Sometimes, people who have been led on by books of easy spells or instant enlightenment fined there seems to be a presence lurking around them, some sort of dark shadow which is perceived at the edge of vision, by day and night. They are certain that there attempts at magick have awoken some sort of Black Magician or other entity. What is really troubling them is their own Shadow, quite literally. For the time the subtle levels of ordinary awareness have been expanded to bring into focus the darker side of the person's own nature. It has always been there, it is just that any kind of psychic activity, be it basic meditation, simple pathworking and the like, will have expanded perception just enough for it to appear around the edge of the screen of reality. It cannot be banished, and many people do try really hard to apply all sorts of high-powered banishing rituals to this aspect of their own beings. Instead of fading quietly into the mist, as the books would suggest, the Shadow gets bigger and blacker, and more haunting. The way to deal with it is by acknowledging its existence, as part or yourself. It may be the forgotten self, the ignored self, the repressed self, even, but it is still quite real, and actually a valuable, part of the complex and unique being which is you. Get to know it, befriend it and it will guide you safely through the realms in which it is more at home. become aware of the failings and thoughts you have, and try, in the light of that knowledge to cope with them and overcome them. look at the past, meditate on it, alone and secretly, until you banish the dark shadow and it becomes a shining light, ready to illuminate the path before you. Learn to accept the guidance of this evolving aspect of your being, permitting it to know your fears, and find ways of working in harmony so that you can overcome them. It is a part of the landscape of the mind, and will be far more use if you allow it to function properly, as your conscience or Guardian Angel. The Guardian may well also turn up in dreams, to protect you from real dangers, like straying too far from the path of reason on your early journeys through that realm. You may begin to see it in your inner travels. It may take the form of a totem animal, or a small familiar, for being of shadow-substance, it can shape-change at will, or if you request it to change, perhaps it will obey. But if out of fear or lack of knowledge you try to drive it away, it will seem to grow larger, and really haunt your dreams |
