Chapter Fourteen of the Red Witch Tradition
The World of Oracles
Silverstar Red Crow © 1998/2007
In the cool comfort of a house of plastered mud, surrounded by the humming of equatorial heat, an abundant woman with skin the color of roasted coffee beans sits in a carved wooden chair. She holds her space securely; feet firmly bonded with the Earth that she feels beating in her chest. Her dress is simple, with full skirts of polished white cotton, a modest blouse and head wrap of the same smooth fabric. She closes her eyes and looks deep inside, finding her personal power spot and asks Obatallah to assist her in a spiritual journey into the next world.
Obatallah, a potent Creation Goddess, known for her intense calls to action and keen wit, answers the dark woman. In deep tones of burnished clay and hollow drums, Obatallah tells the woman to spread a sanctified woven mat upon the table that matches the chair in which she sits and throw a handful of cowrie shells, the symbol of female power, onto it. She said, “Be wise to watch the patterns of the shells as they fall; they hold the secrets of the future and you wield the control of destiny.” Knowing her part in this spirit-bargain, the dark woman complies with the demands of her powerful mentor.
From Africa to the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States, where the Vodoun, Santeria and Macumba religions, healing Earth-based religions of combined origin, are alive and thriving, many forms of oracles are consulted to best facilitate the communicative powers of the Spirit Realms. Cowrie shells, ornate shell necklaces and small bones are thrown to watch changing patterns. Tea leaves, moist with hot water, cling to the bottoms of small bowls and cups, forming patterns of possibilities. Spirits talk through mirrors and smoke, in the movement of the wind, the whispers of ancient forests and the lapping of the sea. From the edge of continents, too far apart to be seen, but too close to ignore, the past and future become one.
All cultures have oracle systems, none superior, just different, depending on surroundings and circumstances. Oracles are used to divine the future, uncover secrets of the past, all in an attempt to set our spirits free in the now. Tools of every imaginable kind are used, from the constant drone of the Shaman’s drum to gazing into sacred wells. Whether one is the Oracle of Delphi or a Priestess of Obatallah, the intent is the same.
Oracles are grossly undervalued in modern Western civilization. They are seen simply as tools of fortune telling or at the very least, cheap parlor tricks. Oracles, when approached with sincerity, respect and honor are the link between human reality and the living Spirit Worlds. They are powerful and as explained in the Tarot chapter, are entities all their own. Humans have always asked, “Who am I and where do I belong?” Oracles offer answers if we are trained to listen.
THE NATURAL WORLD AS A LIVING ORACLE
Everyone has heard stories of older wise people watching the sky, waiting for changing weather patterns. Some say that this practice is not a form of divination; it is a learned discipline of watching nature work. Try telling that to a person watching on old woman, under bright and still blue skies, carefully smelling faint breezes that indicate violent wind and torrential rain. How did she know and who taught her this art of weather forecasting?
This reminds me of a family holiday when I was sixteen. Like all family outings, when more than three people are crammed into a vehicle, a thousand miles away from home; the days were tense. We all found solace when we camped on a pristine white sand beach in Virginia. The weather was glorious; not too hot and brilliantly blue. All five of us found private space to sprawl under sunburning skies. When my little sister came running down the beach yelling that there was a hurricane headed straight for us, we looked at her in disbelief. We had a change of heart when we were awakened in the middle of the night to find the camper violently swaying, rain crashing and all of our supplies being carried out to sea, still tightly secured in its tent.
If we open our minds to the changing clues of the Natural World, amazing realizations are at our fingertips. Not only weather patterns, but also personal patterns become evident. When we live day to day in an unconscious state, reacting to the bombardment of the planet, people and creatures around us; we are blind to obvious personal behavior patterns and are stunned when we attract negative energies to our selves, or conversely, are surprised when we experience “blind luck”. Then, when at a crossroads or at a breaking point, a psychic is consulted. They seem to know you, better that you know yourself. But, little did you realize the psychic, by reading the natural slope of your body, the sheen in your eyes and the length of your finger nails, was able to decipher as much about you and your possible future than any chart could say. Is that cheating? No, it is thorough work. It is the skill of watching what is already there.
I am not saying that psychic ability has nothing to do with divination. I am saying that psychic awareness, coupled with a keen sense of the environment and human and animal behavior can open vast volumes of information.
Animals as Oracles
Before considering animals as oracles, it is necessary to be as aware as possible of the place and existence of animals in creation. Even if we live in an urban setting, animals (both wild and domestic) have a powerful impact on our lives. For instance, it seems that every Spring cougars appear in northwestern cities, and in 1996 a few bears arrived in Seattle. Canadians, as you might expect are more familiar with seeing wild animals in their midst. In fact, wild elk have become quite a problem year round in Alberta, mainly because several cities have built directly in the elk’s migratory paths. Here in the states, you may remember reading recently about the hawks nesting on 5th Avenue in New York City. And, several years ago, I saw photos of Kestrel Hawks making nests in crowded casinos…Raccoons, rodents, birds of every description, reptiles, insects, not to mention every variety of domesticated animal possible from pythons to pot-bellied pigs, are found in cities and homes. So, if you are a sheltered city-dweller and animals do not play a significant role in your life; think again!
We live on an amazing planet, coexisting with a variety of life-forms and energies that we arrogantly claim to be in charge of. In your mind’s Eye, place yourself in the wilds of an Alaskan forest. The trees are dense, the ground heavy with moisture, the air strong with nitrogen. You round a bend and surprise a bear in her environment. I’m quite sure she took your sudden appearance as symbolic, initially. We are not privy to this system alone.
The following account may illustrate my point more clearly. A few years ago, my partner Dragonfly was struggling with his spiritual calling. As background, he has been involved in my ritual life for many years, sometimes on the outside looking in, but for the past several years he has been involved directly. During this time he kept himself separated, working as a helper and protector, rather than accepting his personal power in magick; though I might add that he was a powerful healer and a Reiki Master, even then. At the time of this story, Dragonfly was in a period of turmoil, sorting out his life, trying to discover where he belonged in the grand scheme of things.
On this particular day, Dragonfly, an electrician, entered a large building, which was one of many at an industrial site in Portland, Oregon. He heard a commotion near a large plate-glass window. Rushing towards the sound, he realized a crow had somehow entered the building and had flown into the glass, trying to free itself. It had apparently suffered internal injury, and was crumpled on the floor with blood oozing from its beak. Dragonfly bent over the ailing bird, gently maneuvering the crow to allow a cloth to be wrapped around its wings, immobilizing it. The bird barely struggled. The crow seemingly knew it was in good hands.
Adjacent to the construction sight was a small grove where a community of crows had nested, high in the trees. As Dragonfly entered the grove, with the crow securely in his hands, the other crows began to gather in the tree limbs, ostensibly conferring among themselves the fate of their comrade. He placed the bird at the base of one of the largest trees in the center of the grove. He centered himself and began giving the bird Reiki energy. But the bird did not accept the energy offered it. Dragonfly began feeling the bird’s life-force leave its small and tortured body. As the energy rose, the crows responded with caws and whistles; their voices rising higher with intensity as they sung their friend’s Death Song. Dragonfly slowly moved away, hearing the crow community mourn.
