PAGAN PSYCHIC SELF-DEFENCE  by =Carlin

 

     One of the problems which faces the aspiring witch  or magician is

     an increased sensitivity to and awareness of the "unseen" forces of the

     world.   Usually  this sensitivity  is a  delight, but  occasionally it

     becomes a  nightmare --  in the  most literal sense  of the  word.   In

     particular,  this article  deals  with what  spiritualists and  shamans

     would  refer to as  spirit obsession  -- a  cluster of  "symptoms" that

     differ from possession, but that still can destroy the integrity of the

     victims <AND ALSO>  gives some background information on obsession, and

     then  outlines  a few  "generic"  techniques  that will  benefit  those

     subject to this form of "psychic harassment."

 

                       DEFINING OBSESSION

 

          Obsession occurs in  every nation and  subculture, and as a  result

     every  magical subculture has had it's own  way of defining and dealing

     with  the phenomena involved.   Modern medicine, with  the exception of

     Jungian and "New Age" psychiatry/psychology, tends to dismiss obsession

     as  either hysteria or budding schizophrenia.  The major religions, for

     the  most part, now  agree with this  evaluation.  Of  course, the "New

     Right"  fundamentalists are likely to  see a demon  in every corner....

     Either  of these approaches tends to disempower the afflicted person by

     destroying  her/his trust  in his  own inner  processes and  making him

     dependent on the "expert" who will control the attempt to cure him/her.

     Spiritualists  will  warn you  against  psychic  attack or  unprotected

     dealings with the  Dead.   Work  <?> will tell you that  the problem is

     either openness to astral influences or rebellion within the psyche <OR

     "ALL OF  THE ABOVE">.  There is more to  being human than the conscious

     mind, and  unintegrated and unrecognized "complexes"  within the psyche

     will  sometimes have  separate agendas  that can  lead to  "attack from

     within" if  those needs  are continually  ignored.     My own  tendency

     <PERHAPS  "BIAS"  OR "APPROACH"  IS A BETTER  WORD> is  philosophically

     Jungian-to-agnostic, but  practically   Shamanic.     I  tend   to  view

     such" entities" as  psychological.  However,  the techniques  I use  are

     more effective if the problem is "projected" outward and  treated as if

     it were the  result of attack by a sentient being.   Even if obsessions

     are  caused by "complexes", a  truly well established  complex takes on

     enough  "life" to be regarded as a "secondary personality" demanding of

     respect.  If someone is having to live with obsession, chances are that

     the  person is more interested  in resolving the  problem than debating

     metaphysics.   The  methodology  outlined below  is  designed to  work,

     whether  you  agree  with the  philosophy  behind  it  or not.    These

     techniques  are "homeopathic"  in  nature, contrived  with the  idea of

     strengthening the victIm's  "psychic immune system" to the  point where 2)

     s/he no longer can be victimized. Without this increase in inner power,

     the person can  be temporarily  freed from the  obsession, but  remains

     vulnerable to "evil influence" in the future.

 

                   THE BEGINNINGS OF OBSESSION

 

          Checking a person's personal history,  one will usually find  that

     obsessions  begin during  periods  where  stress, negative emotions,  or

     injury have  impaired that person's  natural self-protective abilities.

     Or  where  the  person   has  been  unprepared  or  confused   and  has

     intentionally or unintentionally "dropped his/her guard" around someone

     already  disturbed.  Or  where the person has  been abused and degraded

     since  early childhood and is consequently continually open to negative

     influences<LAST   THREE   SENTENCES   NEED   TO   BE  "SMOOTHER">.   In

     psychological terminology, old "complexes" are cathected during periods

     when the ego is  foundered in depression, weakening the  "auric shield"

     that normally will protect against "outside influences," as well as the

     physical body.  This auric shield can also be "pierced" during "psychic

     attacks," leaving a "hole"  through which invading astral-organisms can

     pass freely. In the same way, "evil spirits" are contagious. Emotional,

     sexual, or magical intimacy with someone already obsessed can allow the 

     entity  to  pass over  to oneself.  And an  extreme  period of  rage or

     vengefulness can attract like to like, bringing one to the attention of

     "vengeful creatures" in the "lower astral."

