We had an interesting exercise in the development group I am in recently, which is to develop an EmergencyAction Plan for times when we are overloaded psychically, or walk into a situation that is psychically dangerous. Here is mine, followed by some back up references material, after my signature block. The technique of passing energy through is similar to what can be found in the
Order of Scathach's [3] training materials.
Emergency Action Plan
1.
I use a technique that I was taught called
“flaming”, which I now refer to as “psychic flaming”, which flushes out the
aura. If overwhelmed by negative energy, my first response is to clear my aura,
and I have a pre-loaded thought form which is triggered by a word (I use one of
the Deity names for a sphere of the Qabbalah).
After I have flamed to push stuff
out of my aura, I shield, then centre/ground myself and check
my chakras. All of this has been practised over three decades, and can be done
is a second or three.
2.
Next I ask for help from all positive forces,
including my Guides, which I term the “BPF” (short for Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces): “BPF – help!” This will
include advice on other sources of help, whether I should leave the situation
and how quickly, etc.
3.
As soon as the initial crisis is over, recovery
needs to happen. What form that takes depends on the situation, how overwhelmed
I was, etc.
I have not covered
the preventative work I do, such as asking for protection regularly, having
protective devices, etc.
There is also a
technique of passing energy through oneself which sometimes can be useful.
[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.
[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia.
[3] Pronounced "sky-aa"
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr,
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle
between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side,
and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice.
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY
One size does NOT fit all ...
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. EDMUND BURKE
Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ...
they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of
tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN
We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW
Tags: about me, energy work, flaming, grounding, negative energy, protection, shielding,
First published: Frysdagr, 19th October, 2012
Last edited: Friday, 19th October, 2012
Supplementary Information
1.7 Underlying Assumptions about “Reality”
Some key assumptions will be
discussed in the next section. In addition, the following assumptions apply,
but may not be examined in this workshop in any detail (unless they crop up in
the course of any discussions J ):
Ø we have a non-physical part of
our being (actually, several);
Ø some part of this non-physical
essence survives the death of the physical body; and
Ø the essence which survives the
physical death is capable of reincarnating into a different body.
Please refer to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
It is also assumed that you will maintain independence of thought – you
are NOT expected to believe or automatically accept any of this, but please
respect others’ wish to participate in the workshop, and time constraints.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
2.1 Flaming
2.1.1 Concept
Flaming is the concept of
purposefully using energy to clear “negative” energy from one’s aura.
2.1.2 Objectives
The aim of this is to develop an
ability to undertake some steps to look after one’s psychic health
(particularly with respect to one’s aura).
2.1.3 Desired outcomes
Ø basic
awareness of non-physical health issues
Ø introduction
to purposefully directing energy
Ø basic
familiarity with several flaming techniques
2.1.4 Assumptions
See 1.7 Assumptions.
Also note that the aura extends
beyond the outlines of the physical body. How far it extends depends of factors
such as the energy state of the person, and what nonphysical levels one is
considering.
2.1.5 Flaming - background
The first technique fits into the
“bad out” category, but can be adapted for use in the “good in” category. The
technique is called flaming, and involves use of personal will and skills to
generate “positive” energies in a way that removes energies and nonphysical
objects from your aura that are not a constructive influence for you. Those
energies could simply be incompatible with your energies (a bit like a clash of
colours, or an unpleasant discordance in music, or an unpleasant smell
intruding into an aromatherapy session), or more actively counter to your
wellbeing.
A common example of the latter is
being on the receiving end of unresolved jealousy. The jealousy energy can be
actively harmful to your psychic wellbeing – it’s basically a form of psychic
attack. (This does NOT mean all
incidents of jealousy result in projected energy that impacts in the target’s
aura: but some does.[1])
There are
a number of benefits to getting into a regular habit of flaming. These include:
Ø the
obvious and intended benefit of removing incompatible or negative energy
Ø development
of healthy psychic habits
Ø improved
psychic strength
Ø practice
at directing energy in a purposeful way.
2.1.6 Flaming - techniques
OK, so how do you actually do
this?
Most commonly, flaming is
accomplished by visualisation. Other senses, however, can also be used. Try the
following techniques and note which work well for you, which are neutral, and
which feel uncomfortable (note that your assessment may change after practising
these techniques a little more, or in different circumstances):
Technique
|
Your comments
|
1.
