Shaman Bumper Stickers – Series 2: Cultural Shamanism from the Andes

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Shamanism

#29: Allyu! I am a Full Mesa Carrier.

Welcome to the 2nd Shaman Bumper Sticker series. The first series focused on core shamanism, which is shamanism with no cultural or regional characteristics. In other words, core shamanism only addresses shamanic practices that are common across all shamanic cultures. To me, cultural shamanism brings in local flavors and colors to make shamanic practices rich in texture and depth.

I have studied both core and cultural shamanism, primarily the shamanic energy medicine from the high Andes of Peru. Hence, this 2nd series of bumper stickers is directly related to practices learned from the high Andes and from those that have brought wisdom from the high Andes to the US.

The Q’ero are indigenous medicine people of the high Andes who were originally spiritual advisers to the Inka. When the Spaniards invaded South America, the Q’ero remained virtual recluses in the high Andes until the late 1950s. At that time, they received a prophecy that it was time to come down the mountains and share their medicine with North Americans. The Q’ero speak their own language, called Quechuan.

“Ayllu” is a Quechuan word that means “relative, family, community”. The community of full mesa carriers are those practitioners who have gone through specific training to create a mesa, which is a medicine bundle. The mesa is traditionally wrapped in Andean textiles and contains stones and other sacred items. The mesa is a traveling altar of the medicine person and is used for many different purposes, including healing, divination, and manifestation.

#30: Shamans Like to Phukuy Around.

“Phukuy” means to blow. Breath is energy mixed with intention that creates a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. Breath is used to blow prayers. When a bit of Florida water is taken into the mouth and blown, it is a powerful form of clearing energy.

#31: A Rock a Day Keeps the Hucha Away.

“Hucha” is energy that does not serve. Since energy is neutral, it is not accurate to say that energy is good or bad. It either serves you or does not. Hucha is a dense or heavy energy that associates with anger, unbalance, fear, anger, judgment, jealousy, guilt, regret, sorrow, shame, or maliciousness. The rock refers to sacred stones from the mesa that are used in specific Andean healing processes to clear hucha from the energy body.

#32: Got Sami?

“Sami” is energy that serves. It is high frequency light energy that can be experienced as compatible, calm, serene, healing, refined, beneficial, or harmonious. One can only experience it when one is in “ayni”, which means “right relationship”. In other words, one is in balance with oneself, with others, and with the other elements of the universe.

#33: Shamans Rock!

Khuyas are stones given as a gift from Mother Earth and become receptacles of information and power to be used as tools for healing. The Quechua word for stone is “rumi” however a rumi becomes a khuya when it has been energetically charged and placed in the mesa or on the altar for sacred purposes. The word “khuya” comes from the Quechua word “qhuyay”, which means to love or deeply care for. Khuyas are also used hampi, spirit medicine.

Stones can be found at personally sacred or meaningful places. Or a stone may call to you from anywhere. Some stones may have lain in the same place for centuries just waiting for you to come along and pick them up. If you want to take the stone, first ask its permission. Then leave an offering such as cornmeal, tobacco, whiskey, one of your hairs, or some spit.

#34: Laika Lovers Practice Mucho Munay.

While we all possess a Luminous Energy Field that surrounds our physical body, the Laika are called “the luminous ones”. They are the Earthkeepers of old. They are homo-luminous humans who rise to the level of angels. We all have the potential to develop our Luminous Energy Fields to the level of angels within our lifetime. “Munay” means to love, to want, to desire. It is the action of the heart, practicing loving kindness.

#35: Illuminations are Heart Retrievals.

#36: Have Rock Will Illuminate.

Khuyas, the healing stones of the mesa, can be used in a process call an “illumination”. An illumination is a process of soul clearing that works in conjunction with clearing the energy body specifically at the points of the major chakras. The actual illumination occurs when energy from the 8th chakra of the healer is passed to the chakras of the client.

#37: Lucky Llama says: “Friends Don’t Let Friends Illuminate & Drive.”

An illumination is a deep process that often triggers altered states of consciousness similar to hypnosis. It is important that the recipient of an illumination is fully conscious, grounded, and in their bodies before driving after a session.

#38: Shamans Like to Get Their Rocks Off.

#39: Shamans Like to Get Stoned.