In workings of the magickal world, crows represent transformation, mystery, ritual form and inquisitiveness. A crow is the symbol of the beginning of creation, black, a clear slate, full of potential. The crow is incredibly intelligent and is always watchful. Dragonfly not only gained a powerful Totem that day, he gained the understanding of the “33” Principle: knowing when to surrender the fight for survival, the most powerful form of healing. Through the lessons of that day, he received the answers he had been struggling to find; Dragonfly knew it was time to claim his personal power as a magickal practitioner.
To be open to the activities of the animals around us, to be aware of their patterns is to be connected to a wonderful power-base that can sensitize us to the workings of the Natural World. Animals detect when an earthquake is about to happen, they smell fire at the earliest beginnings; they hear structures breaking before a fall. Animals are efficient rescuers, guides and guardians. They are to be respected and listened to. We can learn much from animals on all levels. What seems to us to be magick, to them is instinctual and undeniable. If you have pets, study their behavior patterns. Feel as they respond to your love, watch as they transform that energy into affection, offering healing and insight. Keep an area in your Book of Shadows as a log of animal contact. Listen to the warnings of animals, heed their threats; accept their love.
From the dawn of time, humans have used animals as oracles and messengers from the Spirit Realms. Many mystics have felt so integrated with the Natural World, that they have established direct lines of communication with the animal kingdom. Shamans for as long as paintings have adorned the walls of caves have learned to shapeshift into the forms of animals in order to travel more effectively in the Spirit World, looking for spiritual guidance and direction. Shamans often have personal Spirit Animals who act as guides and companions in the Spirit Worlds. In American Indian Astrology, each Moon (corresponding to the signs of the Zodiac) has a Power Animal, who offer insights into behavior traits common to humans born in that particular time period.
American Indian Astrology
NORTH-WINTER
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Dec 22-Jan 19
Earth Renewal Snow Goose Birch Tree Quartz White Turtle
Jan 19-Feb 18
Rest and Cleansing Otter Quaking Aspen Silver Silver Butterfly
Feb 19-Mar 20
Big Winds Cougar Plantain Turquoise Blue-Green Frog
EAST-SPRING
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Mar 21-Apr 19
Budding Trees Red Hawk Dandelion Fire Opal Yellow Thunderbird
Apr 20-May 20
Frogs Returning Beaver Blue Camas Chrysocolla Blue Turtle
May 21-June 20
Corn Planting Deer Yarrow Moss Agate White/Green Butterfly
SOUTH-SUMMER
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
June 21-July 22
Strong Sun Flicker Wild Rose Carnelian Pink Frog
July 23-Aug 22
Ripe Berries Sturgeon Raspberry Garnet/Iron Red Thunderbird
Aug 23-Sept 22
Harvest Brown Bear Violet Amethyst Purple Turtle
WEST-AUTUMN
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Sept 23-Oct 23
Ducks Fly Raven Mullein Jasper Brown Butterfly
Oct 24-Nov 21
Freeze Up Snake Thistle Copper/
Malachite Orange Frog
Nov 22-Dec 21
Long Snow
Elk Black Spruce Obsidian Black Thunderbird
In Shamanic terms, Spirit Animals differ from Spirit Guides and Guardian Spirits. Animals have great flexibility in the Spirit Realms; they can travel to many different worlds with ease and have the gift of communicating exactly what they feel. I explain the Spirit Realms to my students of psychic journey and ritual as three separate realities. The Lower World, the realm of the Goddess, warm, dark and rich with life, is the world of Spirit Animals. The Middle World, the changeable realm which incorporates both logical corporal reality and a time continuum, free from time itself, is the world of Spiritual Teachers, usually human still living in the corporal world. The Upper World, the realm of the God, wide and open, space and everything within it, is the world of Spirit Guides and Guardian Spirits. These Spirits, in many cases, were once human before corporal death and spiritual choice brought them to this world. All worlds are accessible through disciplined forms of ecstasy; training the practitioner to rise above the constraints of mortal left-brain reality.
Humans are not separate life-forms caught in an isolated environment. We are a part of a dynamic intricately woven tapestry, connecting all of the creatures of the Natural World together as one working unit. Animals offer humans an incredible avenue of discovery if we only reach out and accept the wisdom that is available for our taking. Through experiencing Animism, humans realize their valuable place in the Earth environment, balanced and not always in complete control!
Scrying the Elements
Snow White’s wicked step-mother gazed into her magick mirror and said, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” She was not surprised when it talked back to her.
Scrying is a type of trained vision, using a natural occurrence, like reflected light, or an object, like a mirror, to see hidden potential, unfolding events or forbidden knowledge and secrets. Scrying can offer a quester a portal into the Otherworld, but this is not the total purpose of scrying. A trained Scryer can look for spiritual activity almost anywhere and not loose control of time or space. A practitioner can stay completely grounded in corporal reality and still look into the Otherworld without transporting one’s self. How the Scryer manifests her power is up to her and the Spirit Realms, for, like a Shaman, the Scryer is usually chosen for her innate talents and desires to live a magickal life. Pure wanting is not always all it takes.
Developing this kind of specialized vision can sometimes take years, if it is meant to be. One great way to find out if scrying is for you is to practice the Aura Exercise in Chapter Five. In this exercise, the seeker slows down the heart rate through conscious breathing, eventually becoming relaxed. This relaxed state is secured, even after the eyes are opened, insured by the continuation of conscious breath. The next step is to squint the eyes slightly, relaxing the vision, so fluidity of form becomes dominant, not the vision of particular items in a space. The specifics of the environment can overwhelm the seeker, letting precise definition distract the vision from seeing the flow of energy. By remaining calm and centered, while squinting and breathing with a specific pattern, the light, color and texture of energy becomes apparent. If, by practicing this exercise regularly, you become proficient at seeing auras, you will be able to scry successfully.
When working with any kind of oracle system, prepare yourself properly physically, emotionally and psychically, before tackling the difficult task of communicating with the Spirit Realms. Be sure to Clear, Center and Ground and respectfully call on your Spirit Guides to assist you in this work.
Earth
Earth scrying can be approached through at least two methods, the first being gazing into a crystal or rock taken from the Earth’s body, the second being watching the breath of the Earth, itself. The most common method is the first, gazing into mineral forms.
Common tools for Earth scrying are single crystal points, crystal clusters, crystal balls, transparent gem stones; cabochon, faceted, tumbled or slabbed, opaque gem stones in any form and raw rocks; such as marble or limestone. Every mineral has individual properties and power. This increases the dynamic of using minerals as a field for second sight. For instance, clear quartz is a thought amplifier. The energy that you put into the quartz is amplified, sometimes as much as three times; this energy can be reflective or assertive. Using clear quartz can be a fortuitous mineral to use for scrying because it reacts so quickly to intent. But, the practitioner must stay calm and keep the mind clear of personal issues, because the crystal will amplify those thoughts.
