiritual or paranormal happenings with “hauntings” or ghostly activity, very rarely are the spirits of deceased people actively causing any type of disturbance or harm to anyone in the material realm. Alternatively, parasitic entities are spiritual beings (who are not humans and never were) that can create significant disturbances in the material realm if they latch onto a person, place, object, etc. as their only purpose is to drain the energy from whatever they’re connected to to survive.
Though things in the spiritual realm should rarely be looked at as “good” or “bad” since things are significantly more complex than that, I would put it in terms of thinking about a physical parasite once again. In its own right, the parasite may not be actively causing harm to anything, but it becomes quite problematic very quickly when it latches onto a host. For example, a tapeworm attaches itself to the intestinal wall of a person and absorbs nutrients directly from the host’s digestive system. By absorbing nutrients from the host’s food, tapeworms can grow and reproduce, often causing symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal pain, and nutritional deficiencies in the infected person. In the same way, etheric or spiritual parasites feed off the host which creates unexplained fatigue, persistent negative thoughts or emotions, and constantly feeling like your energy is drained and unable to be recharged or replenished—which is not good.
While it can sound scary to have to deal with a parasitic entity, we do not need to fear them but rather educate ourselves on what they are and how to preventatively protect against them or remove them if one has already latched onto us.
Removing a parasitic entity requires a deep understanding of energy work and how the spiritual and astral realms operate. There are some things that inexperienced practitioners may try on their own, but if there is push-back or resistance due to the parasitic entity refusing to be removed, it would be wise to connect with an experienced spiritual practitioner, such as an astral witch (because they are well-versed in astral realms), death witch (because they are well-versed in working with liminal space and the beings that preside there), a shaman (because they are experienced in spiritual healing and energy work), a healer (because they are experienced in healing various types of energy blockages), or another similar type of practitioner.
The process typically begins with the spiritual practitioner connecting with the affected individual energetically to assess the nature of the entity and its impact. This does not have to be done in person if the spiritual practitioner is fluidly able to tap into people’s energy from a distance. This energetic connection is crucial for understanding how the entity is affecting the person’s energy and overall well-being. Some parasitic entities may be very simple and easy to remove if the hold on the person is fairly minor or if it is a weaker type of parasite, and others may be more heavily embedded into the person and have a stronger hold on their energy if it’s been attached and feeding off them for quite some time.
During the process, the spiritual practitioner will work to weaken the hold of the parasitic entity on the individual’s energy, remove it entirely and banish it from the individual, and then create a protective barrier around them to prevent reattachment. For those who are already well-versed in the spiritual realm and understand the fundamentals of grounding, cleansing, protecting, and banishing, here are some key things my deities and spirit guides have shared with me in regard to navigating the removal of parasitic entities.
Grounding before a spiritual working 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 working, you can try smoke cleansing with sacred dried herbs, using sound cleansing with bells or singing bowls, or utilizing energy-clearing sprays like Florida water. Each method has its own unique way of clearing negative energy and creating a positive environment for your spiritual practice, 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 can be done 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 removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy that isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy that isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy that isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy that isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 remove parasitic entities as taught to me by my deities and spirit guides. Remember, after the removal/banishing 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 removal/banishment, you’ll want to re-protect your energetic field to repair any places where vulnerabilities were previously present to prevent any parasitic entities from having access to you again. 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 in the removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 in the removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 in the removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 in the removal and banishment of any parasitic entities or negative energy isn’t aligned with my highest good. 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 removal/banishment working, 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.
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 working 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.
One of the fundamentals of paganism and esoteric wisdom is banishing. Here is a brief overview of what this means within esotericism and how you can practice banishing.
Banishing removes energies that are not welcome in your space from staying there. Banishing is a broad term that can have many different purposes and be carried out via a plethora of methods.
If at any point during your routine, you encounter unwelcome energies or spirits in your space that aren’t aligned with your intentions or highest good, banishing is necessary. These may be energies or spirits that are draining your energy, have mischievous or malicious intentions, or are around for nefarious reasons, and as a result interfere with your own health, healing, and well-being.
You may already be practicing banishing or cleansing when you feel the need to sweep after someone leaves your home, open the windows when you enter a room that feels stuffy, or take a few moments by yourself to regroup after being in a large crowd.
When our energy is interfered with in any way, it can inhibit our creativity, inspiration, and ability to think clearly, bring down our mood, and cause feelings of fatigue, sickness, and exhaustion. Banishing these unwanted energies allows us to keep everything in order and balance within ourselves and our space so that we are able to continue thriving physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The methods for banishing are as vast as every other topic in esotericism. Common methods of banishing are:
The key with each of these methods is the individual’s intentions and mindset. Even mundane activities, such as sweeping or dusting, can be methods of banishing. For example, sweeping or dusting may be done with the intention of banishing dirt, dust, or debris from your home. Your intentions could also be banishing stagnant energy that is no longer serving you and your household.
Bear in mind that the permanence or efficacy of banishings is partially dependent on what you are banishing. Some banishings will be permanent and irreversible. Some banishings will aid mundane efforts at removing difficult things that are a struggle to get rid of. Some banishings will need to be refreshed and recharged regularly in order to continue warding off ongoing things. Some banishings will help to reduce the frequency or intensity of occurrences, especially if it is something that is pervasive and unavoidable. Some banishings are simply not going to work, because what you want is not possible. For example, banishing can remove toxic people from your life, but cannot make it like it never happened – you still have to do the work to process the trauma and heal.