In order for a shamanic practitioner to be effective, they must undergo many illuminations as well as learn to give them. The illumination process will remove all traces of victimization consciousness from the physical and energy body and be replaced with self-healing and self-empowerment energy.

#40: Caution! Munay Ki Seeds on Board.

Munay-Ki comes from Quechua and means “I love you” and “Be as thou art”. Dr. Alberto Villoldo, founder of the Four Winds, created the Munay-Ki from a series of 9 energetic rites that the Q’ero give. These rites plant seeds in the energy fields of the chakras. Once planted, the seeds need to be fed by light and fire rituals in order to germinate and grow the Luminous Energy Field into a rainbow body. In addition, the rites connect the receiver to the lineage of lightworker ancestors.

#41: As Skin Shedders Snakes Know Transformation.

Serpent (Snake), known in Quechuan as “sach’amama” or “amaru”, models for us how to shed our past as she sheds her skin. In the Peruvian cosmology, Serpent is the archetype of the lower world. Serpent is the archetype of the South on the Four Winds medicine wheel.

#42: Jaguars are Big Bad Hucha Eaters.

Jaguar, known in Quechuan as “otorongo” or “choquechinchay”, models for us how to track all that is around us and how to walk in self-empowerment. In the Peruvian cosmology, Jaguar is the archetype of the middle world. Jaguar is the archetype of the West on the Four Winds medicine wheel.

#43: Hummingbird Knows How to Gather the Nectar.

Royal Hummingbird, known in Quechuan as “siwar q’enti”, models for us how to drink the sweet nectar of life. Hummingbird is the archetype of the North on the Four Winds medicine wheel.

#44: Condors Jump from the Nest to Fly High with Great Spirit.

Condor, known in Quechuan as “kuntur” or “apuchin”, models for us how to fly high close to Great Spirit and see the big picture. In the Peruvian cosmology, Condor is the archetype of the upper world. Condor is the archetype of the East on the Four Winds medicine wheel. The North American equivalent is Eagle. According to Jonette Crowley, in the The Eagle & the Condor, an ancient prophecy, shared by indigenous people throughout the Americas, says when the Eagle of North America and the Condor of South America unite, the spirit of peace will awaken on Earth.

#45: Run through the Jungle Like a Luminous Warrior.

Like a Jaguar, let your wild soul run free through the jungle of this physical world unencumbered by drama and empowered through Spirit. This state of being will allow your luminous body to shine bright and clear. This concludes the 2nd Shaman Bumper Sticker series. Stay tuned for a new series to start soon.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Shaman Bumper Stickers – Series 1: Core Shamanism

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Shamanism

#1: Have You Squeezed Your Shaman Today?
The word “shaman” comes from Siberia and means a spiritual healer or “one who sees in the dark”. The word “shaman” is now applied universally to a group of medicine people in various cultures around the world. Shamans fulfill multiple roles as healers, priests/priestesses, psychotherapists, mystics, doctors, and storytellers. The basic functions of a shaman are:
1. Using divination methods to determine cause of dis-ease, location of food sources, and other information.
2. Journeying to other worlds (dimensions) to communicate with helping spirits.
3. Performs spiritual healing which may include soul retrievals, restoral of lost power, removal of energetic imprints and blocks, and extracting energy that does not serve or belong.

#2: Have Drum Will Journey.
The drum and the rattle facilitate the shaman’s journey into trance state and provide the portal to visit different dimensions. Shamans journey to the spirit realm by entering a theta level trance state of consciousness. The trance state can be successfully entered into by listening to a drum beat frequency of 4 beats-per-second for at least 15 minutes. This is a consistent beat of between 205 to 220 beats per minute.

#3: Shamans Do It With Totems.
A totem is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as a representation of a group, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe. Often power animals are called totems as the animal represents not a specific animal but all of the characteristics of the group soul of an animal. Tutelary spirits are guides and/or protectors.

#4: A Shaman’s Other Vehicle is a Spirit Canoe.
When shamans journey as a group, they often travel to non-ordinary realities in a spirit canoe. The journey may involve singing, drumming, and rattling. The original purpose of a spirit canoe ceremony was to do a soul retrieval to restore power to a client. Today the ceremony is done for different purposes.

#5: A Good Smudge Clears the Air.
Use white sage to clear energies, Palo Santo to heal energies, and sweetgrass to add good energies. Florida water and even rose water are good smokeless smudges.