I find that it takes slightly different methods when using clear versus opaque stone. Clear stones can literally dance when light hits them, or become as reflective as mirrors. These qualities can be beneficial in seeing effects, but they can also become distractions. I find it helpful to use soft or diffused light, to cut down glare and reflection when using clear stones. Avoid using a candle within sight of the crystal, for it will pick-up the reflection of the flame, thus mixing the elements of Fire with Earth. Set up an area with few metal decorative items or mirrors in or around it; the crystal object becomes your mirror into the Spirit Realms. If needed, drape dark colored solid cloth over windows; paintings or large light colored walls. If attracted to this form of scrying and space permits it, set up a small area with dark drapery, table, comfortable chair and crystal object as a semi-permanent oracle area.
In creating an oracle area like the one described, the seeker enters into a consciousness realm often experienced in ancient times. The ancient seekers of the Goddess used the environments of closed caves and underground rooms transformed into temples, some draped with heavy black fabric, screening the slightest amount of light, for communion with one’s deeper and darker self. Sometimes initiates were left for days at a time, without the aid of any light, natural or created. This kind of environment would cause the seeker to disassociate from her body, permitting profound spirit flights or periods of total insanity, depending on one’s training and stamina.
The Sweat Lodge, used in many tribal societies, can cause similar reactions. Its central fire-pit, filled with glowing river rocks, is its one source of light and, when the heat from the rocks is diffused within the lodge, the lodge becomes completely black. In some lodges, it is impossible to see your hands just inches from your face. As the seeker fills with intense heat, visions of every description can fill the lodge. With the rocks as a focal point, this can be considered another “Earth Scrying” method.
I have heard that some American Indians, particularly from the Southern woodland areas of the United States, specifically the Cherokee, use large quartz crystals to personally access the Spirit Realms. For Southern Shamanic peoples, crystals are used as vehicles to enter the Otherworld for they are considered the doorway for altered states of consciousness. Crystals are often seen as residences for Spirits, often shape-shifting from element to element.
Opaque stone, I have found, needs a certain amount of light to make a good field for visions. Whether it is moonglow or sunlight depends on the practitioner. Often opaque stone is rich with texture and natural design. By adjusting your sight slowly and tracing the patterns in the rock without breaking concentration, visions appear quite rapidly, not always in the patterns themselves, but in the mind’s eye. Using a mental focus of an object that exists in corporal reality, does not mean that the object has special powers of its own ; the focus offers a vehicle to remove the practitioner from corporal reality, without loss of conscious awareness; another definition of “working between the worlds”.
Air
Rural children from all parts of the world remember bygone days of summer, lying under blue skies, chewing on long blades of golden grass, watching complex patterns and pictures hiding in high warm weather clouds. I remember spending entire days watching sky battles unfold, ancients warriors speeding across the blue heavens in search of waiting opposition. Watching cloud displays transported me to other times, filled with adventure and dreams.
Watching clouds by day and stars by night, enriched my childhood by stimulating my imagination and teaching me the discipline of quiet centered observation. By my teenage years, I was able to transform these skills of concentration into Air Scrying, an oracle system as old as the planet itself. There are no “tricks” to this skill; time and patience will train the eyes to see what they are meant to.
Fire
Fire, in symbolic terms, means purification and life renewal. Fire possesses the powers of transformation, wood into ash, cold into heat, water into steam. Fire is catalytic by nature, wild and seemingly unpredictable. But, patterns make themselves known, even in this volatile element.
Sitting next to an open fire pit, on a cool black night, can transport any feeling person into another reality. Why do you think ghost stories are always scarier when told around a campfire? Fire is mesmerizing. The eyes glue to the movement of flames, the hissing and sparks literally shake the fire-watcher to the core, because the watcher is so focused on the display in front of them. By watching fire, coupled with psychic sensitivity and training, the seeker is able to journey freely into other realms in search of answers.
A powerful addition to a nightly meditative routine is to add the use of a single flame, via a taper candle. This is also excellent training for spellcraft and candle magick. After Clear, Center and Ground, sit in an upright chair in front of the Main Altar, indoors. Choose a colored taper candle, corresponding to the particular day in question. Put it in a proper candleholder and place it directly in front of your field of vision and light it. Extinguish any other light source in the room. Close your eyes and begin conscious breathing until you are in a deep meditative state. Once you feel the involuntary muscle jerks characteristically associated with the Alpha level of consciousness, gently open your eyes, making sure that your meditative state is maintained through conscious breath. This will help you hone the skill of controlled “conscious” meditation, the ability to tap into altered states of consciousness, with open eyes.
Then, with eyes wide opened, gaze into the single flame. A taper candle is used because the flame, in an otherwise dark room, seems to float, almost separated from the candle itself. Once you feel confident that you are maintaining meditative control, with eyes open, ask the Spirit Realms to answer a question that has been perplexing for awhile, through the use of pictures. If the pictures do not come instantaneously, be patient, they will. Watch them unfold.
This is a wonderful way in which to hone skill as a Scryer of any kind. Other fire sources to use beside single flames and outdoor fire pits are fireplaces and cauldron fires.
Water
In romantic tales of magick and spirit, there is always talk of priestesses gazing into sacred wells or still ponds under the glow of moonlight, in order to divine the future. Water Scrying seems to be the most mysterious form of scrying, perhaps because of water, itself. Water symbolizes the subconscious world and emotions, The Moon and mental sanctuary. No wonder it is so popular in myth and legend.
Still dark water with a reflective light source like The Moon, creates an interesting field for vision, similar to crystals or mirror gazing in a dark room; the Spirit Realms come to life in brilliant, animated color. Having the sound of water movement in your environment, created by a water treatment such as a fountain, can be quite helpful in gaining an empathic connection to water, before attempting to scry with it. The sound of rushing waves can lull one into a meditative state, alerting second sight to take over. There are many water sounds now available in music stores that can help pave the way to working with the Spirits of Water.
Once a relationship with the element has been created, fill a black or deep toned glazed bowl with water. Set it on a table close to created sacred space or Altar or on the Altar, itself. To the bowl’s left side, at least 2 feet away, place a lit taper candle, taller than the top of the bowl. A reflective light source, similar to the glow of a celestial body has been created. Enter into a meditative state. Once a deep state of relaxation has been entered and the mind is free of the day’s clutter and turmoil, remain psychically aware but allow the eyes to open. Squint the eyes, as previously described, allowing the complete field of vision to flow into gentle wavy color. Then gaze into the reflective shine atop the surface of the still water filling the glazed bowl. Watch the gentle undulating of the candle flame, until you are lulled into a deeper meditative state. Feel the moment taking the corporal world away, unblocking any messages or visions from your path.
Try this exercise with a birdbath under the Full Moon, or a still pond, lake or swimming pool. The gloss of wet sand at low tide combines both the elements of Earth and Water together, very compatible energies that can easily blend into one. Once you have mastered the technique of seeing in still water, introduce gently moving water into your repertoire, and compare the effectiveness of both.
Ether
Ether is created by the combination of receptive and assertive elemental powers. The Fifth Element is magick itself; creating a power-source without beginning or end, as subtle as mountain mist, as dense as coastal fog. Ether accompanies lightning bolts caught in the whirlwind of a tornado and the smoke rising from fresh lava of a belching volcano. It is the Life Force of primordial ooze, the Mana behind breath.
