Working with spirits is easier than most people would think. I believe that we all have spirits of some sort or other hanging around us all the time. It could be loved ones, ancestors, angels, Saints, Gods or Goddesses.
Right now I’m referring to spirits that may help us rather than random spirit creatures that may pass through our space now and then.
To work with the spirits, just talk to them on a frequent basis, preferably daily, and give them offerings. The offerings don’t have to be elaborate, but it should come from the heart. You can give them flowers, food, drink, incense, candles and even a glass of fresh water. Whatever you give them, be sure to hold the item in your hands and direct love and/or blessings into it before giving it to them. Offerings of food and drinks that can go bad should be removed before they actually begin to mold or rot.
Since I don’t like attracting bugs, when I offer food, I offer things like an orange, apple, nuts, etc. If it’s a special occassion and I want to offer some of my meal, I will put it in a dish like a lidded candy dish so that I can cover it with the lid.
I always have fresh water on my altar for my ancestors and will light candles for them periodically. I know that some of them liked coffee in life, so now and then I’ll brew up a cup of java for them. For those that liked alcohol, I will pour an occasional glass of wine or hard liquor. You get the idea.
The question may arise that if they are in the Otherworld / Summerland / Heaven, etc., why would they need these things from us? Wouldn’t all their needs and desires be met already? Isn’t it supposed to be better in the Afterlife than it is here on Earth? I would say “yes”. The reason we give the offerings is not to provide them with something they lack as much as to make a loving and continuous connection between us and them. By giving thought to what they would like builds a caring relationship, even if your offering is nothing more than a fresh cool glass of water.
The benefits of working with spirits is incredible. You may need help in an area that you are unaware of, and suddenly something unexplainable will happen to protect you. Here is one example. One day, when I had my brick and mortar shop, someone came in that may have been undesirable or even dangerous. There were no other people in the shop; just him and me. I got an odd vibe off of him but didn’t know why. Then suddenly the lights in the shop started going off and on. He looked around at the lights nervously and promptly left. Then a styrofoam head lept off the shelf and flew towards the closed door. That seemed to make the statement “get out and stay out!”. I don’t know what that fellow’s intentions were, but I felt like the spirits were looking out for me. That man never came in the shop again.
Although you can ask the spirits to help you with certain things, it always makes me feel amazed when they help me unexpectedly. And this has happened time and time again.
If you want to work with certain Saints, Orishas, Gods or Goddesses, it’s always best to research what they like as offerings. They can be particular, and may even feel insulted by an offering of the wrong type. The same goes if you choose to work with fairies. The fey can be helpful, but can also drive you nuts with their tricks. The rules they follow are not the same as mankinds, so you must be careful if you choose to work with them. They are not all cutesy, sweet, pretty little things.
A note about asking spirits for help… They may help you in your life more than you will ever know, but it’s best to ask them for help with important projects rather than every little thing. We must keep in mind that they have their own lives in the spirit realms and that when they help us it’s a gift, not an obligation. You still have to make your own efforts in life, be it physical action and/or magical action. Having spirit helpers is like having good friends rather than having slaves. This is good to keep in mind lest you anger a spirit by treating it like it owes you something. When angered, most will simply leave you, while others may retaliate if you insult them enough. But if approached respectfully, the rewards of working with spirits could just turn out to be more than you ever dreamed possible.
By Draiga
