Strength through purpose; Courage through resolve; Power through focus. Lupus Superioris Dark Hearts mantra 1
Chapter 1: Revelation We are wolves, so we tell ourselves in the dead of night when nobody can hear us. We are wolves; those are our dreams when we allow our minds to wander. We are wolves, those are our words spoken with clenched teeth when humanities burden is too great to bear. But we are not not wolves, not really. really. Wolves do not dream as we do, they the y have neither our want or desires nor our strength and weaknesses. They do not believe in anything and have little desires beyond living their lives. They are so unlike us that for us to make the misconception of being wolves would be the biggest mistake in our lives. That does not mean however that we are not alike. We We both hold our packs, our families dear. We are all willing to do what it takes for our survival. We are both fighters when our time comes and do not run when what we hold is dear to us is in danger. danger. In that sense we are wolves and we are different different from the masses of humanity humanity.. We We worship the wolf as a symbol, we seek to emulate his strengths and discard the weakness of grander humanity. The absolute truth is that we are neither wolf nor man but both. We We are more than what humanity makes us to be and we are more than we allow ourselves to dream. In this everyone can be sure, for I know know that in your darkest hours you came closer to the nature of your inner beast than you care to admit. You You feel it pounding in your blood, you hear its call ringing in your ears, you are confused by half imagined images and you are transformed as the power of its call flows through your very soul. For some of you this transition might have been peaceful, for others a terrible experience that remolded your lives. At the end of things only one thing really matters. When you stared into the recess of your own soul and the wolf stared back, what choice did you make?
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Chapter 1: Revelation We are wolves, so we tell ourselves in the dead of night when nobody can hear us. We are wolves; those are our dreams when we allow our minds to wander. We are wolves, those are our words spoken with clenched teeth when humanities burden is too great to bear. But we are not not wolves, not really. really. Wolves do not dream as we do, they the y have neither our want or desires nor our strength and weaknesses. They do not believe in anything and have little desires beyond living their lives. They are so unlike us that for us to make the misconception of being wolves would be the biggest mistake in our lives. That does not mean however that we are not alike. We We both hold our packs, our families dear. We are all willing to do what it takes for our survival. We are both fighters when our time comes and do not run when what we hold is dear to us is in danger. danger. In that sense we are wolves and we are different different from the masses of humanity humanity.. We We worship the wolf as a symbol, we seek to emulate his strengths and discard the weakness of grander humanity. The absolute truth is that we are neither wolf nor man but both. We We are more than what humanity makes us to be and we are more than we allow ourselves to dream. In this everyone can be sure, for I know know that in your darkest hours you came closer to the nature of your inner beast than you care to admit. You You feel it pounding in your blood, you hear its call ringing in your ears, you are confused by half imagined images and you are transformed as the power of its call flows through your very soul. For some of you this transition might have been peaceful, for others a terrible experience that remolded your lives. At the end of things only one thing really matters. When you stared into the recess of your own soul and the wolf stared back, what choice did you make?
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Awakening
As you lie in bed at night thinking how little life makes sense you start to sweat, to breath heavily, heavily, to feel sick and nauseous. Your Your head might swim or your temperature might go up. You are visited by strange dreams and visions and find that you cannot break their hold over you even in the waking hours of the day. You You try desperately to get up, to call for help, but you cannot, your body body is not yours anymore, pain pain lashes it, your muscles tense and you find yourself unable to move. You You are in the grip of change, real change! Forget now the stories you heard, forget the certainty of tomorrow for tonight your very soul is to be touched by a power far greater than you. The experience will remold you, will change you and while it might be heaven for some and hell for others at the end of the night you will wake up wondering if the dreams you had were true. As you get up from your bed you find yourself feeling strange as if you have been exposed to a whole new form of life. lif e. You You have, even more you have been reborn. You You will see the world through different eyes; you will experience it in a way you never imagined. The things that once scared you and filled your heart with hope and despair will become insignificant. For you are no longer human, not really, you been touched by something bigger and deep down you feel that this was always you, just caged and screaming to be let out. As the first cracks appear you begin to search for others like you. This search leads you far and wide into the world for your answers. By the end you find that once you arrived you had already become someone else, someone new. new. Your Your path may never be clear but you will accept this new life with open arms. a rms. You have already alre ady accepted it. You can fight it if you want of course, deny the serenity, or the sanity, of my words and think nothing of it. But the call of what I speak of is strong and it does not need a mortal voice to prove of its reality. Go on deny it, find yourself than locked in a battle in what you think you should believe and what you want to believe. Try and create an alternate reality, but it will do you little good. Any mask is only as good as its user and I know that behind that masks is someone screaming for release, for understanding, for purpose. This is undeniable for it is humanity’s curse and is breed in each and every one of us from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Keep on struggling if you want and see where it leads you and how much happiness it brings. Hide your sorrow under company and consumption, mask the odor of despair by false pride and ego, in the end the more you deny
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it the more it becomes part of you. You can either let it take over or you can allow it to take you down. If you are however ready to accept it, than by all means do not be afraid to take the first step and leap into the abyss and see what waits for you at the bottom. Fear is unnecessary for what monster can hurt you in the dark if you are the apex predator. Despair is pointless for you are not alone in this. As you have screamed for a purpose so have others and their cries were answered just as yours are being answered. From this point on you are no longer what you been, your previous disgraces and achievements null, you begin a new life. So I welcome you brothers and sisters. I welcome you to your new life. I embrace you as my pack members for you have just taken your first step towards awakening. awakening.
