An Evil Spirit or Built Up Negativity?

Good Afternoon and Blessings Everyone!

Ever since I was a young girl I was blessed with seeing those who have passed away. When I was younger it was always people I knew, people I was familiar with. Now that makes sense. Until I became older and started seeing people I did not know. At first I didn't know what to do. Who were they? What did they want? What could I do for them? Then, as  I started to study, ask questions and listen, I learned. Some have messages they need to be delivered while others need help coming to terms with their new path, crossing over, whatever the case may be.

I get a lot of calls from people telling me their house doesn't feel right. They think there is an evil spirit haunting them. Of course I always listen to them. As questions as to what is going on but for the most part 99.9% of these calls have nothing to do with evil spirits.

When you move into a new apartment or house it is best to cleanse the apartment or house even before you put your furniture in it. Oh I don't mean clean it up with a broom and mop, wash the walls, clean the woodwork although that needs to be done as well. I am talking about yes, sweeping it, washing the floors, also smudging it. Get rid of all the negative energy. Sometimes what we think is an evil presence it is more a negative build up of energy that was never cleansed away. So step one  before we jump to evil spirit mode lets do something as simple as a smudging.

If you have been living in this house for years it could still use a cleansing to get rid  of all the negativity that builds up. The negativity isn't just what we bring in it also comes from others around us. So a cleansing never hurts. I would start with going to the dollar store and buying a broom, mop, and a water bucket. Then I would pick up some camphor, there are some dollar stores that sell it or you can pick it up at your local botanica. While you're at it pick up some frankincense and myrrh incense, cones or sticks will do. You will also need a sage smudge stick or some loose white sage is one of my favorites. Don't forget one white candle, plan no need to buy a printed one.

What I usually do is I open the windows first, light the incense and place it in the doorway of the room I am working in. I believe it stops the negativity or unwanted spirits from moving from room to room. The windows need to be opened so the negativity or unwanted spirits can leave as you work. First sweep from the corners of the room to the center of the room. Once all is in the center of the room pick it up and throw it out in a brown paper bag. Now if you have wall to wall carpeting you would symbolically sweet from the corners to the center of the room. Make a sweeping motion just a few inches above the carpet to the center of the room. No problem. Now in the bucket use one block of camphor and warm water. Again clean from the corners to the center of the room. If you have carpeting then once again it would be a symbolic mopping of the floor just a few inches about the carpeting. You do this through out the house working from top to bottom. If the water is dirty and needs to be refreshed do not throw it out in your house. Take the bucket and throw the water outside in the curb away from the house. When you are done washing everything you will also throw this water outside in the curb. When you are done with this go back to the top floor with the sage stick, still keep the incense between the doorways as you go through each room with the lit sage stick start in the corners once again from the bottom to the top. Let the smoke drift up to the top of the corners to the ceiling moving up as you go along one corner at a time then do the center of the room. As I do this I ask Spirit to remove all negative energy and unwanted spirits. After I am done with the sage stick through out the house I then light the white candle and once again I go back upstairs going from corner to corner I move the candle up each corner from the floor up and ask for all positive energy to come into my home. Of course Spirits that are not negative will still remain. That's the balance. When all this is completed throw away the mop, broom and bucket. You don't want to use them again that is why I suggest buying them in the dollar store.

If you still feel there is something in your house then perhaps it would be a good idea to call in the professionals but be careful who you reach out to. There are people out there who would charge you and unnecessary fortune and still your problem will still be there. I for one love my favorite "ghost busters" Lauren Porter, Veronica dela Paz, Christopher Costleigh, Barbara Cannon, David Baker, and Constance Savino . They are amazing, honest, and real. Check out their website http://www.njshroud.com/ or look them up on facebook  https://www.facebook.com/NJSHROUD . You can also contact them by email help@njshroud.com or phone 908-731-6790. I think you will agree with me they listen, they care, and they know what they are doing.

You know things happen in our lives we can't always explain but instead of always pushing the panic button and making them worse take a moment to think them out and to breathe. If you are off kilter so will everything around you be off kilter. You will feel overwhelmed, distraught and unsure. Sometimes it's not the house it's us. I for one have no choice but to realize this. Being an empath I pick up everyone's energy around me. It can be relaxing at times but for the most part it is stressful. There are days I forget to do the simplest thing and protect myself from others and then I pick up so much I feel like I am jumping out of my own skin. It's not my house it's me. For that I also cleanse. I usually keep a jar in my bathroom filled with salt, a little essential oil of choice and a few drops of water. Make it thick and pasty. I wash myself from head to toe with this before my shower. Then I shower it off and take a regular shower. When I'm done I feel like a new woman. Some people do the same by adding bath salts to their baths. I for one prefer showers.

Another thing I do to protect myself is I envision a white circle around myself. This circle is my protection from other energies, negativity, or harm that may be inadvertently passed my way. Of course it also protects me from things that are intentionally passed my way. Weird but people do intend to do harm to others even though it's not the smartest thing in the world to do. One other trick I do that I learned from my great grandmother, grandmother, and mother is I put salt in my pockets, pocketbook or even shoes if I don't have pockets. I do this to keep the negativity away. My father and brothers used to get so mad at my mom when she would put salt in the pockets of their suite jackets. They said they could season their food with all the salt she would drop in there to protect them from "being overlooked" as she called it. Others refer to it as the give the "evil eye." No matter what you call it, I can tell you for me, the salt works.

Hope this helps you along the way. If you feel the need to contact S.H.R.O.U.D. please tell Lauren I sent you. 

To Be Continued..........

Brigit or St Brigid

Good Morning and Blessings Everyone!

