A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION (OR TWO) ABOUT SPIRIT WORK
I am a diviner and read people fairly often. Most times, they want to know something specific and practical, like how to find love or how to make more money. There is nothing wrong with that! Every now and then, though, I get a client who wants to go deeper, usually in their spirituality or practice. One of the most frequently asked subjects is, “How do I connect to and work with spirits?” This is the subject of what I am writing here.
The answer to this question can vary greatly depending on the tradition(s) you're interested in. For instance, in Espiritismo, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to working with spirits. While there's a tradition and foundational tools to learn, these will only take you so far before you need to forge your own unique spiritual path. It's not effective in Espiritismo to mimic an elder. You and they have different spirits and may not connect with them in the same way, if at all. Even if you share the same type of spirit, your version of that spirit will be unique.
Setting aside traditions, there's a fundamental concept I want to underscore. In my opinion, the best way to start spirit work is by forming a strong bond with a guardian spirit. There are many options, from a Holy Guardian Angel to pagan deities, to certain types of Thai Prai spirits. A guardian is crucial because, no matter how skilled you are at summoning and working with spirits, there will be moments when you need backup. I vividly remember an experience from years ago that highlights this. I was summoning a spirit I had never encountered before. The spirit appeared, but I sensed it trying to breach my defenses and establish a connection that made me feel unwell.
Just as that feeling started to pass over me, I felt my head Orisha stand up and make itself known in a commanding and intimidating fashion. The bothersome spirit immediately shrunk back and didn’t give me a problem the rest of the night. That was the first time I had experienced that since I made Ocha, and it opened my eyes to something, not even my elders at the time talked about. Sometimes, I think their lack of discussion is intentional; they often want us to learn through our own experiences.
Another reason why a Guardian Spirit is crucial is because, almost as frequently as the first question, people ask me, “How do I know the spirit is talking and not me?” This is a valid question with a complex answer. Self-doubt can be detrimental to spirit work. If it plagues you, it will make it difficult to differentiate between your own thoughts and those of a spirit. Most of us will agree that if a spirit always agrees with everything you think and want to do, and never challenges you, then it's likely not a beneficial spirit. In all seriousness, guardian spirits are even less likely to simply agree with you because they are the ones who are truly invested in your success and your learning spirit work in a healthy way.
Finally, I cannot underscore the importance of consistency and follow-through. No, you don’t have to sit with your spirits every day. If you do, that’s great, but it’s not required (there are exceptions, such as Thai Prai). Consistency, to me, is that you make an effort to prioritize your spirits in your life. Maybe you go out one time less a week, and spend that time with them. Perhaps you occasionally get that more expensive bottle of rum as an offering. But maybe even more than this, you must do what you say you will do. In this sense, spirits are like us. Recall how you feel when you have to work with an unreliable person. Not only do they not inspire you to work with them, but you will often not trust them.
Some people will displace their lack of consistency and follow through on spirits in this place. Because I asked for a million dollars by Friday and only talked to the spirit again on Saturday, said spirit has failed me. That’s not how this works. To paraphrase another occultist, your life must be enchantable for the magic to enchant. Recently, a lot has been said about human efforts toward that enchantment. However, this aspect of discipline and following through on the spirit of work is just as important.