“A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step”
Chapter 2: Introduction Introduction My name is Tirenan Lupercal Noccien and I am the creator of this codex. The words I write here are only for my packmates, my friends and most promising students. They are not meant for those whose mind is too small to understand it or a will to weak to read them. You can spy a copy, copy, try and use it without proper guidance and try tr y to bastardise it, but I will not be held responsible for what happens to you than. To the rest I wish a warm hello. There isn’t much to write here really, those who received this copy know me and are aware of my practices. I am willing to go far for my belief and I am passionate about it. I do not believe in waiting for a savior or giving the world time to produce an answer for our questions. I am hell bent on making the society into a larger and more organized entity, one that is not just capable of surviving the test of time by inspiring new generations, but is also able to defend itself and work towards greater goals than the simple wants and desires of a spoiled individual. We live in times of change, the society is young and growing and the previous generation has given precious little for the masses of followers that are now appearing worldwide. Thus we have an incredible duty set before us, we must organize the society, teach it and arm it for the days ahead and we must do it all within our own lifetime. This is my goal and this is the challenge I set before all of you. You You might be preoccupied with your own world, face your own problems and feel that this is no worth pursuing, if that is the case than I call you liars. If I chose to give this book to you than it is because I know that something in your psyche won’t allow you to give up on these dreams, just as you never gave up on yourself. To be a pack member is one of the greatest honors most of us had had in our lives, to help others like us was always a part of what we become, but to truly change the world is something we only dreamed about. And dreams are enough…Dreams led you to pursue what you were, to not give up when faced with an obstacle, to stand firm in the face of opposition and to continue going when any sane man would quite. From dreams nations have risen. What reasons do we, as people who pursue our own dreams with such vigor, have as an excuse for not making this happen? 4
Agreeing with my views is not important for I already taken the precaution of choosing you from people who worked towards this goal, even if you have not realized it. Even so actions are needed more than words at this point. However at this stage my words are my strongest action and I mean to arm you with the knowledge my words will bring so you can begin to realize the challenge I set before you. That is what the codex is for, a book with written secrets on not just how to improve yourself, but to give you the tools whit which you can start the formation of a society.
The Dark Hearts pack symbol How does the codex work exactly? The codex works in much the same way as a religious text and an army manual might work. Chapters will refer to spiritual practices, physical exercises, real knowledge about existing societies, how to establish packs and how to set up running systems of government for each groups while still staying true to our beliefs. Each chapter will contain a mainstream explanation for the topic (where it can be given), the different views and techniques towards performing said task (again, where it can be given) and my own views on how it actually should be done. I will try and make each chapter as self-sufficient as possible so you won’t spend spend all of your time looking for previous previous chapters. I will also list the dangers of performing certain tasks (as we don’t want to lose anyone). Finally I shall also try and show you how to use such a technique in a group. While reading through the book you will find several quotes, short stories and songs. These ultimately tie in with the chapter you are reading and are inspirational works. Meanwhile the pictures are either artwork taken from various sites and used to make the book more appealing to actual working graphs used for the purposes of more easily explaining a given subject. For those of you who words to reach your the call I thank, for leave this issue that I do not hold a but am disappointed your experience to be allowing the younger your story.
have allowed my heart and taken up those of you who unanswered, know grudge against you that you allowed lost to time, never generation to hear
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“It is the faith of all men, great and small, to one day lay their heads down and fade into the black abyss of death. Our bodies decay but our spirits endure. Some men mark their passing by great acts of atrocity or compassion but in the end their actions endure far longer than any man made monument. They frighten & inspire, torment & embolden, teach & enlighten future generations of men, women and children. By these, the acts of one man, all are immortal. Echoing in each tortured soul born to this plane of existence, their passing etched in the face of every newborn child. We are the products of great people who have gone before us, thus we have greatness in us. By this ultimate truth is fear cast aside, despair obliterated and the chains of oppression broken. And although ultimately all of us will have a story to tell only those who see this truth will tell a story worth remembering. Strength through purpose; Courage through resolve; Power through focus.”
