Hawk’s Cry

Powerful Psychic Surgery Ritual to Cleanse Yourself of Negativity

I previously wrote a ritual of cleansing with the dark goddess, where you can purge yourself of negative energy, evil spirits, and other spiritual malaise. Someone emailed me and told me that they had some negative side effects from the ritual.

They said that when they approached their altar after the ritual, they felt physically sick. Though effects like this don’t happen often, they are not uncommon. I thought I’d share my response with them, which includes a more intense ritual of physic surgery that can help with this problem. Note that this ritual is very intense and will require preparation. Don’t do this ritual if you are not ready to go through an intense spiritual purging, or if you’re not really ready on all levels.

In general, it is common for someone to feel sick after a healing. In the bodywork circles, such as massage, shiatsu, Reiki, etc. it’s frequently called a “healing crisis.” The cause is generally from getting rid of something that you’ve become very used to having. Your body is trying to readjust to the new condition of being without that burden that it was used to having. Think of it in similar terms as the withdrawal symptoms that drug addicts (including caffeine addicts) experience when their body is cleansed of the drug they have been used to having.

It sounds a little different in the particular situation that was described to me. Healing crises normally are a general feeling of illness, such as headaches or sick-to-your-stomach feelings that last for a few days or up to a week after a healing. From what the person told me, it only happens when they approach their altar. It seemed to me, by what my spirits told me about it, that their particular problem is that they didn’t completely let go of the negativity they were pushing out when they performed the dark goddess ritual. They pushed out most of it, but still held on to a small portion. That energy is in their body at the place where they felt sick.

If you’re experiencing something like this, or another type of healing crisis that either affects only a part of your body or only at specific times, then this ritual may be for you. If you are experiencing a general healing crisis, where your whole body (or most of it) feels tired, low-energy, or ill for a few days to a week, then it is better to simply care for yourself with relaxation time and meditation instead of doing this ritual.

A localized, specific healing crisis may happen for a couple reasons:

1. Your body (including your spiritual body) was not completely ready to let go of all the negativity. To relate it to a physical ailment, this type of cause is common with cancer patients, where it can take multiple surgeries to remove it all. In this case, it has nothing to do with fear holding it back, but simply that one working is not enough. If this is the case, then a repeat of the dark goddess ritual may be more appropriate, instead of this ritual.
2. You had not completely committed (either consciously or unconsciously) to ridding yourself of that negative energy you purged. You thought you wanted to push it away, but some part of you was afraid to do so. This is common in drug addicts (including caffeine and nicotine addicts), where they are consciously committed to kicking the habit, but some part of them fights very hard to get the drug. This isn’t a sign of a weakness of your will or resolve, but is instead a sign of fear to surrender and let go of that part.

If your issue caused by cause #2 above, this intense ritual of psychic surgery may help.