#6: Shamans are Spirit Whisperers.
In fact, shamans are known to work with a lot of spirits and even have specific ones on their “staff” of helpers.

#7: Medicine Bag: Manifest Thy Magic: Protect and Heal. Aho!
This is a quick but powerful little prayer to say when you put on your medicine bag. Medicine bags can have any sacred objects in them that you want. I have many and they all have Plant People (like sage and cornmeal) and Stone People (like crystals) but may also have other power items depending on the intent of the bag.

#8: When Spirit calls the Shaman answers. When the Shaman calls Spirit answers.
I learned this in my shamanic training. It is one of the most basic but important lessons for a shamanic practitioner.

#9: Caution! Shamans are Rattlers.
A rattle has multiple purposes. It is used for healing rituals with clients, assisting the shaman to go into trance state, and to gently call in the ancestral and tutelary spirits.

#10: Got unwanted energy? Call a Shaman to track it and extract it.
Unwanted energies can exist in many forms such as past life scars, entities in your personal energy space, and other forms of psychic intrusions. Shamans are not only trained to deal with these but can teach you protection techniques as well. So if you are not quite “feeling yourself”, you might consult a shamanic practitioner.

#11: Have Medicine Wheel Will Travel.
The medicine wheel is not only a physical representation of a circle or cycle in the 3rd dimension, but it is also a state of being or consciousness that indigenous peoples embrace. The medicine wheel includes the separate dimensions of south, west, north, east, center, below, and above which all have their own unique energetic perspective. Traveling around the medicine wheel the first time is an incredibly transformative journey. Once around, however, we may stand at the center of the wheel in full balance but will still need to travel to different directions as new challenges and lessons appear on the horizon.

#12: Heart & Soul Retrievals Done Here.
A soul may sever pieces when experiencing a traumatic event. These pieces may be left at the scene of the trauma or moved to a safe place. Also, some individuals, acting out of envy, jealousy, unrequited love, lack of security, etc, may take soul pieces from another soul. A shaman can detect when these pieces are ready to return, journey to other dimensions to retrieve them, and reintegrate them into a client’s physical and energetic body.

#13: Sacred Tobacco: Carries Your Prayers to Spirit.
Tobacco is a sacred medicine for many peoples of the Americas. Tobacco amplifies and carries prayers and intentions to Great Spirit. Tobacco is also used to express commitment and extract negativity in spiritual healings.

#14: Shamans are called to Service. They don’t volunteer.
Shamanic cultures usually consider a shaman “called to service” if one of the following occurs:
1. They survive a strike by lightning.
2. They survive a serious physical or emotional illness.
3. They survive a murder attempt or a suicide attempt without intervention.
4. The recover from severe drug or alcohol addiction.
5. They experience a Near Death Experience.
6. They are called directly by the spirits through dreams and visions usually undertaken in intense solitude and fasting.

#15: Psychopomp Shamans Guide Souls thru the Light.
A psychopomp is a guide that assists souls as they cross from life to death. Functions performed by psychopomps include reciting a guidebook to the dying; chanting and praying during the dying process, listening to confessions and life reviews of the dying; assisting in recapitulation and forgiveness processing of the dying; giving the dying permission to die; assisting the soul as it exits the physical body; sealing the chakras after the soul has permanently left the physical body; and assisting the soul to cross completely into the Light when it is ready.

#16: Shamans Travel the Tree of Life to Visit Other Dimensions.
Shamanic cosmology recognizes three other dimensions called worlds:
MIDDLE WORLD: Everyday Consciousness of the Earth Realms. This is the world we live in. There are two aspects: Ordinary Reality [OR] (what the 5 senses can perceive) and Non-ordinary Reality [NOR] (what ordinary consciousness does not readily perceive).
LOWER WORLD: Subconsciousness of the Lower Realms. This is the home of the deepest regions of the psyche, power animals and other helping spirit guides, and healing/creative powers.
UPPER WORLD: Superconsciousness of the Sky Realms. This is the place of divine inspiration and cosmic wisdom, the soul, and the history of all human events.

#17: Shamans exist outside Time & Space.
When shamans journey to the spirit realm, they enter a theta-level trance state of consciousness. Time is only linear in the 3rd dimension of ordinary consciousness. In all other dimensions, time is multiple frequencies and space does not exist as we know it.