I have given two possibilities of Ether that are scryable, from an unlimited list. One receptive, watched in darkness: Spring water mist, created when the temperature of the Earth is warmer than air over a body of water, blending Earth and Water. One assertive, watched in the light of day: heat waves, created when the temperature rises so high that the Earth bakes, blending Air and Fire. To employ these elemental happenings, the seeker must be vigilant in watching the changes of the Natural World. Instead of making a plan to practice with these occurrences, just be available and open when they do occur. Use the methods described earlier.
PSYCHOMETRY
Psychometry is the art of feeling the energy of an object, usually inanimate, and being able to decipher stories or events that happened with, around or to this object. This is the classical version that I was taught when first being introduced to the occult arts and sciences. But through years of individual investigations and practice with communication “between the worlds”, I believe that psychometry is actually the art of communicating with an object, energy source or being that has been robbed of a voice. In this tradition, all “beingness” has the possibility of possessing feeling and sentient force. How can one separate the oak from the desk or the sand from the vase? It is impossible because they are one in the same; the oak was fallen to harvest the wood to make the desk, the sand was heated then blown to create the glass of the vase, one source, one voice. This belief can actually complicate the issue of communication. Is the psychic speaking with the energy of the oak, or the energy of the desk: who made it, who sat at it, who cherished it? That is why psychometry is called an “art”.
This is a good experiment to try in a dark second hand shop, away from the prying eyes of others. Before entering the shop, Clear, Center and Ground, turn-on your power and feel confident and protected. Let the energy of all the objects that fill the shop direct you to a specific item, at least one item at a time. Stay centered, because objects will pick-up the desire to communicate; many items might call to you at once. This can be unnerving and confusing, so stay focused. Allow yourself to be chosen by an object. Charge your hands by flicking them three times at your side, as if cleaning the auric field. Then simply hold the object. If it is small, hold it in your left hand. If it is large, place both hands on the object, with the left hand over the right. Take a deep cleansing breath, close your eyes and wait for pictures. Be patient. Give it about ninety seconds before taking another cleansing breath. If no pictures come, listen for words. Remember you are communicating with this object. Some objects have well-developed voices, once they become empowered. Have you ever been alone in a room, quietly enjoying a moment of solitude and suddenly the floor creeks, a chair rocks for no reason, the lamp flickers on and off. At first, you might think that it is the Spirit World trying to get your attention—which is certainly a possibility. But another explanation might be the desire of one of those objects trying to communicate directly with you.
This same basic technique can be used when a client comes to you to ask a specific question about another person, for instance, if a loved one is missing. Ask the client to bring a piece of jewelry of the missing person’s, when she or he comes for an appointment. Before a psychic session begins, have the client smudge, Clear, Center and Ground right along with you. This creates less confusion when the Spirit Realms try to communicate. It also reinforces a clean bound between your Spirit Guides and those of the client’s. Once your energy has been turned-on, take the jewelry object in your left hand and take a deep cleansing breath. If there is a strong bound between client and psychic, pictures begin almost immediately. Whether pictures, voices or impressions, or the combination of all of these forces, links can be formed between the worlds without many fanfares.
Of course, the psychic practitioner has to practice one’s “craft” diligently. Many famous psychics began to feel objects trying to communicate with them when still children, but that’s not all it takes. James Van Prague, a sensitive of great acclaim, began practicing his “craft” with a small group of like-minded people adults; gathered together in a study group setting. They met at least one night per week, for seven years. He practiced “feeling” night and day, until he felt sure of his abilities before he ever started accepting clients. Regardless of how talented a psychic may be, it is not a good practice to simply say that one is available for clients. The practitioner has the responsibility to be versed in psychology, as well, because more times than not, a psychic is called upon to work her or his magick with distraught and grieving clients. The practitioner must be prepared for many situations.
It is fairly common in this day and age to come across a psychic discipline of communicating directly with animals, usually domestic. This is the process of giving a life form the power to speak, though it is through another vehicle. When I was eight years old, living in rural Northern Arizona, we were lucky enough to acquire a chestnut gelding with a blonde mane and tail, called Stormy. My mother had an uncanny ability to communicate with animals, large and small. I would watch her for hours talking and simply communing with this huge horse, her head against his reddish neck, eyes closed, waiting for him to talk to her. According to my mother, Stormy did just that. They would have long conversations about his childhood and his feelings. I never questioned whether her talents were legitimate. I knew they were, through watching her relationships with animals all around her. Now, decades later, many practitioners are making their livings in this fashion. Try this form of communication with a pet that needs an unusual amount of attention. Through patient psychic dialogue with the animal, you could possibly uncover why the animal is so needy.
USING A PENDULUM
An excellent tool to use when deciphering the likes and dislikes of your subconscious mind and the goals of your Higher Mind is the pendulum. Simply stated, a pendulum is an object of fair weight compared to its size (e.g., a crystal), suspended on a chain or cord with an equal weight on the opposite end of the cord for the purpose of balance and suspension. Before purchasing or making a pendulum, experiment with a personal object first.
Choose an object that is meaningful to you and is weighted in a similar fashion, for example, a favorite pendant on a chain.
Clear, Center and Ground.
Keep your elbows tight to your side for balance. Hold one hand up to approximately shoulder height. Hold the suspended pendant by the clasp between your thumb and forefinger.
Without moving your arm, fingers or hand, ask the pendant to move in a direction that indicates an affirmative response. Be patient. Eventually and unaided, the pendant will move.
After it has moved, mentally stop it; do not aid it through physical touch. Once it comes to a complete stop, ask the pendant to move in a direction that indicates a negative response. Then stop it.
Repeat this process for as long as you feel the need, or as long as it takes to convince yourself that you are not cheating. This is not a contest, remember, this is a valuable tool designed to help you.
A pendulum is a powerful, exclusively personal tool. It can be used for many different purposes, such as an oracle, to find lost items, or to make choices in clothes, jewelry, decorative items, new pantheons or Altar items. Once you have experimented with a pendant, you are ready for a personal pendulum. When you bring your new acquisition home, smudge it, offer it to the 5-Directions and place it on your Altar until you consecrate it in Circle. Once the pendulum has been consecrated, make or purchase a bag in which to keep it and place the bag in your handbag, knapsack, etc. Carry your pendulum with you at all times so that it can assist you in choosing, gathering and purchasing personal items.
The pendulum can indicate a particularly powerful location, which your Higher Mind feels that you need to travel to. I have used a pendulum to help me choose vacation destinations and places for research.
Open a large map on a flat surface; it can be a local, country or international map, depending on your need. Hold the pendulum over the map and with eyes closed; ask your Higher Mind to react when the pendulum moves over a location that will benefit you. Start to slowly move your arm above the surface of the map, not fast enough to effect the pendulum movement itself. When it starts to make a looping movement or tugs to a quick stop, open your eyes and find the area that the pendulum gravitated to. This exercise works well with one other person, to help rearrange the map (so you do not consciously stop at a desired location) or to watch pendulum movement when your eyes are closed.
Reading List
AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
The Eagle and the Rose by Rosemary Altea. Warner Books, 1995.
NON-FICTION:
The Animal-Speak Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews. Llewellyn Publications, 1993.
Amulets of the Goddess, Oracle of Ancient Wisdom by Nancy Blair. Wingbow Press, 1993.
Medicine Cards, The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Jamie Sams and David Carson. Bear & Company, 1988.
