A Night Visitor

(A lesson in self-protection)

I’m used to spirits of the dead turning up in my space. Most often it’s my own dear departed, particularly (but not only) my late husband Andrew, popping in to see how I’m doing, or responding to a call from me — which might be a yell for help, but more often just that I’m thinking of that person and missing them.

(Less often nowadays, but commonplace in the past) I’ve been a conduit for lost spirits needing to find their way home to the Light — a ‘clearing house’, as one psychic described me. I know how to clear whatever is holding them up and send them on, swift and straight, in the right direction. (Perhaps they have found a more sympathetic helper now. It got to the point where there were so many, and I became so blasé about it, that if I was busy writing a poem, or having a conversation with a living person, I would say — telepathically and brusquely — ‘ Not now! Later.’ That later, I’m ashamed to say, could be a long time coming.)

I have protection in place, and tools and guardians I can also call on if needed. On the rare occasions I sense a negative energy, it’s quickly blocked. So I was more puzzled than worried when an unknown being emanating extreme cold came up behind me in my kitchen the other night. For quite other reasons, I hate the cold; but I also know that cold associated with ghosts is not necessarily sinister. It simply means they’ve been dead a long time: the longer, the colder. 

All the same, I got a little spooked. I had a sense that this one wanted to enter into me, merge with me in some way. I wasn’t having that! The feeling of the energy was a little like a sexual predator — wanting control; prepared to commit intrusion, violation — and likely to be sneaky rather than brutal. Even so, I could have chosen to engage in a dialogue, find out their purpose and reasons, help them resolve the underlying cause and move on in Love, towards the Light. This has worked in the past, even with formidable entities. But this time I didn’t want to engage. 

I called on my angels. Nothing changed. Maybe this was a friend after all? Or else an unusually powerful threat? Either way, I wasn’t in the mood. I recited, in thought, some protective mantras I know. I visualised shields. No physical actions, nothing spoken aloud. I felt that, for some reason, I should be sneaky too, not overt about my awareness or protective measures. 

I sensed it right up close at my back. Casting about for something else to do, I recalled some ways of being that I aspire to: honesty, integrity, loyalty, respect.... I began, almost instinctively, declaring in my mind, ‘I stand in honesty, I stand in integrity....’ Then I gathered them under an overall label: ‘I stand in honour.’ It's not a thing I'd ever done before as a protection ritual. I think I was more shoring up my courage.  My mind was still stumbling around, trying to find the best thing to say, the thing that would work. I didn’t realise until later, looking back, that the intruder had already halted. I found more qualities to invoke. ‘I stand in peace, I stand in joy, I stand in strength, I stand in my courage.’ I wanted to assert, ‘I stand in my power,’ but was afraid that could be interpreted as a challenge, that the entity might respond with some version of, ‘Oh yeah? Go on, show me.’ I didn’t want to entrap myself in a battle. I kept searching through various phrases, clutching hastily at whatever virtue popped into my head. Serenity, determination, authenticity.... Suddenly it all solidified into a statement that settled in my heart, calming me. I spoke it aloud: ‘I stand in my truth.’

I liked it. I breathed easier. I repeated it aloud several times — not aggressively but with certainty. Even with a kind of gladness. 

(Could I have articulated the specifics of ‘my truth’ if I’d been asked? It was more a sense that I would know it in any situation, I could rely on it absolutely, and it would always guide me.)

I went about my usual activities, no longer feeling threatened, although still shaken by the experience. Gradually the evening settled back into normality. I wasn’t afraid. I almost forgot that any of it had happened.

Next morning, recalling it all, I renewed my self-dedication to ‘Love, Peace and Truth’, which I had let lapse for some time. To me, those are the universal essentials. They are also qualities I can align with in my intention for the day, taking them as my own on a personal level while continuing to trust them as the essence of the Divine. Surely this practice, this daily renewal, is my very best protection?

What if that cold energy invading my space was not so much a threat as a test? Or it might have been a manifestation of some self-doubts and deep self-questioning that had assailed me recently. The Universe has a way of giving us exactly what we need.

It is wonderful to me that the thing which grounded, centred, empowered and freed me was finally to stand in my own truth.

Psychics Need Special Protection

All of the following protective techniques will work for non-psychics too, if necessary.

1. Overload

As psychics, we can open ourselves up too much to the input from outside ourselves, and become overloaded. In my case this tended to make me a bit manic, speedy without benefit of drugs. I hate that sensation, so had good reason for learning how to stay balanced. And I have had many good teachers over the years.