Visualise
a candle in the centre of your body, and feel
the heat and light of the candle radiating out through your body and aura,
dissolving and/or displacing anything you do not want there.
|
|
2.
Visualise a fire burning in the centre of
your body, and allow the fire to gradually spread, “burning out impurities”
as it does so, until your entire aura is left glowing brightly
|
|
3.
Visualise
a light bulb turning on in your centre, and radiating out bright light
|
|
4.
Visualise
a waterfall of light washing through and cleansing your aura, washing any
negative energy into Mother Earth for recycling
|
|
5.
Feel
the energy of Mother Earth radiating up, through your Earth Star chakra[2]
and your feet, into your aura, dislodging anything negative and drawing that
back into Mother Earth for recycling
|
|
6.
“Hear”
a pleasant musical chord or refrain building up, as if from the centre of
your body (the solar plexus chakra, if you are aware of chakras) and
transforming anything discordant within your aura into something harmonious
|
|
7.
“Smell”
a strong pleasant scent (e.g., a favourite flower) and allow that smell to
pervade your aura, flushing out or transforming any unpleasant smells
|
|
Techniques exist for
strengthening these various techniques (other than lots of practice). These
include:
Technique
|
Your comments
|
i.
Visualise
yourself flaming strongly, whilst building an association with a word. Chant
the word (mentally only, if necessary) to help strengthen the technique.
|
|
ii.
Visualise
a nonphysical object such as a crystal, and send lots of positive energy to
it at times of your own choosing, when feeling energised or “up”
(technically, this is creating a thought form)
|
|
iii.
Connect
the flow of energy to your breathing (generally build energy up as you
breathe in [take in prana], and “flush” as you exhale)
|
|
See Figure 4 for an example illustration.
Figure 4
2.1.7 Alternative viewpoints on
this practice
There is a view that any one
“place” in the Universe is potentially connected to all other places in the
Universe. This concept, if applied to flaming, suggests that we aren’t really
using an internal source of energy: it is more a case of tuning in and accessing
the Universe’s enormous stores of energy.
Of course, that concept also
applies, to some extent, to the notion of accessing energy from our Higher
Self, or from other sources, when visualising energy coming into us while using
breathing.
Still, it’s often useful to
contemplate the sources of energy that one can access.
2.2 Shielding
2.2.1 Concept
The concept of “shielding” in the
psychic world is the concept of creating a protective device or barrier.
2.2.2 Objectives
The intention of these notes is
to provide a basic introduction to this fundamental protective technique.
2.2.3 Desired outcomes
An ability to try several
techniques for protecting oneself against incompatible/disharmonious
energies/influences.
2.2.4 Assumptions
See 1.7
Assumptions.
Also note that the aura extends
beyond the outlines of the physical body. How far it extends depends of factors
such as the energy state of the person, and what nonphysical levels one is
considering.
Another other key assumption here
is that, just as some foods are unsuitable (even harmful) for some people[1], some energies/psychic
influences are undesirable or even harmful for people. What is “undesirable or
even harmful” varies from person to person, and may also vary depending on
circumstances.
Finally, it is assumed that
psychic energy can be directed (which is a common definition of magic) by
various means to create a protective device, often conceived of as a barrier.
2.2.5 Background
This is one of the key techniques
in many writings about psychic protection. Some techniques have become famous
(such as the “Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram”; others, such as the
viewpoints expressed by Kerr Cuhulain in “Magickal
Self Defense”[2]
are less well known.
One of the most frequent debates
in Wiccan circles is the issue of “active” vs. “passive” defence.
With a “passive” self-defence
technique, one does not direct energy back at one’s attacker. The idea is to
outlast the attacker (psychic attack takes a lot of energy on some level – even
if the attack is being performed unconsciously), and to be non-violent,
non-aggressive and not risk incurring any negative karma.
With an “active” self-defence,
one does direct energy back at one’s attacker. The thinking here is generally
along the lines that one is returning the attackers creation back to them so
that they can experience what they are dishing out and – hopefully – eventually
learn not to indulge in that sort of behaviour.
All seems fairly clear cut, until
you also consider:
Ø sending
positive energy to one’s attacker (e.g., healing), which is an active
technique, but one that probably incurs positive karma;
Ø the
possibility that one may be responsible at an unconscious level for an attack
that one is trying to consciously stop; and
Ø that if
one has the ability to stop harm being done (e.g., if one is a police officer
and does nothing to stop a violent attack that is being committed when one is
in a position and has the resources to safely stop it), one incurs negative
karma: the same applies on a psychic level.