The World of Oracles
Silverstar Red Crow © 1998/2007
In the cool comfort of a house of plastered mud, surrounded by the humming of equatorial heat, an abundant woman with skin the color of roasted coffee beans sits in a carved wooden chair. She holds her space securely; feet firmly bonded with the Earth that she feels beating in her chest. Her dress is simple, with full skirts of polished white cotton, a modest blouse and head wrap of the same smooth fabric. She closes her eyes and looks deep inside, finding her personal power spot and asks Obatallah to assist her in a spiritual journey into the next world.
Obatallah, a potent Creation Goddess, known for her intense calls to action and keen wit, answers the dark woman. In deep tones of burnished clay and hollow drums, Obatallah tells the woman to spread a sanctified woven mat upon the table that matches the chair in which she sits and throw a handful of cowrie shells, the symbol of female power, onto it. She said, “Be wise to watch the patterns of the shells as they fall; they hold the secrets of the future and you wield the control of destiny.” Knowing her part in this spirit-bargain, the dark woman complies with the demands of her powerful mentor.
From Africa to the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States, where the Vodoun, Santeria and Macumba religions, healing Earth-based religions of combined origin, are alive and thriving, many forms of oracles are consulted to best facilitate the communicative powers of the Spirit Realms. Cowrie shells, ornate shell necklaces and small bones are thrown to watch changing patterns. Tea leaves, moist with hot water, cling to the bottoms of small bowls and cups, forming patterns of possibilities. Spirits talk through mirrors and smoke, in the movement of the wind, the whispers of ancient forests and the lapping of the sea. From the edge of continents, too far apart to be seen, but too close to ignore, the past and future become one.
All cultures have oracle systems, none superior, just different, depending on surroundings and circumstances. Oracles are used to divine the future, uncover secrets of the past, all in an attempt to set our spirits free in the now. Tools of every imaginable kind are used, from the constant drone of the Shaman’s drum to gazing into sacred wells. Whether one is the Oracle of Delphi or a Priestess of Obatallah, the intent is the same.
Oracles are grossly undervalued in modern Western civilization. They are seen simply as tools of fortune telling or at the very least, cheap parlor tricks. Oracles, when approached with sincerity, respect and honor are the link between human reality and the living Spirit Worlds. They are powerful and as explained in the Tarot chapter, are entities all their own. Humans have always asked, “Who am I and where do I belong?” Oracles offer answers if we are trained to listen.
THE NATURAL WORLD AS A LIVING ORACLE
Everyone has heard stories of older wise people watching the sky, waiting for changing weather patterns. Some say that this practice is not a form of divination; it is a learned discipline of watching nature work. Try telling that to a person watching on old woman, under bright and still blue skies, carefully smelling faint breezes that indicate violent wind and torrential rain. How did she know and who taught her this art of weather forecasting?
This reminds me of a family holiday when I was sixteen. Like all family outings, when more than three people are crammed into a vehicle, a thousand miles away from home; the days were tense. We all found solace when we camped on a pristine white sand beach in Virginia. The weather was glorious; not too hot and brilliantly blue. All five of us found private space to sprawl under sunburning skies. When my little sister came running down the beach yelling that there was a hurricane headed straight for us, we looked at her in disbelief. We had a change of heart when we were awakened in the middle of the night to find the camper violently swaying, rain crashing and all of our supplies being carried out to sea, still tightly secured in its tent.
If we open our minds to the changing clues of the Natural World, amazing realizations are at our fingertips. Not only weather patterns, but also personal patterns become evident. When we live day to day in an unconscious state, reacting to the bombardment of the planet, people and creatures around us; we are blind to obvious personal behavior patterns and are stunned when we attract negative energies to our selves, or conversely, are surprised when we experience “blind luck”. Then, when at a crossroads or at a breaking point, a psychic is consulted. They seem to know you, better that you know yourself. But, little did you realize the psychic, by reading the natural slope of your body, the sheen in your eyes and the length of your finger nails, was able to decipher as much about you and your possible future than any chart could say. Is that cheating? No, it is thorough work. It is the skill of watching what is already there.
I am not saying that psychic ability has nothing to do with divination. I am saying that psychic awareness, coupled with a keen sense of the environment and human and animal behavior can open vast volumes of information.
Animals as Oracles
Before considering animals as oracles, it is necessary to be as aware as possible of the place and existence of animals in creation. Even if we live in an urban setting, animals (both wild and domestic) have a powerful impact on our lives. For instance, it seems that every Spring cougars appear in northwestern cities, and in 1996 a few bears arrived in Seattle. Canadians, as you might expect are more familiar with seeing wild animals in their midst. In fact, wild elk have become quite a problem year round in Alberta, mainly because several cities have built directly in the elk’s migratory paths. Here in the states, you may remember reading recently about the hawks nesting on 5th Avenue in New York City. And, several years ago, I saw photos of Kestrel Hawks making nests in crowded casinos…Raccoons, rodents, birds of every description, reptiles, insects, not to mention every variety of domesticated animal possible from pythons to pot-bellied pigs, are found in cities and homes. So, if you are a sheltered city-dweller and animals do not play a significant role in your life; think again!
We live on an amazing planet, coexisting with a variety of life-forms and energies that we arrogantly claim to be in charge of. In your mind’s Eye, place yourself in the wilds of an Alaskan forest. The trees are dense, the ground heavy with moisture, the air strong with nitrogen. You round a bend and surprise a bear in her environment. I’m quite sure she took your sudden appearance as symbolic, initially. We are not privy to this system alone.
The following account may illustrate my point more clearly. A few years ago, my partner Dragonfly was struggling with his spiritual calling. As background, he has been involved in my ritual life for many years, sometimes on the outside looking in, but for the past several years he has been involved directly. During this time he kept himself separated, working as a helper and protector, rather than accepting his personal power in magick; though I might add that he was a powerful healer and a Reiki Master, even then. At the time of this story, Dragonfly was in a period of turmoil, sorting out his life, trying to discover where he belonged in the grand scheme of things.
On this particular day, Dragonfly, an electrician, entered a large building, which was one of many at an industrial site in Portland, Oregon. He heard a commotion near a large plate-glass window. Rushing towards the sound, he realized a crow had somehow entered the building and had flown into the glass, trying to free itself. It had apparently suffered internal injury, and was crumpled on the floor with blood oozing from its beak. Dragonfly bent over the ailing bird, gently maneuvering the crow to allow a cloth to be wrapped around its wings, immobilizing it. The bird barely struggled. The crow seemingly knew it was in good hands.
Adjacent to the construction sight was a small grove where a community of crows had nested, high in the trees. As Dragonfly entered the grove, with the crow securely in his hands, the other crows began to gather in the tree limbs, ostensibly conferring among themselves the fate of their comrade. He placed the bird at the base of one of the largest trees in the center of the grove. He centered himself and began giving the bird Reiki energy. But the bird did not accept the energy offered it. Dragonfly began feeling the bird’s life-force leave its small and tortured body. As the energy rose, the crows responded with caws and whistles; their voices rising higher with intensity as they sung their friend’s Death Song. Dragonfly slowly moved away, hearing the crow community mourn.