One of the best ways is to learn Reiki (and choose your Reiki Master wisely: someone who respects and carries on the old-school way of teaching as passed down over the generations). If you are psychic, becoming a Reiki channel has the side-effect of refining and balancing the material coming through, and steadying the rate at which this happens, so that you don't get overwhelmed. Having Reiki treatments could help too, but not in such a constant, ongoing way.

But not everyone is a Reiki channel, and not everyone needs to be. There are other things you can do. I do them too, because – as I so often tell people – I'm a great believer in doing everything that might work.

One of the most important things, paradoxical as it may seem, is to take good care of your physical self. We psychics, mystics, magical workers and sensitives may get so focused on the other-worldly side of things, we forget that our bodies are truly our temples – houses for the spirit – and unless we keep them working efficiently the spirit can suffer.

We need to do all the sensible things we are taught about diet, exercise, water, sleep, fresh air and sunshine. Don't neglect the obvious! [Pauses for a moment to speak severely to self concerning sleep and exercise.] 

There's more, not so well-known. You probably do know that the pineal gland is the seat of the so-called 'third eye', an avenue for psychic awareness. Did you also know there are foods you can eat to keep it healthy? I won't go into all that here. Just Google 'food for pineal gland' and you'll find the information.

Cannabis (marijuana) activates the pineal gland and therefore the psychic abilities. (This might not be news to you either.) We who are already psychic may not need or want any extra activation! Moderation might be wise. But what if you need it for medical reasons (which is now beginning to be accepted)? I don't know, really. Dope isn't my thing, any more than speed. In my distant youth, when I tried it, I either had bad trips or no trips, so I couldn't see any reason to continue using it – especially as it was illegal into the bargain. But I would suggest, be aware that you may open yourself to a flood of input that's hard to handle – and then weigh it all up and do what you need to. 

Obviously, in such a case be even more rigorous about your physical well-being. Also, try meditation. Yes, meditation opens you up to psychic realities too, so you might think it would make matters worse. But it also slows the brain waves, changing their frequency, and I believe it would help settle things down to a manageable level.

2. Psychic Attack

Deflection

As you'll be aware, most psychic attack is unintentional. Few people understand the real influence of their negative thoughts. You can probably clear that without much trouble. Put up a mirror in front of you, facing outwards to deflect the energy – an etheric mirror, that is. Imagine it in your mind's eye, or if you have trouble visualising, as many do, just intend it firmly and know that it is so.

Avoidance 

Some psychic invasion is perfectly accidental, not really an attack at all – as when auras brush against each other in the supermarket for instance, and you pick up something yucky from someone else. So shrink your aura before going into crowded places! Bring it in close around your body like a second skin. This you can do with willpower and imagination. See or feel it shrink into place around you, or just know that it is so.

Shielding

If you are psychic, and particularly if you work in that capacity for the Universe, you may be subject to attack for that very reason. It may just come with the territory, as in being at the effect of your clients' ‘stuff'; or it may be more sinister, as when dark forces wish to stop you. 

When I was working as a reader on the psychic lines some years back, I found that telephone lines are very good conductors of energy. I was sometimes adversely affected by the client's mood, in a way I don't experience face-to-face. If they were sceptical, I went into self-doubt; if they were sitting on anger, I would feel paralysed; and so on. I was able to overcome this and do the reading anyway, but it took effort. So I finally had the wit to pay attention to where their energy was getting in, and found it was through my solar plexus. (I have since made many enquiries. Other aware people confirm that that's where it is for them too.)

Oh good, so all I had to do was shield my solar plexus! I did it by designing in my mind a shield that covered the area. That is, the area just below the bottom of the sternum (breastbone) between the heart and the belly – the diaphragm, in fact. Really it is the solar plexus chakra you are shielding, but it's not necessary to be so specific. You can choose what shape, colour and material the shield will be, and any protective symbols you want on it. It will be an etheric shield, created with visualisation and intention. 

What if you're one of the people who can't visualise? Having designed your shield in your mind, you could draw it. Or it will also work to hold the idea of your shield in mind, and accompany that with strong intention. Once it’s in place, you don’t need to keep thinking of it.

It's also possible to use a physical shield, in the form of a pendant that hangs in the right place. Anything protective will do, such as a suitable crystal. Again, it's easy to look up online which crystals are protective, and take your pick. Or you could use a pendant of some other protective material; or of any material, bearing a symbol that you understand as protective. 

If it's an etheric shield, you will need to intentionally strengthen or even recreate it from time to time. (Use your intuition as to how often this should be – and it may vary.) If it's a physical shield, you'll need to cleanse and recharge it. 