Chapter 3: Basic information Knowledge, knowledge is the only real thing I can give you, knowledge is power and with its use I mean to make you better prepared for the world you are about to enter. In this chapter you will find some very basic information about the expressions and words commonly used amongst the wider society. It is important to know all of these explanations before diving deeper into the secret arts I intend to show you. Not only will they help you communicate easier amongst other members of the community, but will also help in the progression of your education and those around you, your pack. Common phrases
Society: A society is a group of people living and working together towards a common set of goals, which are most often survival and prosperity of its members. They are linked by similar genetic traits (black skin, blonde hair, short overall height…), living space (country), religious beliefs (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism…) and so on.
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When I refer to the society in this codex however, I am referring to different groups of people who live all around the world and follow a belief system that, although having many It is important to note that a pack and a society is not the same thing. A pack is an extension of the society, much the same as a small village in France doesn’t represent the whole nation but is rather a small part of it. Packs and alphas may claim that they are completely separate from the wider community, but this is simply not the case. It just means that they are fiercely independent and isolate themselves from the going on of the wider community.
different sects, still holds many same traditions, beliefs and goals. The actual naming of groups of people who never met each other a society is not my creation, rather it was used as a catch it all term for the many different movements who make up a much larger entity. Wolf: In normal conversational terms a wolf is the forefather for every breed of dog on the planet. It lives in the wild. It is most known for living in packs, howling and unfortunately doing harm to human livestock. In the society however the wolf takes on an almost č2religious symbolism, much like the cross or the crested moon of other greater religions. The actual word wolf is used to refer to one of two things. Either it is used to refer to the animal itself, which the society holds very dear to heart as it is an almost living embodiment of freedom, wisdom, loyalty and generally everything a member of the society would want to be. Or it is used to explain one’s belief. You see the society doesn’t have names for itself as other great religions do. A follower of Jesus Christ calls himself a Christian, a follower of Mohamed calls himself a Muslim a follower of Hinduism calls himself a Hindu. But the wider society simply hasn’t given much thought about its own naming or been around that long for a term to be used widely. So many members simply refer to themselves as wolves. It is important to note that while one calls himself a wolf, it doesn’t mean he is being stupid and neglecting the obvious differences between him and real wolves. It is more a simplified way of saying: “I believe in the werewolf legend and many things that go with it. I am a member of the society and consider myself to have the spirit of a wolf.” While this way of explaining that you’re a follower of a larger belief system is popular, it may bring you into conflict with other groups. Should this happen, simply keep calm and explain to them that you are using the simplified calling of your belief in order to save time. Werewolf: Combined from the words “were”, meaning man, and wolf, the actual meaning of the word is man-wolf. The word refers to individuals who are cursed to transform into a wolf like beast under the full moon. Folklore tells that one could become a werewolf many different ways; being born under peculiar circumstances, being cursed by god, striking a deal 7
with the devil, drinking water from a wolf paw print, wearing a wolf skin, eating a wolfs brain, being bitten by a wolf… Often people considered to bear the werewolf curse, were individuals who suffered from deformities, mental illnesses or just didn’t fit into the mold of what society deemed acceptable during that period. Such individuals were persecuted and the penalties of being found guilty of being a werewolf most often resulted in imprisonment, torture and ultimately death. Within the wider society the werewolf word is used to portray a popular folklore that might have some truth in it. People who are part of the society do also refer to themselves sometimes as werewolves. The main difference between a society member who refers to himself as a werewolf and one who refers to himself as a wolf is the argument of how one should look like once shifted, is he a more wolf-like creature or the apex predator of legend? This is often a minor detail but one that helps explain why there is often so much misinterpretation by people who follow the same belief. In modern terms the werewolf has become a symbol of natural rebellion and the destabilization of the order of things. As such its symbolism is both dark and good and is adopted by many groups throughout the world.