 

                      SYMPTOMS OF OBSESSION

 

          Among the most common symptoms of obsession is a brooding fixation

     upon some negative thought or act.  The obsessed person being unable to

     "turn  off"  the voice  that urges  her/him  on to  self-destructive or

     vindictive acts. The idea that one is the Messiah or the rightful ruler

     of the universe, or too low to continue to live  may repeatedly intrude

     upon  consciousness.   To consider  much addictive  behavior to  be the

     result  of obsession by  "earth-bound spirits" or  elementals<???>.  No

     longer having physical bodies,  the "astral low-lifes" push susceptible

     living  humans into  overindulging  in whatever  the discarnate  entity

     still craves.    In other cases, the symptoms take  other forms.  Sleep

     can  be disrupted  by  repeated  nightmares  or  night  terrors.    The

     individual may awaken with no memory  of the contents of the dream, but

     over time  will develop insomnia  or a  fear of sleep.   Especially  in

     children,the shadows  of night  can resolve themselves  into terrifying

     images,  and there  can be  an overwhelming  sense of  being constantly

     watched.    Visual  "hallucinations"  may  force  themselves  onto  the

     physical plane or may manifest themselves solely upon the "mind's eye."

     At  times the obsession can be relatively benign. Budding magicians can  3)

     "pick  up  hitchhikers"  during   their  initial  workings,  and  these

     "creatures" may well content themselves with acting as Guardians of its

     cases the  "entities" will only  "act out" when  the magician  re-enters

     trance or attempts to work  on the astral levels<PATCH IT UP>.   People

     who  work  with  divinatory  techniques  without  proper  training  and

     grounding are  especially vulnerable,  with the  Ouija board  being the

     worst offender.   This is  one reason that  the traditional  religions,

     which  do   not  want   the   general  populace   trained  in   magical

     techniques, urge people away from divinatory practices.  Obsessions that

     strike those  not trained to magick  are usually not so  courteous.  In

     the  more entrenched  cases, physical symptoms  other than  insomnia can

     manifest.  Especially  when one  is very  tired  or ill,  the obsession

     attempt  can escalate and begin to unbalance the homeostatic mechanisms

     of the  body.   Constipation, sinusitis and  migraine headaches are  the

     more usual manifestations, along with extreme pallor, edema, and mental

     confusion and  memory  loss.   Poltergeist activity  is also  sometimes

     reported.The obsessing entity can also colour the impressions of others.

 

     One  can suddenly find oneself  being accused of  unsavory attitudes or

     persistently  misunderstood.     At  the  same   time,  truly  unsavory

     characters will be attracted to the new image and will begin to  pop up

     out of the woodwork.

 

                     THE MAGICAL APPROACH

 

          There are  many  things that  one  can  do if  one  suspects  that

     obsession  has occurred.   One  can treat  it as  a  demon and  turn to

     spiritual  authority for help.  One can  treat it as mental illness and

     turn  to  psychiatric explanations.    One  can ignore  it  as much  as

     possible, or begin to avoid the activities that call it forth.  One can

     also "raise one's  energies" using self-help  techniques such as  those

     outlined  in  following  paragraphs. Any  one  of  the  above  reactions

     cripples one as a magician, however.  From a ceremonial viewpoint,  one

     must pass the "Guardian on the Threshold" before one can pass on to the

     next  level of development. From a Jungian  standpoint, one must develop

     rapport  with and "reintegrate"  the rejected portion;  from a Shamanic

     standpoint, one must "turn" the entity and either dismiss it or convert

     it into a spirit helper<?>.

