Carolina Dean

The Search for Signs of the Human Soul  

Death and the Afterlife

Reincarnation

The Ancestors

The Ancestral Shrine

Ghosts and Spirits

Hunting Ghost: A Basic Guide

Communication with the Dead  

How to Conduct a Seance  

Talking Boards 

Rituals to Contact the Dead

A Graveyard Rite to Petition the Dead

Spirit Traps 

The existence of the soul has yet to be proven, yet every religion is based on the idea that there is life after death. In our search for the existence of the soul, we will consider the concept of Cosmic Consciousness. This refers to the idea that there is but one soul in all the universe, which we are all apart of and apart from. This one souls is what many call "God". If we liken God to the ocean, then all conscious beings would be represented by the trillions and trillions of molecules that comprise the ocean. When we consider that one water molecule (the individual) is comprised of one atom of hydrogen, and two of oxygen for a total of three atoms, we see that man is comprised of three parts: Physical, Mental, and Emotional. 

Even if we accept this as true, the question becomes how to reconcile this with the concept of individuality. We recognize that the individual is present in the form of a person's consciousness and personality. To extend the analogy above, a water molecule can be extracted from the ocean, it's atoms separated and/or united with other atoms to produce a variety of effects. It has been said that whether ice, cloud, or stream---water is always water.  

As stated above, man exists in three dimensions. They are Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.  A man's body is a reflection of his soul in the physical, or material world.  We experience the physical world via the impressions we receive through our five sense, and therefore its existence cannot be denied. Man also exists in the mental realm. This is the realm of thought and ideas. There is an entire school of thought which states that "I think, therefore I am." It is man's ability to think which has helped to establish him as the dominant species on Earth.

Finally, man exists in the Spiritual World. The spiritual would can seem distant and unknowable. However, we perceive the spiritual world with our sixth, or psychic sense, The spiritual world co-exists with the physical one. We can illustrate the relationship between these two worlds by comparing them analogously to oil and water in a single glass. Both the oil and water co-exists separately within the same space. Unless you shake the glass, they will remain separated, but when you stop shaking the glass, the oil and water will slowly separate again.  

Death is not the end of life, but rather life in another form. What has been referred to as an afterlife doesn’t exist to punish us but rather to teach us. Reincarnation is the process by which our souls grow and involve over successive lifetimes. In accordance with the law that you create your own reality, upon physical death, the soul journeys to a place of its own choosing.  There will be no god to condemn you to hell, and no Satan to punish you for your perceived sins, unless that is what you truly believe that you deserve. You are your own judge, and the architect of your own afterlife and therefore what you truly believe you will manifest.

In order to assist the individual into peacefully leaving the earth plane, we as Wiccans teach that the Otherside is a place of peace and rest (called the Summerland) where all our needs are met. Here, with the assistance of our spirit guides we evaluate our most previous incarnation, our experiences, and the lessons that we learned in that incarnation. If, after this period of evaluation, we feel that more lessons are warranted, our spirit guide assists us in writing an outline for our next life. This outline will include those experiences necessary to learn the lessons we feel are needed for our continued evolvement. Unfortunately, as we age we lose conscious awareness of our outline, and tend to stray from the path we have planned for ourselves. Our spirit guides are there to put us back on the correct path.  From their vantage point on the spiritual plane they have access to divine knowledge and they can be in several places at once. 

Some individuals choose not to incarnate again, however, this does not mean that they have attained a state of ultimate enlightenment, but that they are choosing to continue the process of soul evolvement on the spiritual plane rather than the physical one. These individuals may become spirit guides to other souls or enter into a special communion with the Godhead. Conversely, there are those who have attained a high level of enlightenment and because of this no longer needs to incarnate and yet they do so for the highest good.

Reincarnation is the process by which our souls grow and evolve over successive lifetimes. Most witches believe that upon physical death our souls journey to the Summerland, a place of rest and peace where all our needs are met.  Here, with the assistance of our spirit guide, we evaluate our most recent life, our experiences, and the lessons that we learned in that incarnation.

 If after this period of evaluation, we feel that more lessons are warranted, then our spirit guide assists us in writing an outline for our next life.  This outline will include those experiences necessary to learn those lessons that we feel are needed for out continued evolvement.  Once our outline is written, we may not reincarnate immediately. Reasons for not doing so may include but a desire to spend time with loved ones on the other side, or a need to rest. Time may also be another factor, in that the soul may have to wait to be born into the circumstances specified in our outline.

 Some individuals choose not to incarnate again, however, this does not mean that they have attained a state of ultimate enlightenment, but that they are choosing to continue the process of soul evolvement on the spiritual plane rather than the physical one.  These individuals may become spirit guides to other souls or enter into a special communion with the Godhead.  Conversely, there are those who have attained a high level of enlightenment and because of this no longer needs to incarnate and yet they do so for the highest good.

In modern Wicca, as in other religions such as Buddhism, Shinto, Native American Spirituality, and Vodun, one’s Ancestors are revered and honored. It is believed that they dead don’t die, but rather ascend to higher states of being, from which they can look on and assist us. In this state, the Ancestors exists outside of time and therefore have knowledge of the past and future, and can guide us toward the best possible future. In addition, they can intercede with the Godhead on our behalf and protect us in times of need.

However, in today’s world with its hate and prejudice, many gay people find themselves cast out from the families into which they were born. For this reason, to many gay people family isn’t always defined by blood. To us, our families are those people of any race, orientation, and/or gender who love us, accept us, and protect us. Therefore, such people who have since died can be considered our collective Ancestors. They are the activist who fought for our freedom, artists, philosophers, and scientists, who contributed to society, those who lived openly, and those whose death moved us to fight on.

 
Although most Wiccans are familiar with the concept of honoring the ancestors during the Sabbat of Samhain, the concept of devoting a shrine to one’s Ancestors and giving them due honor on a daily basis is a concept not commonly encountered in the practice of Wicca. However, as information about different cultures and alternative spiritual paths has become more available to the average person, many Wiccans are adopting practices such as creating an Ancestral Shrine that, in the past, were more common to those practices found in African, Latino, and Asian folk traditions.

 The Ancestral Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the memory of one’s ancestors. This includes those ancestors that you have personal knowledge of, such as parents, grandparents, etc… as well as ancestors from the distant past. How ancestral shrines are used will differ from tradition to tradition and from person to person. Some of these shrines are erected for only certain times of the year such as Samhain, or the Day of the Dead; other shrines are erected for a period of mourning and are taken down after that time; and again, some individuals choose to keep their Ancestral Shrines permanently.

 Ancestral Shrines, like altars, come in a myriad of forms and are limited only by the amount of space you have to work with and the materials you have available. Items found on your Ancestral Shrine include candles, clear glasses of water, photographs of deceased loved ones, personal objects once belonging to deceased loved ones, symbols associated with your family and/or anything that you feel helps you build a connection to your beloved ancestors.

The focal point of my Ancestral Shrine consists of a decorative plate on which is my Family Crest which is hung on a Western Wall in my apartment (west being the direction associated with the dead and the gates of death and rebirth.) On the left side of my Family Crest, I have photographs of deceased loved ones from my mother’s side of the family, while on the right I have photographs of deceased loved ones from my father’s side of the family. Below this plate, I have a shelf on which I have a tea candle holder, a clear glass of water, and a small offering bowl.

 The Ancestral Shrine is a place where I commune with my ancestors, seek their advice, and petition them to be an active force in my life in order to grant me protection and assist me in achieving my goals.

See also Devotion to the Ancestors 

At the core of the world's major religions is the belief in the continuing existence of the soul following the physical body. However, what happens to that soul afterwards is where many religions disagree, and that is the subject of another topic of discussion. Although the terms have become interchangeable, a ghost and a spirit is not the same. A Ghost is the soul of a human being that for any number of reasons remains Earth bound. These reasons commonly include.

