Lesson 1 Story Exchange

[~Elise~]

Please post some experiences that you've had in the past where you think that Magical Self Defense would have helped you.

What have you done in the past? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked?

And I jumped the gun when I asked what you wanted from the class in the Where are we from thread--if you want to re-iterate here you can.


Elise

[amakaliani]

((Please post some experiences that you've had in the past where you think that Magical Self Defense would have helped you.

What have you done in the past? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked?
Let's share where we are from and what makes you want to take this class?
What do you want to learn from it?

And I jumped the gun when I asked what you wanted from the class in the Where are we from thread--if you want to re-iterate here you can.))
------------------------------------------------------

There are a few things and places in my life that I really could have used the actual teachings of this area. I have been a practicing witch now for about 6 - well, now almost 7 years. I have been in situations many times before and after I began my path to witchcraft and paganism.

Specifically though, there are a few times in my life when my wards have just not been enough. I have this magnetism for attracting people of, shall we say, with a negative feeling base. One "friend" of mine, and I say friend lightly as what she has done to me and mine is awful, is what I would class as a psychic vampire. Every time I go around her, there is an almost automatic headache and my back gets worse. (I have arthritis there) She has the same issues with her body and more, and I firmly believe that since I won't let her have my "crafty" energies, she yanks my physical energy from the places that I need it the most. I want to be able to put up a ward that will keep her out, while still allowing me to deal with her on a "friend" basis, as she is linked - due to a mistake of mine - to my family and I must deal with her.

My mother-in-law is another reason for me wanting to further my knowledge of self defense on this level. But, not for the reasons that you might automatically bring to mind. She is alone, with the exception of my familiar and the other animals there. She has no issues with me leaving wards up at her house, and I wish to put up a few to keep out persons like the one listed above, or at the very least to be able prevent these persons from draining her and the other energies in the house. I have left many wards up, but, they have appeared to have failed or to have been brought down without my consent.

I have run into many of the psychic vamps as I live longer and they drain me becuase I haven't found the correct shields and wards. I want to protect my own family - Both when I am away, and here but not practicing. I feel that I have a basic understanding of the premises but, I think I need a bit of refinement. While I feel that no person should harm others for the SAKE of harming someone, but, when these persons affect me or my family, then it becomes an issue that I cannot ignore.

I also have a desire to protect myself frm my father on the spiritual planes. I am not sure why at this moment, but, I feel an ever increasing need to stop the onslaught of HIS fears pounding me whenever I am with or near him. I cannot and will not go into details on the "why's" of this, but, he has HURT me very badly, and the law cannot be involved - statue of limitations and all that jazz - I cannot seem to block him out of my sprirtual life.

I also feel that since I am located in the bible area in south florida that I need to block others from sensing what rituals or spell casting I might be doing. People seem to have the worst knack for catching me in the preparations. (that might not be part of the lessoning in this class, but, maybe I can adapt what I learn to cover those fields)

One of the most important reasons for joining this class is this : I am a Priestess, and I have taught myself, but, there are some things that I have not -quite- mastered yet.. When I perform ritual outside, I can't seem to keep out the nasties completely. Besides the fact that the more "offical" learning that I can have under my belt can do nothing to hurt me, and everything to help me. A lot of people tend to trust you more when you can show them papers (or online docs) of what you know......this I don't understand. My word is good otherwise, why not trust what I feel I know. But the stigma of "organized learning" has warped some people's ability to trust in FAITH.

I want to learn all I can, and finally I have found a place that is still willing to teach me - even though, I am a stay at home mom, with no income coming in that is extra for teachings.

I hope that I haven't veered to far off topic. This is what gives me the base for wanting to learn more in the way of self defense.....this way I can also further the education of my own coveners. There are people in my hometown that are waiting for me to teach them things, and I want to be prepared when I see them in the coming year, so that I can share what I have learned...

Thanks
Krys - Kaliani

[StarCraftLia]

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[MariThorn]

Please post some experiences that you've had in the past where you think that Magical Self Defense would have helped you.

What have you done in the past? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, where to start? Ironically, when I started out learning about witchcraft, I had someone "teaching" me who failed to set up wards to protect me. She would do them for herself, but she never taught me and I had some unpleasant experiences. (To say the least.) I headed out on my own within a few months of knowing her, and I taught myself how to cast a circle and ward. They were very rudimentary (and still are) however they have worked. I have had to help my friend fight off nasties sent by her ex. A druid gone bad . . . not pretty. Luckily the things just would pop into my head what to do, and they worked. Amongst them was a hex that was placed in her house to protect the inhabitants. I've sent nasties back where they came from, too.

