Hey guys, So this might be a bit of a text wall/rant/frustrated ramble. I apologize in advance. There's a TL:DR down at the bottom that gets to my questions!
So, I had my first encounter with (what I believe to be) a trickster spirit recently. I was doing a tarot reading, trying to communicate with a member of my Keep, and the reading was just... all bad. I'd go so far as to say it was outright cruel. Messages like they are unhappy, I'm a bad keeper, there's no way to mend the relationship, I should give up, etc.
Now, my spirit is not above some tough love, but he has never been anything but sweet and patient with me, so I am 100% sure it wasn't him. However, during the reading I *felt* his usual physical manifestations (full-body tingling is usually his signature). I am not sure if whatever I was talking to was replicating his energy to fool me, or if that was my spirit trying to warn me that it wasn't him. Like a "Hey, that's not me. THIS is me."
I immediately shut down the communication once I realized what was going on, and firmly demanded that the spirit leave. I also asked my Duojna and Cwn Annwn to kindly (or not so kindly, if necessary) see the interloper out. However, even though I know I wasn't talking to my spirit, the reading has left me in a slump every since. I haven't wanted to do any form of divination after that, and I have been hesitant to try communicating with my keep. It's not that I am afraid of the Trickster spirit, but it did trigger a depressive episode that I haven't been able to shake.
Right after it I had a reading done for my spirit, just to make sure everything really was ok, and the conjurer/reader told me that my spirit was fine, but he has been trying to warn me about something or someone, and that there is something suppressing him that is making it hard for him to communicate with me. I am not sure if the "something" is an outside force or my own block/depression. Lately I have been extremely irritable, depressed and low energy. I'm not sure how to find out what is going on. Normally I would do a reading on it, but..
I'm careful to cleanse my space and tools before *and* after a reading, and to close my space to outsiders when I am communicating with my keep. I have quite a few highly protective spirits in my keep who should be keeping unbounds out and tarot is something I have done for years, so I am comfortable that I wasn't reading the cards wrong.
The whole situation has made me realize that I am really lacking in my knowledge of banishing practices as well as discernment, and I would really like to get better at those but I am not sure how -- especially when it comes to discernment. That is coming up a lot for me I feel like that is a huge area where I need work. For banishing, I know people love the LBRP, but I don't feel 100% comfortable using it since it calls upon Archangels and I don't follow an Abrahamic religion.
TL:DR -
Do any of you have tips for improving your discernment for a raw beginner who isn't yet skilled at energy or spirit work?
And any leads on banishment rituals that aren't based on Abrahamic religion or Wicca, for when you need to get something really nasty out of your space and a quick smoke cleansing isn't cutting it?
Thanks guys!
That is amazingly generous of you, thank you!
I have been so busy I haven’t had time to see everyones posts. Do to the nature of what you have experienced I will add a feature to the pathfinder program designed to help with this type of situation. Weekly Reiki blessings for everyone at the Pro level and up. This will help ensure that nasty energies are repelled from your space weekly. You wont need to do anything other than give me promission to send it to you. Reiki is nondenominational and can provide a potent clearing power for any space. I will add a blessing request page to the website for sick family members soon as a free service for anyone who has sick people in their Family Covid-19 or otherwise.