#18: Shamans are healers by design.
The purpose of a shaman is to heal or to divine. Shamanic healers are hollow tubes for the Great Spirit’s power. Shamans treat spiritual dis-orders through the following:
1. Journeying in the spirit world on behalf of a client to ask for, discover, barter, or battle for the cure of illness or injuries.
2. Retrieving soul pieces that may have been lost (due to accident, illness, or emotional trauma) or stolen.
3. Extracting spirit intrusions that may have entered or been sent into the body of a client causing disease, accidents, or mental illness.
4. Working on the client’s energy body to take out things that don’t belong there, restore lost energy or power, and alter the balance and flow of energy.

#19: Shamans are Stewards of Mother Earth and all her relations. Mitakuye Oasin!
Stewards take responsibility of the land but do not own the land. It is a steward’s responsibility to stay in tune with Mother Earth. So before a shaman undertakes any healing or energetic action, they journey to the spirits of the location and ask what is needed. Sometimes they will be told to forego intervention because there may be unseen extenuating circumstances. Taking an action might cause an undesirable chain reaction of events. “Mitakuye Oasin” means “All My Relations”, which means we are all related, all connected, all one. Likewise, a wise shaman will not intercede on anyone’s behalf without informed consent from the individual.

#20: Wisdom is knowing how to understand others without walking in their moccasins.
Shamans have a heightened sense of empathy that allows them to perceive from multiple viewpoints: They can see from their own viewpoint, the client’s viewpoint, and from Spirit’s viewpoint. In some shamanic cultures, dis-ease is removed by sucking it out of a client. However, the shaman is then taking on that energy. Modern shamanic training teaches alternative ways to remove dis-ease so that the practitioner remains protected and safe.

#21: WWSD? What would a shaman do?
If some unexpected and undesirable event happens, count 10 seconds then ask “WWSD”. Wait for Spirit’s answer and then formulate your reaction. This basic practice can transform your life. If you want to learn more about what shamans really do, I recommend reading The Hollow Bone by Deatsman.

#22: Shamans are Walkers Between the Worlds.
Shamans know that life in the 3rd dimension on Earth is but one of many dimensions. Therefore they are not fully a resident in any one world but are comfortable walking in many worlds. This ability to have residences in many different dimensions expands consciousness exponentially.

#23: Totems are great story tellers.
Totems appear to us all the time and they always have a message. Sometimes these messages are simple but sometimes they are cloaked in metaphor. Much of the time we are so wrapped up in our own agenda that we are not paying attention. The messengers will be gentle at first, but if we continue to ignore them, they will arrive with greater energy until we have to pay attention. To avoid these harsher message deliveries, be present and open your perception to allow the messages to arrive with ease and grace.

#24: Caution! Great Spirit on Board!
Great Spirit created each of us and each of us is a piece of Great Spirit. Therefore Great Spirit is always on board, even when we feel as if we are completely alone. You can test this at any time by opening a dialog with Great Spirit. Ask for some magic to happen. Then wait because magic will manifest!

#25: Life is a series of shed skins. The Medicine Wheel knows.
Traveling the Medicine Wheel, that cycle of transformation, allows us to consciously shed what no longer serves us, to discover what does serve us, and to grow into our new skin.

#26: Need a Dreamweaver? Call a Shaman.
Life is an extension of the Universe and the Universe is a fabric of unique energetic strings that bind us all together into a tapestry. Shamans understand how energy works and can assist you to organize your strings so that they weave the prettiest picture of your dreams. If you want to learn more about the hidden fabric of the Universe, I recommend reading The Grid by Jones and Flaxman.

#27: Learn to See with Your Heart and Love with Your Soul. Become a Shamanic Practitioner.
If you resonate with this Shaman Bumper Sticker series and are interested in learning shamanic healing techniques, I will be teaching the medicine wheel shamanic mystery school in two locations this year: Northeast Ohio and Alameda CA. Contact me for more details.