Psychic Surgery Ritual for Removing Specific Negativity

1. Make sure that you read the above introduction fully and understand that there are risks to doing this ritual if you are not ready.
2. Make sure that you’re ready to be clean of that unwanted part of you. Many people use their phobias, bad habits, hurtful thoughts, and other negativity as a crutch in life. If you’re not really ready to let it go, then it may not work. Meditation and prayer can help with this. When you are sure you are ready to let it go, then move on to the next step.
3. During the night of a Full Moon (or within 3 days of a Full Moon):
   1. Have a length of biodegradable black cord available. The actual length and thickness don’t matter, but 12-24 inches would be sufficient. It should be made of natural fibers like cotton, silk, hemp, etc.
   2. Also have a pair of sharp scissors and a clean glass jar with a lid (such as a Mason or canning jar or a mayonnaise jar) available.
   3. Go to the altar and notice how your body feels. Don’t be afraid to feel sick. If you feel like throwing up when you approach it, bring a bucket and a wet towel with and allow yourself to let it happen if it does.
   4. Banish away all negativity from the space. Odds are that your body won’t be able to let go with just a simple banishing, but it will prevent other negativity in the room from complicating things.
   5. Raise a circle of protection and call quarters in your usual fashion, including any spirit guides or totem animals you wish to assist.
   6. Invite Medusa and the Healing Pentad into the circle. The Healing Pentad consists of: Asclepios (God of Healing), Podalerios (God of Surgery), Machaon (God of Physicians), Hygeiea (Goddess of Wellness), and Panacaea (Goddess of Medicines).
   7. Close your eyes, relax and feel the sensations. Allow any images that come from it to appear. Understand that the Healing Pentad will protect you and help you heal, while Medusa will take away the negativity/blockage.
   8. Actively allowing the sensations to be experienced will help you understand why it is happening. Maybe it’s an old traumatic experience, or some other cause. Whatever it is, allow yourself to fully experience and explore it, knowing that there is truly nothing to fear. If you feel the urge to scream or cry, let it happen. This process will bring out the cause of the negativity and loosen it from your physical and/or spiritual body. Then the divine physician, Machaeon, can guide it away.
   9. When you think you’ve experienced it fully, take the black cord and tie 3 knots in it. Place all 3 knots near the same end of rope. They should be separated by about 1 inch or more of rope.
   10. Take the first knot in both hands and focus the physical sensations you feel into it. Ask Medusa to help the negative energy go into the knots.
   11. Take the second knot in both hands and send the negative emotional feelings you experience into it.
   12. Hold the third knot in both hands and feel the negative spiritual energy, the blockage, flow from your body into it.
   13. When the cord is charged, place the end that doesn’t have any knots near your body, preferably touching near the place where the negative physical sensations are strongest. Hold the other end out away from your body toward the altar. If it’s easier, you can place the cord on the altar as well, but with the knots pointed away from you.
   14. Take the scissors in your hand.
   15. Ask Podalerios to cut away the negativity and its cause from your body, mind and spirit.
   16. Cut the cord such that all 3 knots are still connected with each other, but separated from the end of the cord closest to your body.
   17. You may feel a release, or some other sensation when the cord is cut. It may hurt a little, but don’t be afraid of it. Likewise, if you don’t feel anything physically, do not worry. The magic works on higher levels than your body so you may not feel anything initially.
   18. Ask Panacaea to help take away any pain and to give you the spiritual medicine that will help you recover.
   19. Ask Ascleipios to help you heal from this psychic surgery.
   20. Ask Hygeiea to help your body grow and develop from the experience and become it’s natural well-self. She will help you become stronger from the experience.
   21. Place the whole cord (both parts) into the glass jar and close it tightly. Keep it covered and in an out-of-the-way place, such as in a basement or the back of a closet where you won’t see it.
   22. Thank the Gods (and any spirits and/or totems you may have called) for their assistance and dismiss the circle.
4. During a night of a Dark (New) Moon, or within 3 days of one:
   1. Still covered, take the cord in the jar for a drive, along with a shovel. Go to a remote location that you will not return to for many years, if ever. It should be away from people and on public land, so you are not trespassing.
   2. If you wish, you may put up a small circle, inviting Medusa to join you. For this part of the working, a circle is not required, though.
   3. Dig a hole in the ground about 1 ft. deep.
   4. Remove the cut cord with the knots from the jar.
   5. Gently place the cord in the bottom of the hole, saying a prayer to Medusa asking her to take it along with your unwanted negativity and decompose it and turn it into fertile earth that other living beings may use for good. Medusa has the power to take unwanted negative energy, break it down completely, and turn it into something more useful, just as worms and maggots do for a dead body.
   6. Thank Her for Her assistance and fill in the hole. There should be as little evidence as possible that you were ever there when you are done.
   7. When you leave, make sure you take with you everything you arrived with, except the buried cord.
   8. Do not look back when you leave and do not return to this place for many years, if ever. It needs to be at least the amount of time needed to completely decompose the cord.
5. Upon returning to your alter after burying the cord, do a banishing of the altar and the room it’s in (and ideally your whole house) with sage. You can also use the first part of the room banishing spell I previously posted.

This spell will rid you of the root cause of your trouble that’s causing your feelings of sickness. It will take time for the effects to fully manifest, but know that it will happen and the Healing Pentad will help you recover and grow. It is best if you can take it easy for a few days after the ritual. This may include taking time for a slow, hot cup of your favorite tea, a long bath, meditation or anything else you do to relax. Avoid stressful situations as much as possible for a week.

