Communicating With Spirits

There is a great misunderstanding in the realm of magic that one needs to be psychically developed to speak to spirits. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there is no real prerequisite for being able to effectively communicate with spirits other than having a method of divination at your disposal. Understanding how to effectively utilize tools of divination will not only aide you in communicating with spirits, but also facilitate your intuition and clairvoyance.

There are several different forms and techniques of divination, some may see simple on the surface while others may seem much more complex. It is most important to find what works best for you, whether you choose to work with geomancy, pendulums, astragals, tarot, or playing cards. Each method available to you has its own virtues and pitfalls, most notably are “yes/no” methods as they can cause obsession in novices. Your divinatory method is doing you little good if you can’t make a single decision without consulting your pendulum.

It is my wish that the following example that I will provide for you will help to enhance your spirituality and increase your effectiveness in your magic. In the following example I will use the Tarot as the divinatory method, but don’t feel as though you must use the Tarot. You are encouraged to experiment and discover what works best for you.

Let’s suppose that you have an important life decision that you have to make and you have found yourself at an impasse. Maybe you have a car that has been giving you problems, you brought it to a mechanic and he told you that he can get it running perfectly for you again, but it will cost you a few grand. Now, you have the money saved to get the car repaired, but at the same time there is a local car dealership selling pre-owned newish cars that are within your price range if you are willing to make monthly payments. You aren’t certain that if you get the car repaired that you own outright that you won’t have any problems, but you also don’t know if you will be happy making car payments each month.

It’s time to go to the spirits and get their counsel so that you can move forward with your life.

You start by going to your ancestor’s altar and performing the ceremony described in my earlier post Ancestral Veneration. You light your candle and present with a glass of cool water. After a few moments you begin to sense their presence. You may continue with some prayers of gratitude and appreciation to them, and then you inform them of why you have summoned them. You ask them to speak with you through the Tarot cards that you have previously placed on their altar.

You want to be 100% sure that you are in the proper state of mind, so that you are free from any sort of bias. So, you prepare some hyssop in a bowl of spring water with a few drops of Kabbalah oil. You light a tea light and float it in the water, and you begin to recite Psalm 51 over the waters. As you splash the waters over your face, back of your neck, and hands you say, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

The cool waters calm you mind and you are already beginning to feel more receptive to the messages you are about to receive. You anoint yourself with some Kabbalah Oil and say, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.”

As final touch you perform the middle pillar exercise and you feel the energy coursing through your body. You are in complete control of your universe and you pick up the cards and as you shuffle you formulate your questions. You decided that it would be best to ask two different questions so that you could understand what your life would be with either vehicle. You cut the cards into two piles. For the sake of simplicity you draw only three cards for each question.

“How will keeping my current car affect me?”

You draw the 7 of disks, Tower, and 4 of Swords. It seems as though even though you might save some money now, the car will give you more problems in the future, and leave you feeling burnt out.

“How will financing a new car affect me?”

You draw the Chariot, the Magician, and the Wheel. You are struck by the auspiciousness of the cards. It seems as though your ancestors want to see you take control of your life and have a fresh outlook on your life. You spend some time thinking about it and you realize your fear of change has been inhibiting you in more ways than just your choice of transportation.

You thank your ancestors again and give them a license to peacefully depart. The ball is now in your court and you are loaded with the information you need to make a sound decision in your life.

Even though the above story is fiction, it serves as a useful example of how you can establish an effective means of communication with a system of divination. Pay special attention to the additional instructions of purifying and anointing yourself, as those minor extra steps can grant you higher perspective and clarity in delicate spiritual matters.   

An Act of Confession

Confession: Alleviating the Burdens of the Soul

There are many who come to me saying that they do not know where to start in their spiritual practices. They often have a sense of heaviness about them and are looking for the ability to improve their lives and make real changes within themselves. They will oftentimes carry on about their past, ways in which they felt they have been slighted by others, and ways in which they have done wrong for themselves.

My first piece of advice is generally to go before their ancestors and confess themselves to bring relief to their sense of burden. Generally, that is not the spiritual advice they are looking for as most want a quick fix to their problems, they want a bath or a juju bag to improve their condition or sense of self-worth. While spiritual baths, candle workings, and charms do improve certain conditions for them, if the root cause is not addressed the problem will continue to persist.