“Even an honest man who says his prays by day may change into a werewolf at night when the full moon looms. “ Therian: Is one of the first of many words that we will talk about that does not appear in mainstream society. Therians are people who believe that they possess the soul of a wolf rather than that of a human. There is really no scientific background to support this and the belief states that a Therian is an individual born, by some miracle or mistake of nature, with a wolf soul. Members of the belief often undergo awakening, mental shifts and do gather in packs. Therianism is actually the original belief system by which many of the other sub-groups we know today came into being. Therians form a large part of the wider society and should be congratulated for, perhaps unwittingly, spreading the belief wider than they intended. They also completed some of the first works in use in the wider society (the Therian Bible) and formed some of the first physical societies. A Therian differs from the wider society by a few key features in his belief. These are: they do not believe in physical shifts, they often have a less flexible belief system when it comes to individual opinion; they have a more
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scientific approach than other branches when trying to explain their condition; they believe that a person can only be born with this condition. In recent years however the line that therians thread has become somewhat blurred and they have been assimilated by the ideas of the wider society. It is easy to find a Therian who does not adhere to the more strict belief system and has adopted many new practices; similarly Therianism is often adopted by new belief systems within the wider society. A simpler explanation would be that Therianism is the older belief of the society and it clashes with the new ideas of a younger generation. Although old and new do not always get along and can be stubborn in their views, both do adopt from one another and share a common heritage. Otherkin: It is the first, larger, splinter group to be formed out of the therian belief. Those who consider themselves otherkin follow much the same formula for explaining their condition as therians, with the acceptation that instead of wolves any animal (real or mythological, living or extinct) can take the place of the mixed up soul. This would actually mean that therians are a sub-group of otherkin if not for the fact that their organization is slightly older. Otherkin are in many respects exactly like therians, but they do differ in the severity of their belief system and will often be more open to new ideas. Pack: Refers to small groups of wild animals (usually predatory in nature), which band together in order to increase their chances of survival. In the society the pack is the smallest form of an organized group, also sometimes referred to as a tribe, circle, clan or “society” (the last one just adds more confusion without necessity). A pack is an old concept made new. It adopts from the structure of a wolf pack in the wild and is than modified for the group’s needs. A regular pack numbers somewhere between three and thirty individuals and often contains ranks such as alpha, beta, pup and so on. There are however dozens of different systems of governing a pack, but all follow the same basic principal of banding together in order to increase their own chances of success in individual goals. The key difference between our packs and real ones is that we band together to increase our chances of understanding what we are, further our teachings and finding comfort in a world that otherwise rejects our views as opposed to simple survival. Shift: Shift and shape-shifting refers to the ability of changing form. In the society shapeshifting is shortened by referring to it as a shift. There are many types of shifting involved that do not always refer to changes of the body. In order to avoid any misinterpretation simply refer to the word shift as change and the first word before it as what it actually refers to. That way shape-shift means changing one’s body, mental-shift is the change of one’s mind and spirit-shift is the change of one’s soul. Spirit: 9
Reefers to a person’s soul, the unseen energy of a bodiless being or a god like entity. It’s all purpose meaning is also used in the society with the exception that a spirit can also have a type. So for instance you might have a cat spirit if you believe you’re a werecat or a wolf spirit if you believe your werewolf. The society puts great effort in complicating this word further by guessing its age, previous life, type, direction, nature and so on. For now however it is enough that you know that it’s main purpose (aside from human definition) is the establishment of the type of animal you possess. I do apologize for anyone who never had any contact with the wider society as this is a difficult concept to grasp. Spirit realm: All great religions have a heaven, a hell, a Valhalla, a land of the dead or some other destination that they believe that the spirit of the dead end up and/or their gods reign supreme. The spirit realm has the exact same meaning for the society. Wolf names: Wolf names are something of a tradition for some society members. It is not a required practice but it is a popular one. It is human nature to name things. Members, of the society, name their packs and they also name their spirits. Usually these are outlandish names that are hard to pronounce and are of a foreign origin from the member’s native language. Simply know that if someone asks you for your wolf name it refers to the name you give your spirit or alter ego. Were-something: Remember that there are other animals and were-types out there. The wolf just happens to be the most widespread and successful at forming lasting societies so it is completely possible that you will encounter members with cat, eagle, and bear… spirits when you move through the society.
Awakening: Awakening refers to the spiritual enlightenment of an individual to our belief. It is a process that has many different definitions and workings. If a member asks how you awakened than he is referring to the spiritual or physical experience that led you to your place within the community. Hunters: It is something of a myth within a myth. It refers to a group of people whose life is dedicated to hunting down and killing people like us. Often depicted as hateful religious fanatics the “hunters” fill the need for an invisible enemy to exist where no real one takes its place.