1. They have unfinished business, something that they feel needs to be completed before they can move on.

2. They don't know that they are dead, from their perspective they are simply going about their business.

3. They are Earth bound by a grieving loves one who refuses to let them move on.

Ghosts manifest in various forms. They may appear as balls or streaks of light, shadows, mist, and they sometimes, but not often, appear in full of partial human form. Those gifted with extrasensory abilities have reported being able to see, hear, and even feel the presence of ghosts. Other individual have reported being physically touched by ghosts.

Ghosts can be classified as Nurturer, Trickster, Abuser, and Echo. The Nurturer is the 'friendly-ghost'. They are always harmless, even protective of those in thier enviroment and those who reside within it. Many people find it comforting to share their space with these entities.

The Trickster may or may not be harmless, due to your temperament. Normally, the Trickster will not perform pranks which are deadly, just inconvenient, such as hiding your car keys or diabling your alarm clock, making you late for work. Some people are easily disturbed by these events, while others think it makes life more interesting and could not be bothered.

The Abuser is always harmful, often violently so. They will often leave marks of their attack on their victim, such as claw or bite marks, bruises, etc... Abusers represent the worst kind of ghostly encounter, and they have been known to commit murder.

While not considered a true ghost, an Echo occurs when a person' death is so traumatic that the event imprints itself onto the environment, much like recording a song from the radio onto a tape. When triggered by certain events or emotions, usually those similar to the original event, the Echo then replays itself, similar to a time loop.

Many spiritual traditions have their own methods of helping a Ghost to move on, or of banishing a negative entity. Some of these methods include:

1. Acknowledging its presence, talking to it from within the Magick Circle and convincing it to move on.

2. Religious Blessing/Banishing: A blessing is performed by religous clergy gently sending the ghost off the Earth plane; however, if this does not occur, then it is forcibly sent off the Earth plane with a banishing ritual or a series of rituals.

3. A grieving person must be convinced that they are doing their loved one more harm than good by holding on too tightly, and that only be allowing the loved on to move on will each of them find peace.

A relatively new method of banishing a ghost within the realm of Parapsychology, involves electron displacement. This school of thought theorizes that an electron flow is needed to keep a ghost on this plane and that by reversing the polarity of electrons in a given area, a resident ghost will lose its foothold on this plane of existence.

Step One: Assemble your equipment.

Dowsing rod, compass, Video-Camera, Still-Camera, Tape Recorder, Pendulum, pen and paper.

Step Two: Choose your Location

Old graveyards, battlefields, historic sites, murder sites, etc...

Step Three: Visit the Location

Keep the number of visitors to a minimum. Dowse for "hot spots" and record all activity on video, photo, and tape.

Step Four: Diagram the Location

This can be placed on a grid and a pendulum used to dowse for potential "hot spots" and mark active areas.

Step Five: Research the Location

Verify or disprove any and all information gathered during your investigation. This is done afterward so as not to unduly influence the investigation at that scene.

Note: Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) is the process by which disembodied voices are captured on tape. These voices are believed to be that of the dead, who are attempting to communicate with the living. To experience EVP simply place a tape recorder to record in an empty room. Later, go back and play the tape and listen closely for short phrases and single words. It may take several attempts before you achieve any results.

As long as there has been religion, there has been a belief in the existence of life after death. However, exactly what the afterlife entails has differed among various religions. Early man envisioned an afterlife similar to the present one.  In order to provide for them, the dead would be buried with those items which it was believed they would need in the next life.

Later, the belief developed that the dead could watch over the living and influence their lives. This line of thinking possibly lead to the practice of Ancestor Worship. There are many reasons that one would wish to contact the dead. For some it gives them a sense of closure after the death of a loved one to know that their spirit lives on after death and that the departed is at peace. For some unscrupulous individuals the practice of contacting the dead has become a very profitable business.