The Medicine for Our Souls

As human beings we have to navigate a labyrinth of difficult choices. Deciding a course of action that we feel best suits our personal belief systems and motivations. Inherently lazy, we will often times choose the easiest path and act a though our decisions have little impact on others or that they may have “had it coming.” Sometimes, someone may have it coming, but if we are continually finding ourselves in opposition to others then we should spend some serious time in introspection. Regardless, our choices have an impact, and at some point we must acknowledge that impact and take responsibility for the decisions we make.

Confession is good for the soul. It allows us to move beyond mere introspection, giving us the power to evoke our flaws and weaknesses so that they may be addressed and banished. Moreover, the act of confessing ourselves before our ancestors and spiritual court demonstrates our humility and respect not only for them but also ourselves. We may find that those long-answered prayers suddenly begin to manifest in our lives, our luck seems to become boundless, or even we are graced with some extra money; all of which comes from the grace of the spirits that see our sense of humility.

Confession and Contrition: a Practical Tool for the Magician

Many of the Grimiores suggest that the magician goes through a period of purification before evoking spirits. The Abramelin insists upon a daily confession during the period of preparation for the evoking of the Holy guardian Angel. Not only should the magician spend his time reciting psalms and purifying himself externally, he should also be purifying his soul to call upon the spirits by the names of various divinities.

A magician that finds himself in a predicament of being under spiritual attack can also make use of confession and contrition. This is very useful if the magician is being wrongfully assaulted. He may wish to begin doing reversal work on his assailant, while simultaneously confessing himself for any wrong-doing that may have caused this situation. Sometimes, his own arrogance attracted an enemy that may just want to test and humiliate him.

I will give a personal experience and how I dealt with it:

In my own arrogance I had unknowingly created an enemy. I had no idea that somebody that I didn’t know had it out for me over the fact that I had written something on a forum that they didn’t agree with it. Rather than simply ignore the person I antagonized them. They had such a chip on their shoulder over the experience that they hired a serious worker to mess with me. My own spirits came to me and said that I had created the situation out of my own arrogance, and that I had to dig myself out of the ditch!

Instead of being paralyzed by the experience I turned my focus on the problem: me. Naturally, I began a reversal to send the magic back to the source, reciting Psalm 54 is very useful for matters like this. But I then began to express my guilt for the role I played in the situation to the spirits. Each morning I would wake up and confess myself to my ancestors and spirits and follow with the Catholic Act of Contrition. Each night I would pray for forgiveness from my ancestors and examine all the ways in which they had helped me.

Eventually things turned around and improved. The other worker allegedly got what was coming to them, and I grew tremendously as a magician. My spirits also expressed to me that they had a greater respect for my humility and I feel that our bond is stronger than ever.

How to Approach Confession

• For those that want to put the theory to the test here is a recommended set of practices:
• Recite Psalm 119:161-168 and anoint yourself with Kabbalah Oil
• Begin with the Kabbalistic Cross
• Perform the Middle Pillar Ritual
• Begin to carefully examine your wrongdoings in front of your ancestors and spirits
• Recite the Seven Penitential Psalms
• Repeat the Kabbalistic Cross

For those that want to go a step further I recommend reciting Psalm 65 or 100 to give thanks to the spirits. 

Products and Services

Products and Services

“Seven Strong Men”**

Size: 2 oz

A special juice that comes from Leogane, Haiti contains seven Lwa in the recipe. It has a variety of uses but primarily strengthens the essences of the spirits that are present. It can be used as a homeopathic remedy for headaches and body pains wherein a splash is made by mixing it with spring water and a small amount is applied to the affected area.

Cost: $75

“Altar Wash”**

Size: 2 oz

Proprietary blend of juices and perfume that is mixed with spring or rain water. This is used as an offering or reward for the spirits, or simply sprayed on the altar or around the temple to clean or refresh the energies of the temple. Can be sprayed around the home to banish unwanted energies as well.

Cost: $75

“Business Spray”**

Size: 2 oz

Used for a brick and mortar business to soften up customers and make them want to spend money. Can be sprayed around home if business is home based.

Cost $75

“Cleansing Head Wash”**

Size: 1 oz

Head wash to cleanse or refresh the head. Good for someone to use along with an uncrossing especially if they are prone to obsession. This wash is to be used for three consecutive nights by pouring a few drops on the top of the head, the placing a piece of white bread, and wrapping the bread to the head with a white cloth. You will sleep with it on their head each night, in the morning you will dispose of the bread by throwing it in the garbage in its own bag.

Cost: $100

“Sweet Head Wash”

This head wash is for people that are tormented by or bad dreams. The instructions are the same as the first head wash, however, coconut shavings should be used with the bread as well. For best results it should be done once a week after the initial three days to keep symptoms at bay.