In workings of the magickal world, crows represent transformation, mystery, ritual form and inquisitiveness. A crow is the symbol of the beginning of creation, black, a clear slate, full of potential. The crow is incredibly intelligent and is always watchful. Dragonfly not only gained a powerful Totem that day, he gained the understanding of the “33” Principle: knowing when to surrender the fight for survival, the most powerful form of healing. Through the lessons of that day, he received the answers he had been struggling to find; Dragonfly knew it was time to claim his personal power as a magickal practitioner.
To be open to the activities of the animals around us, to be aware of their patterns is to be connected to a wonderful power-base that can sensitize us to the workings of the Natural World. Animals detect when an earthquake is about to happen, they smell fire at the earliest beginnings; they hear structures breaking before a fall. Animals are efficient rescuers, guides and guardians. They are to be respected and listened to. We can learn much from animals on all levels. What seems to us to be magick, to them is instinctual and undeniable. If you have pets, study their behavior patterns. Feel as they respond to your love, watch as they transform that energy into affection, offering healing and insight. Keep an area in your Book of Shadows as a log of animal contact. Listen to the warnings of animals, heed their threats; accept their love.
From the dawn of time, humans have used animals as oracles and messengers from the Spirit Realms. Many mystics have felt so integrated with the Natural World, that they have established direct lines of communication with the animal kingdom. Shamans for as long as paintings have adorned the walls of caves have learned to shapeshift into the forms of animals in order to travel more effectively in the Spirit World, looking for spiritual guidance and direction. Shamans often have personal Spirit Animals who act as guides and companions in the Spirit Worlds. In American Indian Astrology, each Moon (corresponding to the signs of the Zodiac) has a Power Animal, who offer insights into behavior traits common to humans born in that particular time period.
American Indian Astrology
NORTH-WINTER
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Dec 22-Jan 19
Earth Renewal Snow Goose Birch Tree Quartz White Turtle
Jan 19-Feb 18
Rest and Cleansing Otter Quaking Aspen Silver Silver Butterfly
Feb 19-Mar 20
Big Winds Cougar Plantain Turquoise Blue-Green Frog
EAST-SPRING
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Mar 21-Apr 19
Budding Trees Red Hawk Dandelion Fire Opal Yellow Thunderbird
Apr 20-May 20
Frogs Returning Beaver Blue Camas Chrysocolla Blue Turtle
May 21-June 20
Corn Planting Deer Yarrow Moss Agate White/Green Butterfly
SOUTH-SUMMER
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
June 21-July 22
Strong Sun Flicker Wild Rose Carnelian Pink Frog
July 23-Aug 22
Ripe Berries Sturgeon Raspberry Garnet/Iron Red Thunderbird
Aug 23-Sept 22
Harvest Brown Bear Violet Amethyst Purple Turtle
WEST-AUTUMN
MOON ANIMAL PLANT MINERAL COLOR BIRTH CLAN
Sept 23-Oct 23
Ducks Fly Raven Mullein Jasper Brown Butterfly
Oct 24-Nov 21
Freeze Up Snake Thistle Copper/
Malachite Orange Frog
Nov 22-Dec 21
Long Snow
Elk Black Spruce Obsidian Black Thunderbird
In Shamanic terms, Spirit Animals differ from Spirit Guides and Guardian Spirits. Animals have great flexibility in the Spirit Realms; they can travel to many different worlds with ease and have the gift of communicating exactly what they feel. I explain the Spirit Realms to my students of psychic journey and ritual as three separate realities. The Lower World, the realm of the Goddess, warm, dark and rich with life, is the world of Spirit Animals. The Middle World, the changeable realm which incorporates both logical corporal reality and a time continuum, free from time itself, is the world of Spiritual Teachers, usually human still living in the corporal world. The Upper World, the realm of the God, wide and open, space and everything within it, is the world of Spirit Guides and Guardian Spirits. These Spirits, in many cases, were once human before corporal death and spiritual choice brought them to this world. All worlds are accessible through disciplined forms of ecstasy; training the practitioner to rise above the constraints of mortal left-brain reality.
Humans are not separate life-forms caught in an isolated environment. We are a part of a dynamic intricately woven tapestry, connecting all of the creatures of the Natural World together as one working unit. Animals offer humans an incredible avenue of discovery if we only reach out and accept the wisdom that is available for our taking. Through experiencing Animism, humans realize their valuable place in the Earth environment, balanced and not always in complete control!
Scrying the Elements
Snow White’s wicked step-mother gazed into her magick mirror and said, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” She was not surprised when it talked back to her.
Scrying is a type of trained vision, using a natural occurrence, like reflected light, or an object, like a mirror, to see hidden potential, unfolding events or forbidden knowledge and secrets. Scrying can offer a quester a portal into the Otherworld, but this is not the total purpose of scrying. A trained Scryer can look for spiritual activity almost anywhere and not loose control of time or space. A practitioner can stay completely grounded in corporal reality and still look into the Otherworld without transporting one’s self. How the Scryer manifests her power is up to her and the Spirit Realms, for, like a Shaman, the Scryer is usually chosen for her innate talents and desires to live a magickal life. Pure wanting is not always all it takes.
Developing this kind of specialized vision can sometimes take years, if it is meant to be. One great way to find out if scrying is for you is to practice the Aura Exercise in Chapter Five. In this exercise, the seeker slows down the heart rate through conscious breathing, eventually becoming relaxed. This relaxed state is secured, even after the eyes are opened, insured by the continuation of conscious breath. The next step is to squint the eyes slightly, relaxing the vision, so fluidity of form becomes dominant, not the vision of particular items in a space. The specifics of the environment can overwhelm the seeker, letting precise definition distract the vision from seeing the flow of energy. By remaining calm and centered, while squinting and breathing with a specific pattern, the light, color and texture of energy becomes apparent. If, by practicing this exercise regularly, you become proficient at seeing auras, you will be able to scry successfully.
When working with any kind of oracle system, prepare yourself properly physically, emotionally and psychically, before tackling the difficult task of communicating with the Spirit Realms. Be sure to Clear, Center and Ground and respectfully call on your Spirit Guides to assist you in this work.
Earth
Earth scrying can be approached through at least two methods, the first being gazing into a crystal or rock taken from the Earth’s body, the second being watching the breath of the Earth, itself. The most common method is the first, gazing into mineral forms.
Common tools for Earth scrying are single crystal points, crystal clusters, crystal balls, transparent gem stones; cabochon, faceted, tumbled or slabbed, opaque gem stones in any form and raw rocks; such as marble or limestone. Every mineral has individual properties and power. This increases the dynamic of using minerals as a field for second sight. For instance, clear quartz is a thought amplifier. The energy that you put into the quartz is amplified, sometimes as much as three times; this energy can be reflective or assertive. Using clear quartz can be a fortuitous mineral to use for scrying because it reacts so quickly to intent. But, the practitioner must stay calm and keep the mind clear of personal issues, because the crystal will amplify those thoughts.
