Some spirit practices in my Medicine pouch.......

In my previous post I alluded to the deepening of spiritual practices that has accompanied the recent reductions of a psych med. So, in this one I felt to go into that a bit, with the acknowledgement that the tapering and its accompanying restlessness can make it difficult to focus on some of these practices at times. I engage to the best of my abilities with what I got on any given day.

I don't work with a lot of complex rituals, however the medicine pouch of ones I do engage with are pretty important to me. I would like to acknowledge one of my mentors Odette (see Resources) who has supported me in finding my path with her earthy, safe and open minded ways.

My support crew in spirit are my Spirit Kin. A group of power animals who travel with me in all realms. Since a child I have held strong relationships with the animals, around me and this aspect of my spirituality is an extension of that. They offer comfort, guidance and have my back. One of them approached me as an ally in a nightmare, one amidst daily reality and one journeying in non-ordinary reality. Some have come for a time and teachings then moved on, but this core group remain. Connecting with them offers me deep nourishment.

On a day to day or weekly basis I've learned that I need some practices to be the equivalent of psychic showers, or the ocean dips I replace them with. This includes:

Cutting 'cords' ( a manifestation of the energetic 'ties that bind' but which absorb the crud from these links) from my body. Connected to people, the collective, and situations, the cutting of which doesn't mean a desire to sever or break off relationship (although it can where needed), but does allow for a kind of fresh start afterwards.

Clearing my aura of debris gathered in daily interactions (just as dust collects on furniture, or grease near the hearth fire), negative thought forms (the days stagnant, dead end or tape loop thought processes), and also entities or wayward souls. All of which, I find, can take on the form of archetypal beings. I find there's a strong 'trickster' like approach coming from them. They manifest in this type of form, or dialogue, with me repeatedly. It requires of me to maintain an alertness and sense of humor (I sometimes find in short supply), determination and firm boundaries, whilst assisting them to move on. When asked 'who are you really?' there's a tendency to shape shift, which lets me know, like the trickster in many cultures, whilst beguiling at times, these beings are not my friends. Teachers yes, friends no. 

I am a very visual person, so I use a lot of (and receive information from spirit through) imagery, accompanied by feelings. For example when 'cutting cords' I see my body hovering above a light filled Cauldron (despite the fact that I'm usually lying down) who's inclined to give me a thumbs up, as a rather enthusiastic Sword slices his way through the black sludge like cords, which drop into the Cauldron and are there transformed with accompanying boiling and bubbling.

When I 'Journey' or 'Hedge Ride' it's a very visual experience for me, accompanied by sounds and emotions. I see with my inner eye the landscapes and beings I meet, in the Otherworlds, and when I do so I know things are flowing. I create sacred space and ask my Spirit Kin to be with me. Then to begin a Journey, I play pretty repetitive music, to distract that ol left hand side of the brain, and that seems enough to get me going. I don't use hallucinogens, as I'm bent towards such tendencies already by nature, and knowing my sensitivities am likely to get freaky on them. With some plants, proximity is enough, for me. For example, we have Datura and Peyote growing in our garden but you wouldn't catch me imbibing either, oooohh nooo. I believe all plants are working with us spiritually and have teachings to share, so there's plenty for me to learn without blowing a fuse. I'm running low already! 

That being said, I do have an affinity with Artemisia's. I care for and perform prayers with a Sioux pipe which you 'smoke' without inhaling. The smoke serves to carry your prayers to the sky and Great Spirit. I work with dried Artemisia vulgaris for now. However, we also have growing in our garden an as yet unidentified Artemisia (other than as safe to consume) that I bought from a herb nursery as Artemisia argyi, which I am drying to smoke. This herb I also chew fresh leaves of, to connect more deeply with plants especially, and nature generally. She to me is 'Cronewort'. Holds that 'Elderwoman' wisdom and creates a green lense, or filter. A gateway plant. Gentle but not to be messed with, as any feisty ol woman.

                                             
                                                               young Cronewort...

Her counterpart for me is Grandfather Sage (Salvia apiana), another Elder herb, originating on Turtle island (USA), known for his use as smudge. This herb cleans, clearing away negative or stagnant energy when burnt, his smoke curling around to where it's needed. I call on Grandfather Sage's assistance, when making offerings to spirits / ancestors of a place, or creating sacred space. He brings tools and folk into these realms for ceremony.

I smudge our home. I also draw a boundary around The Nook that says 'safe space' or 'sanctuary' in energetic language, by setting wards. This involves reactivating a visualised stone circle that sits upon the borders of our property, with Reiki symbols (I know, a bit flakey you may say, but hey it works), and pentacles that run the width of our roof and front door.

These practices are part of my journey of Recovery. As my connection to them deepens, what may sound like a simple process, gains potency and becomes more vivid. Affirming connection to the world of Spirit, whilst having Nature as a constant companion to earth these experiences in body.
So, these are some of the ways I find myself calling upon at the moment, taking one or several at a time out of my Medicine pouch, to work with and enjoy. 

Resources:

'Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small.' by Ted Andrews. Llewelyn Publications. 1998.

'Animal Dreaming: the symbolic and spiritual language of the Australasian animals.' by Scott Alexander King. Blue Angel Gallery 2007.