Cost $150

“Uncrossing Bath”**

Size 2 oz

This uncrossing bath made on the point of a specific Lwa (which ever Lwa is appropriate for the case). It is very efficient and should be mixed with about 12 ounces of spring water and a spray bottle should be used to apply it for 7 consecutive nights. After which, the remaining waters should be dumped in a natural place or at a crossroad.

Cost: $100

“Lwa Bath”**

Size 2 oz

Only should be purchased by someone who has had their hands read or knows the identity of their Lwa. The baths are to be done in a similar fashion as the uncrossing bath.

Cost: $150

“Erzulie Dantor Perfume”**

Size 1 oz

Used for service to Erzulie Dantor. Can be sprayed around home or business for luck and money.

Cost $100

“Lwa Oil”**

Size 2 oz

Currently only Erzulie Dantor and Baron Samedi Oil are available. They can be used to consecrate items for the spirits, applied superficially to areas that need healing, rubbed on the hands before doing magic, or applied to the forehead before sleep to facilitate dreams. Baron Oil is for men only.

Cost $100

“Love Bath”**

Size: 1 oz

A bath to attract general love to someone. The bath can be enhanced by the client if they burn a picture of their love interest and add the ashes to the bath (that does not mean it will succeed with that particular person!). The bath has the same rules as the uncrossing.

Cost: $80

“Herbal Waters”**

Size 1 oz

The waters of certain herbs are almost always available they include: Blue Verbena, Sweet Basil, Sunflower, Wild Grape, Marigold, Bitter Melon, Sewer Vine, Red Umbrella Plant, Soursop, Pineapple, Ginger, Parsley, English Plantain, and Wormwood. None are meant for human consumption. All the waters have been consecrated by the Lwa and are more potent than the herbs are alone.

Cost: $50

 “Cemetery Juices”**

Size: 1 oz

I keep the waters collected from various cemeteries in liquor. Definitely not to be consumed by anyone. Can be used to empower magic that needs more immediate effects.

Cost $125

“Money Powder”

Size 1 Gram

What makes this money powder different from other money powders you will come across is that it is made on the point of a special Lwa who enjoys money and commerce. A small pinch of powder blown across your doorstep will begin to empower your home or business with the spirit. This powder can also be loaded into candles as well or mixed with perfume and water to make a bath.

Cost $75

“Money Candle”

Size: “7 Day Candle”

A candle loaded with money powder and consecrated with a secret oil blend to bring about the most potent results. Simply speak your business to the candle, light and go! The prayers are already said, the candle simply needs you to light it to activate it.

Cost $60

“Cemetery Dust”

Size 1 gram

Working with the dead requires specific protocols to successfully empower your rites and magic with their powers. The cemetery dust is collected in a precise fashion to ensure that the spirit is willing to work. The dust then goes through a special process to tame the spirit to make it a more efficient worker for you.

Cost $125

“Coffins”

Size: about 7’’x3’’x1’’

The coffins come in 4 variations: Red, Black, White, and Mixed. The Red coffin heats up cold situations and can strongly push situation, not everyone can handle the red coffin! Black and white are similar, but the White coffin is healing oriented while the black is for more sorcerous magic. The big daddy is the master coffin which can be used for good or bad, it is for serious workers only. It requires more discipline and yet is very hardworking and consistent. These coffins will pay for themselves within a year for a serious worker. Each coffin comes with instructions.

Cost for red, black, and white: $1000

Cost for Master Coffin: $1200

“Gede Bottle”

Size: varies

A bottle made on the point of a particular gede. These bottles come in a variety of shapes and size but all work in a similar fashion. This is a minor spirit, but it is hard working. It can be programmed for the purchasers particular desires as well. Ok from beginners to advanced workers.

Cost: $600

“Cemetery Urn 4 Corners”

Size: Varies

An urn that has been specially prepared with the four corners of the cemetery. This is a hard working Urn that again can be programmed for the purchaser. This is for more experienced spirit workers. Very potent yet easy to work with.

Cost: $700

"Cafou Powder"
Size: 1 gram
Cafou is the Master of the Crossroad. This powder is specially collected and from sacred locations for Cafou and consecrated on his point. Very good at enhancing various works of sorcerous magic. Only a small pinch is necessary to empower your recipes. So a gram will last quite a long time.

Cost: $100

“Cemetery Urn 21 Spirits”

Size Varies

Works in a similar fashion to the four corners, but has more spirits and is more potent. Both Urn styles come with a list of spirits.