I find that it takes slightly different methods when using clear versus opaque stone. Clear stones can literally dance when light hits them, or become as reflective as mirrors. These qualities can be beneficial in seeing effects, but they can also become distractions. I find it helpful to use soft or diffused light, to cut down glare and reflection when using clear stones. Avoid using a candle within sight of the crystal, for it will pick-up the reflection of the flame, thus mixing the elements of Fire with Earth. Set up an area with few metal decorative items or mirrors in or around it; the crystal object becomes your mirror into the Spirit Realms. If needed, drape dark colored solid cloth over windows; paintings or large light colored walls. If attracted to this form of scrying and space permits it, set up a small area with dark drapery, table, comfortable chair and crystal object as a semi-permanent oracle area.
In creating an oracle area like the one described, the seeker enters into a consciousness realm often experienced in ancient times. The ancient seekers of the Goddess used the environments of closed caves and underground rooms transformed into temples, some draped with heavy black fabric, screening the slightest amount of light, for communion with one’s deeper and darker self. Sometimes initiates were left for days at a time, without the aid of any light, natural or created. This kind of environment would cause the seeker to disassociate from her body, permitting profound spirit flights or periods of total insanity, depending on one’s training and stamina.
The Sweat Lodge, used in many tribal societies, can cause similar reactions. Its central fire-pit, filled with glowing river rocks, is its one source of light and, when the heat from the rocks is diffused within the lodge, the lodge becomes completely black. In some lodges, it is impossible to see your hands just inches from your face. As the seeker fills with intense heat, visions of every description can fill the lodge. With the rocks as a focal point, this can be considered another “Earth Scrying” method.
I have heard that some American Indians, particularly from the Southern woodland areas of the United States, specifically the Cherokee, use large quartz crystals to personally access the Spirit Realms. For Southern Shamanic peoples, crystals are used as vehicles to enter the Otherworld for they are considered the doorway for altered states of consciousness. Crystals are often seen as residences for Spirits, often shape-shifting from element to element.
Opaque stone, I have found, needs a certain amount of light to make a good field for visions. Whether it is moonglow or sunlight depends on the practitioner. Often opaque stone is rich with texture and natural design. By adjusting your sight slowly and tracing the patterns in the rock without breaking concentration, visions appear quite rapidly, not always in the patterns themselves, but in the mind’s eye. Using a mental focus of an object that exists in corporal reality, does not mean that the object has special powers of its own ; the focus offers a vehicle to remove the practitioner from corporal reality, without loss of conscious awareness; another definition of “working between the worlds”.
Air
Rural children from all parts of the world remember bygone days of summer, lying under blue skies, chewing on long blades of golden grass, watching complex patterns and pictures hiding in high warm weather clouds. I remember spending entire days watching sky battles unfold, ancients warriors speeding across the blue heavens in search of waiting opposition. Watching cloud displays transported me to other times, filled with adventure and dreams.
Watching clouds by day and stars by night, enriched my childhood by stimulating my imagination and teaching me the discipline of quiet centered observation. By my teenage years, I was able to transform these skills of concentration into Air Scrying, an oracle system as old as the planet itself. There are no “tricks” to this skill; time and patience will train the eyes to see what they are meant to.
Fire
Fire, in symbolic terms, means purification and life renewal. Fire possesses the powers of transformation, wood into ash, cold into heat, water into steam. Fire is catalytic by nature, wild and seemingly unpredictable. But, patterns make themselves known, even in this volatile element.
Sitting next to an open fire pit, on a cool black night, can transport any feeling person into another reality. Why do you think ghost stories are always scarier when told around a campfire? Fire is mesmerizing. The eyes glue to the movement of flames, the hissing and sparks literally shake the fire-watcher to the core, because the watcher is so focused on the display in front of them. By watching fire, coupled with psychic sensitivity and training, the seeker is able to journey freely into other realms in search of answers.
A powerful addition to a nightly meditative routine is to add the use of a single flame, via a taper candle. This is also excellent training for spellcraft and candle magick. After Clear, Center and Ground, sit in an upright chair in front of the Main Altar, indoors. Choose a colored taper candle, corresponding to the particular day in question. Put it in a proper candleholder and place it directly in front of your field of vision and light it. Extinguish any other light source in the room. Close your eyes and begin conscious breathing until you are in a deep meditative state. Once you feel the involuntary muscle jerks characteristically associated with the Alpha level of consciousness, gently open your eyes, making sure that your meditative state is maintained through conscious breath. This will help you hone the skill of controlled “conscious” meditation, the ability to tap into altered states of consciousness, with open eyes.
Then, with eyes wide opened, gaze into the single flame. A taper candle is used because the flame, in an otherwise dark room, seems to float, almost separated from the candle itself. Once you feel confident that you are maintaining meditative control, with eyes open, ask the Spirit Realms to answer a question that has been perplexing for awhile, through the use of pictures. If the pictures do not come instantaneously, be patient, they will. Watch them unfold.
This is a wonderful way in which to hone skill as a Scryer of any kind. Other fire sources to use beside single flames and outdoor fire pits are fireplaces and cauldron fires.
Water
In romantic tales of magick and spirit, there is always talk of priestesses gazing into sacred wells or still ponds under the glow of moonlight, in order to divine the future. Water Scrying seems to be the most mysterious form of scrying, perhaps because of water, itself. Water symbolizes the subconscious world and emotions, The Moon and mental sanctuary. No wonder it is so popular in myth and legend.
Still dark water with a reflective light source like The Moon, creates an interesting field for vision, similar to crystals or mirror gazing in a dark room; the Spirit Realms come to life in brilliant, animated color. Having the sound of water movement in your environment, created by a water treatment such as a fountain, can be quite helpful in gaining an empathic connection to water, before attempting to scry with it. The sound of rushing waves can lull one into a meditative state, alerting second sight to take over. There are many water sounds now available in music stores that can help pave the way to working with the Spirits of Water.
Once a relationship with the element has been created, fill a black or deep toned glazed bowl with water. Set it on a table close to created sacred space or Altar or on the Altar, itself. To the bowl’s left side, at least 2 feet away, place a lit taper candle, taller than the top of the bowl. A reflective light source, similar to the glow of a celestial body has been created. Enter into a meditative state. Once a deep state of relaxation has been entered and the mind is free of the day’s clutter and turmoil, remain psychically aware but allow the eyes to open. Squint the eyes, as previously described, allowing the complete field of vision to flow into gentle wavy color. Then gaze into the reflective shine atop the surface of the still water filling the glazed bowl. Watch the gentle undulating of the candle flame, until you are lulled into a deeper meditative state. Feel the moment taking the corporal world away, unblocking any messages or visions from your path.
Try this exercise with a birdbath under the Full Moon, or a still pond, lake or swimming pool. The gloss of wet sand at low tide combines both the elements of Earth and Water together, very compatible energies that can easily blend into one. Once you have mastered the technique of seeing in still water, introduce gently moving water into your repertoire, and compare the effectiveness of both.
Ether
Ether is created by the combination of receptive and assertive elemental powers. The Fifth Element is magick itself; creating a power-source without beginning or end, as subtle as mountain mist, as dense as coastal fog. Ether accompanies lightning bolts caught in the whirlwind of a tornado and the smoke rising from fresh lava of a belching volcano. It is the Life Force of primordial ooze, the Mana behind breath.