Odette Nightsky and her lineage of Contemporary Shamanism:
https://www.contemporaryshaman.net/

Smudging Sage and healing family trauma....

Lets be honest here, I'm a handmade herbalist, home brewed.

When I was first held a bag of 'Grandfather' Sage in my own two hands, Id like to say I knew before me was a being who could make shifts, but I'm also pigheaded, and I was abused as a child by my Grandfather, so well the name didn't really impress. Yet I'd heard he was a good space clearer, and well the feng shui at my place read congested n clogged, so I bought a small bag of loose leaves to burn as incense. Upon lighting the leaves the smoke curled into nooks n crannies, and indeed the feel was better. The translucent tendrils seemed to know just where to go as I walked through the rooms, and it wasn't necessarily towards the nearest open window, somewhat surprisingly.

Later I went to a two day workshop on skin care with local herbalist and generous teacher Sharn. We made a spritzer, my co-maker and I using some Grandfather Sage essential oil. A treat cos Sharn had some of the rather special oil (I know it can be considered blasphemy using essential oils, but the scent, earthy!). When I sprayed some of it for a friend who works shamanically with clients she asked if I could make her one, and i wondered, or rather half mused, if I could. Hhhmmm...

Time passed. I returned to Grandfather Sage for his assistance in clearing and began to dip my toe in with his reputation for making space sacred. It was a little strangely fit for such a woman centred woman, but I went with the flow.
I burned a few dried leaves before journeying, lighting a candle, and gathering objects close to my heart nearby, as I lay down to close my eyes.

I grew two plants, the resinous nature of the fresh leaves is amazing first hand, the silvery leaves almost sticky to the touch at times, potency apparent, growing in sand.

Now my Grandfather had a reputation too, in our family, that was apart from the witty mad science teacher who blew the end off his finger demonstrating jet propulsion, with a homemade rocket, to his students, but I didn't hear of that for some time. It was a story pieced together through self protective denial and shame within our family. Some years after I first spoke up about the feeling I had that he had abused both me, and his daughter.

This isn't easy for me to write about, but I do it to illustrate how deeply the healing powers of plants, especially in combination with other modalities, can touch.

Now it came to the point when i wished to contact the source of those bags I was purchasing in the shop. When I contacted him he was just 'happening' to be on his way to our area with his wares. Michael was a genuine plant dude and devoted to his ally. I decided to invest in some essential oil, hydrosol and a bigger bag of those dried leaves. I was brewing up an idea to make an infused oil to create a salve, portable sacred space maker.

Whilst working with the local Community Mental Health team, with my trusty pagan Case manager, I was being supported by Contemporary Shaman, Odette, to work with spirit in retrieving soul fragments, lost to my Grandfathers actions.
Work I couldn't have done alone. Safe friendship and mentoring allowed it to occur.
It was not easy, but in the end I saw him as a small boy, daggy pulled up socks, bowl haircut n all. Being hit by his very Victorian and strict mother and screaming 'nooooo!'.
In turn there was her tragedy of losing her parents at a young age.
Intergenerational trauma.

This journey shifted my feelings, towards the herb called Grandfather and all that the name had evoked.

When my dear Dad, was dying, this work enabled me to speak to him of his father, whom he knew he was going to meet, from a place of forgiveness rather than the rage that had previously existed within me towards my Grandfather (and indeed my family). My Dad deserved that peace of mind for his journey to the other side. The ease I was able to offer is a bittersweet memory.

Now times a little jumbled up in this at times loaded tale, the orders a bit disordered, but it builds the aspects up nevertheless. So you'll excuse my brain and hearts ways if they ramble.

We now move back to those bigger baggies of dried leaves and I indeed did infuse them in oil and make Smudging Sage Salve. Recently a dear sister put my quiet Salves on her face book page and I had a surge of visitors to my little medicine nook. In fact, I have more leaves I'm yet to infuse,so the journey with Grandfather Sage continues.

The gifts of Grandfather Sage are metaphorical, but also, I believe, real.
As both a smudge and in salve form.
He has bufferrd sensitivity to the overwhelming stimulus that can result from trips into town, or other busy places. Practically, creating the touch of being watched over by a wise Elder.
He has allowed me to clear built up stagnant energy from my aura and HQ repeatedly as I worked with my healing journey, sacred tools and activities. That included assisting lost spirits or beings to let go and move on from my aura. Also as an ally in cutting energetic chords that bind, which no longer served, or needed a clean break to begin fresh. He has carried both my prayers to Spirit, and my desires for setting intentions, on the breeze....

Nowadays, I have a plant Grandfather, who has walked beside me. Just as my paternal Grandfather would have, could he have wholly been the man I believe he wanted to be, had it not been for the effects of the war he served in.....

Resources and Links:
Sharn at Byron Botanicals http://byronbotanicals.com.au/
Michael at Australian Alpine 'Grandfather' White Sage
http://sagedreaming.com.au/
Odette at Contemporary Shaman https://www.contemporaryshaman.net/
Vicki at Sacred Skins and Medicine Things https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Liddell-Sacred-Skins-and-Medicine-Things-190659384298635/