 

       THE INNER DIALOGUE

 

          Step one, using the magical approach, is to become acquainted with

     the "entity" and  engage it  in dialogue .In some  instances the  entity

     will turn out to be malevolent, in other's only "immature" or  confused

     and angry at being ignored.   Before engaging in this activity,  one is

     advised to ground and  center, and to shield  in whatever manner  one's  4)

     tradition suggests. One  is also advised to  begin/continue in whatever

     other  spiritually protective exercises  one has  faith in. If  there is

     someone available to work  with the afflicted person, have  that helper

     prepare a  list of non-leading(Not  "are you a  demon?," but "what  are

     you?") questions.  Then drop  into light trance and Then let  the other

     person ask the questions while the  victim answers with the first thing

     that  pops  into his/her  head.   In effect,  s/he will  be voluntarily

     "channelling"  for  the  entity's  unconscious   and  perhaps  "denied"

     (officially) circumstances. If there is no other person, then the victim

     must  do whatever  form  of  divination  or  trance  work  he/she  have

     developed  to   contact  his/her   subconscious.    Those   with  vivid

     imaginations can simply  find a quiet moment and ask  "are you there?,"

     personifying  the  "entity"  in  the  same  way  that  children  create

     imaginary  friends.  Afterwards, no matter what the technique used, the

     obsessed  person is to be certain that  his/her aura is closed and that

     s/he is grounded and centered. AFTER  "CONTACT" At this point s/he may

     have failed to  make contact. In which case there is  nothing to him/her

     to do but repeat the exercise until either it works or s/he is  sure it

     isn't  going to work.  If real contact  does not occur, then s/he might

     attempt to simply banish "it".  It is possible that the entity will not

     answer directly, but will  begin to up<INCREASE> its activity  level or

     bring a  string of  unusual circumstances  into  the obsessed  person's

     life.

 

               It is  more likely,  however, the<Y>  have begun a  dialogue.

     Sometimes "complexes" are  immature parts of our  own personalities that

     will calm  down and begin  to behave themselves  once "they"  no longer

     feel  that they are being ignored. If the  obsessing image is that of an

     animal, or even an ugly humanoid  being, then it may simply be  time to

     intensify one's spiritual  quest and  face down one's  power animal  or

     dark side.  Frequently, these allies will attempt to come to the aid of

     someone  undergoing   psychic  attack,  and  because   of  the  general

     atmosphere of  fear, will  be  perceived  as  threats  and  turned  away

     themselves. Eventually,   in  either  case   the  "entity"   can  either

     be" reintegrated" into the personality, or  "kept" as a spirit-helper by

     those with shamanic leanings.  If one is ALSO under psychic attack, the

     ally  will probably  help  in  the  defense  once  asked  and  properly

     recognized.

 

                             "LOST SOULS" AND WORSE

 

          On the other hand, "it" may  claim to be a spirit or  other entity

     that  requires help.   If the request  is not  ridiculous <d>o consider

     honoring it. The author  has personally dealt with a  "poltergeist" who

     claimed to be a woman who had died of yellow fever  over a century ago.

     When questioned, the "spirit" was confused at first, then admitted that  5)

     she had died in delirium  and had not realized that she  was dead until

     "awakened" out  of her stupor by some young people using a Ouija board.

     When  asked what  she  wanted,  the  reply  was "Pray  for  me."    The

     poltergeist activity ended as soon as prayers were begun, and the  last

     message received  from the spirit was "Thank God, I'm free."  Not being

     able to  make herself  understood on  the material  plane by any  other

     means, the "spirit" had resorted to knocking physical objects around to

     attract  attention.  If someone of "mediumistic" nature had been about,

     she  might have  obsessed  that  person  instead in  her  bid  to  gain

     attention.   The  obsession would  have become  malevolent only  if the

     obsessed person repeatedly blocked  her out or otherwise caused  her to

     <?>become cases  of obsession  in relatively "normal" persons  will fall

     into one of  the first few categories. In  rare cases, the obsessed  may

     have had  his/her attempt at  contact met with a  voice screaming "DIE, 

     DIE, DIE."   Or  something  similar and  profane.   This  is where  the

     spiritual practices  suggested in the  following paragraphs will  be of

     greatest  benefit, followed by  professional help or  even exorcism, if

     necessary.   (Even  where  an  entity  seems  totally  hostile,  it  is

     sometimes  possible to  "turn" it  through raising  "light" as described

     below.)