If you have any questions about this ritual, or any others, feel free to email me via my contact form. Or, if you prefer, feel free to mail me via snail-mail at the address posted on that page.

In Love and Light.

Mountain Vision

I had a vision after our family Yule ritual and saw a great mountain rising up into the sky, beyond where I could see. The mountain was covered with many roads and paths, all meandering their way upward. It was the Mountain of Divinity, though it goes by various names in different religions, including Mount Sumber (Mongolian), Mount Olympus (Greek/Roman), Mount Penglai (Chinese), Mount Meru (Hindu/Buddhist) and many others.

The roads on the mountain were full of various beings walking, including humans, different animals, spiritual beings. They were all walking at different speeds and were currently at different elevations. The roads were the religions and religious traditions. Some people were further along the path and closer to the Gnosis of Divinity. Others were lower and less wise. Everyone was stumbling at times. Sometimes someone would lose their footing and slip backward.

There were some people who were helping those who slipped, along with helping those who merely stumbled. They caught them to keep them from slipping. But those helpers were themselves walking the path as well.

The higher, spiritual entities included such beings as spirit guides, Gods and others. Because they were no longer corporal, they had the ability to connect with people further down the mountain to help them. They could tell those people what the road is like ahead and how to navigate the obstacles easier. They couldn’t pick the people up and carry them past the obstacles, but they were able to help with inspiration, energy, foresight, and many other ways.

Many people didn’t know what road to take. They walked along, but the road got very difficult. Or maybe it didn’t feel like the kind of road they wanted to walk on. So they traversed sideways to change to a different road. This sometimes made the walk less burdensome to them. It’s not like the road was really any easier, but the scenery and the people walking that path were more appealing.

Some people would keep changing roads, believing that if they just found the expressway, they could get all the way to the top quickly, easily, and in air-conditioned comfort. Unfortunately for them, the roads I see are all winding and rough.

As the roads continue up the mountain, they merge at different points. At the very top, all of the roads and paths merge into a single, narrow footpath of Enlightenment.

The vision is similar to others I’ve had in the past, but I saw it in a new way this time. I saw the struggles everyone was having. Even those who were leaders and enlightened-ones were struggling. They helped others, but themselves sometimes fell. Occasionally, I would see people on different paths reach out and help each other. They didn’t push the other person to change to their “better” road, but encouraged the person on their own path.

I learned many things from this vision that I thought I’d share.

1. We are all struggling and suffering in our journey toward Gnosis and Enlightenment. Everyone, from the very wise Dalai Lama to the adamant Atheist. The specific obstacles are different in their details, but nobody is immune.
2. All spiritual and religious paths are not the same path. They may all lead to the same summit. They may all converge into a single path, but they are still different paths. Nobody, except those who have achieved complete Gnosis would know anything about that single, short footpath that is rarely traveled at the top. What I can say is that the final footpath was a new path, not an extension of any single path below.
3. Some of the roads were paved and wide, carrying many people, but were full of potholes and were confusing to follow.
4. Some of the roads were narrow, sometimes only a single person trying to see it in the underbrush. These paths were no less confusing or difficult.
5. The people who changed paths did so by going sideways or down normally. It was very rare for them to move upward during their transition.
6. People who continued to change paths over and over again, never being satisfied, continued to go around the mountain or down it, rather than up.
7. The best reason to change paths is because you find more kindred people and spirits there or you enjoy the scenery better. Not because you think the new path is the “true” path or an easier one.
8. As you get higher up the mountain, you find an understanding of other religions. You don’t see them as being the same with different names, since they are not the same. But you gain an ecumenical understanding of the faiths and the people who follow them.
9. It is wise to not judge those below you on the path, or on other paths, for you may be the next to stumble and fall.
10. It is wise to offer a hand of sincere compassion to those around you, especially those who are struggling or have fallen, for you may be the next to stumble and fall.

May the light of your Gods shine upon you and your path.