Cost: $1500

 “Palm Reading (Spiritual Court Reading)”

Size: 1 page PDF

Submit your name, date of birth, picture of your face, and clear high resolution images of the palms of your hands. The picture of the hands must include the tips of the fingers and tops of their wrist. Pictures must be able to be enlarged, failure to submit the proper images will result in a poor reading. The reading will tell a bit of personal info about the client as well as list their Head Spirit and familiar spirits in their court. This is necessary for anyone seeking initiation, a head feeding, or certain types of magical work.

Cost: $200 

“Head Feeding”

Size 2 oz Bath, 1 oz head wash, 1 oz perfume, 1 oz 7SM

Feeds the Head Spirit and spiritual court. Client receives a bath, head wash, perfume, seven strong men, and pwen for the spirit. The pwen is generally a fed picture or seal. Client will write a pact for their spirit and the pact will be fed.

Cost $500

“Juju Bag/Gris Gris”

Size: Varies

Small bag either made on the point of a spirit or a psalm or whatever I deem is appropriate for the client. You will receive instructions on how to activate and use the Juju bag. Includes some 7SM to feed the bag with.

Cost: $150

"Magic Jewelry and Guards"

Size: Varies

Imagine being able to carry all the powers of the spirits on your person twenty-four seven. At a moments notice you can call upon a spirit to protect you, help you close a sale, or empower your luck. This jewelry is loaded meaning that it is not simply consecrated with a spirits powder but is loaded with special powders and herbs to keep the spirit bonded to the jewelry. Each piece of jewelry is custom made to order and each has a sealed "trap door" by which they are loaded. With the amount of variety of styles it is impossible to display it all. If you are seeking a ring or pendant you must get a hand reading. Your spiritual needs determine the style of the piece and each piece comes with  instructions on proper use and care. Certain rings can contain up to three spirits while the Master Pendant contains 25, it is the equivalent of having the powers of initiation without any sort of obligation. As these are custom made they require about 3 months to be made and loaded.

Cost of Silver Ring: $3000+

Cost of Gold Ring $5000+

Cost of Pendant $5000+

"Protection Service"

Size: N/A

I offer a monthly service that provide limited magical protection and blessing services.
Cost $50 monthly

(**) Typically ships within 7 days

*All products and services by law are considered to be for entertainment purposes only. I am not a doctor and I do not provide medical advice or treat illness. These products are to be considered homeopathic remedies, if you have a chronic medical condition it is advised to seek a medical professional first.

What do I do now? Don’t Panic!

So, you have been following the program up to this point, maybe it’s been a week or even a couple of months, but suddenly you find yourself being woken up in the middle of the night by an unseen force. You may have chills going up and down your spine, maybe there is a shadow moving in your room, or perhaps you just feel uneasy; but you know that SOMETHING is there and that you now feel very uncomfortable. Your mind begins to fill with doubt and fear and you think, “Did I just call a demon or unfriendly spirit into my home? What do I do now?”

Our own spirits can show up in strange and intimidation ways when we are out of touch with them.

The first step in a situation like this is: Don’t Panic!

You have spent time and energy preparing yourself for the moment that you have been working towards, but why are you getting this uneasy feeling and a sense of fear? Oftentimes when first contact with a spirit is made it can be dramatic and nerve wracking. The spirit seems to be intimidating you with its presence and it has come at an inconvenient moment disrupting your pleasant dreams. You feel rather certain that it must not be friendly because of the way you are feeling, but, in reality, the spirit may be feeling just as intimidated by your presence as well.

Initial contact with a non-physical entity, even your own ancestors, can sometimes be disruptive and intimidating if you are not used to the presence of spirits. Your senses are telling you that something is present with you, but your eyes are not able to perceive it. This is normal and doesn’t mean that you have made a mistake and accidentally conjured the devil into your home, far from it, the present being could be an ancestor that became aware and interested in you from your ceremonies. It may have been trying to speak with you all day, but the hustle and bustle of life had distracted you from being aware of the subtle messages it has been trying to communicate. Now, you’re face-to-face with something that is quite real and very intimidating, so take a deep breath and calm down.

A simple method to quickly gain control of your thoughts and emotions is to deliberately control your breath. The Golden Dawn practiced a breathing exercise called the four fold breath. In essence it is making your breathing patterns controlled to slow down your mind and emotions. In a later article it will be explained in detail, but for now here is the basic technique:

Empty your lungs.