I have had to work protection spells in the past, and bound one person due to her attacks on everyone including herself. (She was released later, it's a long story, but no one suffered in the process.) Recently, I have made one witch's jar to protect my house. It was simple and I'd like ot learn the rudimentaries of how they really work so I can make my own. Basically, that is why I'm taking this class. What I know I gained from books, and anyone can get the books and fight my wards and so forth. I want to learn to make my own, and pour my energy into the things. Thereby making them more powerful. I didn't go into detail . . . but that is it in a nutshell.

Marithorn

[slave_isabel]

I am taking this class to help me overcome a liftime of knowing I was never wanted plus two years of pure hell that has left me battling a cutting/self abuse disorder, severe depression with suicidal tendancies as well as panic anxiety when I am out in public and around strangers.. At this point in time I cannot handle strangers being anywhere near me or touching me. I have no ability to sheild or block others negative thoughts and as I am very empathic that comes thru to me usually accentuating the problems I am already battling. In order for my life to become a functional one again I need this class to help me learn what I never realized I needed until I discovered witchcraft.
At this point in time I have only worked with my griffin who keeps safe when I cannotremain safe on my own. Its quite fascinating when he shows up. He has made a number of people uncomfortable and they cannot even see him as well as he isnt afraid to sit on my hands when I try to cut myself. Also I am working with Sekhmet as she has called me and the more I learn of her the more I understand why she has called me to her.

[Salanthos]

I put most of my reasons in the Where are We From thread, but I'll repost them below. also, since I seem to have a little empathy, it would be a good idea to know how to defend myself.

my parents were born in India. my mother's family has a history of 'supernatural' events - good, bad and confusing. I've heard of events ranging in time from great-great grandma to some of my mother's brothers and cousins(there are almost certainly earlier ones, but mom either forgot to tell me or her mom didn't tell her). I don't think it will skip this generation. there were protectors, but they were very place-specific.

I want to learn so that if I become one of those with an encounter, I am prepared.

we've had God stop by definately twice,(once to help out one of my uncles and once to scare the pants off one of my great- uncles), a possibly-God, possibly supernatural practical joker once(to confuse my great grandpa and grandma), one definate ghost(to check on her kid and scare my other great grandma to make sure she'd care for the kid whatever else was going on), one apparition that might have been a ghost(badly scaring another of my uncles & his cousin, causing emotional/mental problems to this day), and some non-corporeal 'dog patrols' (that were only seen by someone who wanted to steal fruit from my grandparents' home, all legitimate traffic was undisturbed). all in about three generations. (specific relationships might not be exact, due to translation into english, fuzzy memories from mom hearing the stories many years ago, fuzzy memories from my hearing the stories several years ago.)

so you can see why I need a course like this. I want to learn to be ready.

[Penthesilea]

Please post some experiences that you've had in the past where you think that Magical Self Defense would have helped you.

What have you done in the past? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked?

And I jumped the gun when I asked what you wanted from the class in the Where are we from thread--if you want to re-iterate here you can.


EliseI don't have any interesting stories to tell, I'm afraid. What I do have is an absolute conviction that I must take this class and I've had this conviction since this class was first suggested back in the Spring. Why? Your guess is as good as mine but I suspect that my husband's interest in paranormal investigation may have something to do with it.

[Sun_and_Saturn]

I work with the public and I am very sensitive the energies put out by other people. I would love to learn to shield myself from the negative energies.

I try to practice shielding myself on a regular basis, but I do need to improve a lot, since I am still pretty receptive to negative energy. I don't know that I really feel comfortable getting into stories. If you want, I can pm you, if it is necessary that you hear a story from me. :)

What works? Well, if I really get a bad vibe from someone I envision myself in a bubble with spikes and sharp objects protruding outward. I have sent off a few people using this, kind of like they subconsciously avoid me.

[Geministar]

Well lets see, what I do to protect myself I think is what alot of people do. I envision myself in a bubble like its made out of electricity so if anything negative tries to come in they would get zapped. I also ask my guides and gaurdian angels to protect me as well I feel I need this protection because the more I work on opening myself up, the more ghosts and spirits and elemental beings keep appearing to me. Most of the time they mean no harm but sometimes they give me bad feelings or just scare me and thats when I put my sheil up and call upon my angels and guides. I would like to learn new and better ways to do this.I think that as a pagan, and someone who had to deal with the spirit world, this is one of the best things I can learn about right now. One of the most important things is protection, and I want to know how to protect myself and friends and family whenever I need to, and do it well.

[AineDanu]

Reasons I feel I should take this class:
1) I am overwhelmed around people - especially in large groups - by the emotions and noise.

2) I have been "attacked" a few times, the other night was a good example. I posted what happened on healing and reiki but I will give a short explanation here as well.

I am helping a friend out by staying at his house for the month (luckily I leave in the morning) and taking care of his boys (the youngest i've raised since birth until five months ago and he is 3yr5mo). I had lived here but do to health and how bad things got around here I couldnt stay and came back for my belongings and as I said to help him. His ex lives downstairs with her new boyfriend. She helps not at all with taking care of their kids.

I woke up and could not move the other night. I felt as if I were being held down and also I could see things trying to attack me. I felt fear and pain and was completley disoriented as if I had been seriously drugged. Within a moment or two the exgirlfriend (and my ex-friend) was sitting next to me and telling me the room was full of the boys protectors and some bad things and she told me she needed to light a white candle she acted like she was going to get one out of her and his magic box then said never mind she needed to goto the restroom but I should get her a candle. I did out of my box of candles and herbs and she took it did something to it and I was told to light it and an incense - I did and somehow was burned to the point of blistering three fingers. I lit them on first try....IF I had been alert and etc I would never have listened to her nor let her help me in anyway.

3) I think it is best to be able to defend yourself in advance of bad situations. :)

What do I want out of this class?
The knowledge that I can protect myself and loved ones somewhat and that I have a basic foundation to build research off of if I need something even more specific.

[WAHM-Brenda]

Like I said in my previous post, I truly believe that my X is a psychic vampire. My dad still has to deal with him since I have shared custody of my dd and my dad is the one who transports her. I also have to deal with him in court. I feel that I've put up with my X's BS for long enough. I don't know where to begin to protect either my dad or myself. (My dad is a strong Christian so I hope I can protect him without him knowing it KWIM) Not to mention I also feel that my 4yo dd needs protected as she comes home from each week's visit EXHAUSTED. I hope to help her too. So far all I've done is distance myself as far from my X as much as I can whenever we're in court but there's still times I have to be near him and I come away DRAINED!!! I need serious help ASAP and think that this class is the place to begin.

[~Elise~]

Wow--those are some serious stories and I should be able to help y'all achieve your goals. At least, I sure as hell hope so or I wouldn't be teaching the class.

Keep sharing--I want to start the next lesson by Sat., if possible. That is when we'll start the actual practice of learning the self defense. I will be honest with you...it is going to be a DAILY requirement that you will be starting, but that WILL ease up over time.

Elise

[Serendipity]

Well I don't really have any stories to share. I just really feel it's good to always have protection. Firemen don't run into burning buildings without flame retardant gear.

[ravenscape]

First of all, I just want to say that I'm so sorry about what many people in this class are going through. I hope the course helps. And may you also find many other sources of help and strength to deal with the difficult people and situations you face!

From childhood through the age of about 20 I had a number of experiences that could have been a case of overactive imagination, though the coincidences were credulity-stretching. In one case I saw an apparition the evening after an elementary schoolmate had been run over by a bus and killed. It scared the heebies out of me, but I didn’t learn about his tragedy until the next day at school.

At roughly 20, I went through a crisis of faith and eventually deconverted from Christianity. The 3-4 nights leading up to my deconversion were harrowing. I felt as though Satan himself was gloating over my damnation, the sense of malevolent presence was so strong. Once I finally worked through it and officially deconverted, those “visitations” came to an abrupt end. In talking with other former Christians, my experience was apparently not unusual at all. The mental anguish involved in the sincere deconversion from a sincerely held faith apparently attracts spiritual notice.

After that, I found myself in an untroubled agnostic spiritual state for a number of years. My “visitations” became infrequent bad dreams, with no waking component at all. That began to change somewhat as my spirituality reawakened a few years ago.

Today, I find myself fairly good at shielding, and I probably experience more psychological upsets than psychic ones. But one thing that occasionally gives me unexpected fits is the sincere, heartfelt concerns and prayers by loved ones and acquaintances who trouble themselves about my spiritual state. It doesn’t take a great deal to dismiss such static, but at times the relentless and constant nature of these “interventions” seeps through. Maybe I just need to renew my shielding more often. But, one thing that bothers me is that I don’t seem to be able to turn away those energies that I don’t want, yet be open to those energies that I welcome, if that makes sense. I don’t want to go around half-blind just to avoid these well-meant but annoying energies.

I also pick up emotional impressions from objects I come in contact with, and from people around me, especially when they are angry and upset. My office environment has become more and more toxic of late, with many people stressed out, angry, and overworked. I spend a lot of time and energy barriering these days at work. I hope there's a less strenuous way of blocking the emotional blasts that occur so frequently.

So, all in all, I don't feel that I'm the object of any attacks these days, but rather just wind up sort of in the path of a lot of different psychic screams, groans, grunts, and hollers.

[purple dragon]

people at my school have started dabbling in the supernatural without really knowing what they are doing. recently some people have asked me to help them to use a ouija board. i'm really worried and want to know how i can protect myself and those around me.

[PoisonIvy]

I really don't have an interesting story. But as an emath I do use grounding and sheilding quite a bit,especially when it comes to my little niece. She has definately come into her powers very quickly! She is totally a psychic vampire and drains me everytime she gets a chance and I need to learn a better way of dealing with her.

Also,my grandmother who died several years ago,has been in visitation here and I would love to communicate with her,but I feel that I need to work on my protections before I start. She was a wonderful witch and I miss her very much!
:hailmol:

[Gwyndelyn]

I'm a newbie to the site and when my sister told me about this class I had to check it out.
I was born a natural medium and came into it at about 6 or 7 years old. It scared the shit out of me. I didn't embrace my gift until I was about 15 or so. I still struggle with it at 21. I tend to block spirits out that need my help and let those who intend to trick me in. Except with a ouija board.
I also work at a small eclectic store in which we do sell Pagan goodies(books, jewelry, an such), but we also have other stuff for those who are Christian. I struggle through letting my shields down just enough to read people(especially those who are new). I either gaurd myself too much or open myself too much.
On another note(but kind of the same) I am getting married this coming June to a wonderful man. He is 18 years older than me and came with 2 beautiful teenagers(16 and 13). The 16 year old is a natural psy vamp and I struggle with her some days.
I look forward to leaning new techniques to help with all of these areas of my life.

[stari_hrast]

I've read all your stories with interest. I live alone and there are times when I'm actually wide awake in the middle of the night for sheer fear. I often have nightmares of the worst kind and can tell when there is something really really negative threatening me but I do not quite know how to defemd myself. I am pretty sensitive to negativity and negative people. A couple of stories I can tell is that my father found a hex in my granmother's house in the cellar, he told me that he had been sensing something negative in that house for years but since he didn't believe in such things he dismissed the thought of a hex and similar. He took out that cushion full of hair pins needles tissue scraps etc and burned it. Was that OK? He told me that that night he slept like a baby for the first time in years!!!
The second most recent event happend the other night while I was hospitalized. While I was sleeping, in the middle of the night, I felt and saw a black energy thing talking to me (it was a female with sparkling eyes), trying to convince me that she loved me and that she was harmless, but I knew she was very harmful instead!! All of a sudden there was a change of expression on "her" face and she started suffocating me, I started struggling for air but there was none!! my mouth and nose were completely full of something that blocked the air, I woke up for sheer panick and actually I felt like I was going to die, I could not breathe at all. No oxygen could penetrate through my breathing system for so many seconds that seemed like an eternity and then I started gasping for air. I knew it was something evil. It wasn't like one has sinuses or a cold and one breathes with difficultry. Quite different!! It was soooo scary!! I didn't even have time to visualize a shield or something it all happened so fast. Well, there have been other things too but I have been long enough already. I hope I will be able to learn here how to shield and protect myself, my family, my cats. I feel I really really need to.

[LyraDragonStar]

I have been told that I'm a developing Empath. I've had some experiences with the bad energies that can rub off on me. I don't really know much about any of this though, so maybe this class can help me with that. Mainly for future references.

Does that work?

[LyraDragonStar]

And it won't let me edit, but I forgot that...

I have practiced sheilding since I first began learning a few years ago. If ever I feel unsafe alone or around others, I'll invision a sheild around myself and say that nothing can hurt me, spiritual or otherwise. It seems to work for me pretty well.

I used this rose technique when people are angry at me. I envision a large rose growing out of the ground which absorbs the persons negative feelings towards me and feeds off them and grows from them. It gets bigger until it finally just bursts, destroying all the bad energies with it. I repeat that as needed.

[Rin Daemoko]

The most common kind of defense I use is concealment, or cloaking. Rather than shield and create barriers, I obscure myself so that I cannot be found for attacks of any kind. I mostly fear physical assault, so if I can make use of magical techniques to make myself go unnoticed, or even unseen, then I'm a happy camper.

I remember many incidents when I've been driving home with a friend and while stopped at a light, people from another car near us (always filled with drunken teenagers) would begin calling us out to fight or something silly like that. As we'd drive away we'd notice them attempting to follow us.

So while my friend would drive, I would cloak the car, whispering to the ones trying to follow us, "you cannot follow. You cannot go where we are going." Sooner or later, they take a turn and leave their pursuit, or we take a turn and they do not follow.

I also do this while walking. Sometimes when I'm waiting for the bus, or getting off the bus to walk home, some rowdy people will be there. To prevent them from deciding that it would be fun to mug me or something of that nature, I cloak myself usually with an incantation that actually remember from an old SRW book:
om

"Dragon fog and chameleon sight
I command the shrowded sea
I blend the mist and mix the light
Refract around and behind me."
om
It's worked every time.

[medit8ive_spirit]

For those that don't know me, I'm orig. from Texas and live in NC now. I think that magikal self-defense could have helped at least a couple of times. 1)I was about 9 or 10, didn't know how to swim, had been placed in "Y" swim lessons. One afternoon, was 'free' time in the pool. A girl that was 6 years older than me and also about 100 more pounds than me, pushed me down under the water and held me there. The lifeguard wasn't paying any attention. Thankfully, three friends were pinching her and pulling at her swimsuit and she let go of me. I got out of the pool and went to another area were there were more counselors and adults! 2)I worked at a store where one of the things we sold were engagement rings and a guy stole one right out of my hand(he had given the premise he was looking for an engagement ring for his girlfriend), at the time, I didn't know what he might do next...thankfully, for me, he just ran out the door.

[WAHM-Brenda]

And it won't let me edit, but I forgot that...

I have practiced sheilding since I first began learning a few years ago. If ever I feel unsafe alone or around others, I'll invision a sheild around myself and say that nothing can hurt me, spiritual or otherwise. It seems to work for me pretty well.

I used this rose technique when people are angry at me. I envision a large rose growing out of the ground which absorbs the persons negative feelings towards me and feeds off them and grows from them. It gets bigger until it finally just bursts, destroying all the bad energies with it. I repeat that as needed.

Does this mean that shielding is good for protecting yourself from a person's negativity? If so, while I hate to say it, I could use it to shield myself from my mom who is EXTREMELY negative. I also didn't know that shielding could be good for social anxiety but this also seems true... Is it? LOL If so, I could definitely use it there as well since I have social anxiety :colorful:

[WAHM-Brenda]

The most common kind of defense I use is concealment, or cloaking. Rather than shield and create barriers, I obscure myself so that I cannot be found for attacks of any kind. I mostly fear physical assault, so if I can make use of magical techniques to make myself go unnoticed, or even unseen, then I'm a happy camper.

I remember many incidents when I've been driving home with a friend and while stopped at a light, people from another car near us (always filled with drunken teenagers) would begin calling us out to fight or something silly like that. As we'd drive away we'd notice them attempting to follow us.

So while my friend would drive, I would cloak the car, whispering to the ones trying to follow us, "you cannot follow. You cannot go where we are going." Sooner or later, they take a turn and leave their pursuit, or we take a turn and they do not follow.

I also do this while walking. Sometimes when I'm waiting for the bus, or getting off the bus to walk home, some rowdy people will be there. To prevent them from deciding that it would be fun to mug me or something of that nature, I cloak myself usually with an incantation that actually remember from an old SRW book:
om

"Dragon fog and chameleon sight
I command the shrowded sea
I blend the mist and mix the light
Refract around and behind me."
om
It's worked every time.

Gosh! I feel like such a newbie asking all these questions but I didn't know that shielding was good for physical protection as well. I could definitely use that too being a single woman in this neighborhood and often having to walk in the dark. It sure would beat me being scared all the time :thumbsup:

[Crystal Raven]

reading through the posts, i kinda feel like an idjit, as I am taking the class for almost the opposite reasons.
Many many experienced, knowledgable people have told me that I have created an almost impenatrable barrier between myself and almost everything. Apparently, I could possibly be an empath, but don't let anything in. I have been willingly used for "target" practice by quite a few of my witchier &/or psychic friends, and I don't even feel them trying. Apparently all anyone ever gets is a big old fashion, medieval type wood door. Problem being is I don't know how or why or even when unless told ie when being a willing target.
I want to take the class to understand the mechanics of it, so I know whats what. I may actually want to open that door one day, but I don't even know where it is or why it is there.
For the record, yes I had a bad childhood, but I have been to councelling and hypnotherapy, I have no memory gaps or unexplained happenings etc...

[LyraDragonStar]

WAHM-Brenda. I don't know if it honestly can, be I think it can...from somethings anyway. Don't quote me on it though. I know almost nothing about any of it.

[~Elise~]

Does this mean that shielding is good for protecting yourself from a person's negativity? If so, while I hate to say it, I could use it to shield myself from my mom who is EXTREMELY negative. I also didn't know that shielding could be good for social anxiety but this also seems true... Is it? LOL If so, I could definitely use it there as well since I have social anxiety :colorful:

Yes...this is exactly what it is for, among other things.

And this is one reason I wanted the story exchange--so you can learn from each other.

Elise

[Rin Daemoko]

Gosh! I feel like such a newbie asking all these questions but I didn't know that shielding was good for physical protection as well. I could definitely use that too being a single woman in this neighborhood and often having to walk in the dark. It sure would beat me being scared all the time :thumbsup:

Having said what I did, I think it's good to point out that while what I do does seem to prevent questionable people from taking an interest in me, I also do my best non-magically to deter possible threat-sources. Such as dressing inconspicuously, not making eye contact, and putting on my "don't f*ck with me" face.

[SammieAnn]

Please post some experiences that you've had in the past where you think that Magical Self Defense would have helped you.

What have you done in the past? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked?

And I jumped the gun when I asked what you wanted from the class in the Where are we from thread--if you want to re-iterate here you can.


Elise
I have been attacked in the past, about seven years ago, to the point I almost had myself commited. I did relize it was someone I knew who was using magic aggainst me and I did figure out a way to stop the attackes and get that person to leave me alone. It worked and maybe worked a little to well because he was afraid of me after all was said and done.
basically the way I stopped the person who sent me terrible dreams and nasty premonitions and who did the spell where my ceiling started to drip blood, was to where a braclet made out of willow branches, burn sage through every inch of my house and did a spell which sent back the energy where it came from and to a worse degree, and i sent that person a migraine.
I know it worked because the same person who did the spells on me in the first place later told me that he was in bed 3 days because he had a nasty migraine and was plagued by dreams of bugs and monsters trying to eat him.
If I would of had this class back then I would of known how to defend myself before it got to the point it did.

[StarCraftLia]

.

[~Elise~]

I'm happy we could all take this class, it sounds like we certainly need it! I think you're a good teacher, Pearls. I have a good feeling about this course. :)


I rarely pray about physical or spiritual protection anymore.. Sometimes I feel like the universe just doesn't care about little things like me, or atleast that's what they're telling me lately.

Thanks for the compliment.

I wouldn't go so far as to say the Universe doesn't care, but the Universe helps those who help themselves. Think about Nature, does it care who lives and who dies? No, it is neutral...Universe is the same way. It is basically survival of the fittest. I'm here to make you fitter (is that even a word?) and to give you survival skills.

Elise

[~Elise~]

One key to the success of this class is the participation, of EVERYONE, there are those who have not even started sharing and this is an easy lesson. What is it going to be like when there are more difficult things to do?

I'm not going to be your mama and ask each of you why you're not participating, but I will drop you from the class and add someone who really wants to take it.

Elise

[piperwyatt]

Okay, well, my experience that would have used magickal self-defense...it would have been helpful if I could have blocked a sexual assult. My neighbor is this old guy, and he's been really wierd. My mom and gran sent me over to his house with homemade goodies (fresh baked bread, homemade chix soup, etc.) on a regular basis since I was little. well, it was just a few years ago that he started to assult me because I "matured". I told my mom and gran about it, but they just blew me off. I wish I could have protected myself then, but I wasn't that experienced at the time.

I also have the tendencies to have the worst classmates (I'm currently a junior in high school). They are the pot heads, the druggies, and the suicidals. I want another way to protect myself from them besides casting light barriers between us and wasting all of my energy.

I know, i'm not that interesting, but these are only two situations that I can share at the time. There are others, but they are too painful for me to bring up yet. I'm still working on coping with them.

[lilyavalon]

Here is where I sound crazy:

A few years back I got sick in school. It was just a upset stomach but see Im typically healthy as a horse, but I have a family medical history that could stop a truck. But I'm generally good. Well I got sick with an upset stomach just out of the blue in the middle of the day with out eating anything. Later on, I went home and my father told me that my grandmother had died. I took that as a sign that she was telling me that something had gone wrong.

In December of 98 I was in college in Fl. Far away from my Ohio roots. In the middle of the day - wham i get hit with a sour stomach. I hadn't eaten anything since very early that morning. A bit later I call my mom, to talk about flights out for christmas break. Only to call on the worst day of my family's life. My father had died in a bad accident & from complications from his diabeties.

Lets see I also get very jumpy in big crowds. I always feel like Im going to get stepped on.

I also get what I call panic attacks. My lungs tighten, and I really cant move... but I sometimes get the same images over and over again. This has happened for about 3 years... I cant tell you what triggers it, the last one I had I was in my dining room and my husband was playing with the dog, One time I was driving home from work. The first time it happened I was on the floor of my bedroom talking on the phone.

I get super drained at my work (but I know that there are some evil forces working against me there... you just really run into people you dont like.) And Im officially blaming my second bought with this flu on work, because, if someone is sick at work - everyone will get it. Its a pestilance ward..

And with in the last month since I've started practicing I have been getting very vivid dreams. Something I havent gotten in a very long time.

okay... have I babled enough?

[MariThorn]

I have woven globes of light around myself for protection. I use different colors as I feel they are needed for each situation. I've done the simple white light thing before, but I find weaving the strands of light together helps keep things more.

I typically toss some salt into the fire place when there is negativity in the house . . . it works :) That or I burn the Black Cherry candle in the bedroom. Usually one of those two will calm everyone down.

I'm not really sure what all to write about :S I've done lots of things in the past, but I don't know if I should write them down or wait until we discuss them . . .

[Wyrdsister]

One key to the success of this class is the participation, of EVERYONE, there are those who have not even started sharing and this is an easy lesson. What is it going to be like when there are more difficult things to do?
Woah, hold on! :D I hadn't posted anything in this thread yet as I've been working a lot the past few days, and when I get home I like to sleep. My apologies for taking so long, but I didn't think a couple of days would rock the boat. :fpeace:

As for my experiences/reasons for taking the course: I don't think I've experiences a lot of strange or unusual experiences. I've always been very sensitive to the emotions, thoughts, and fears of those around me (most of us here are probably empathic to some degree :)), and being able to "read" people is second nature to me. When I was younger I found it very difficult to not take on the emotions of others near me and I'd get very overwhelmed.

When I started making contact with people in the pagan community, I started to experience this inability to keep others emotions from becoming my own again. When you're working with a group of people who are more energetically aware than the typical population you really need to bolster your defences! ;)

I also want to learn how to work deeper magic, so warding and setting up protected ritual space is important for that.

That's a good start for me, I think. I'll keep adding as I think of more.

Thanks!

Wyrdsister

[~Elise~]

Ehhh...Wyrdsister, sleep is highly over-rated :colorful:

Elise

[~Elise~]

Just to let you guys know...NONE of you are crazy, (well, not in the clinical sense, as far as I can tell)

We'll be able to help the empaths be able to shield a bit better so you don't feel so overwhelmed. I can't stress enough how important it will be to do this on a DAILY basis for at least three months--then it will decrease from there.

Those psychic vampires will also have to find fresh sources because we'll get you to the point of being untasty to them--not worth the effort.

Take heart, guys...help is on the way.

Elise

[Wyrdsister]

Ehhh...Wyrdsister, sleep is highly over-rated :colorful:
LOL! :D I'll try and remember that when my eyelids are drooping... downwards.. zzzzzzz.... HUH?! What? Where am I? :T

I'm really looking forward to getting started on exercises. Daily practice sounds so appealing to me.

BB!
Wyrdsister

[lilyavalon]

Just to let you guys know...NONE of you are crazy, (well, not in the clinical sense, as far as I can tell)

We'll be able to help the empaths be able to shield a bit better so you don't feel so overwhelmed. I can't stress enough how important it will be to do this on a DAILY basis for at least three months--then it will decrease from there.

Those psychic vampires will also have to find fresh sources because we'll get you to the point of being untasty to them--not worth the effort.

Take heart, guys...help is on the way.

Elise


can someone be a 'psychic vampire' and not know it. For example:

I have been working in a TV Station for 5 years, and there is a couple who once they came in about 3 years ago they made me feel uneasy. (mind you, my manager makes me feel uneasy too...) Ever since the two of them came in, people have gotten fired, and there has been alot of backstabing. Where once there was a nice but stressfull place - it was only stressfull for an hour or so when we were doing the show. But now you always have to watch your back. Its never comfertable to work there, and you have to hide from people so you dont get caught. There are days that it angers me to even listen to her giggle. Because I have to watch my back while she gets to sit there and giggle and do things that I cant - although I've been there longer.

Im tired all the time at work (and thats a new thing in the past year) Im really woried that Im the next to be fired. I cant get any higher in my work or a different shift with better hours. Because it feels like my manager (whos real chummy with the couple) has it out for me. Am I paranoid or just over stressed? Is there something I can do in this class that will help? Or do I really need to find another job?

Is there away to protect others without them knowing it? or is that infringing on the creed?

[~Elise~]

The answer to the questions is yes. yes, you will be able to help yourself. You CAN help others, but you'd do better and expend less energy by shutting the psy vamp down.
yes, you'll be able to turn her actions against her... and let her be seen as she truly is. (if you don't figure how to do that by the end of class, PM me and I'll help you out)

Elise

[~Elise~]

Lesson 2 is up!

Elise

[medit8ive_spirit]

Thanks for lesson one and I have already posted here and in lesson two

[~Elise~]

y'all are doing great so far...keep it up. The actual hard work starts with lesson #3

Elise

[LadyAriana]

Without reiterating the whole ordeal, I was attacked psychicly once, and had one very brief encounter with a psychic vampire.

My main reason for taking this course is to protect myself and my loved ones, mostly my home. My hometown is rather psychically faint and my defenses have been down far too long. I wish to learn how to use the energies that do exist.

[SalzMaedchen]

Ok, wow I hope I'm not too late here, as I thought lessons were posted on Mondays (I'll do better to post as soon as I see a lesson from now on).
I don't have any real story about being magically attacked that I can recall. I have been in situations where after spending several hours with specific people I would come home and feel extremely emotionally drained and physically tired. I suppose that they could have been unidentified psychic vampires or something similar. Most of these people are not associated with the magical realm that I know of, since I usually am fairly good friends with them to know how they feel spiritually. I suppose mainly I want to take this class to learn how to shield myself from these kinds of people once I know they make me feel this way. It would also be nice to be able to sense magical attacks or energy absorbing things before it actually happens. What somewhat scares me is most people here have stories of seeing shadowy creatures before or during an attack and I have never seen anything like this. I can only wonder just how much is out there that I'm not currently perceptive to. Opening up my mind to these things would be nice.
Oh yes, as for things I already to, I try to put up a bubble around me if I feel something threatening, but I'm very unsure of my skills at this point, so usually I have no idea if it is working. More confidence I'm sure would lead to a better protective bubble/shield.

[LadyCelt]

with someone I feel is a psychic vampire at the bar. I did my first ever shielding besides practice a while back and have not seen him since. It could be coincidence though.

[~Elise~]

Most who know me, esp. my IRL students, would immediately pop back to you that there is no such thing as coincidence. I say that alot.

Elise

[LyraDragonStar]

yea, I believe everything happens for a reason. That's just me though.

[Ice Rose]

ive been physically attacked before, among other ways, but it just scared me because i was so messed up i couldnt do anytihng, i am ruled by my emotions and thats what scares me... as well as many other things, am i crazy? no i just have abilities other dont understand.

[Meriwen]

Still running behind but catching up. My best friend was a physic vampire I could not protect myself so I ended a friendship of ten years because I became very ill. I don't know much about setting wards or protection. I need help against night terrors.

[Syn]

It was morning in our school and it was first period. I was sitting in the canteen skipping out on my first class with my head down. This girl walks in and sits about twenty feet away from me, and she puts her stuff on the table and takes out a book and faces towards me I put my head back down and I start to feel something pulling away from me and I realized it was my energy. So I started to pull hers, but at the same time I was thinking of her pulling mine away which would give me more I don't remember where I read that, I took a sip from my coke and felt the pull gone I looked to see if she was there and she was gone her chair was pushed in. I only took 5 seconds looking away from her and she was gone, I find it a little strange she was wearing glasses (shades whatever you like to call them).