Outdoor Yule celebration and the Park Ranger

My family performed a small, outdoor Yule celebration ritual last night at Joshua Tree National Park in southern California. We wanted to make it a unique experience for ourselves and our children and it was wonderful. The picture on the left is our altar at the park. The experience we had made me think of an important topic that many Pagans and Wiccans are uncomfortable with. I know of some people who are afraid to do outdoor rituals because of onlookers or officials and I thought I’d share how we addressed this issue over the years (and this Yule as well).

The reason we chose Joshua Tree was because we wanted to be far away from people in a remote area in nature where we could celebrate with a lot of noise. We love to drum with our children and ring bells and chimes and we didn’t want to disturb anyone. We also didn’t want to be disturbed. Since most land (even remote, unoccupied land) is privately owned, we needed to choose a spot that we knew for sure was government owned and opened to the public to ensure we were not trespassing. The national park made a logical choice.

The way we have addressed onlookers in the past is to simply ignore them during the ceremony. When the circle goes up, make sure that it is strong enough that everyone present can focus on the ritual and not be disturbed by what’s going on outside the circle. We have not had problems with ruffians who wanted to disrupt the ritual in the past, as onlookers have been just curious. I think in most areas the fear of protesters and ruffians is over-blown (though I do understand that in some areas of the US, it is a very real and legitimate concern). If you have a problem with such people causing a disturbance, as long as you are following all rules and laws, you can call the police to protect you.

A larger concern for me is disturbances from officials, such as police, security guards, or park rangers. You legally cannot just ignore those people. Last night, a park ranger approached our family during the middle of the ritual. Luckily it wasn’t during a particularly intense section. We had to momentarily stop the circle and I approached the park ranger to greet him. I was very, very polite at all times, even turning my head-mounted flashlight off so as to not blind him. He shone his light in my face, but I ignored that, since he needed to know who I was and that I was not going to harm him.

He asked what we were doing and I told him that we were performing a family Wiccan ritual celebrating the Winter Solstice. I’ve learned it’s best to describe our activities in language that he will understand, so we did not use any Wiccan jargon during the conversation. He approached our altar and asked what various items were, which we politely described.

Prior to arrival, I made sure I knew the rules of the park, so we knew we were not violating any. These are rules such as not disturbing or taking any plants, animals, rocks or anything else in the park. Our candles were all tea-lights contained in jars to prevent the risk of wildfire, a very serious concern in southern California. It also had a side benefit of protecting the candle flames from the desert wind. We had worked to contain all of our belongings, including trash, in a small area to ensure that we left nothing behind. This showed the park ranger that we were serious about respecting the land.

The park ranger asked more specific questions about our liquids. We had blessing water with us and cherry-lemonade. Naturally, he needed to be assured we had no alcohol with us. Incense was burning (Dragon’s Blood, Juniper and Sandalwood), but he didn’t ask any questions about it.

We were conscious to make sure we were extra polite and respectful of the park ranger at all times. As a result, he left without incident after being assured that we were not doing anything to violate the park rules.

This interaction with the park ranger last night is typical of our past experiences over the years with officials who may approach us during outdoor rituals. It is not their job to judge the religion we are celebrating, as they are banned from doing so by the First Amendment. It is their job, however to ensure that all rules are being followed and that everything is handled in a safe manner.

When I’ve seen Wiccan and Pagan groups have problems with the police or park rangers, it is normally because they were either not following all rules. For example, many parks may ban open flame, alcohol, or weapons such as athames or swords. Otherwise, it is because not everyone was quiet, polite and respectful to the officer. If you get defensive, then they will think you are trying to hide something. Just keep your cool and silently ask your Gods and spirits to help you show them that they don’t need to concern themselves with your ritual.

Luckily, Pagans and Wiccans worship the earth and would not leave trash behind, which is a very major concern for park rangers. This reputation for respect and honoring the land and the rules helps the rangers understand us better and makes it easier in the future to hold outdoor rituals without disturbance.

My hope is that Pagans and Wiccans will become more comfortable holding outdoor rituals. We are a nature-loving, earth-worshiping group of religions and we are spiritually most at home in the outdoors. It is only natural that we should hold our worship services outdoors whenever practical, knowing that we can confidently handle any disturbances that may occur. As our reputation for respect and honor becomes more well-known in the police departments and park ranger stations, we should experience less and less disturbances from officials.