Slowly inhale through your nostrils with to the count of four, filling your lungs from the bottom up. Only your belly should move with your chest and shoulders remaining in place.

Retain the air in your lungs for the count of four.

Slowly and evenly exhale from the top of your lungs to the bottom letting your belly return to normal, again to the count of four.

Remain “empty” in your lungs for the count of four.

Repeat as necessary.

Now that you are in control of yourself, it is time to address the entity before you. This can be as simple as doing the ancestor ceremony pouring libation on the ground in the four directions, or simply lighting a tea candle to honor the presence of the spirit. As you do this, tell the spirit that you are pouring libation in its honor and let it know that you seek peace between the two of you. Generally, the uneasy vibes will begin to fade and the spirit’s true nature will gradually begin to manifest. Seize this calm moment to introduce yourself and ask the spirit their name and why they have come to visit you.

Pouring libations will calm and cool the spirit as well as let it know that it is a welcome guest.

Watch your manners!

You may not have yet realized that your ceremonies have summoned this entity, so be polite in addressing the spirit and speak in plain language without colloquialisms. Saying, “What’s up, dude,” can definitely be misconstrued by a spirit, so keep your words formal and appropriate. Be sure to thank the spirit as well for showing itself to you and making its presence known to you. There is no need to bow or prostrate yourself before the spirit, if however, you feel so inclined do a slight curtsey without lowering your head when you address the spirit.

It is important also to take this opportunity to set boundaries for yourself as well, and be sure to inform the spirit that startling you at 3:00 am may not be the most convenient thing for it to do. Even though you may now be super excited to have made contact, you must set the rules by which future contact can occur. Whether you dictate that the spirit comes to speak to you in dreams or while you are praying at your spiritual altar, you are the one who must dictate the terms! Failure to do so may come with disturbed sleep, disruptions while you are at work, or even the spirit trying to bother you while you have company over.

Last, yet very important, talk to the spirit about your life and problems. Your spiritual court is comprised of entities that are seeking to help you and better your situation. In return they seek offerings, prayers, and attention. Starting your relationship on the right foot is extremely important to becoming successful in working with spirits and growing as a magician. Don’t be shy to say that you need love in your life, you need a new job, or maybe you just need to have more fun in your free time. Whatever the concerns may be don’t be too shy to express them honestly. Let the spirit know that you are willing to bring them reasonable payment for their deeds (such as tobacco, libations, or candle light), but also that you will spend a little extra time acknowledging them as well.

There are so many different situations you will encounter in your spiritual journeys and this simple blog article can’t cover every single situation, but starting with the right knowledge can give you a step up in your spiritual growth.

Uncovering Your Spiritual Court

In previous posts, I discussed what I call the “spiritual court,” but what exactly is it?

The spiritual court is a matrix of ancestors, spirits, and divinities that surround you. These living beings may have been with you since birth or may have been attracted to your region by life choices, magic practices, or simply through a chance encounter. They have a great effect on your life, thought-processes, luck, and much more. Their subtle to gross nature manifests daily as each spirit within your court seeks attention from you in their own unique ways.

"How then can you discover what spirits accompany you through your life journey?"

Admittedly, this is not any easy task for anyone to undertake, but then again, self-discovery takes time and discipline! The best place to start is with those spirits that are nearest to you: your ancestors. The act of researching them will often call them to life around you. You may spend some time on the web reading about your genealogy and later find yourself having dreams of long past ancestors. Perhaps, grandpa comes to visit you in your dreams, or you find yourself dreaming about living in lands of your ancestors. Such occurrences should be noted as signs that your ancestors are beginning to awaken in your spiritual court.

Take your time in this process, try to broaden your knowledge as much as possible. Learn some old folk songs of your heritage, cook traditional meals that your ancestors may have eaten, and above all try to spend time communicating with relatives that know stories about your family. No one needs to know what you are doing, and if they ask you can simply say you are doing research to learn more about your family’s history. Does your family name have a coat of arms? Then display it above the altar dedicated to your ancestors. Do you have medals that were awarded to a family member who was in combat? This too is appropriate for your altar. Along with regular service, these nuances will bring life into your spirituality and you will begin to feel their presence in your daily dealings.

"Okay. So, how do you find out about other spirits in your court?"

Within you is a complete spirituality. You were born with everything that you need to connect with the spiritual world pre-wired to you. Although the knowledge may have been lost to you, the clues are oftentimes so unassuming that you may have brushed them off. Did your grandmother have a saint that she prayed too? If so, that is an excellent place to start. The Catholic Church is the definitive source for all things saint related and can provide you with a wealth of information including prayers, rites, and feast days.