Crystals can be rinsed under a tap, or they can be left out in sunlight or the light of a full moon. For any other material, hold it on the palm of one hand, and with the other make three concentric circles over it, clockwise if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the Northern, saying, 'I exorcise thee, creature of earth' (or 'creature of air' for a feather, or 'creature of water' for a shell). Intend and see (or just know that it's so) yucky yellow energy leaving the object and dissipating harmlessly in the earth. Then make three concentric circles in the other direction, saying, 'I charge and consecrate thee to my use as psychic protection'. Intend and see (or know) that whitish-blue light from the Universe (or form your heart, if you like that better) is flowing down your arm into the pendant, filling it and charging it.

The other great benefit of shielding the solar plexus chakra is that it is then safe to keep your heart chakra wide open, so as to work in the energy of Unconditional Love. Again, visualise or know, and strongly intend. FEEL it open wide, as your chest expands accordingly.

Shining your light

Love is truly the strongest thing there is. It is not necessarily soft and sweet, though it can be. It is definitely not wishy-washy! It can be difficult to summon up love for someone or something that is attacking you. One way to deal with this is to imagine sending them the most intense white light, which you privately identify as the energy of Unconditional Love – but, having made that identification and intended it to be so, there is no need to dwell on it. You can shine the light so hard, from your third eye, your heart or your crown, that it dissipates the negative energy harmlessly into the earth.

Safety in numbers

In the case of a specific attack, it's helpful to find people (or angels) who are on your side, and enlist their help – whether to surround you with protection or shine so much light that the darkness cannot hold against it. You can meet in person to do this, or you can arrange to do it separately at a specific time when you all join in. Or you can do it whenever suits you individually, in the knowledge that others too will be playing their part and you can intend the link-up regardless of linear time.

I’ve tried to cover this thoroughly. If you have any further questions, please ask in the comments. Also, if you have other suggestions or methods of your own you care to share, please do!

A CRYSTAL SHIELD

This is a selfie of me with my new shield, a piece of black tourmaline. That stone not only protects against negativity, it also transmutes it into positive energy.

When I was working as a telephone psychic some years ago, I found that if the person on the other end was suppressing anger, it would almost paralyse my ability to give a reading; if they were sceptical about readings, I would go into self-doubt; and so on. I was able to overcome my reactions and do the work, but with some effort.

I realised that telephones are very good conductors of energy. Although people who consult me face-to-face may have similar thoughts and feelings, it doesn't have the same effect on me.

I started paying attention to see where their energy was getting in, and it became apparent it was through my solar plexus. That was a huge revelation. For years my guides had been telling me to open my heart more. I wanted to, but I was afraid it would put me at the effect of other people's 'stuff'. I couldn't work out how to open my heart and stay shielded at the same time.

As soon as I realised the 'stuff' came in through the solar plexus, I had my answer. Before working on the lines, I would shrink and close that chakra, and construct a psychic shield over it. That could have taken any form, but I chose to visualise it as a large circle of bronze, with an equal-armed cross on the front. With that in place, I was then able to open my heart chakra as wide as I liked and work in the energy of Unconditional Love — ideal for any endeavour, and particularly when working with people.

Later, at a market, I was guided to a big round copper pendant on a chain, the same size and colour as my visualised shield, and when I put it around my neck, sure enough it sat right over my solar plexus. It was from an estate, and all that the family member selling it could tell me was that it had come from Central or South America, where the deceased person had travelled. It had an image of a deity I was very friendly with in those days: Kulkulcan, or Queztalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent.

I wore it for years, then on a visit to Texas in 2006 I was guided to give it to a shaman I met. We are still in touch, and he is now based in Guatemala, constructing a Temple of Illumination. Many of the locals are helpful; some others, who are into using magick for power and evil, have tried to be obstructive, with little success. I like to think the medallion, which I see in photos that he still wears, may be helping with protection and limiting what his enemies can achieve.

Meanwhile, I never replaced the medallion. I went back to using my etheric shield with the equal-armed cross. As I eventually stopped working the psychic lines, even this became less necessary. Until now.

I've been unwell. I contracted shingles, a first for me, and not pleasant. When I took a friend to my favourite crystal shop, this pendant caught my eye. I was strongly drawn to it and three others, and bought them. Of course, when I brought them home and consulted my crystal books, they all had properties I need at present.

I am wearing one of the others too, in the picture above: it's chrysocolla, which, among other things, helps to strengthen the immune system. (I am wearing it over my thymus.) A weakened immune system is one of the reasons people get shingles! The chrysocolla was actually the first one I was drawn to that day, and the tourmaline second.

I don't think I am under psychic attack just now, intentional or otherwise; I think that, due to the illness, I am probably a bit vulnerable to any negativity which may be floating around. But my new shield will be valuable against attack too, if ever it occurs. For whatever reason I need it, I trust my guidance. I have always found it good.

