Working With Spirits Pt. 2
All the Spirits, All the Places
Originally Posted by Tumblr User GodsWalkWithHer (unedited) (lightly altered #6)
Why? Because people who start working with spirits need to know at least a few basics, or bad things will happen. Not just can happen, but will happen. Even if somebody has years - decades - of experience working with spirits, bad things can happen.
Keeping that in mind, here are a few things you should know.
They are different. There are differences in the “rules” to follow. But as a general blanket thing, treat them like you would new people in your life that come from a different culture. Be sensitive to their triggers and needs. It can lead to interesting relationships.
Keeping that in mind, here are a few things you should know.
- One spirit usually brings more. Really. A lot more. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. Not all of them are talkative, not all of them want to work with people, not all of them will interact. In fact, there’s a good chance that you won’t even notice they’re there unless you specifically ask.
- Being polite counts. Just like dealing with people, animals, or anything else. Spirits are conscious things. They have desires and feelings. They can be hurt. They can retaliate. They can be supportive. They can be a number of things, depending on your personal relationship with them.
Much like a friendship or relationship with a human, something that is close enough for both parties to be comfortable with insults and rudeness as a form of affection takes time to build. Depending on the background of the spirit involved, it can take years, even decades. If you think the relationship is worth it, be patient. - Having rules is a necessity. Set your boundaries, set your rules, set the consequences, make them clear, and stick to it. No deviance.
- Be understanding, and patient, but firm. It has been my personal experience that many spirits honestly don’t understand how modern society works. They don’t understand modern interpersonal relationships, what is considered to be acceptable or unacceptable behavior, and have little to no concept of privacy or personal space. These are completely foreign concepts to them. Like an immigrant to another country who is making the effort to fit in, they often want to be taught, but need consistency.
Other spirits do not understand, don’t want to understand, and actually thrive on causing chaos and trouble in a person’s life. Sometimes they understand perfectly and just don’t care. Sometimes they understand, know the rules, and break them just to be rebellious little turds. Stick by those rules anyway - and keep to the consequences. - Use your resources. There are also spirits who understand modern society perfectly, and absolutely adore it. There are a couple of these types that stay with me as companions and often help to enforce the rules. Be aware that having relationships with these spirits can work well for you - but also be aware that many spirits keep score, and may ask something of you in return.
- Work out the details first. Contracts. Most spirits have them - written, verbal, or mental - and will generally stick to them. They may not literally be contracts, more like codes of conduct (complete with reciprocation procedures - I scare the neighbor’s chihuahua off of the lawn, and you keep shiny pennies in a jar), but it’s important to read the fine print.
This is actually where a lot of people get in trouble. You have to be exceptionally clear about the details when working with spirits. If you’re not, bad things can happen. - Double check your facts. When working with a spirit, make sure it is who they say it is. Spirits are like people. Some of them are honest to a fault. Others lie, cheat, and steal. They are manipulators. Double check your facts and be wary of traps.
They are different. There are differences in the “rules” to follow. But as a general blanket thing, treat them like you would new people in your life that come from a different culture. Be sensitive to their triggers and needs. It can lead to interesting relationships.
Addition by Ashley
This is so very true, and the problem is that people tend to work with spirits, just so that they can get a "servant". They want all of their demands met and they want to use them to achieve their goals.
As a spirit worker, you also have to realize that some spirits come to you because you can help them. Normally, how it goes is that you ask them for help and then pay it back with an offering, or you help them and they help you, even if you don't ask for repayment.
Most spirits that I work with have a very strict way with dealing with people and other spirits. They have moral codes that can be looser or stricter than ours in many ways. A lot, if not most, spirits are into polygamy. Mainly because most believe that you don't have to contain your love into one person. But they also recognize the ideals of soul-mates come before mates, etc. There is a hierarchy. I'm getting way off track.
But this list is a very great way to start learning about spirit work. This should be one of the first things that you approach and really focus on before even approaching a spirit or asking for a spirit to help. Figure out rules of your house and your morals. Specifics is very, very important.
I had this one time where I was not specific enough for them and they completed it, for sure, but they also did it in a manner that was extremely unethical by my standards.
I've also had to set down rules about how spirits react to other people doing things to me. Spirits do feel emotions, much like us, but they also tend to feel them more strongly at times. Set down rules for them in regards to taking actions against someone that has harmed you, by words or their actions. But the fact remains is that spirit take things into their own hands when someone they care for is in danger or has been hurt severely.
Set Down Rules. It's so very crucial.
I just wanted to say that it may seem silly to set rules for spirits that are older than you, but it may mean the safety of those around you.
As for the politeness, there are so many levels to this. I know spirits that will talk in nothing but slang. But there are others that if you don't know them or you are just meeting, if you speak in anything but thee and thou, you are insulting them. The best advice that I can give is that no matter the spirit that you are working with, use Ma'am or Sir, or Lord or Lady. If you believe that they are of a higher status, then use Prince, etc.. But most will be either flattered by calling them Lord or Lady, and correct you.
One of the best ways to tell their status is how other spirits react around them. You have a crucial minute or two to figure this out, and it could mean whether they work with you or not. If some of the spirits bow their head to them and you know this spirit, them most likely, they are at the same status as them. If they bow lower, you get the picture. I'm just stressing that, using Ma'am and Sir is a very good way to go. It's not insulting, unless they are particularly a hard ass about it. Most spirits are very lenient when you are first introduced or start working. They will correct you gently or start teaching you how to recognize status. By now, I have to recognize their status just by looking at them, and speaking how they wish to be addressed. I have no excuses and I can do great harm if I insult a spirit. Don't worry too much on this, it's one of those things that you will pick up after awhile.