By Land, Sky & Sea (12 page)

A common pitfall that can hamper even the most experienced seer is whether a vision can be trusted as a literal representation of a reality which will emerge (or has emerged or is emerging) or whether it is symbolic. For example, I once had a vision in the staff bathroom at my old workplace; I looked into the mirror while washing my hands, and my face morphed into a crocodile’s head. Upon returning to work, a customer approached the counter and before anything else was said or done, he placed a rather large novelty crocodile head in front of me. I laughed at the irony and strangeness of the whole experience! An example of a symbolic interpretative vision would be seeing a rooster (a symbol of sexuality and resurrection) impressed on someone’s auric field. One could then go on to tell this person that they need to focus on re-empowering and revitalising their sexual drive.

There is a fine line between literal and symbolic interpretations, as you could just as easily see my crocodile vision as being further punctuated by the appearance of a physical crocodile head in my material reality, and therefore a deeper insight into the symbolic nature of the crocodile may be revealed. Similarly, to see a rooster in someone’s aura might not be merely symbolic—it could also mean that Rooster (the animal totem) may be wholly dwelling with this individual for a time. Another personal example that highlights this fine line rather perfectly is a vision I had of the Egyptian god Anubis floating down a river in a boat. I then read an article a week later that documented the floating of a statue of Anubis down the Thames River in London to celebrate the opening of a new Egyptian exhibit. Despite the official journalistic record, many mystics and occultists commented that this event signalled the opening up of a new age and the return of the Old Gods.

My advice is to not worry too much concerning what kind of vision it is or how to interpret it. Simply be open to possibility and trust in the intuitive guidance of Spirit; all will unravel as it should.

Exercising and Developing
the Sight

There are many methods, techniques, and exercises you can work with in order to develop your propensity for clairvoyance. As with anything, it is practice that makes perfect—or in this case, psychic.

Here are two Sight-strengthening and -developing exercises, as well as a clairvoyant-clarifying eyewash and advice on scrying.

Beyond all else, the key to obtaining the Sight lies within the power of observation. Everything in existence is here to behold; simply become observant of the subtler things in life, and you will become receptive to the Other.

Seeing Auras

The aura is considered by many Witches to be the life energy of each thing projected externally—the inner flame radiating outwards into the world. The aura has been subject to much theorising concerning its various layers and how they each connect with a specific realm of existence or chakra/energy centre. The only way this can affect seeing auras depends on how acute one’s Sight is, and therefore whether one is able to see the entire aura or only the etheric body (closest to the skin). The etheric body is surrounded by the mental/emotional aura, which is then surrounded by the spiritual aura. Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone teach that there are seven layers of the aura, which correspond to the seven major chakras; however, it is generally accepted that most seers and psychics will only be able to see the three mentioned above.

There are various psychic exercises already in circulation that, if practised regularly and with conviction, will enable the individual to see the aura. Here, I will merely add my personal experience and advice to the plethora of information out there already.

I first began to see auras when I was in year 9 of high school. I remember gazing in a relaxed state at my health and physical education teacher, who would pace back and forth in front of the whiteboard while talking to the class. Eventually his body would become encased in an azure blue egg of light. At first I didn’t really pay attention or think anything of it—until I realised it was his aura. After this experience, I began to see auras around most of my teachers, but also around anyone whom I would look at for a short period of time. I came to understand that the best conditions for seeing auras intentionally were gazing at the object/person/creature against a neutral background and doing so in a relaxed, unaffected way, remembering that it was okay to blink!

I tend to go through periods in which I see auras regularly, without having to try; however, if someone asks me to look at their aura, or if I wish to check up on someone’s health (in all aspects), I will merely enter a relaxed state and ask the person to stand against a white wall, against a tree, or lie on the ground. People tend to oblige—after all, auras tend to be of interest to most people. If this is not possible, I simply tune in and open my awareness to receive.

People often ask whether different lighting affects my Sight of auras and whether or not I can see auras at night and in the dark. I can see auras at night (though it can be more difficult), and lighting sometimes does affect my ability to see auras; however, it tends to be mostly bright, iridescent light that obscures my Sight, and the more natural the lighting, the better I see. I can only guess that this is different for everyone, although in most cases I have noticed the general similarity between different people’s experiences.

Seeing the Fey

The Fey, faeries, the Good Neighbours, the Shining Ones, devas, nature spirits…different theories relegate each title to a discrete otherworldly race; others say these are all different names for the same beings. As with so many things in the magickal world/s, one needs to intuit their way through the tangled wilderness at times, then reflect, ponder, dance/sing/laugh/make love—and learn! I use the term Fey just as I would use the term Pagan—as an umbrella term that simultaneously encompasses several different groupings.

The word
Fey
derives from the English
fee,
which is connected and synonymous in meaning to the Greek
fatua
and the Latin
fata
. All of this connects the Fey (the faeries, the Good Folk) with those natural spirits who are completely in tune with and intimately conscious of the woven Wyrd that is. For this reason, time is irrelevant when it comes to the Fey, or at least stretched, warped, or Other. For instance, one evening in Faerie can measure 100 years in the mortal realm, or so they say. While I have seen the Fey quite a few times, I sense them quite regularly, especially in those raw moments and in raw places. I have had good, enlightening experiences with the Fey, and I have also had disturbing ones. In fact, I have had the pleasure—though I hardly remember the incident (as generally is the case)—of being inhabited by a faerie one Beltaine a few years ago; apparently I did a lot of giggling, ludicrous joking, and nose-picking. I have had the pleasure of seeing the legendary Tuatha De Danaan (Shining Ones), the Y Tylwyth Teg (the Welsh faerie race), Brownies (the short, brown, hairy helpers) and a gnome (red-capped), amongst other races, and all in their native habitats: Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Brisbane (Queensland, Australia)! For the course of this section and for ease of flow, I have decided to include all of the above and more as “Fey” and “Faerie.”