Today is Feb. 2nd, Blessed Imbolc or Saint Bridget's Day. I already talked to you about the celebration of Imbolc along the Wheel of the Year. Today I want to talk to you about Brigit, Saint Brigid and  Saint Brigid's Cross.

I know what you are thinking, that doesn't look like a cross to you but it is. This cross dates back to before Christianity. There is a story that goes with this cross I would like to share with you. Gee, bet you are surprised! The story goes Brigid of Kildare was called to the beside of her ailing Pagan Lord. It is said she was called for by the Christians in the household. When she arrived she found him delirious. Not much she could do for him but be there to console and comfort him. The floor beneath her feet was covered in rushes and straw for warmth from the cold winter months and cleanliness. It kept the dirt floor from throwing dust all around. I mean, have you ever tried to sweep a dirt floor, I think not.

Brigit stooped down and picked up some  straw as she sat next to the sick, dying man. She started to weave the cross and fastening the ends as she went along. While she did this she talked quietly to him, soothing him with the gentleness of her voice. He suddenly became aware of what she was doing. He asked her about what she was making. As she explained the Cross to him the delirium quieted down. He listened with interest encouraging her to tell him more. The story goes she told him about Christ. How he was born and how he died for us all while she wove the cross. After hearing the story it is said he converted and was baptized just as he left this world. 

It is believed Brigid's cross dates back to Pre-Christian times. Celtic Pagans created this cross in honor of the Goddess Brigit. It is a solar wheel made out of rushes or straw. Not an easy cross to make I can assure you but to honor the Goddess they spent time making this solar wheel by folding pieces of straw around a single shaft counter clockwise. They would then tie it off at the ends of the cross. This cross is associated with the start of spring. 

There is no written record of Saint Brigid found anywhere prior to the 7th Century. But we know the cross is dated back to Celtic Pagan times. The story of Saint Brigid is as follows. Her father  was a member of the tax paying class. So he was a commoner not a person of nobility. Her mother was a slave. From when she was a young woman Brigid became a consecrated virgin of Christ. She dedicated her life to the Christian service. In her hometown of Kildare, Ireland she founded a monastery and a convent. Brigid died on the same day as her birth in the year 525, at the age of 75.

Traditionally this cross is woven on the eve of St. Brigid's day and placed in the home. The old cross is then burned to keep fire from the house. The new cross is usually placed over the door to bless and protect all those who live in the house and all who enter. It is also said many homes kept the old cross in the ceiling or roof in order to be protected from fires. Think about it, these houses were made with either thatch or wood roofs. So this sounds like a good idea to me! The Solar Wheel or Brigit's Cross is believed to provide protection from fire, disease, and evil. Pagan's hung it in their home and Neo-Pagans use this cross to involk the Goddess Brigit whenever they call to her for help or are honoring her in a ritual ceremony. 

As I have said before Brigit's cross in Ireland dates way before Christianity. It was to honor the Goddess Brigit daughter of Dagda. The day of her feast is known as Imbolc.  Yes it is made from rushes or straw even now. It is woven with a square in the center and four radials that are tied at the ends coming from the square. The Celtic Pagans did hang this above their door to keep their home safe from fire, disease and evil. They also believed it would help their farms to flourish and their animals to produce milk, eggs, wool etc. 

Brigit,has two sisters with the same name. Together they form The Triple Goddess. The Goddess of poetry, smiths, medicine, arts and crafts, cattle and other livestock and of course the Spring. She is also associated with fire of any kind. Fire for heat, warmth, light, candles and illumination. 

So why do we have Saint Brigid and the Goddess Brigit? Are they one in the same? When Christianity came along the stories of Brigit and Saint Brigid became entwined. It is believed the Christians wanted to bring the Pagans into their church so what better way to do so then to incorporate The Triple Goddess to help spread the word of Jesus. They were sure this would bring the Pagans to their way of thinking and they would convert. Actually it went in reverse and instead of working in the favor of Christianity it worked in favor of the Pagans because it kept the stories of The Goddess Brigit alive and well. One of the stores tells of the Goddess Brigit as being present at the birth of Jesus. As a matter of fact it is said that she was the midwife. When it was ordered the first born male be murdered, Brigit kept Jesus safe.

Brigit/St. Brigid

By Toni Gamarro

Who is Brigit what did she do?

Was she a Goddess and a Saint too?

So many stories which way to go,

Believe whats in your heart, what you know,

Brigit was around before Christianity appeared,

She never left, disappeared,

She is always here to protect and care,

For those she loves and holds dear,

Does it matter what path you choose,

No because together Brigit and Brigid are fused,

So learn to respect her and hold her near,

Allow her to help you calm your fear,

Pray or cast whichever you choose,

Listen to the other paths point of views,

For Brigit will always be,

There to help and protect you and me,

A cross she wove from rush and straw,

Is still admired and still held in aw,

The story of Christ she is said to have told,

Must have spoke of the beauty she watched unfold,

As the child Christ was born,

To protect him she was sworn,

She walked along the path she was meant to take,

And Jesus was saved for all of our sake,

So it does not matter from where her story grew,

It matters that it made it's way to me and you,

It matters we remember, learn and listen,

Not if we are Pagan, Wiccan or Christian,

For the stories of Brigit  shows us,

There is no reason to wonder or guess,

No matter what path we may walk,

Which spirituality or religion of which we may talk,

There is only one Universe, Spirit, one God,

One Almighty for which we are awed,

Brigit knew this as she walked along,

The path she believed in so strong,

So on St. Brigit's day remember all she has done,

To prove the Universe, Spirit and God are joined as the Almighty ONE!