Other reasons some may wish to contact the dead is to obtain undeniable proof for theirselves that there is life after death. For some this may bring relief, for others it may bring a sense of dread. For if there is life after death, then surely they would have to atone for misdeeds in this life.

While some people seek to contact the dead to  strengthen and build ties, others seek to contact the dead to severe them. Many people who feel that their homes are haunted by ghosts often seek to peacefully send the ghost into the afterlife by communicating with the ghost and convincing it to move on. 

In addition, rituals and practices were developed to honor the dead and request their assistance, or to protect oneself, home, and family from any evil influences associated with the dead.  

Some of these practices include:

• Holding Seances, Table Tipping
• Automatic Writing
  
• Using a Talking Board 
  
• Religious Ritual
  
• Graveyard Rites
  
• The Use of Spirit Traps
  

Although more commonly known as Ouija Boards or Spirit Board and made of cardboard and plastic, Talking Boards where once made of natural wood, and inscribed with numbers, letters, and basic greetings. With the growing number of people interested in spiritual matters, and the popularity of the now canceled television series Charmed , there are now some beautiful Talking Boards on the market created by talented craftsmen.

Talking Boards can be used within a protective circle by either a single individual (although this is not advised) or a small group in order to contact the dead, or other disembodied spirits. They place their hands on the planchette (which acts as a pointer to indicate the letters and numbers) and call forth a spirit who uses them to spell out their message. It is also helpful if one individual sits nearby with pen and paper to write down the messages for later as the information given is not always coherent. However, with continued use and practice the message usually become more coherent.

Talking Boards are surrounded with an aura of mystery and there are many misconceptions regarding them. However, they are not the innocent toys that Parker Brothers would have you believe. In fact, in the wrong hands they can be very dangerous. When using a Talking Board it is important to treat the process seriously and never show disrespect to either the board or any spirit which may attempt to communicate with you. However, should a spirit becomes abusive or disruptive, end the session immediately.

Users should never breach the circle or remove their hands from the plancette without proper words of closure. This may include thanking the spirit for their attention and interest and purposefully moving the pointer to the words goodbye. It is always a good idea to follow the same opening and closing procedure each time you use the board, as the repetition of these words and actions will develop power over time and lead to a greater chance of achieving satisfactory results.

In addition, to use the Talking Board you must be in good health mentally, physically, and emotionally. The information given by spirits should never be taken at face value and should be researched as far as possible. In my own practices as a Tarot reader, I once had a client who began experimenting with a Talking Board after the death of her husband. She claimed that her husband made contact with her through the board and blamed her for his death, which led her to contemplate suicide. This is why is it important to use the board with others, as the group can monitor each other for signs of unhealthy obsession with the process and to ensure that events such as this do not take place.

Links: 

History of the Talking Board

Gallery of Talking Boards

  A Method to Contact the Dead

As has already been discussed above, mankind has always yearned for a method in which to communicate with spirits of the dead and since the early days of the Spiritualist Movement, automatic writing has been an accepted method of doing so. The method of the Fox Sisters originally entailed knocks and raps that spelled out elaborate messages. This was done by first contacting a spirit by means of a séance, then persuading it to answer questions by slowly reciting the alphabet until the spirit raps indicating the correct letter. After some time, the novelty of spirit communication wore off and others developed alternate methods which proved faster and more direct. One such methods was the use of the Ouija, or Talking Board. (see above). Not long after, the art of "automatic writing" was born.

Automatic, or Spirit Writing has been defined as a method of obtaining information from disembodied spirits in which the spirit takes control over the medium causing them to translate unconscious information on paper without being aware of the contents. Automatic Writing is thought to be only used by mediums, however, anyone can learn to use it with practice. The writer is often unaware of what is being written and often even scrawls out text in handwriting that is markedly different than his own. Others believe that perhaps the spirits may also communicate by forming messages in the mind of the medium, which reproduce on the page.