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Kin: Refers to one’s spirit type (wolf, fox, cat…) or is another word used to recognize if you’re a member of the society. Now that you have a better understanding of the definition of some keywords used within the society you are perfectly capable of having an intelligent conversation with other members of the society. Remember that the society is a living thing so new ideas, words and phrases are constantly being created or remade. Unfortunately knowing what a few key words mean is not enough, it just helps speed the conversation along, so next we will take a look at a few key religions that you will meet amongst the society. Religious blocks
New age paganism: It is not a single belief but rather a patchwork of smaller Cult local cults. The society Cult is a word that is greatly demonized by modern society. A doesn’t think of itself as a cult is not an organization hell bent on taking your money or religious movement and you causing you harm. It is simply a gathering of people who believe should avoid using the word in the same ideology. This is sometimes greatly different than religion at all (don’t mind me, the accepted norm of its age but I do feel that I must remind you I am the teacher here and I that every great religion we know today was once a cult. can say what I want) when referring to the societies spiritual practices. It is difficult to understand but the society is at the same time a religious movement, a simple belief system and yet it is more a combination of the two. This is because local groups, such as packs, each have their own beliefs which can be radically different from those living just a few miles away. Although having many different sects the beliefs of all packs do have more than one common point that is universally accepted. Even so some packs and individuals do believe in spirits, gods, demigods and similar entities which are often recreated from older pagan beliefs.
Wicca: Wicca is another new age belief that borrows from older paganism and repackages it for the modern world. The primary gods in Wicca are the horned god and the goddess of fertility. The primary two gods themselves are less important however than the actual belief in Cult Cult is a word that is greatly demonized by modern society. A cult is not an organization hell bent on taking your money or causing you harm. It is simply a gathering of people 11 who believe in the same ideology. This is sometimes greatly different than the accepted norm of its age but I do feel that I must remind you that every great religion we know today was once a cult.
magic and the power of nature. Wiccans have a very developed belief that is beautifully complimented by events and celebrations during the year. Be warned that a Wiccan is not automatically a member of the society. The society and the wiccan religion have much in common when it comes to the belief in spirits and natural things but they still do not consider (and are not considered) themselves as werewolves. Even so packs do adopt Wicca as a spiritual practice and the belief is popular with the society so you are bound to run into it at one point. Shamanism: The spiritual practice adopted by tribal spiritual leaders and medicine men. Its most common representatives are Native American tribes but it should be noted that such practice was common worldwide at one point. Shamanism is not in fact its own religion but a sub-group of Paganism that I thought would benefit you if you knew more about it. Shamanism is often used to explain the societies own belief and almost all key features about energy works and spiritual belief is adopted from shamanic practices and teachings. You won’t hear the actual work, but do know that every time you speak about a topic that refers to spirits that you are in fact talking about a refined form of shamanism. Therians & Otherkin: I already defined the words for you in this chapter and spoke about what the beliefs are. They are of course both present within the society. The newer groups often adopt them early on but then rewrite them to suit their own purposes. So know their base definition but always ask for a person to explain his own belief to you more in depth. Christianity & dual beliefs: Primarily society members come from 1 st world countries where they are brought into contact with Christianity. This means that many have an existing belief system prior to their introduction into the society. Such “Christian converts” often redefine their belief system. Following and honoring both beliefs and sometimes combining them. Devil worship: Due to its dark legends, some followers do go to such as extremes as to worshiping the devil. Such people are rare and far in between. They are almost universally disliked by the society and are if anything even more secretive about their belief than their counterparts. New age movements: A new age movement is a belief that has been established in recent years and has yet to fully form an accurate description. It is a belief still in the making. It is usually popular amongst the youth so it is only natural that many such ideas find their way into packs. 12
Simply adhere to the principles of freedom of an individual to worship whatever beliefs or ideals he trusts the most. Atheism: It is the belief in the power of since, in seeking evidence for the questions we put before ourselves, rather than just blindly following ones belief. Atheists don’t believe in gods, spirits or angels (although not a popular thing to point out, but atheists cannot also disprove their existence, less they appear like hypocrites). It is unusual but some of them also end up as member of the society. This is probably due to the fact that the subjects that the society produces struck their interests. Another reason might be that the wider society is fully aware just how ridicules their belief must sound to others and does take some sort of an honored approach when describing their belief by neither expecting nor demanding that their own version of reality should apply to others. Religion, faith, belief, they are powerful emotions that guide a person on his path. Anyone wishing to understand the society must understand belief. He must be ready to sit down and listen (if not accept) new ideas. The society doesn’t take kindly to people who propose their own version of the truth over that of many others. All mayor religions which hold within their texts that they have discovered the true path that humanity should be treated as sinful in our eyes. We can respect their views but we will not, we cannot, have them forced upon us. Whether you’re an alpha or a pup you must learn to respect other society member’s views and not cast them aside in a moment’s notice. For if you do than you will lose that person’s trust forever. Understanding basic concept isn’t only important for you as an individual but for entire packs. I cannot recall the accounts when simple word mi sinterpretation caused fights amongst more fiery youth, much to the disapproval of older members. If you are part of a pack, or even an alpha, than I strongly recommend that you take your time to explain to the members the common phrases and religious blocks that commonly feature within the society. Not only will this help you in minimizing internal friction but will also help you expand the member base by being able to explain and communicate with new prospects faster, easier, more efficiently and, perhaps most important of all, more unified. Even if you are an individual member, use these descriptions to find out which of the people you talk to has missed the concept of the spoken word. Also do remember that you don’t have to hurt a person’s pride by bluntly saying, that he has no idea what he speaks of. After all the individual in question might try and mean the right thing, he just lacks the words to form his argument correctly. So remember, understanding and tolerance are the first steps towards a more stable society.