“A shaman would say that if you see with your heart and feel with your head the position of your eyelids is of no consequence.” –Don Jicaram

#28: Aho!
“Aho!” is a form of emphatically agreeing or acknowledging a communication. It can be similar to saying “Amen”, “Thank You”, “Hello”, and “I have said my Truth.” I am using it here to conclude my Shaman Bumper Sticker Series. Stay tuned for new series to start soon.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Creating and Consecrating Sacred Tools: Setting Intention for the New Year

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Art Medicine, Ceremonial Crafts, Sacred Tools, Setting Intention, Spirit Crafts

It is the beginning of a new year and what better time than to set intention and create affirmations? The following article will give you some great ideas on how to do this through creating sacred tools. By creating an object that carries your affirmation energy, you are anchoring your intent in the 3rd dimensional world and reinforcing the energy of the intent.

If you would like to create a custom ritual to set intent this January, contact me. I can give you some very simple ideas.

CEREMONIAL CRAFTS

Ceremonial crafts (also called spirit crafts) are items created from natural materials that will be used for sacred or ceremonial purposes. These items can be placed on altars or in Nature, they can be buried, burned, or released in water, depending on the intent of the creator.

Many medicine people create their own sacred tools because these tools will amplify their personal power and will focus their attention and intention.

Creating ceremonial crafts is a form of art medicine. The process of creating art medicine can be a powerful healing in the following ways:

1. The creation process itself is healing.
2. The creation process focuses intentions for manifesting, affirming, and gratitude.
3. The final product can be used to heal others through gifting.
4. The final product can be used as a powerful tool for ceremony and ritual.
5. The final product can be used as an offering of gratitude or honor.
6. Mother Earth and Animal Spirits are honored when their natural materials are used for sacred purposes.

It is a Native American belief that in order to gain the attention or blessings of the Higher Spirits that you offer a gift that will delight them. The more work and effort put into an item for offering, the more inclined the spirits are to bless the request put to them.

FINDING MATERIALS

The best way to source materials for your item is in the natural world. Material that will want to be used will “call out” to you. Find them by going into a meditative state, walking along with a specific intent of being open to finding objects, and they certainly will pop right out to you. If you believe you have found an item, open a dialog with it. Ask its Spirit for permission to be used in your sacred tool. If the item gives you permission to take it along, leave an offering of gratitude.

1. To make an offering, hold your gift in your hand and present it up to Father Sky.
2. Present your offering to Mother Earth to show appreciation.
3. Hold it out to each of the 4 directions.
4. Leave the offering while voicing your thanks and intention.

In the North American Native tradition, tobacco is most often used, while the Celtic tradition uses salt or whiskey. The offering can be anything that has special meaning to you and is in harmony with your magic: flowers, stones, coins, bee pollen, cedar, copal, cornmeal, juniper, lavender, rosemary, rose petals, sweetgrass, white sage, or something especially made such as bread or cake. If nothing is at hand, use your own spit or some of your hair.

SETTING INTENTIONS

The number one, most important rule in any intention work is that you cannot intend your will on another being. This means that you cannot include someone in your intention without their informed consent. To do so is a form of sorcery and sets karmic action into motion. This may be karmic action that you do not really want down the road. Remember the Wiccan Rede: ‘An ye shall do no harm!

Intentions are like affirmations. They are powerful and positive thoughts and statements sent out to the universe. There are two basic forms of intention: to banish something or to manifest something. Through repetition, they plant seeds in your subconscious mind. Using visualization with intention greatly increases the power. Here are some guidelines to help you set your intentions:

1. Keep your intention short, clear, concise, personal, realistic, and accurate.

2. Keep the language of your intention positive.

3. Keep the language of your intention in the present and in the first person.

4. You can juice up the language of your intentions by adding words of positive emotional intensity.

5. Repeat your intentions with emotional intensity and a feeling of certainty.

6. Write your intentions perhaps as many as 10-20 times per day. First thing in the morning and last thing at night is best.

7. Repeat your intentions aloud in front of a mirror 5-10 times.

8. Feel the emotional power of your intentions in your body.

9. Visualize yourself as having already created the results of your intentions.

10. Sing your intentions.

11. Believe. Always believe that what you are saying is happening.

12. Place your intentions on post it’s and place around the house, car, and at work.

13. Record your intentions to listen to them while falling asleep or as you drive.

14. Journal your intentions.

15. Be thankful. Feel gratitude for intentions already completed.

16. Take some kind of action toward the completion of your intention.

A petition paper is a spell or intention that uses the written word and/or drawn symbols to achieve a desired result. Here is how to create a petition paper:

1. You may burn or tear the edges of a small piece of paper so that there is no machine cut edge.

2. Craft a short sentence to affirm your intention.

3. Write the sentence on the paper in a circle without lifting your pen from the paper. Do not cross ‘t’s or dot ‘i’s until you are completed. Do not include spaces in between the word. You may repeat these sentences as many times as desired in order to complete the circle. If you mess up in any way start again on new paper. You can include symbols that create a pictorial representation of your intention: hearts, dollar signs, X’s, crosses, or pentacles for protection, glyphs, sigils, or stick figures. These maybe placed in the corners of the paper, the center, or anywhere else that feels appropriate.