There are various herbs that can aid in opening one’s Sight to the Fey, such as eyebright, hawthorn, and willow—and by all means, work with these helpers to assist you in your endeavours. As with any plant ally, it is important to do some initial research on the active pharmacological constituents within each herb if you wish to ingest it. In magickal work, we first and foremost work with the vibrational energy and imprint of the allies we invite in; therefore, you may simply carry a physical part (branch, leaf, berry, root, flowers, etc.) of the plant with you (on your person) to receive the magickal properties for the intended purpose.

I feel the best way to approach the Fey initially is to do just that. Open yourself to their force and their presence, acknowledge and revel in it, and declare aloud that you wish to work more closely with them. You can set this intention for a period (e.g., one lunar cycle), or you can be free with your experience and endear them that way, because the Fey are fond of no-time and aren’t all that willing to acquiesce to a human’s organisational inclinations; the very idea would be an anathema to them.

I often describe my own personal path as a blending of Celtic, Balinese, Greek, and Faerie traditions. This all colours my foundation as a Witch who is influenced by various traditions of Witchcraft, some modern, some older. In my weekly devotional circle, it has become my tradition (and has been for five years) to bless sweets to the Fey, as much lore attests to their love of sugar, honey, and milk. I offer sesame snaps coated in luxurious dark chocolate—a gift that totally agrees with my ethics as a vegan, and I know the Fey absolutely adore them. A true sacrifice or offering must be something that you too love. It would be no use to offer the Fey a cinnamon donut if you personally abhor donuts, as the Fey would tend to think upon this gift as one given without thought or kindness.

Just as in the Craft, it must be remembered that the gifts derived from magickal work with the Fey (e.g., being able to see them) are not necessarily the goal, they are bonuses, and we should not make them the focus of our spiritual lives. Simply be close with the wild energies of the Fey, and decorate your house and garden with bright colours (flowers, beads, and shiny things). Consider creating an altar or shrine specifically for the Fey to find rest and nourishment at. The rest will naturally come.

And just for fun, here is a chant to call the Fey to make themselves known:

Glittering wings and orbs of light,

Let me see faeries, bring me the Sight.

Clairvoyant-Clarifying Eyewash

The herbs used in this eyewash owe their inclusion to my good friend and fellow WildWood Witch Becky, who is currently studying for a health degree in naturopathy at Endeavour College of Natural Health in Brisbane, Queensland.

You will need the following herbs and materials:

• Herbs:
  Celery seed, dandelion root, eyebright, flax seed, and star anise (also, mugwort and wormwood to burn in an incense compound as you create the eyewash).
  
• Material:
  One teaspoon, two medium-sized jugs/bowls, a piece of cheesecloth, and a kettle (to boil the water with).
  

To make an eyewash, you will first need to create a clean eyebath. The eyebath can be a sink that you have washed with warm, soapy water and then rinsed with boiling water, or it could be a good-sized portable vessel (clean this one too). Now boil water again to fill the eyebath/vessel and place all the herbs (one teaspoon each) in the water. Allow between 15 and 20 minutes for the herbs to infuse. As the herbs infuse in the water, light the mugwort and wormwood incense, and say the following chant:

Witch’s Sight,

Second Sight,

Upon my brow

May Sight alight!

Wait for another 15–20 minutes for the water to be cool enough to bathe (splash) the eyes with. Scoop up some of the infusion into a medium-sized jug or bowl, and use a piece of cheesecloth to strain the liquid into another vessel, from which you will begin the bathing. Bathe the eyes for approximately 30 seconds, then pat dry gently.

Scrying: Visions through Reflection

Scrying is the art of seeing visions and receiving intuitions through the medium of a reflective surface. The physical medium could be a dark mirror, a flame, or a bowl of dark water. Once again, as with any form of divination or clairvoyance, the way one receives, or sees, differs between each person. I generally see visual images and symbols either form in the receptacle (the mirror, the flame, or the water) or in my mind’s eye, which has been stimulated by the reflective surface. Others will suddenly have peculiar thoughts for no apparent reason or a subtle sense of knowing will be aroused. It really doesn’t matter how it works, only that it does.

For the following exercise, obtain a scrying receptacle and enter a meditative state. Gaze into the receptacle and breathe deeply and slowly, gradually deepening your state as you look into and through the surface of the receptacle and not directly at it. For example, if you are working with a dark mirror, gaze into its depths and not at the glass. Look at the mirror as a window into another world, and eventually you will feel as if you are falling into it. Likewise with candle scrying: gaze into the flame, and in your mind’s eye see it grow tall and wavering as it consumes you. Become the flame. This principle can be applied to any medium. Simply dissolve into its presence and force, and become one with the flow of fate. Through this altered state of consciousness, we are able to know and to see. As my good friend Ana James would say, “If you know, you know; if you see, you see.”