For those of a more disconnected spirituality, you may need to do a bit more research. Those that came from families that have a generational disconnect in their spirituality often struggle to find a spirit or saint to put their attention toward. The solution for this can often be found in your ancestral research. Does your family have Scottish roots? Then perhaps you should explore St Andrew. Irish or Celtic roots? St. Patrick and St. Brigid are both patrons of the Irish with roots that go deeper than the Catholic Church. Are you Scandinavian? Perhaps you should spend some time reading the Elder Eddas and study the Runes.

It is important that wherever your spirituality leads you that it should be through the roots of your own bloodline. That is where your power lies. Not from a catalogue of spirits whom you have no connection to, but rather the forces that led generation after generation to your creation. Honoring your roots should be the core of your spiritual practices, and within those roots are places of power and spirits ready to not only be elevated but also elevate you.

It is fair to say that spiritual afflictions caused by a person’s neglected spiritual court. Sure, the individual has no problem calling on Hindu gods, demons, or a variety of other spirits to establish their spirituality, but when it comes to their own spirits they are often clueless. These people experience bad luck, poor health, and sometimes mental illness. The condition is like feeding your neighbor’s children while ignoring and neglecting your own, eventually your own spirits will begin to have a real issue with you! Ignorance to electricity does not mean that you still can’t get electrocuted, and your spirituality can be no less forgiving.

It is important to seek guidance and counseling from a competent worker if you are having issues, don’t think you can fix it on your own if you lack proper knowledge. A true worker can deal with the spirits on your behalf to help you establish a clear line of communication and get you on track with the right practices. Some skilled workers can divine the identities of your spiritual court and help you in the process of building relationships with your spirits. A good worker and teacher will strive to make you independent and not try to hold the key to your spirituality, but rather help you unlock and open the door for yourself.

For those interested in learning more about the identities of the spirits in their court, and how to encounter these beings feel free to select the palm reading option here on my blog. I will personally contact you and explain to you the spirits within your court and how you can contact them for yourself. 

The Power of Prayer

Discipline is the highest form of devotion.

Prayer is one of the most powerful spiritual tools at your disposal. It has the ability to calm the emotions, focus the mind, and open doors that can lead to immense spiritual growth. The proper utilization of prayer can not only improve your life, but it may also add an enriching layer of devotion to your spiritual practices. When you pray with an open heart and mind, you are creating the perfect medium for manifestation of your spirits to enter into your life and create opportunities for positive change. 

There is more to prayer than simply folding your hands and speaking to the empty air. You will find at the core of all spiritual belief systems that there is a structure and discipline that outlines how to pray in an effective manner. Applying yourself to fifteen minutes of prayer and meditation daily will not only alleviate stress in your life, but also increase the influence of your magical practices and strengthen the bonds and relationships you have with your ancestors and spirits.

The opening of your prayer session will set the tone and also alert your spirits that you wish to honor them. Christians may wish to use the sign of the cross, while the mystic and magician may wish to use the Kabbalistic cross:

Stand upright and face east, touch your forefinger and middle finger of your right had to your forehead and say, “ATOH.”

Draw your fingers down to your sex and say, “Malkuth.”

Touch your right shoulder and say, “ve Geburah.”

Touch your left shoulder and say, “ve Gedulah.”

Fold your hands in front of your chest in a prayer position and say, “le Olahm, Amen”

The phrase “Atoh Malkuth ve Geburah ve Gedulah le Olahm, Amen,” translates to, “Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory, Forever; Amen.”

You should feel a sense of calmness within yourself, as well as, a sense of equilibrium in your prayer space. Now, you will wish to seat yourself comfortably and relax your whole body. Allow your thoughts and worries to gradually slip away. Don’t worry if you don’t feel completely relaxed during your first few attempts, in time it will become easy to sink into your chair and become relaxed in moments.

The next step in your preparations is an exercise known as The Middle Pillar Ritual. This short ritual calls divine light into your whole being utilizing Hebrew names of power.

Above the crown of your head visualize a white sphere of light.

Say or vibrate the name: "Eh-Heh-Yeh"

See the light descend to a sphere at nape of your neck.

Say or vibrate the name: "Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh El-O-Heem"

See the light descend to a sphere in your solar plexus.

Say or vibrate the name: "Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh El-O-Ah Veh Da-Ath"

See the light descend to a sphere in your sex area.