2.2.6 Techniques
The most common technique used
for shielding is visualisation, possibly with strengthening by using breathing,
chanting, prayer or physical movement.
Technique
|
Your comments
|
1.
Visualise
a white “egg shell” around the outside of your aura. See it as solidly and in
as much detail as you can.
|
|
2.
Visualise
the white shell, but this time also physically move your hands up from the
floor as if you are scooping plaster up and pack it into your aura.
|
|
3.
Stand,
centre yourself, and take a settling breath. With your hands at your side,
palms forward, breathe in and raise your hands, palm up, until they are fully
extended above your head. As you breathe out, take your hands out to your
side and down, visualising the shield being formed as you lower your hands.
(This is based on Kerr Cuhulain’s previously mentioned book[3].)
|
|
4.
Try
techniques 1 to 3 using different colours.
|
|
5.
Create
an astral melody that you find safe, protective and energising (it must NOT
be relaxing, or something that could put you to sleep: you generally want a
firmer energy for creating shields) and imagine the sounds flowing round your
aura and wrapping it in a safe cocoon.
|
|
6.
Repeat
technique 5 using a suitable scent.
|
|
7.
Visualise
wrapping your aura in bandages of whatever colour worked best for you. (The
“ideal” colour will vary, depending on circumstances – and may be several
colours.)
|
|
8.
Visualise
(and act out, if you wish), hanging reflective mirror mobiles around your
aura.
|
|
9.
Visualise
the outside edges of your aura becoming a shimmering skin which filters
energy, or shifts its frequency (the latter is based on the refractive
techniques mentioned in Kerr Cuhulain’s book[4] .)
|
|
10.
Combine
any previous technique with visualising protective symbols such as ankhs,
pentagrams or runes (e.g., Algiz) on your auric “ skin”
|
|
11.
Combine
any or all of these techniques with protective spells (sometimes also called
“setting wards”). A widely used traditional protective spell is “the lesser
banishing ritual of pentagram” , which has been around for possibly centuries
(and will be discussed in the next section).
|
|
12.
Activate
a chakra (e.g., breathe a selected colour into it until it has a strong,
clear ball of energy of that colour in it), then keep feeding energy in until
the energy radiates out to the outside of your aura, and starts rotating
around the outside of your aura, deflecting energy away. Repeat this from as
many chakras as you feel are needed
– if you vary the rotations, you may perceive the shields as grinding up any
negative of disharmonious energy trying to come in.
Selection of which chakra(s) and colour can be by logic (e.g., if having
emotional upset problems, try the solar plexus chakra and blue or green; if
having mental confusion try the crown and blue; if having self-expression
problems try the throat and orange) or, best of all, by intuition + logic.
As a variation, try building up rotating shields of colour – whether from a
single chakra/point or several.
|
|
13.
Ask your
Higher Self/guides/helpers to let you know whenever something activates/tries
to affect your shields – and remember to ask that your shields last for
longer than just the time you think of them!
|
|
See Figure 5 for an illustration of shielding (and of
grounding).
Figure 5
2.2.7 Alternative viewpoints
Some people are inherently
uncomfortable with the idea of having to defend oneself, seeing this as a
negative thing promoting conflict. While this is directly disputed by the
author, it is useful to keep in mind that these techniques are also about protection
against energies/influences that clash with one, much as two colours, notes or
scents may clash.
Another consideration is that one
may not need formal shielding/protection if one is be stronger than the
energy/influence. This is particularly a consideration as one gains experience
and psychic strength: the energies/influences which used to be problematic may
become easier to deal with. This is akin to exercising to build one’s physical
strength: lifting weights that used to be hard becomes easier.
2.3 Grounding
2.3.1 Concept
Our various non-physical bodies
are not necessarily always “properly” (effectively) aligned or focused
together. Although there are times when it is right and proper that they not be
aligned together (e.g., when astral travelling [sleeping], or for some states
of altered consciousness), when they are not grounded, we may be distracted or
otherwise less effective in our living than we could be, or we could be
vulnerable to undesirable (e.g., disharmonious) psychic influences.
Grounding is the act of bringing
all our non-physical bodies into an effective alignment or focus, often – but
not always - centred on our physical body.
2.3.2 Objectives
The intention of these notes is
to provide a basic introduction to this fundamental technique for management of
psychism.