4. Anoint the paper in the 4 corners and the center with your intention oil while you pray over the paper asking it to bring your desired result.

5. Fold the paper toward you (for an intention to manifest) and away from you (for an intention to banish). Turn the paper (clockwise for invoking, counterclockwise for banishing) and fold again. Repeat until it can’t be folded anymore.

6. Pass the paper through incense smoke and ask that its power be sealed in to it.

7. It is done. It now may be placed under a candle for a candle spell, buried in the yard, carried in a mojo bag to attract influences, or thrown in running water to banish them.

CREATING SACRED TOOLS

There are many items that are used as sacred tools including: masks, theater, dolls, talismans, sand-painting, signs, seals, sigils, etc. The most important part of creating your sacred items is intention. The entire process of creation should be done in a sacred and meditative state, constantly repeating the intention for the item you are making.

Following is list of some of the items that I create. Additional information and photos of these items can be found on my webpage at http://www.drakeinnerprizes.com/ceremonialcrafts.htm.

PRAYER TIES Prayer ties are a way to pray using tobacco. Tobacco amplifies prayers, provides healing and purification, extracts negativity in spiritual healings, and allows communication with spirits. Prayer ties are released into the universe through burning. This releases the prayers in the smoke and allows them to be carried to Grandfather, Grandmother, and Great Spirit. The ties should be burned within a year of being created.

PRAYER STICKS (aka SPIRIT STICKS or VISION STICKS) & MAGICK WANDS The prayer stick can serve multiple purposes. It is used to focus magical forces (intentions and affirmations) and directs energy during ritual. Prayer sticks can be created for specific purpose and left in places in nature. Or you may have one prayer stick that you use over and over in ceremony. Stick energy can also be used for healing, programming common items, balancing and grounding yourself. A wand is a shorter stick that focuses magical forces (intentions and affirmations). It represents the element of Air or Fire and directs energy during rituals.

CANDLE DRESSING Candles absorb one’s personal energy and release this energy when burned. Candle magick is based on these 3 principles: 1. Decide on a goal. 2. Visualize the end result. 3. Focus your intent, or will, to manifest that result.

MEDICINE BAGS Medicine bags are a container for your portable living altar. The reasons to carry a medicine bag are for guidance, healing, and protection. By wearing it close to your heart, you are connecting with your spiritual self and always remembering who you are.

MOJO BAGS (aka MOJO HAND/ CONJURE BAG / TRICK BAG / ROOT BAG / TOBY / JOMO / GRIS GRIS BAG) The word mojo comes from the African word mojuba meaning a prayer in a bag. A mojo used for divination is called a jack, jack bag, or jack ball. In the Caribbean, a bag is called a wanga or oanga bag, from the African word wanga, which means charm or spell. The mojo bag is a portable altar that reminds you of what you are manifesting and keeps you immersed in the energy of the spell. It amplifies your affirmations.

DOLLS Dolls can be created from many different materials. One way is to create a corn husk doll. Cornhusk dolls have been made by Northeastern Native Americans for at least a thousand years to be children’s toys and to be used in sacred healing ceremonies. A type of Iroquois cornhusk doll was made in response to a dream. The doll was then discarded, put back to earth to carry away the evil of the dream.
Another form of sacred doll that is easy to create is called Jizō (aka Ksitigarbha or Ojizō-sama) that originates from Japanese Buddhist mythology. Jizō is the guardian of children, particularly those who died before their parents. He is the guardian of the souls of stillborn, miscarried, or aborted fetuses. Jizō’s features are commonly made babylike to resemble the children he protects. Create Jizōs by molding clay or play dough.