Say or vibrate the name: "Sha-Da-Ee El Sha-Ee"

See the light descend to a sphere in below your feet.

Say or vibrate the name: "Ado-Nayee Ha A-retz"

At this point you should feel full of power and at the same time a great sense of inner peace. The time has come to offer your libations and incense to your spiritual court. You may wish to do so by performing the ancestor ceremony, or by lighting your incense and pouring a few drops of water on the ground for you court saying, “I give you libation and I sweeten the air for you.”

It is always best to open your prayers with a short confession. Confession does not mean recalling the guilt of “sins,” but rather the unburdening of the mind and spirit of the knowledge of your actions that may have been unjust to yourself or others. As we each have our own moral and ethical guidelines it is impossible to address what is right or wrong in a general sense, however, whatever brings you a sense of grief or guilt when you recall it should be brought up to your spirits in an honest and direct manner. You will find that your ancestors and spirits will not judge you, but in fact, love you and forgive you for expressing such a great level of humility. The sense of your burdens being lifted from your heart is a sign of their forgiveness for the errors of your thoughts and actions. Also, you will find that when you can forgive yourself, it becomes easily to let go of the wrong doings of others and be able to move forward in your life.

Freed from the anguish of guilt you may move forward with prayers of thanksgiving. Your ancestors and spiritual court are always at work for you in ways you may not have realized. Every stroke of good luck, every coincidence, and every blessing you have received comes through the actions of your spiritual court. For these reasons you should immediately express gratitude and appreciation. How many times have you seen your life appear to go off course, but a sudden change of luck brought your day back on track? You might have caught a nail in your tire and you think you are going to be stuck, suddenly a stranger pulls up and helps you change the tire and get on your way. Such is the influence of your spiritual court in your life, and not only should they be thanked for the blessings they have given you but also the blessings to come.

With your gratitude expressed earnestly to your spirits, you may now wish to spend some time making some requests for help in your life. Perhaps you need some extra income so that you can get caught up with your debts. Maybe you would like to bring some real love in your life from someone that appreciates you. Or you may simply like some extra luck in your day to day transgressions. Whatever it may be, you should be unafraid to ask for assistance. Remember, you are not asking for help from strangers, you are addressing the powers of your own blood and being, your spiritual court gains life through your prayers and actions and they want you to be happy! Your experience is a shared experience with them, and they do not wish for you to suffer. Speak earnestly and directly with them and express yourself with a sense of honesty in your desires, they will listen and they will seek to help you.

Finally, we reach the most important part of your session, and for some this may be the most difficult because it requires you to listen. Listen to the almost silent voices of your ancestors, they are speaking to you. They are offering their advice to your needs, and they may also be expressing their needs to you. Perhaps your great grandfather would like some Chivas poured for him, or maybe your great great aunt would like some lilies on the altar. Whatever it may be, it is up to you to interpret the messages being given and execute them effectively.

It’s important to note that you are not expected to give what you cannot afford, if money is tight then you should obligate them to provide for you. There is no shame in asking your ancestors to bring some extra income in exchange for offerings. In fact, that should be the foundation of building a balanced relationship with any and all spirits. You might be surprised how quickly things can manifest for you with the proper motivation.

Prayer creates a medium for inner peace.

Once you feel that they have expressed themselves fully, you may now close your session. Be sure to politely thank your spirits for their time and for all that they do for is all that is necessary to end your prayers. I like to conclude my prayers with this simple phrase, “Go in peace, let there be peace between us, and please come quickly when I call upon you again.”

The prayers now closed you may wish to perform the Kabbalistic cross again to balance and harmonize your energies. You may now go about your business with the full knowledge of their presence of your spirits in your life. Day by day, as you become more disciplined in your devotions you will notice that new paths in your life will become open and you will begin to develop a great appreciation for your life and all of its blessings.

For an excellent guide to prayer and devotion I recommend TheBook of Prayer by Jean Kent.

Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh Adonai Sabaoth

The Secret World of Dreams

When some think of spiritual communication they often imagine disembodied voices, apparitions, or eerie omens manifesting. Very few consider that spiritual communication happens every night while they sleep. The onslaught of images, symbols, and emotions that occur during dreaming is the preferred language of spirits to relay their messages and intentions to the dreamer. Even the lack of dreams is a message that the dreamer has something that may be blocking or a disharmony within their spirit court.

Much of the communication from the Lwa that occurs in Vodou manifests in dreams. Some dreams may be cryptic and symbolic, while at other times the spirits may simply show themselves and say exactly what they want you to know. It can be a confusing experience for new comers to Vodou when powerful dream images begin to manifest at night, some even find it disruptive. 