Chapter 4: Awakening
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Foreword: For anyone not already part of the society, or if you’re a skeptic seeking to understand us better, I am afraid this will be the first of many concepts that will be difficult to grasp as their origin is occult in nature and with very little scientific backing. “Most men live in ignorance their whole lives, never realizing the powers that shape their lives and determine their fate. Perhaps it is easier to live with ignorance, to have a simpler life and to believe that the world around you is a stable thing. Some men aren’t content with the lie however and would rather view the universe in its full splendor & horror. So as I stand before the gates of the unknown I realize that I would have rather chosen this life a hundred fold than to live a single moment with the cold certainty humanity provides.”
We all heard of awakening in one form or another, people talk about these experiences and try to describe the emotions, experiences and feelings behind it (unfortunately it is almost always a romanticized version of events). Every member in the society had it and every story is different but all with the same result as the “awakened” ends up in the society. So what is it, a lie, a group illusion or something else entirely? For the society it is a widespread belief that is just as important as Christianity’s baptism. The lore holds that when a person with a non-human soul reaches a certain stage in his life, his inner nature (and with it many abilities) becomes active. Popular belief is that a person is born with this condition and thus predestined to awaken at one point in his life. Awakening most often occurs either during puberty or during times of great emotional stress. The actual reality of awakening however portrays a much more complicated event, with many distinct linking features to it and although they are all different, from person to person, some do betray the nature of its inner workings. 14
To begin to understand how the awakening works, and its end results, we must first try and break it down into types and explain some of their features. So without pause, we will first point out the most common types of awakenings: The physical awakening ; is when you feel physical changes such as muscle cramps, body paralysis, new physical prowess or even partial and/or full shape-shifts. A shape-shift is when your body actually fully changes form into your type (werewolf, werecat…). A partial shift occurs when only a small part of you physical being changes shape. The most common type of partial shifts is eye color changes, fang and fur growth. The physical awakening is usually a painful and scary affair as the loss of one’s motor function can be quite terrifying. Also it is important to remember that most of the people who claim to have awakened via physical awakening are most often children undergoing puberty, during which time bodily changes are very common so it is easy to see how certain misconception between growing up and awakening are made. The dream awakening ; is when a person has a dream that alerts him to what he truly is. One of the key features of such dreams is the inability to wake up, to be able to recognize that you are dreaming, to have a sense of control in your dream. This form of awakening is just as easily a pleasant one as it is a nightmare so experiences may vary. The sense awakening; is when you suddenly become aware of your ability to sense certain things that you were previously unable to. This could for instance be an increased sense of smell or hearing but it just as well may be the ability to see ghosts or sense people’s auras. The sense awakening is usually a stage by stage acceptance that you are a changed person so it is one of the calmer forms of transition. The mental realization; happens when a person is showed enough evidence to begin believing on his own that he is actually more than human. It occurs after weeks, months or years of personal research and soul searching. The conversion; the allure of the werewolf and other such creatures is strong and often it doesn’t require any form of “higher intervention” for a person to become a member of the society. The popularization of the myth in modern culture has seen to a large number of newer people ready to believe. Some do it because they lack purpose; other think there is power to be had in it and so on. Whatever the case such individuals are often accepted into the society and after a few years of indoctrination they become just as skilled in the arts as any of their more “natural” counterparts.
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Who deserves to be called a member of the society? Who is really a wolf? Can he only be born & chosen by some greater unknown power or can the individual have a choice in the matter? These are question that resonate within the community and crush the dreams of many would be hopefuls. The truth is that the belief that one can only be born into a society like this is borrowed from the therian sect. The important consideration that the wolf is also a symbol that can be adopted by anyone and that the spirits reward those they deem worthy is often overlooked. The barrier has been erected mainly to keep people who don’t fully understand the belief out and keep the members pure and more easily agreeable. I am a person who has had a textbook style awakening and can be thus considered to have been born into the belief; I can talk as an equal to any member of the community who feels this way and tell them that they are WRONG. Yes some of us may have been born predetermined to become a part of this, but since when has subjugation been a hallmark of the wolf. The wolf goes where he pleases and fights for his existence. So if you’re a person who has been told you’re not a therian or a wolf by some other member simply because you haven’t had the same experience or don’t met their predetermined requirements don’t forget that it is just their opinion you are listening to, not the actual truth (whatever it may be). A wolf, a society member isn’t born, but he is made when he chooses this life over his previous one. Your actions make you what you are and nothing else. If you are an alpha who keeps to this unwritten law than I implore you to stop and seek out the individual determined to succeed rather the one born to succeed. Not only will this increase your possible member base but it will also do away with discrimination that you yourself might have just as easily become part of. Beliefs is free, it requires neither blood nor rights, just will and courage.
