Spirit Communication: Parting the Veil between the Planes

From the beginning of our time on the physical plane here on Earth, Humanity has always sought ways to connect with the unseen realities hidden from ordinary perception-we have sought the voices of the ones who have gone before us, messages from spirit guides and Deities and the living ones who live just beyond the veil of ordinary earth plane reality.  Probably the most common type of Spirit we will encounter, in the beginning, are the Spirits of those who have crossed over from physical life through Death…and who now dwell in a spiritual reality that many call the Astral plane. 

It has never been about seeking after thrills and entertainment, which is a narrative modern people sometimes place over the practices in order to create a feeling of safety for minds that are afraid.  Spirit communication calls us to elevate our awareness and still our minds so that we can awaken hidden faculties that enable us to connect with the reality beyond.  It teaches us to trust our intuitions and gut instincts and to awaken the faculties that permit us to connect with the disincarnate.

What is Communication with Spirits

Communication with Spirits is the practice (more rightly practices) that allow a person to utilize their occult faculties and spiritual gifts in opening up to the messages and wisdom that are available to us from those who dwell in hidden, higher or deeper realms of being.  One quickly becomes aware that there are many different types of Spirits in the Universe ranging from the Deities and ancestors to Spirit Guides, the Fae, the Angels and the Demonic and even the consciousness that is residual in objects, things and places.  Every culture describes these things in their own way and there are various tools that have been and are used in bridging the gulf between the seen and the unseen.  It should be noted that different cultures, and indeed, different practitioners often use different terms to describe these practices and their experiences.  Try not to be discouraged by those when learning and researching.  Look for the common ground and perhaps most importantly, look to your own experiences.  Thought about it in its simplest form, Spirit Communication is really the act of learning to listen with reverence and respect.

Methods and Tools for Communication with the Spirits

• People often think of Spirit communication as something outside of normal everyday experiences and it can, in fact, be quite spectral on occasion.  It is also something that blends with the ordinary events of everyday life.  Spirits often communicate through a person’s dreams, our instincts and often in synchronicities that occur in everyone’s lives.  Everyone has the ability and gifts, even if latent, to communicate with the Spirit world.  Occultists, Spiritualists and Witches often use various tools to enhance the connection and to awaken the unseen abilities that all of us possess.  Some of these include Automatic writing, the divinatory art of Scrying, Ouija and Spirit boards, Pendulums and even through other divinatory tools such as Tarot and Oracle cards.  I put together a small Pendulum Zine that has some tips on using them.  Sometimes, seekers will employ a sitting or a seance in which the sitters open themselves to the spirits to receive manifestations and messages…usually through a sensitive or a member of the circle that has mediumistic gifts and abilities.

Protection and Creation of Sacred Space

It is always best practice to begin an undertaking involving spirit communication by demarcating our boundaries and the parameters, so to speak.  We do this by establishing a sacred place filled with protective and positive energy.  Some do this with protective wards…candles and various stones and crystals are often used in the space.  Amethyst and Black Tourmaline are a good example because together they are thought to amplify spiritual gifts and psychic abilities and at the same time protecting the practitioner and sitters from unwelcome energies that may be malevolent or harmful.  It’s also a good idea to call upon the Deities and Spirit Guides to magnify these and to bring in Their energies by calling out to Them and declaring that our intention is to only communicate with spirits that will be truthful and benevolent and who wish to work for the highest good of all present.

Learning to Listen with all our Senses

Spirits don’t always speak in words. Messages may arrive as sensations, sudden insights, images in your mind’s eye, or shifts in temperature or energy. Trust the subtleties. Keep a journal nearby to record impressions—often, the meaning becomes clear in hindsight.

We often find that the Spirits don’t always communicate in words, especially in the beginning.  They will often present images to the mind or a flash of insight.  There can be perceptual (or actual) changes in the environment of the sitting, a subtle breeze or a fluctuation in temperature.  The initial responses may be quite subtle but you can trust them.  It is often helpful to keep a journal on hand to write down any impressions.  I have used a recorder in some situations as it’s not always conducive to interrupt the energy of the sitting by stopping constantly to jot down what has happened.  There are many variable and one should bear in mind that each person has differences in temperament and personality (spirits do too) and these will affect the course of the sitting.  The record of the sitting is important for many reasons but the primary reason is because it often happens that a message comes through that will only make sense at a later time.  Be patient…and above all, approach the sitting with respect and reverence.  The Spirits don’t respond well to irreverent energies and attitudes.  They are NOT a plaything and if we approach these things with a bad attitude we can expect things to go awry in any number of ways.

Responsibility and Respect

Always begin a sitting with a quiet moment of grounding and centering.  Light Candles.  Say a prayer to your Deity(s) and invite your Spirit Guides to fill the space with Light.  Be respectful as has been mentioned.  Create a sacred atmosphere and space that welcomes the Spirits.  Another layer of respect and protection rests in purifying and consecrating any tools you are using to facilitate communication.  Lingering residual energies can create interference and blocks or worse.  A simple smoke cleansing or sound cleansing will suffice, saying these or similar words, “I purify this tool of all previous, negative and unwanted energies.”  Then lightly anoint the tool with a consecrating oil, one that you use in your practices for this purpose is ideal, saying these or similar words, “I consecrate this tool that it may be used to receive true and benevolent guidance and wisdom from the world of Spirit, in the name of the Mighty Ones.  So it is.”

It is my deepest wish that this blog will help you in your attempts to communicate with those who dwell in the unseen.  It is impossible to cover everything about this subject in one blog, or even in a book…we can only give you insights from my own experience and perspectives.  Use these concepts and suggestions to point you in the directions of your own research.  May all your workings be blessings to you.

WJ