2.3.3 Desired outcomes
An ability to try several
techniques for grounding oneself, and be safer with respect to one’s psychic
state of being.
2.3.4 Assumptions
See 1.7
Assumptions.
We are more than just a physical
body, and our non-physical aspects are able to be directed by us, when we are
in appropriate states of consciousness.
2.3.5 Background
When working at directing our
focus to nonphysical levels, especially when learning, it
is easy to become so focused on the nonphysical that one loses proper
connection with the physical. This can result in problems such as distraction,
or making oneself vulnerable to incompatible or undesirable energies.
Grounding is a techniques aimed
specifically at making sure that one has a proper focus and connection with the
physical – particularly when one finishes a psychic training session, as one
needs to make sure one is, for instance, in a fit state to drive safely. One
should no more think of driving ungrounded than driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
2.3.6 Techniques
The following is not an
exhaustive list of techniques. The aim is to help you gain an understanding of
what is most effective at getting you to ground.
Technique
|
Your
comments
|
1. Visualise a tree root growing
out from the centre of your body into the earth. If you can, “feel” it pull
you snugly into the centre of your being. 1
|
|
2. Visualise a tree behind you,
with roots going into the ground and branches forming a protective layer
above, and merge into the tree. 2
|
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3. Eat or drink (non-alcoholic) 3
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4. Put your hands on the earth
(not the floor – actual dirt that is part of this planet, not in a pot)
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5. Put your bare hands and bare feet on the earth (not the
floor – actual dirt that is part of this planet, not in a pot)
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6. Do some martial arts centering
techniques 4
|
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7. Do some focused breathing
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8. Touch a crystal that has been
charged with the task of grounding you (haematite is useful for this purpose,
but sometimes a large chunk of rose quartz can clear emotional energy that
has been stimulated by a personal working and thus allow a person to ground
more easily/quickly).
|
|
9. Talk your experiences through
with a teacher or other experienced person who is running the session to
resolve any unacknowledged matters which you may be being held back (i.e.,
being kept in the non-physical/altered state of consciousness) by your
guides/helpers until you acknowledge them.
|
|
10. As a last ditch measure, splash
some water onto any person who is having persistent trouble grounding – but
beware! That will leave the person with a headache and probably
|
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11. If problems persist (e.g.,
problems sleeping, headaches, trouble concentrating), seek help.
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|
Notes:
1.
You should be able to move
physically, and still stay grounded. The connection is not physical, it is
non-physical.
2.
A very dear friend of mine who is
HSP (a Highly Sensitive Person – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highly_sensitive_person and/or the 1999 book “The
Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook” by Elaine Aron, ISBN 0-7679-0337-4)
says this technique was particularly useful for her at managing HSP moments
3.
This is a fairly traditional
Wiccan/witchcraft technique after ritual work
4.
See “Magickal Self Defense”
Llewellyn, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7387-1219-2
See Figure 5 for an illustration of grounding (and shielding).
Things to
avoid if you are trying to
stay grounded may include:
·
receiving healing;
·
incense;
·
relaxing music;
·
anything which is a key for shifting consciousness
to a magical state.
That probably sounds a bit
obvious when you read it, but one of the biggest problems with getting
beginners to ground is their enjoyment of being in an altered state of
consciousness (which they may have had to expend considerable effort to get
into – with a possible underlying fear that they won’t be able to do this
again, so should keep it going as long as possible).
With people who are a little more
advanced, there may be an element of “showing off”, along the lines of :”hey I’m such a strong psychic that I can’t
really control it – I just waltz off into a trance without any say in the
matter”. 99.9999% of the time, that it rubbish: a good psychic actually
will have learnt control over her/hir/his abilities.
2.3.7 Alternative viewpoints
It is difficult for me to think
of an alternative viewpoint to the issue of grounding. Perhaps there are those
people who argue that it is only a matter of focus – as in, being “grounded” is
really just a matter of having enough self-discipline to ensure your focus is
adequately on the physical world.
What I will add in here, though,
are a couple of points from Debra Lynne Katz’s book “You Are Psychic” (Pub. Llewellyn, 2010 [first pub. 2004], ISBN
978-0-7387-0592-7), who advises people to ground their surroundings as well, to
prevent the grounding cord they have created for themselves dragging in stuff
from their environment, and to limit the length of time the grounding cord is
created for (she includes visualises to destroy the cord when it has done its
work).