I can personally recall a powerful dream that set me on the path to Vodou during my time practicing ceremonial magic. During that time in my life I knew I was reaching a new level in my practices yet I was unsure where it was leading me. I remembered the ancestor ceremony given to me by a houngan years earlier and decided to give it a try and see if I could gain insight into my spirituality. What follows is a transcription of the dream that occurred that night:

I was walking down a hallway talking about work with a Haitian man I believed to be a co-worker. He tells me that there is an important company party happening and that I shouldn't miss it. I walk with him down this long alleyway that opens up to a small courtyard packed with people in dusty suits and tattered tuxedos.

In the courtyard there is a long well-made wooden table with lots of food on silver platters. Silver candelabras have black tapper candles grouped in threes around a roast and turkey. The food smelled very appetizing, but I knew it was not for me.

I found a seat next to an old man with a cane wearing a straw hat. He smiled warmly revealing with yellowing teeth and friendly eyes were deeply set in his worn face. I noticed he wasn't wearing any shoes as he casually picked up a guitar as if to play it saying, "I hope you like the show young man."

I turned my attention towards two men standing next to each other holding hands. I noticed they were identical save that one had dreadlocks while the other had neat hair. A narrator spoke in Creole and English telling the strange story of the twins: "Once upon a time there were two brothers identical in every way. All was in harmony and they lived in a garden of bliss. One day, they decided that the garden would be bigger if they divided it in two, and so they drew a line in the sand. Still unsatisfied with halving the garden they divided into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually the pieces were so small that they could no stand on one piece without standing on 2 others. They began to quarrel over the pieces and in their quarreling the slew each other. Mama sad for her children turned one brother into the earth and the other into the sky."

I turned and looked at the narrator he was a large black man with a ghastly pale face, drinking heavily, and wearing a tattered tuxedo and an old top hat. He puffed on a thick cigar and grinned at me. "What does this mean? I don't know 'tis a mys'try!" He giggled and laughed and his whole body shook.

The old man in the hat began to play some strange music and a low steady drum beat pervaded the party. A strong sexual feeling began to ooze through the crowd as laughter and dancing ensued. Straight ahead from me and there was a very sexy white woman with long thick red hair wearing purple lingerie. I watched as she gyrated her pelvis at me in a slow steady motion. Her eyes locked with mine and I fell into a trance, the drums got louder and strange rhythmic laughter filled my ears. Her crimson hair and lips were aflame, and her emerald eyes, like pools of fire, burned deep down into my soul. There was nothing beside her, and as the light began to fade and all I could see were her eyes.

Not every dream has such direct message, more often than not, they are obscure and vague leaving only remembrances of emotions and ideas. Part of the training in becoming a houngan is learning how to interpret these messages. It is not uncommon to spend long hours with your superior discussing the details of your dreams in order to understand what the spirits are attempting to communicate.

Sometimes, your personal spirits will utilize dreams to make special requests for what they would like for their offerings. This is most common for people that are not fully developed or lack the ability to hear their spirits clearly. It is often said that if you fail to listen while you are awake the spirits will tell you in your sleep. I have had numerous incidents where spirits have manifested in dreams and told me what they wanted. Here is a great example:

It’s the old west and I’m a bartender in a saloon, across from me is a man dressed like an undertaker. He is extremely pale and dressed all in black. With a grim expression he leans over the bar and tells me that he is thirsty. When I ask him what his poison is, he reaches inside his coat and produces a bottle of Red Stripe beer. I turn to grab a bottle of beer and I notice all the bottles behind the bar are Red Stripe bottles.

I made it a point to go out and buy Red Stripe beer for the spirit the following day, and coincidentally, a house brother gave me a call. I told him about the dream with the odd request and he paused thoughtfully and said, “That’s really funny because I didn’t have liquor to offer the spirit the other day so I gave him one of my Red Stripes and he seemed to really enjoy it.”

As the previous examples have shown there is a great deal of knowledge that can be acquired through the discipline of observing your dreams. If you would like to expand your practices it is recommended that along with a glass of water for your spirits you also keep a dream journal on your nightstand with a working pen nearby. When you wake from any dream you should immediately write down everything you remember no matter how vague or brief. Over time your journal will become voluminous, filled with strange visions and revelations. Eventually, even the most horrifying nightmares will be found to contain valuable information about yourself and your spirituality.

Sweet dreams.