The awakening isn’t always a straightforward process. In our belief system we don’t exactly go to great lengths to explain who pulls the strings of our lives and who choses us to awaken in the way we do. Is it god, the spirits, we ourselves? The answer may never be known, but what we can understand is the way the “greater powers” communicate with us. Our perception of the world around us is based upon the five senses, touch, taste, sound, sight and smell. This is also how we are communicated during our awakening with the addition of one more sense, the instinct. Instinct is something that every person poses to a degree. Scientifically it is the inbreed response of our brains that warns us of danger. Instinct can work in many peculiar ways. The best know emotion that it produces is fear. Fear of the dark, of great heights, of big animals, of deep waters and of the unknown are all present so we can better survive. At other times instinct might translate into a feeling that a place or person is dangerous or wants to do you harm. This is a very good perception to develop further as it allows you to navigate out of possibly hidden traps and dangers. So with all of these great preceptors at our disposals, how do they translate when we are in the thralls of awakening? Let’s find out:
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Physical discomfort: Most common, but is not limited to, in physical awakenings. The awakening literally causes pain for the person. It comes in the form of muscle cramps that shock your body and keep you from moving. Such cramps and pains have a wide range and may affect just a single spot on your body or they can affect your whole being. Pain is not the only form that your body may alert you to higher workings. Many members also recall extreme heat changes. A person might feel as if he has gotten a fewer in a winter’s night or he might start freezing during a summer day. Touch is also a form in which spirits communicate. The feeling that something brushed past you when nothing is there, the undeniable sense that someone is holding you pinned down or is latched onto you. While common in physical awakening, physical discomfort does also occur in dream awakenings and sense awakenings. In sense awakening they take the form of sickness due to the new abilities you possess, in dreams they take the form of phantom pain manifestations, during which anything suffered during your dream is also transmitted to you when you wake up. The pain isn’t due to any real damage but it can be felt because the mind believes it happened. Awakenings might also produce a combined discomfort where, for instance, you feel like something latched onto you, than you begin to feel physical pains over your entire body and latter you start to feel cold. Such a combination of attacks on the senses is not all that uncommon, but it is difficult to stop once it starts to occur. Out of all the way the spirits communicate with us during awakening; it is physical pain that is the hardest and with the most possible ill consequences. It is also worth pointing out that physical discomfort doesn’t always translate into pain but a new feeling that you never had before, some members actually enjoy the adrenaline and thrill that these new sensations bring. Voice communication: Most common in dream and sense types of awakenings. The voice awakening is transmitted to you as speech or an animalistic sound. The speech actually doesn’t have to have any deeper message and it isn’t usually complex, sometimes keeping only to a single word. The animalistic sounds can sometimes be heard as a low growl. It transmits commonly as the sound of your inner animal (so howling for wolves, meowing for cats and so on). You don’t have to be asleep; in a dazed or vulnerable position (as is often the case during awakenings) the sound can be heard during the day while you’re wide awake. Sight communication: Usually restricted to dream shifts, where images can be conjured up by the mind more easily. When the spirits communicated by sight, it doesn’t mean that they appear in front of you, it means that when you are asleep they show you images and scenes with hidden meaning. The exceptions to this are very sensitive individuals who might start seeing spirits and ghosts during their awakening, but this is a very rare occasion. Scent: Smell is one of the strongest hallmarks of the wolf but since humans don’t really use it to its full extent it is difficult to tell how it works. It is common in sense awakenings where the person becomes aware of a higher level of scent that he can pick up. Dreams as well may produce tricks in which the mind tells you that you sense a particular scent. The scent in question can be far ranging and after the awakening individuals often enjoy that scent the most. Similar to a person who is growing up on his mother’s cooking will for years
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afterwards consider the smell of what his mother’s cooking and link it to home, love, food, happiness and similar. Taste communication: Translated as taste in dream shifts. Many members have dreams of hunting and killing when they go through the process so it is natural that many recall feeling the taste of blood or meat at the end of the dream. Instinct: Occurs in sense awakenings during which a person develops an almost sixth sense to the world around him, able to predict dangers and events before they actually occur. Some of his reactions to such dangers might almost be like reflexes so that at the end of it the person surprises even himself.