Mediums have claimed to produce message from famous deceased individuals through the use of Automatic Writing. Some have even claimed that the products of their experiments with automatic writing are a continuation of the work of these famous individuals. Mediums often used pens, but many also used slates and typewriters to maintain the flow of information. Additional experiments with Automatic Writing also took the form of mediums taking up painting in the style of the old masters, and composing music.  

Arguable the most famous example of channeled information involves the case of Pearl Curran. Pearl was a housewife in St. Louis who claimed to contact a spirit which identified itself as Patience Worth. Through their collaboration over many years, they wrote several novels and thousands of poems.

The most gigantic single volume of channeled material in print, the Urantia Book consists of 2100 pages and was published by the Urantia Foundation in Chicago. The information contained in the Urantia Book was received during the 1930’s through automatic writing by those who wished to remain anonymous. The material claims to be a history and structure of the universe and the life of Christ and the history of earth.

How to Practice Automatic Writing

1. Develop realistic expectations. Automatic writing is a process that takes practice. The exercise may not yield excellent results so writers who want to try this process should have realistic expectations of the outcome. There will probably be a peppering of great ideas but don't anticipate a completed masterpiece.

2. Create an area specifically designed for automatic writing. It is common for writers to use a dimly lit space or by candlelight. The area should be free of clutter and noise. Any candles used should be lightly scented or unscented. 

3. Get comfortable. Writing should be easily accomplished with no leaning or stretching. Use a favorite writing utensil that fits comfortably in hand. Use stationary of fine quality and soft touch.

4. Find the right time. Avoid choosing times that are sandwiched between activities. Automatic writing is an activity that is ideally completed during the end of the day. It is a time to wind down and relieve stress.

5. Clear all thoughts, as much as possible. Consider automatic writing as an opportunity to meditate. Traditionally, the mystical writers would put themselves in a trance but a simple meditative state is ideal for this form of automatic writing.

6. Put the writing utensil to the paper and start writing without thinking about what words and phrases are being used. The point of the process is to let thoughts and ideas flow freely without self consciousness. The goal is to tap into the subconscious.

7. Stop writing once conscious thoughts about spelling and grammar come to mind. This is counterproductive in automatic writing. The idea is to get thoughts on to paper, not completed text.

8. Give the paper a rest before reviewing the results. Look for words, phrases and images in the scribbling. It helps to have another person look for these as well. It is possible that nothing tangible will come out of the exercise, especially on the first try.

9. Keep trying. Remember that automatic writing in this form serves as a type of meditation and as a source of inspiration. This alone is worth the effort.

Links:

Automatic Writing

Leonora Piper

For Conversation with the Dead

Draw the symbol at left upon a round mirror. Lay the mirror on a flat surface and place candles around it marking the points of the triangle. If you have something which belonged to the deceased, lay this upon the sigil as this will tie the spirit to this world.  When you are ready, light the candles and focusing on the individual that you wish to contact, chant the spell below.

“Departed Spirit, this call hear

I ask that you now draw near;

Come to me and do not hide,

Cross now the great divide!”

 
Continue chanting until either the spirit makes its presence known or it becomes obvious that it will not appear. If and when the spirit makes contact, ask it to communicate to you in a manner in which you can understand. This can occur in several ways including the rapping method mentioned in the section on How to Conduct a Séance, or you may hear whispers, or information may inexplicably come to mind.

When you are satisfied with the session, thank the spirit for its assistance and bid them farewell. Blow out the candles and clean up your ritual area.  

Preliminary: Some Wiccan author's have claimed that graveyard dirt is a euphemism for certain herbs (see Herbal Code); however, the truth of the matter is that graveyard dirt is exactly what you think. It is dirt that you have purchased from the Spirit of the grave from which it was taken (and only with said Spirit's blessing.)

The utilization of graveyard dirt is a common practice in the folk magic tradition known as Hoodoo. Rootworkers have developed many beliefs concerning how to obtain the dirt, from whom, and how it is to be used. For this reason, methods will often vary from person to person. 