I have given two possibilities of Ether that are scryable, from an unlimited list. One receptive, watched in darkness: Spring water mist, created when the temperature of the Earth is warmer than air over a body of water, blending Earth and Water. One assertive, watched in the light of day: heat waves, created when the temperature rises so high that the Earth bakes, blending Air and Fire. To employ these elemental happenings, the seeker must be vigilant in watching the changes of the Natural World. Instead of making a plan to practice with these occurrences, just be available and open when they do occur. Use the methods described earlier.
PSYCHOMETRY
Psychometry is the art of feeling the energy of an object, usually inanimate, and being able to decipher stories or events that happened with, around or to this object. This is the classical version that I was taught when first being introduced to the occult arts and sciences. But through years of individual investigations and practice with communication “between the worlds”, I believe that psychometry is actually the art of communicating with an object, energy source or being that has been robbed of a voice. In this tradition, all “beingness” has the possibility of possessing feeling and sentient force. How can one separate the oak from the desk or the sand from the vase? It is impossible because they are one in the same; the oak was fallen to harvest the wood to make the desk, the sand was heated then blown to create the glass of the vase, one source, one voice. This belief can actually complicate the issue of communication. Is the psychic speaking with the energy of the oak, or the energy of the desk: who made it, who sat at it, who cherished it? That is why psychometry is called an “art”.
This is a good experiment to try in a dark second hand shop, away from the prying eyes of others. Before entering the shop, Clear, Center and Ground, turn-on your power and feel confident and protected. Let the energy of all the objects that fill the shop direct you to a specific item, at least one item at a time. Stay centered, because objects will pick-up the desire to communicate; many items might call to you at once. This can be unnerving and confusing, so stay focused. Allow yourself to be chosen by an object. Charge your hands by flicking them three times at your side, as if cleaning the auric field. Then simply hold the object. If it is small, hold it in your left hand. If it is large, place both hands on the object, with the left hand over the right. Take a deep cleansing breath, close your eyes and wait for pictures. Be patient. Give it about ninety seconds before taking another cleansing breath. If no pictures come, listen for words. Remember you are communicating with this object. Some objects have well-developed voices, once they become empowered. Have you ever been alone in a room, quietly enjoying a moment of solitude and suddenly the floor creeks, a chair rocks for no reason, the lamp flickers on and off. At first, you might think that it is the Spirit World trying to get your attention—which is certainly a possibility. But another explanation might be the desire of one of those objects trying to communicate directly with you.
This same basic technique can be used when a client comes to you to ask a specific question about another person, for instance, if a loved one is missing. Ask the client to bring a piece of jewelry of the missing person’s, when she or he comes for an appointment. Before a psychic session begins, have the client smudge, Clear, Center and Ground right along with you. This creates less confusion when the Spirit Realms try to communicate. It also reinforces a clean bound between your Spirit Guides and those of the client’s. Once your energy has been turned-on, take the jewelry object in your left hand and take a deep cleansing breath. If there is a strong bound between client and psychic, pictures begin almost immediately. Whether pictures, voices or impressions, or the combination of all of these forces, links can be formed between the worlds without many fanfares.
Of course, the psychic practitioner has to practice one’s “craft” diligently. Many famous psychics began to feel objects trying to communicate with them when still children, but that’s not all it takes. James Van Prague, a sensitive of great acclaim, began practicing his “craft” with a small group of like-minded people adults; gathered together in a study group setting. They met at least one night per week, for seven years. He practiced “feeling” night and day, until he felt sure of his abilities before he ever started accepting clients. Regardless of how talented a psychic may be, it is not a good practice to simply say that one is available for clients. The practitioner has the responsibility to be versed in psychology, as well, because more times than not, a psychic is called upon to work her or his magick with distraught and grieving clients. The practitioner must be prepared for many situations.
It is fairly common in this day and age to come across a psychic discipline of communicating directly with animals, usually domestic. This is the process of giving a life form the power to speak, though it is through another vehicle. When I was eight years old, living in rural Northern Arizona, we were lucky enough to acquire a chestnut gelding with a blonde mane and tail, called Stormy. My mother had an uncanny ability to communicate with animals, large and small. I would watch her for hours talking and simply communing with this huge horse, her head against his reddish neck, eyes closed, waiting for him to talk to her. According to my mother, Stormy did just that. They would have long conversations about his childhood and his feelings. I never questioned whether her talents were legitimate. I knew they were, through watching her relationships with animals all around her. Now, decades later, many practitioners are making their livings in this fashion. Try this form of communication with a pet that needs an unusual amount of attention. Through patient psychic dialogue with the animal, you could possibly uncover why the animal is so needy.
USING A PENDULUM
An excellent tool to use when deciphering the likes and dislikes of your subconscious mind and the goals of your Higher Mind is the pendulum. Simply stated, a pendulum is an object of fair weight compared to its size (e.g., a crystal), suspended on a chain or cord with an equal weight on the opposite end of the cord for the purpose of balance and suspension. Before purchasing or making a pendulum, experiment with a personal object first.
Choose an object that is meaningful to you and is weighted in a similar fashion, for example, a favorite pendant on a chain.
Clear, Center and Ground.
Keep your elbows tight to your side for balance. Hold one hand up to approximately shoulder height. Hold the suspended pendant by the clasp between your thumb and forefinger.
Without moving your arm, fingers or hand, ask the pendant to move in a direction that indicates an affirmative response. Be patient. Eventually and unaided, the pendant will move.
After it has moved, mentally stop it; do not aid it through physical touch. Once it comes to a complete stop, ask the pendant to move in a direction that indicates a negative response. Then stop it.
Repeat this process for as long as you feel the need, or as long as it takes to convince yourself that you are not cheating. This is not a contest, remember, this is a valuable tool designed to help you.
A pendulum is a powerful, exclusively personal tool. It can be used for many different purposes, such as an oracle, to find lost items, or to make choices in clothes, jewelry, decorative items, new pantheons or Altar items. Once you have experimented with a pendant, you are ready for a personal pendulum. When you bring your new acquisition home, smudge it, offer it to the 5-Directions and place it on your Altar until you consecrate it in Circle. Once the pendulum has been consecrated, make or purchase a bag in which to keep it and place the bag in your handbag, knapsack, etc. Carry your pendulum with you at all times so that it can assist you in choosing, gathering and purchasing personal items.
The pendulum can indicate a particularly powerful location, which your Higher Mind feels that you need to travel to. I have used a pendulum to help me choose vacation destinations and places for research.
Open a large map on a flat surface; it can be a local, country or international map, depending on your need. Hold the pendulum over the map and with eyes closed; ask your Higher Mind to react when the pendulum moves over a location that will benefit you. Start to slowly move your arm above the surface of the map, not fast enough to effect the pendulum movement itself. When it starts to make a looping movement or tugs to a quick stop, open your eyes and find the area that the pendulum gravitated to. This exercise works well with one other person, to help rearrange the map (so you do not consciously stop at a desired location) or to watch pendulum movement when your eyes are closed.
Reading List
AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
The Eagle and the Rose by Rosemary Altea. Warner Books, 1995.
NON-FICTION:
The Animal-Speak Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews. Llewellyn Publications, 1993.
Amulets of the Goddess, Oracle of Ancient Wisdom by Nancy Blair. Wingbow Press, 1993.
Medicine Cards, The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Jamie Sams and David Carson. Bear & Company, 1988.
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