Glendower. – I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur. – Why, so can I; or so can any man: But will they come when you do call for them ? (1 Henry IV, 3.1)

There is no secret that the Christian church has put all the spirits that reside beyond the veil fit into two categories: evil and holy. But what if there is more of a sliding scale? What if there are more? Well, there are. So here is a pretty comprehensive list collected for you.

Ghost: A human who has died who has not passed on to the veil. They have a tendency to be in a trance and difficult to talk to the living. They need to pass on to the other side of the veil, and with help of a medium who is also a spiritual guide, they can do this.

Spirit: Well, this is used in several ways. 1) A human who has died and has passed through the veil. 2) The all encompassing word for everything spiritual that touches us.

Shadowperson: You’re only scared because you don’t know what they are or why they are there. There are a couple of theories. One is that they are of another dimension or time that has overlapped (quantum wu li masters, anyone?). Either way, you may be a shadowperson to them as well! Another is that it’s a non-corporal critter that is just curious. They don’t want to harm you, and any feelings of that you’ve just put on yourself. It’s literally in your head.

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You are still alive. You are in charge of your life. Your spirit guide sits on the other side of the veil with a job description, and that job description is much narrower than you want it to be. Your guide is a guardian, and a guardian and a parent are two different roles. A parent picks you up, wipes your face, fights your battles at school, calls the principal, makes the appointments, signs the permission slips, and runs interference between you and the world.

A guardian watches. A guardian protects the perimeter. A guardian shows up when the territory itself comes under attack. The rest of the day is on you.

People come to me looking for a celestial helicopter parent. They want a being on the other side managing their calendar, their finances, their love life, their healing, their career, and the energetic weather around their apartment. They want someone bigger and smarter and braver than they are to take the wheel.

Sounds like what you want is possession.

Not a spirit guide.

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Hoodoo, also known as African-American folk magic, has played a significant role in the development of various spiritual practices and beliefs, including Wicca. Wicca is a modern pagan religion that emerged in the mid-20th century and draws on various sources, including ancient paganism, European folklore, and esoteric traditions. Although the relations…

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For too long people of an ostracized faith, or people of folk religions and rituals, feel isolated, lost, and in need of support and guidance.

I’m so happy you have a comm…

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Student asks: "I was in a metaphysical store the other day and a girl was going to buy a Yemaya and an Oshun figure, but was basically ripped to shreds by someone behind the counter once the customer said she was not part of a certain religion (I can’t remember what she said to be honest I was trying to hide from the awkward ). This salesperson went on …

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Let’s start with what you will read on wikipedia:

“Benedicaria, which me…

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First, my race is brought up, not my accuracy, even when I give resources.

Second, when I give resources, they are…

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I'm teaching a class on Orisha Devotion at BearBridge Academy. We had our first week and I'm really thrilled with it, as are the small student body who enrolled to join me Saturday mornings for the next six weeks. In this class, what I love is how hands on the Orisha are. Already, the students have had signs, visions, and interactions with the first two Orisha (the gateway Orisha: Orunmila and Esu).

What has me curious is this: why hasn't the entire school signed up? You see, I had a client who emigrated from the Middle East say that he works with Diana and that she wasn't answering her prayers. I suggested Oya, and he said, "But I'm not Nigerian." Um.... What? You're also not Greek or Italian.

Why do so many people have the "ok" to work within the cultural context of Greece and Italy but not with the Orisha, WHO ACTUALLY ANSWER?!

A few reasons:

• Cancel culture will jump on people who are not black who want to work with the black gods.

• Inappropriate gatekeeping (yes, the Orishas are not a gatekept aspect of faith, but being a babalawo is) in order to sinisterly enforce systemic racism.

• Not enough resources!

Did you know I'm using 12 books as the curricula for these students? 12! There isn't a full single book. Do you know how many there are for Athena?!

These students in class are going to benefit and be thrilled with their connection to these spirits and guides. For real. And I wish the whole school were required to join class and also learn how these spirits don't care about where you come from, what the color of your skin is, or how you walk through the world (as long as you make a choice and walk).

Maybe next time...

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US, CLICK HERE

Your faith is always up for revision. Don’t believe what a person of authority says, just because its a talking head. It is your faith. Believe your eyes; believe your experiences; and believe your relationship to your faith. Even if that means it needs to be revised.

I think I’m at revision mode.

And it’s hard.

VERY hard!

I am…. Was?… Benedicaria. Benedicaria is miscategorized as a Catholic folk tradition, combining the elements of the old Italian faith, which was polytheistic, with Catholicism. In reality, it takes the old polytheistic Italian faith and combines it with whatever the practitioner comes from in blending of families, origin, or nationality. It’s the perfect “Eclectic Witch Religion,” to be honest.

Having been under this belief system for so long had made me objective and accessible in teaching faith traditions because I fully believe that all the religions are correct. You see, if the old Italian ways can be combined with anything (and I mean anything) then that means they all must be right and correct in some way, right?

A true omnist. I believe that your god exists, and I believe that their goddess exists, and I believe that the ones I commune with also exist.

But.

Now, I am… not questioning my faith… but feeling more aligned with another.

Taoism. The more I study, the more I feel one with the way of living and the faith its connected to.

So, what does that mean for me as a witch? As a follower of Benedicaria? As a Priest of Nefertum? As a kahuna of hilina’i? As a channel for the Orisha? What does this mean?

Does it mean that I abandon the gods who love and help me? Does it mean that I turn my back from what I was… still am… still an expert in… and begin a new path, one that feels like it is more in alignment with who I am and what I am meant to be?

I am not Chinese, I don’t plan on learning any Chinese language, and I only discovered Taoism because I love taking Tai Chi and have moved into instructing (some) and into my black sash status.

Can I adequately accept Taoism as my faith and call myself a Taoist witch, but also practice with the deities of Africa and southern Europe?

I don’t know. I don’t, genuinely, know. And I feel at a loss for my deficiency, especially when so many students around the world regard me as an expert, or at least a guide, on non-traditional faith and how to incorporate it into your life.

Then I was reminded of a Taoist passage:

“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”

And one more;

In order to control our lives, and accomplish something of greater value, we must Believe. We can only believe when we are truly stripped of what we think we know.

I thought I knew my faith. A nice little creolized package. Can I encorporate Taoism into my Benedicaria practice? Will the gods stay?

If I hang on, I’m not actually controlling my life. I am not in a state of Belief.

Facing past me, sitting in front of a class of students who were where I am now, I see the wisdom I had, and now replay it for future me, the current me:

Your faith is always up for revision. It’s yours.

I guess I’m Taoist now? I hope the gods will still love me. I must decide to… Believe.