By now I have asked many other aware people where they experience psychic attack entering their being. I wanted to see if it was the same for most people or different for everyone. They all confirmed: solar plexus.

Using an etheric shield is pretty quick and easy if you're practised at visualisation and intentionality, but popping a pendant around your neck is even quicker and easier, and you don't have to remember to strengthen it from time to time.

Storm Busting

As I write we are having a huge thunderstorm straight overhead, and rain is pouring down fit to flood. Only we are too high to flood — but places nearby could well be getting water over the roads.  

I have unplugged the phones and switched off the internet, even though we have surge protectors. They are guaranteed against failure, but we don’t need replacement machines; we need the nice, relatively new ones we’ve got. 

The other thing I have done is put protection over the house. My Beloved Spouse suggested earlier that we should go around telling everyone how to do it — ‘But they’d probably think we were nuts,’ he said. I agreed that they probably would. The readers of this blog, though, might be in different category.

So here’s how you do it. You put a dome of blue light over your house — or any other building or area you wish to protect from storm damage. You visualise and intend very hard! And you have it be there as long as needed — that is, for the duration of the storm. (Make a new one for the next storm that comes along.) 

This was devised by an energy worker called Penny Chesney, who lives not far from me. She is on a high hill overlooking the ocean, vulnerable to wild weather. There have been occasions when fierce storms have damaged places around her, but not her property. I know; I’ve seen the evidence afterwards.

You can do this from afar too, if you’re away and hear that storms are threatening your home. It follows that you can also do it for other people’s places. I’ve done it for friends who were away, and their houses have remained intact. So, of course, have other houses in the area; this is yet another unprovable technique. (Yes, the salt keeps away elephants. You don’t see any elephants here, do you?)

I do it anyway, and it makes me feel more secure. Which in itself puts out good energy around my pace; maybe that’s the answer and not the blue light? Maybe. But you should know that blue light has many magical and healing uses. Be game to try it, set your intention and enjoy the results ... and no, don’t go around telling all and sundry. They’d probably think you were nuts.

Car Spells

Several witchy friends have had car trouble lately. Maybe it's because we all drive old cars, lol.  One of the group put out a request for car spells, and another promptly replied saying that she always carries a piece of turquoise in her car as it is a stone for travel protection. She's sure it has helped stave off imminent breakdown!

I had never thought of doing spells for that purpose. I suppose that's because I, and others who can, tend to use Reiki. But not everyone is qualified to do that. Why not spells?

I do use both magick and Reiki for safety when driving — thinking more of accidents than mechanical disfunction.

I like quick and easy magick that doesn't need physical ingredients; in other words, I use my mind — my intention and visualisation. I wash both my vehicle and myself through with light: the white light that is the energy of the Universe, the rainbow colours of the Universe, and gold for Universal protection. Then I put around both car and me an egg-shaped cocoon of blue-white light as a shield.

(It's not enough just to 'white-light' your car. I remember a girl who did that once when she was illegally parked, hoping to protect it from the eyes of parking inspectors. She got a heavy fine! If you don't specify what the light is for, it can act as a beacon, making your car more noticeable to either cops or robbers. You need to be precise in your intention.

In any case, I think it's a very grey area to be using magick to help you get away with breaking the law, when your reason for breaking it is mere selfishness or laziness. Perhaps it's not surprising that didn't work for her.)

Does anyone out there have any good car spells they're willing to share?

One Way to Deal with an Emotionally Abusive Person

Abusers who are close to us, e.g. family members, can get under our radar. They know exactly which buttons to push. Having experienced this recently, with attendant shock, distress and anger, I've also  received excellent advice from friends as to how to deal with it in future. The person concerned is now out of my life, so hopefully I won't have to. They are good techniques anyway.

"Put up a mirror," said my wonderful massage therapist, while simultaneously working to release the trauma from my body. "When you get those emails, reflect the energy back. That says, 'It's not my stuff, it's yours, have it back.' It's amazing how effective it is. Even while they're thinking and saying all that stuff, they start to get an inkling that maybe it's theirs."

I recounted this conversation to another friend, who said, "Rhodonite. Or Tourmaline. They do that; they reflect things back to the source. Tourmaline does it strongly, rhodonite more lovingly. You need to wear one of them."

The only piece of tourmaline I have is much too big to wear, but I found a nice piece of rhodonite among my crystals, which I added to the crystal pouch which I sometimes wear around my neck. Sometimes has just become always!

I'm good at visualisation, but not everyone is. It might be hard for some people to whack up the image of a mirror at a moment's notice. Also, it's easy to forget any technique in a stressful moment. Wearing something that does the same job is a good fail-safe.