SPIRIT TRAPS Spirit traps (aka spirit bottles or witch bottles) originated from African, European, and Middle Eastern practices. They were used by the ancient Hebrews in some parts of Babylon to drive away energy manifested as illness, demons, the evil eye, or curses. The purpose of a spirit trap is to draw the spirit into the bottle by forcing it to count items like poppy or mustard seeds, or by luring it down into the bottle with a spiral trail of herbs, knotted string, or nails. The spirit trap attracts and traps hostile spirits by tricking them into believing they have found their target i.e. you.

CONSECRATING SACRED TOOLS

When you first come into possession of a sacred item, either through constructing it, purchasing it, or being gifted with it, it is necessary to consecrate it before using it. Consecration involves two steps: cleansing and energizing. Cleansing can be done by any of the following methods:

1. Water – Place under running water or dip in the ocean.

2. Crystals – Lay on an amethyst or quartz cluster for 24 hours.

3. Earth – Bury under the earth for 24 hours.

4. Sound – Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks or ring bells can be used.

5. Smudge – By burning dried herbs and waving the smoke over and through them for 5 minutes.

6. Sun & Moon – Energize in sunlight and moonlight for 24 hours each. The Universe’s energy is enhanced at these times: full moons, blue moons, new moons, eclipses, solstices, equinoxes, and specific astrological aspects.

7. Salt or Crab Apple – Soak in a non-metallic container filled with water to which some purifying sea salt or crab apple Bach Flower Remedy and place in the moonlight 3 days before the full moon. Sea salt can be mixed with water or used dry.

8. Herbs – Bury in a cupful of dried herbs. Suggested herbs for this are rose petals, sage, frankincense, myrrh, rose petals, sandalwood, clovers, daisies, comfrey and sandalwood.

9. Pendulum – Hold a clear crystal pendulum over it and pass the pendulum in slow clockwise circles 9 times. To cleanse, pass the pendulum slowly anti-clockwise 9 times. Keep the pendulum well charged and positive by holding it under cold clear running water and then leaving it in water steeped with rose petals, over which a cleansing and empowering incense, such as pine, and a white candle flame have been passed.

10. Visualization – Hold your item in either hand and say these words, “I will and command that this be self-cleansing”. As you repeat these few words you should visualize the negative energies falling away and only the natural, pure, energies remaining.

11. Reiki – Infuse your item with Reiki energy (if you are an attuned practitioner).

12. Florida Water – Spray or blow Florida water over the item.

I perform both of these steps together in a consecration ritual that involves sitting in front of a lit candle and:

1. Cleansing the item: Smudge with white sage, Florida water, or cigar smoke.

2. Energizing the item:
– Blow my intent into the item. Breath is a powerful form of prayer.
– Infuse the item with Reiki (universal life force energy)
– Offer the item to be blessed by Mother Earth, Father Sky, the 4 Directions, the Ancestors, my Spirit Guides, and the 4 Elements.
– Say some words that set the intention of the item. (see examples below)

Each action is performed with the specific intent of the item in mind at all times. It is appropriate to finish with words of gratitude to all the Spirits. The item should be kept on your altar or in a special covering. Covered items are only exposed when it is time for them to be used in ceremony.

No one, at any time, other than you, should touch your sacred tools. Their touch may change the energy with which the item has been charged. If the item is touched, you will need to repeat the cleansing and energizing process again.

Other energizing and consecrating rituals may be found in Wicca, wizard, and magickal books. The item that is being cleansed and charged should be used as soon as possible and after that as frequently as possible. This keeps the power connection alive.

SAMPLE WORDS

Below are some sample words you can use. Before the ritual, take some time to write down exactly what you want to say with words that come from your heart and your personal power.

“I consecrate this [item] and make this tool sacred.”
“I invoke the power of this [item] to [intent].”
“Allow this [item] to lend itself for my divine work.”
“May my intent in the use of this [item] always be pure, true, and of the Light.”
“Through the power of divine love, I claim and cleanse this [item] for the purposes of light and truth.”
“I banish the energies of previous owners to make it new and fresh.”
“I declare and decree that this [item] is fully protected from any forces of Darkness.”
“I dedicate this [item] and to [purpose].”
“By the power of all that is good, all that is true, no harm will come from my [item] nor to my [item].”
“Charge this [item] and keep it safe.”
“Power it! Charge it!”
“I command it so, now.”
“So mote it be!”

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