sacred space

Crafting

November 28, 2016

Crafting in the context of animism is making objects or art that is influenced by and serves our animism practice.

We use crafting as a practice to embed our animism practice into our practical lives and our bodies. It allows us to express ourselves beyond words; through texture, sound, colour, shape, weight. Crafting is how we take our experiences and make them solid, to see the beauty in them.

Crafting is especially helpful when:

You need a special object for an altar.
You need an object to carry or wear with you, to remind your of an experience or teaching.
You need to fully embody a relationship as part of honouring it.
You need to explore an experience, going beyond words.

Beyond working within sacred space, there’s no method for crafting; use whatever tools and materials you have at hand, or whatever feels appropriate. You can use fabric, wood, metal, stone, fur, bone or clay. You can sculpt, draw, carve, weave or mold. Keep the experience or relationship close as you work, letting your feelings about it guide your hands.

For more about how to use crafting to create your own sacred objects, join the free 12 week Foundation in Animism course here:

Divination

November 21, 2016

Divination is the practice of reading meaningful patterns in randomness.

It allows us to gain a new perspective, hear the voices of the spirits we work with (without using more advanced tools like trance work), and provides inspiration, guidance and deeper knowledge.

Times when divination is helpful include:

When you need more clarity on a situation.
When you need a new perspective on a problem.
When you want to understand a spirit you’re working with better.
When you need guidance in your animism practice.
When you feel like a spirit has something to communicate with you.
When you want to develop more inspiration for a creative practice.

Divination requires sacred space, intent, a clear question and a random pattern to ‘read’. It includes structured methods like using cards or runes, as well as unstructured methods such as casting stones or reading in mirrors.

For more information and to learn how to use three divination methods, join the free 12 week Foundation in Animism course here:

Altars

November 14, 2016

Altars are sacred spaces where we can relate to all the important people, places and feelings in our lives on a practical level.

Altars allow us to work with a specific relationship daily for weeks or months, to explore a relationship deeply, to approach problems in relationships intuitively and to work with our relationships directly, by-passing our intellects.

Altars are particularly helpful when:

You need to solve a problem in a relationship.
You want to deepen your understanding of a relationship.
You’re just beginning a new relaitonship.
You want to maintain an important relationship over the long term.
You need to work with multiple relationships together.

Altars have three essential elements: sacred space, intent and physical objects to represent the relationships. By arranging the objects in your sacred space, intending that they represent the relationship, a kind of alchemy happens that transforms them into bridges between the physical world and the energetic, spiritual world.

You can then work with the objects within the sacred space in a vast number of ways, depending on what your goals are.

To find out more about altars and how to set up your own ancestor altar, join the free 12 week Foundation in Animism course here:

Ceremony

November 7, 2016

Ceremony is when we act out our intent within sacred space.

Ceremony allows us to communicate our feelings and intent directly – to ourselves, the spirits we work with, our community and the universe. We use ceremony to honour, remember, heal, thank, and include our relationships in our lives.

Times when ceremony is a good tool to use include:

To dedicate new objects to our animism practice.
To communicate our thanks to the spirits we work with.
To remember or re-establish a relationship.
To initiate a new relationship on a good footing.
To celebrate or release a situation, person or feeling.

To create a ceremony, we need three essential elements: sacred space, intent and an action that represents our intent. There is an infinite number of ways that these elements can be woven together, from throwing stones into the sea to a wedding ceremony.

For more about using ceremony in your own animism practice, join the free 12 week Foundation in Animism course here:

Sacred Space

October 31, 2016

Sacred space is the fundamental practice of animism.

Opening sacred space creates a set apart space within a clear boundary, within which you are present, clear and can be aware of the spirits that you work with.

Being within sacred space keeps your formal animism work separate from your daily life, which can be very helpful in the beginning. And as you progress, sacred space provides support for more powerful, deep work where you need to keep your intent and energy clear.

Without sacred space, your practice can suffer from distracted intent and awareness. It can become confusing to practice divination or spirit communication, and your energy can become open to interference.

Sacred space is important when you’re working any practice that involves clear intent. This includes divination, spirit communication, energy work, altar work and ceremony. It’s also a great way to nourish and re-charge yourself, simply through being within the space.

Opening sacred space can be as simply as a quick prayer to your helping ancestors, to a full ceremony with candles and a physical boundary like a ribbon or salt.

The only essential requirements are the intent to open sacred space and a power greater than yourself that you can call on. The power can be anything from your helping ancestors, to a deity, to the elements.

For more about sacred space, specific methods for opening it and practice working with it, join the free 12 week Foundation in Animism course here: