I’m sure you’ve all heard the term “psychic vampire”, which is a person who drains your personal energy like a vampire drains blood.
I’m not talking about taking leftover power from an event, energy that’s just lingering around there without a purpose. Churches, music concerts, political rallies and holiday parades often generate this kind of free-flowing power that has no outlet, and using that power is a type of chaos magick. And that’s perfectly acceptable. Nor am I talking about willingly sharing energy. Children sometimes swipe energy from parents, who can either accept it – giving permission to sustain the child – or gently teach them not to take others’ stuff. Lovers often willingly exchange power. Rather, an energy vampire intentionally drains others’ personal life force for their own benefit – without consent. It’s stealing. Energy vampires are thieves. An energy vampire is a grown adult with some psychic awareness who deliberately appropriates others’ power, sucks away their positive emotions, robs them of their strength without replacing it with anything. They hover around powerful folks, making them feel tired, depressed, and worn-out. And I don’t see the point, because cultivating your own personal energy is just as easy as taking it from someone else. Don’t be “that guy”. Raise your own damn energy! Dance, sing, light a candle, appreciate a beautiful sunset, tap into the forces of earth, sea, and sky, and merge with deity or psychic entities (however you see deity). Eat healthy food, stay hydrated, use sexual energy with consent, exercise, find meaningful hobbies and pass-times, enhance your mind and spirit. Do some drumming! There are plenty of methods of finding and using the power of the beneficent universe, of which we’re all a part. A hyena is even worse than a psychic vampire. Like the African canines that follow herds of antelope or buffalo, hoping for a chance to attack the weak or the sick, a human hyena is a creature that steals energy from those who are already fragile. They might seek out an empowered person, and try to find a friend or relative of theirs, someone who is experiencing physical weakness or mental challenges. They might look for a person who is at a low point in their lives, such as the recently divorced. We’ve all heard of guys who browse Tinder, attempting to find a partner with low self-esteem, then building them up with false compliments, so they can be “groomed” to use sexually. Well, a hyena does the same thing in Real Life. They seek out people who are suffering physically, say, recovering from cancer. They find lonely women. They look for folks who are undergoing depression or anxiety, and sometimes, they’ll try to make it worse. A hyena will gaslight and poke holes in one’s psyche. Or they’ll give a lot of fake compliments, and then home in for the kill. And then, the human hyena will feed on the weakened individual’s personal spiritual energy. Just like an animal hyena feeds on the weakest calf in the herd. How can you spot this? Is there someone in your circle of acquaintances who is perfectly healthy, but makes you feel tired, sick, weak, anxious, or depressed, every time you encounter them? Do you feel drained after talking with them? Do you dream about them, and the dreams are not good? Do you have a loved one who struggles with mental health, who experiences a downturn after you’ve encountered a particular person? Do you have pets who were perfectly healthy, but now have become ill? Are you experiencing a lot of setbacks, when previously, you were thriving? If someone in your peer group always has fantastic luck, but the rest of you can’t seem to catch a break, that person might be a psychic hyena. Or if a person is always flush with cash, although they have no visible means of support – and they’re always asking for stuff and money. You and your partner might argue in this person’s presence, when normally your relationship is stable. A person may be “Lady Bountiful” when others are enduring the loss of a loved one or suffering from an illness, but they’re really not giving support or comfort, they’re just swallowing the emotions of sadness and pain. If you are psychically sensitive, and you can feel, sense, perceive that an individual is using you, stealing your energy, you’ll know it. You might deny it at first. Divination and meditation can help you to discover the hyenas in your midst. How can you prevent the hyena from hyena-ing? Personal shielding and psychic self-defense. Wear amulets that have been charged on a holy day (sabbat) or under the light of a full moon, with the intent of personal safety. Home protection, using talismans, prayer, and calling upon ancestors, deities, or other entities. Place railroad spikes or big iron nails around the perimeter of your home, your bedroom, or your workspace – points facing inward. Doing fortification rites for loved ones who might be in a weakened state. Empower them! “Smudging” or smoke-cleansing persons and your personal spaces. Casting black salt around your spaces. Identifying the hyena-person, and cutting any hidden psychic cords they have linked to you. And of course, beef up your own energy. Start with an aural body “sweep”. In your mind’s eye, envision your psychic body. Scrutinize it from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. Don’t forget your back, your genitalia, inside your ears. Look for things that resemble blisters full of stale blood or pus (sorry, gross, but that’s what they resemble to me). Those might be “feeding” sites for a psychic vampire. Remove them using a magickal “weapon” such as an athame. Consciously, intentionally focus on healing these places. Check for attachments that you did not consent to. Envision the culprit, using your psychic capabilities or divination tools. You might want to ask an impartial reader for help. If you have a suspicion, mentally look to see if they have some type of “stash” of other people’s energy, like a closet, a chest, a bank vault. When I did this, I saw shelves neatly labeled with names of individuals, and ceramic jars with portions of their energy contained inside. It’d been so polluted that it was not viable, so I opened the jars (in my mind’s eye) and returned them to the earth – much like composting rotten food. The Earth can heal, and restore, and turn bacteria-laden mulch into rich brown soil for cultivation. So can the Earth transform baleful energy into something positive. If you can’t find the culprit, just do a generalized sweep around you. Look for psychic cords that might resemble chains or ropes or even green slimy strings of mucous (again, sorry, gross). See if you can find their source. Use an athame or other magickal weapon and cut those cords. Strengthen yourself, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Connect to Spirit. Look for positive situations in life, simple things, such as beautiful landscapes and birds and Nature, children’s laughter, funny memes, silly comedies, bad puns. Do good deeds, which ramps up your own emotional shields – really, it does! Ground and center on a daily basis. Journal about events that made you happy. Use mindful gratitude. Yeah, all of this sounds like New Age drivel, but trust me, it WORKS. Avoid the psychic hyena if you can, but sometimes that’s not possible. If it’s your stepfather who lives with you, or your boss or co-worker at your job, or a teacher at school, you can’t get fully away from them. You CAN do prayers, spell-workings, and brief chants to protect yourself. Wear an amulet that stores power or connects you to Spirit. Cast a circle or draw a compass around your bed, your desk, your cubicle. Carry crystals that have protective aspects, such as hematite, jasper, tiger-eye, amethyst, and black tourmaline. Use words of power (if at work or school, chant them silently in your head, or write them down). “Curses, hexes, sorcery, attempts to disempower me, are incapable of harming me, and also my family, remove any bane from me, ground it in the earth and wash it in the sea, as my will so mote it be!” I’m sure you can come up with a better poem. And of course, keep that pipeline to Spirit, to the powers of the bountiful abundant universe, your ancestors, your deities. However tempted you may be, do NOT attempt to attack the hyena and cause it harm. They usually do themselves in, anyway. Or the Gods give them a thump, because, well, they do that – look at folktales for examples. But you really should concentrate your energy and your conscious thought on empowering yourself and your loved ones. This is sooo much more effective than trying to punish. Pretty soon, you will be so mentally strong and capable that the hyenas can’t touch you, any more than wild hyenas will attack the lead bull of the herd.
11/3/2022
New Fun Classes!Very pleased and stoked to announce some new events and classes sponsored by Witches of West Michigan! Since its inception less than a year ago, the group has grown enormously. They've presented several divination events, holiday celebrations and workshops, and a presentation at Grand Rapids Pagan Pride including the Witches' Broom Dance, There have been numerous coffee-house meetups in several cities, called of course "Witches' Brew", including the one that I'm facilitating in Kalamazoo. Ours will be on the second Friday of each month, beginning on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 pm at Water Street Coffee Joint on Oakland Drive in K'zoo. There'll be WoWM merch there to help fund events and holiday celebrations. https://www.facebook.com/events/468488111436398/607377800880761/?active_tab=about Starting in January, there will be beginning and intermediate Belly Dancing facilitated by Nicki, a Witch choir, and mine and Dave's DRUMMING CIRCLE on the first Sunday of the Month at DAAC in Grand Rapids, and also a folkplay class, with performances at various venues. Folkplays are an older British Isles custom, also called guizing, mumming, ritual theater, skits, and "singing for your supper". They're a terrific way to raise energy, meet others, and have fun. More Info from Katrina, Witches of West Michigan facilitator:
Attention, performers! We're finally able to announce that we've contracted with The DAAC to host monthly performance workshops and collectives, starting January 2023! We'll start the month (and the year! We start on January 1st) off with a first Sunday Drumming Circle led by A.C. Fisher-Aldag! https://www.facebook.com/.../62919334198.../629193371981070/ And immediately following, The Michigan Muses, directed by Willow Wren, will host their monthly Choir rehearsal! https://www.facebook.com/.../42979743256.../429797462566924/ On second Sundays, A.C. will be hosting monthly Folkplay Workshops, focusing on pagan ritual theater traditions from the British Isles! https://www.facebook.com/.../1840507636.../1840507656294806/ And on fourth Sundays, Nikki Hardenburgh- Ashendorf is reviving The Mystik Dancers for belly dancing classes! You can join the beginner class - https://www.facebook.com/.../45479621663.../454796226635088/ Or the intermediate class, for those with a beledi background - https://www.facebook.com/.../65087169308.../650871703084480/ ALL of these classes are open to the public. Yes, you can bring your husband! You can also bring your non-witch friends! For the drum circle, folkplay workshops, and choir rehearsals, we're asking for a $5 love offering to cover the space rental. The belly dancing classes will be $11 each. And there will be performances at our sabbat events! I hope to see you all there!
11/2/2022
Ghost Kitty UpdateThis is an update for those who've been following the saga of itty bitty Ghost Kitty. Ghost was found in the rain around Sept. 25, 2022 at about 2 weeks old, far too early to separate from her mom. Dave looks after a feral colony which lives in our outbuildings. We can't really do medical care for them, because of the expense, but also because most of the cats run away whenever humans walk near. So Dave feeds & waters 'em, but that's about it. Anyway, I put Ghost back inside the tumbledown building, and that was that... until Dave found her snuggling up to her dead litter-mates, no parents in sight. He took pity on her, and brought her into the house. She was covered in fleas, her eyes were glued shut with mucous, she had ear mites, and she was unable to eat on her own. Ghost was about the size of Dave's palm. We picked literally hundreds of fleas off of poor the little tyke's body, and fed her kitten milk replacer with a syringe. Five hundred bucks later, Ghost was de-flea'd, de-wormed, had been given antibiotics, ear mite medicine and special growth kitten food. She slept in our bed, and had to be fed and helped to "eliminate" every couple of hours. I'm glad I'm not a mother cat, and have to do that with my tongue. Yuck! We'd just adopted a tortoise-shell female from Al-Van Humane Society, and didn't want any more consarned felines. But the gods had other ideas! Cassie the tortie has been helping to take care of Ghost. We took Ghost everywhere with us, including to a cabin near Lake Michigan, to the Ancestor Supper in Detroit (don't tell the Best Western Hotel) and to Witches of West Michigan Divination and Drag. She likes to ride in the car and in Dave's pocket. During the trip to GR, Ghost got very ill, She was walking like a drunken sailor, holding her head to the side in a weird position. She became very lethargic, had trouble breathing, and we worried that we would lose her. But a dozen witches doing "onlays" or laying-on of hands, spell workings, prayers, and blessings really helped. Magick WORKS! The vet told us the illness was caused by her upper respiratory infection and the ear mites. Dr. Carl of Bangor Veterinary Clinic provided us with kitten parasite remover and more antibiotics. Acting in accord with magick! This whole thing is kinda strange to me because in our culture, WHITE is the color of DEATH, and so white animals are viewed as spirit beings. GThe image to the right is of the Lady Wen, a ghost-like figure in Cymric mythology. She leads unwary travelers to their doom. But Ghost will tell you that she, herself, is very good luck. Here is Ghost, much larger and healthier at 7 weeks, giving Daddy Dave a much-needed bath. She goes to the vet again today because she's now big enough to get her normal round of vaccinations. Likes: Dad, the wet food with the chunks of chicken and fish, playing with toys, tormenting the adult cats, magick, Dislikes: Paper towel, having her face washed, yucky medicine.
10/30/2022
I <3 Halloween. That is all.
10/22/2022
Autumn's Bright HuesEvery year around my birthday, I have to go leaf-peeping. Here's one of this year's spectacular results.
10/21/2022
Samhain / Nos Galan EventsThis year we're attending a lot of fun events around the New Year, aka Samhain. My talk about the holy day is on my "Works" page on this site. There's the Ancestor Feast in Warren, sponsored by Michigan Pagans / Detroit Conjure / Magical Education Council on the 22nd. That will involve food, a meeting in a hotel, raffles, a ceremony, and an ancestor shrine. There's Divination and Drag on the 23rd at the Little Space Studio in Grand Rapids. That's exactly what it sounds like, auguring the future and a Drag Show! There's also vendors and workshops. I'm doing mine on Magick 101 aka the "Baby Witch" class. The outline for that is also on the Works page here on my website. Then there's various town gatherings, Scouts, the public school's party sponsored by the Hispanic club, and the American Legion's party. For the holiday itself, there is the wonderful Beyond the Gate held at Goddess Grotto in Allegan, co-sponsored by Mother Moon and Sanctuary of the Winds. That includes workshops, rituals, a bonfire, a dumb supper, pumpkin carving, and honoring those who've gone before. Happy and blessed holy nights!
9/28/2022
Oh dear, deerSince we don’t hunt our land, it has become the deer superhighway. There are three does who habitually visit, browse a little, munch on the wild apples (fine) and my domestic apple trees (not cool, Bambi). While not tame, they’re pretty accustomed to the scent of people. I take them as a good omen, even when they’re pooping ten feet from the house. Do you MIND? A little privacy would be nice!!! Sorry photos are blurry, they were taken at dawn out of my bedroom's dirty window.
9/13/2022
God Save WhatsherfaceQueen Elizabeth has passed on. I can't say I'm unhappy about it. She was a tyrant to the people of Ireland, Wales, and numerous other British colonies, especially Austrailia. She was in favor of the unjust prosecution of freedom fighters and separatists. She actively suppressed indigenous cultures, along with the rest of her family. Since the Windsors own 1/4 of all the property in the UK, you'd think QE2 wouldn't require taxpayer funds to celebrate her jubilee, but there you have it. Mixed reactions from Wales, some of whom are in mourning -- but I'm also told that others were lighting fireworks, lifting a glass, and /or downright ignoring the funerals, parades, and pomp and circumstance. No council in Wales broadcast the funeral services. Others are saying "give Wales back to the Welsh" and are unhappy about someone from the Windsor line, who are historically and genetically NOT Cymric, becoming "Prince of Wales". Sorry for the political post, but I had to say something.
8/20/2022
Wolf Run FunWolf Run Wildlife and Spiritual Sanctuary is a hidden gem in Remus MI. The caretakers, Stan and Altona “Toni” Newcombe, are just the most friendly people in Michigan. On the site, there are a few acres to ramble, shrines, dancing, singing and drumming, feasts including an awesome “stone soup” breakfast, workshops and events. They host an Earth Day gathering, a fairy Midsummer, a Wild Women’s Retreat, and the Harvest Festival w/ divination and vendors on the second weekend of August. Bell Book & Canto, the resident band, even has their own fortress! The admission is very reasonable, so be sure to contribute some to the raffles and other fundraisers. A shrine at WRWSS You can view their website Here: https://wrwss.miwebs.net/ They also have a quarterly newsletter. Even though it rained off and on the entire weekend, and was COLD with a capital C – 47 degrees in AUGUST – we still had a fabulous time. We met new friends and connected with old ones. There was a big circus tent where performances, workshops, and dinner still occurred, despite the downpour. There were over 10 vendors, amazing for a festival of this size – 50 to 75 people. There were belly dancers and fire-flingers. And the FOOD. Ohmigods. So. Much. FOOD! Wolf Run is also a nice place to get married, to honor Spirit, to hang out with pals – people had been bugging me for years to go, and we were so glad we did. The rates are very reasonable. Be sure to check out the Wolf Run Wildlife & Spiritual Sanctuary FB page for updates on events. https://www.facebook.com/groups/225985570838111
7/30/2022
Butterfly BonanzaThe butterfly garden has shelter for beneficial insects year-round. In springtime, there are various kinds of daisies: oxeye, fleabane, and shasta; in high summer, zinnias, marigolds, queen Anne’s lace, chicory, Indian paintbrush, and echinacea, and in autumn, goldenrod and purple asters. We’ve tried planting butterfly weed but it hasn’t taken in that stony sandy soil. Of course, there is milkweed for the monarchs, of which we saw two or three in late autumn. Mostly it was yellow or black swallowtails and the little endangered orange marsh butterflies. The garden is also beneficial to bees, both native and our own honeybee hive.
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A.C. Fisher Aldag
Chronicler of Cymric Folklore, Granmother and grouch. Enjoyer of good food. Archives
April 2024
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Common Magick from Llewellyn Worldwide
Witches & Pagans # 38 & # 39 from BBI Llewellyn's Witches' Companion 2022, 2023 & 2034 from Llewellyn Worldwide Llewellyn's Spell-a-Day Almanac, 2025 from Llewellyn Worldwide |
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