              

                    SELF-HELP WITH OBSESSION

 

          Not everyone  is a magician  and not everyone  wishes to  open the

     "can of worms"  of the subconscious. The  following activities are  very

     useful  in "uprooting" spiritual  obsession by  increasing "light".   In

     cases of  "mild" obsession  only a  few of  these measures, or a  simple

     ritual of  dismissal, will be  sufficient to  be rid of  the problem .In

     more entrenched  cases, these techniques  should be  continued for  the

     healing period, accompanied  by Inner Work, depth psychology,  or other

     techniques  that  promote  self-understanding.    Those suffering  from

     physical symptoms  should also work  to strengthen their  immune system

     and  improve their  diet  and lifestyle.    If possible,  the  severely

     afflicted  individual  should have  a  counselor,  teacher, or  trusted

     friend monitor his/her progress "just in case."

 

                       EXAMPLE TECHNIQUES FOR "RAISING THE LIGHT"

 

          For  a  period of  three months,  the  obsessed   should "cleanse"

     him/herself  daily  in  whatever  manner  her/his  spiritual  tradition

     decrees.   Grounding  and  centering are  excellent  techniques, as  is

     renewing oneself through visualizing the aura as  strong and untainted.

     One can draw  pictures of oneself expelling all darkness or meditate on

     the  same image. Prayer is useful,  as is catching  oneself thinking the

     old negative thoughts and declaring that one has "taken that out of the  6)

     Law"  or "averted" the consequences.   If the afflicted has friends who

     engage in spiritual pursuits, send him/her mental support  and positive

     energy.   The individual is also advised to spend time in sacred places

     where evil is barred from entering, and to refrain from  the company of

     persons s/he knows  are bad  for her/him.If already  attuned to  ritual

     work,  the  victim can" cleanse"  his/her home  or  have it  cleansed by

     someone trusted.   Those who have  faith in Holy Water  should sprinkle

     and apply it liberally.   Afterwards, if the obsessed  is truly serious

     about being rid of a persistent  fixation, s/he can burn white  candles

     constantly  while awake  and at home.   This  will act  as a  symbol of

     the" light" one wishes  to draw  into one's  life.   The most  seriously

     affected  are advised to surround  their beds with  a protective circle

     and  never to  sleep in  a darkened  room.   Other religious/protective

     symbols can be placed in sight and called upon, and protective incenses

     such as sandalwood may be burned.  The important thing is to keep one's

     spiritual goal constantly in mind and the" entity<?> one's determination

     to improve. This may  seem like a great deal of  effort, but the effect

     will be  to "open" the individual to  positive influences, even if s/he

     doesn't  believe in  "demons". The individual  will be  "raising his/her

     energy" level to the point where  something "dark" cannot even bear  to

     approach her/him, and keeping the energy " high" for a long enough period

     that "it" will become  "discouraged" and fade from sight. At the  end of

     the  three months, the "entity" should either be weakened severely from

     being "starved" or  should be gone.   If  it is gone,  then a  ritually

     adept person can  do a  rededication wherein the  formerly obsessed  is

     declared sealed  against recurrences. If the problem still exists, then

     the  cause  may actually  be  mental  illness  brought  on by  a  brain

     imbalance or early trauma.  In any case, entrenchment of that degree of

     severity is beyond the scope of any self-help article to deal with.  In

     every  case the author has seen or dealt with however, vast improvement

     over the three month period<?>.