[LeaderBiz]

I was talking to someone the other day about the tendency for humans, on seeing a strange looking spirit, to assume that it must be a demon, especially if it's ugly to us. But ugliness is just a judgement call... we tend to reject that which we don't understand. We default to that position.

I was saying to them that I've met extremely benevolent guiding spirits on journeys that looked so weird that I wasn't even sure if they were animal, vegetable or mineral...

And I've just seen this photo, and was struck by it as it's very similar to what I see, sometimes, and illustrates the point perfectly.

Shamanic vision.jpg

[JennyStewarta]

That is so true Ishtar. Spirits can take many forms, or even no form at all. Your post reminds me of reading old anthropological reports when every spirit is described as a 'devil' and every traditional ceremony is full of 'devil-worshippers'.

[JeremyIV]

Your post reminds me of reading old anthropological reports when every spirit is described as a 'devil' and every traditional ceremony is full of 'devil-worshippers'. Many Native Americans were executed due to that interpretation, generally in the name of the Almighty.

[fashikn]

Likewise, some spirits which appear all bright, shining, gentle and caring are actually leading us down the garden path . . . (the origin of that saying comes from when the privy (toilet) and rubbish heap were at the bottom of the garden!) True guidance often starts with making us face our issues and that usually cannot happen while we are so full of 'love and light' that we refuse to see the darker side life. From a shamanic viewpoint, there cannot be only light - it doesn't make sense or balance.

I know many, many people who have, for their entire lives, completely ignored anything which makes them feel uncomfortable, challenged or scared. Authors such as Doreen Virtue don't help with the 'everything is fluffy and feel good' books/talks/workshops/decks etc because they don't hit the knub of the problem and, for me, call into question whether the qualifications are real because nobody I know with those qualifications works that way!

Often when people come for healing, they are almost ready to change, something inside them has come to crisis point and often it is being pushed along by that dark, ugly little fairy who nobody wants to invite to the party. They just need someone to lovingly but honestly find a way to empower them to discover for themself and face this uncomfortable truth (whatever it is) so that true progress can be made.

These dark, ugly spirits are often our most powerful allies IF we have the community or elders around us who recognise the potential in the situation and who can support someone through their transformation.

Why does nobody want to invite the dark, ugly fairy to the party? Because she is the old hag, the most ancient of Spirits who's knowledge and power are that of creation and destruction (the Cailleach). She is the one who brings balance with pragmatism and truth, sacrificing the weak in winter so that only the strong survive and the line of genetics remains healthy. When we only want the sugar coated message and cannot bear to consider the scary stuff, then we are out of balance with the world.

Good discussion - glad you brought it up.

[Badyalectlawl]

A brilliant and important post, Millie.

Thank you!