However there is one thing on which all Rootworkers will agree. Graveyard dirt, MUST be purchased and NEVER simply taken. To collect graveryard dirt, the spirit of the grave must be respectfully petitioned. Once you feel that the spirit is willing to sell you the graveyard dirt, then payment must be rendered. Beyond these general principles, there is an abundance of lore relating to the criteria used to determine from which grave to gather your dirt. These criteria include, but are not limited to the following:

• Whether the individual’s grave is a loved one or a stranger
• The reputation the deceased had in life.
• The Gender of the Deceased
  
• How the deceased died.
• The located of the grave.
• From which part of the grave to dig the dirt.

In order to determine the grave from which to gather graveyard dirt one must know what it is to be used for. In the case of love spells, for example you would either choose the grave of someone that loved you in life or someone who had the reputation for being lucky in love when they were alive. The dirt would be gathered from over the person’s heart. However, if you were doing a spell for prosperity, you may choose the grave of a rich person and take the dirt from over their hands. If you were banishing someone, you might want to choose the grave of someone who died quickly and un expectantly, taking the dirt from their feet. If you were working magick to conceive a child, you would likely choose the grave of a woman who bore many children in life and gather the dirt from over her womb

Putting the Dead to Work for You

You will need: 

A Silver Dime

A Paper Bag and a Spoon (optional)

A Piece of Chalk

Conduct the ritual in silence. Go to the graveyard taking an offering for the spirit and those items you will need to gather your graveyard dirt. Standing in the center of the grave yard ground and center, then say these words:

“If there be a spirit here that would look kind upon me and aid me in (state your intention), then I humbly ask that you make yourself known to me that we may commune.”

Next, you may be drawn to a particular grave. If this occurs, approach the grave with respect and kneel beside it with the headstone before you. Knock three times on the headstone to signal to the spirit that you wish to communicate. Place your palm on the headstone and mentally connect with the spirit. Introduce yourself and tell the spirit what it is you wish to accomplish and why. The spirit may then give you advice as to how to deal with your particular situation and promise to help you, or alternately it may tell you to take some dirt from its grave and use in a particular way. Thank the spirit for its assistance and remove your hand from the headstone.

Take the silver dime and press it down in the dirt near the headstone.  If needed gather some of the dirt from over the grave and put it in the paper bag.

Finally, take a piece of chalk and draw a small diagonal line across the headstone somewhere. When your wish comes to pass, return to the grave and draw another diagonal line across this one forming an X.

Almost all cultures have methods for trapping or tangling spirits and spells. In Nepal and Tibet crosses made of thread in various colors, prayed over, and dedicated to guardian deities are created for this purpose. 

Devil Traps  were used by the ancient Hebrews in some parts of Babylon (hence these are often referred to as Babylonian Devil Traps) to drive away evil. This evil could manifest itself by way of illness, demons, the evil eye, or curses. The traps were simple terra cotta bowls, which were inscribed with magickal texts or charms and then placed upside-down under the 4 corners of the foundations of a building.

Even though Jewish Law did not allow such devices Babylonian Devil Traps were in use for at least three centuries, which must be a testament to their effectiveness. 

Triangles are generally a shape that is believed to trap spirits. There is some evidence to show that the three-sided shape of the modern tent stake has its origins in Sumerian stakes that were used to nail down spirits. This tradition survived in Tibet and India as the famous phurba, or thunder nail, which has made appearances in mainstream movies such as The Shadow (1994) and The Golden Child (1986). In the phurba rituals, an effigy called a linga is placed in the center o a triangle that is either drawn on paper on on the ground. Sometimes a triangular iron box is used. The obstacle causing spirits are then summoned through a series of mantras and mudras (ritual gestures) and trapped in the triangle where they are dispatched with the phurba.

We find a similar use of the triangle in the Goetia, where the spirits are summoned into a triangle that is marked on with various holy names such as the Archangel Michael. The triangle is placed outside of the protective circle and the evoked spirits are compelled to appear within it and can only be released when the magician is ready.

EXERCISES