Sight, voice and physical discomfort are the higher form of communication as they are always present during awakenings. Taste, smell and instinct are the lower forms of communication as the human mind is easily confused by them since such senses aren’t really used in our day to day lives and have, since our departure from the wild, degraded the most. The break down I just written is to help you analyses the level of your awakening more accurately. It is rare that you will have only one form of awakening or that the way the spirits communicate with you will be done by a single sense. Most awakenings are interconnected, meaning that one form of awakening will trigger another. The senses themselves are never affected separately either, rather they are all bombarded at once. Level intensity is measured by the number and strength of sense disturbance. How to know when you undergo an awakening?
One awakening is never the same as another. Just as each person is different so too is each awakening different. This is why you should never compare your awakening to that of another member and expect similar results. Your awakening process was custom made for you for whatever purpose the spirits deem necessary. It is also important not to get discouraged if your awakening wasn’t as life changing as that of other members. But still how do you separate a deep dream (or other similar event) from a true awakening? You look at the end results. If you ended up in the society of which you had no prior knowledge about, if you feel like you can sense things better or if you just simply feel drawn to your inner animal for seemingly no good reason than you underwent the awakening. Some abilities do manifest themselves during awakenings but they are not a necessity. The best help you can seek in this situation is to ask some of your close friends to see if they sensed a change in character or talk to other members, who underwent the awakening, about your experience. How to know when someone has undergone an awakening?
A person who has recently awakened will be easiest to sense for about a week after the awakening when he is still adjusting to the changes. Outwardly the person might walk with his head raised a bit higher. His walk can reveal a limp or a painful expression, as some experience do the body an amount of harm. As for the subjects mannerism the first thing that you will notice is a sense of distance, as if he isn’t fully focused on his surroundings. The persons social life can for a time (even indefinitely) change as the person decides to
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hang out with other types of people or avoid social life altogether and prefers spending time alone. If you are spiritually gifted you can try and see the state of a person’s aura which does alter during such period, on the other hand if your instinct is better developed you can sense the actual change in the person. The best way to sense such individuals is if you’re already a good friend of the subject in which case you will be able to tell the changes more easily, it is the little things that give the subject away. What happens after the awakening?
Misery loves company so it is natural that the subject will all but without exception seek out others like him. At times the awakened won’t even realize he is nearing other individuals like him, drawn as if by instinct to their character. The more headstrong will demand answers upon discovering the existence of the community, the smarter individuals will attempt to research this occurrence and again others will try and live their old lives. Remember that the mark of the awakening is hard to spot even if you know what to look for, so that people’s lives don’t change too drastically to be noticed. It is a step by step process as shown in the below: Awakening Solitude Research Discovery of the society Interaction with society members Struggle for the right answers Acceptance or denial Return to a semi-normal social life
The reason social life is semi-normal is because once exposed to the wider range of your awakening returning to completely normal life is difficult as the experience has certainly left its mark upon you. After one returns to his normal life he will often have ties to the society, joining packs, interacting with other members and so on. How many awakenings can a person have?
That’s like asking how much sex a person could have. Odd but I am not joking. Awakening is generally a great event in the wider belief for the individual but it is not that uncommon. An awakening is on its own nothing more than a period of wide scale self-discovery. So a person can have several awakenings in his lifetimes where new abilities are discovered and the person learns important things about himself but there is only ever one first awakening and it is without doubt the most important as it sets the individual upon a path that will change his life forever. Forced awakening
In some cases a powerful individual or extreme pressure from the awakened himself might force an awakening to occur. Such cases aren’t commonplace for good reason. An awakening happens when a higher power judges that a person is ready, any forcing of the spirits hand is courting the chance for calamity to strike. Although not completely accepted, a more experienced individual can force an awakening on another person. Such a process is safer than an inexperienced member trying to force an awakening. The problem isn’t in finding a person willing to do it but one capable of
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performing the task right. Ego is unfortunately common place within the community and some members overreach the range of their abilities. For whatever reason a forced awakening is done, the end results are chaotic in nature and sometimes don’t follow a set form of stages as a normal awakening does. Even so a forced awakening does have its place in the more problematic cases, of which luckily few exist.
Factors that may help an awakening occur
Certain events have been known to cause awakenings these are: Anger • Great personal loss • Depression • Isolation • Physical harm • Stress • Being exposed to the occult • Spending time around society members • Living near, or crossing centers of great spiritual significance •
Awakening and packs Packs are mostly made up of people who had already undergone the awakening process and now seek to fill their need for physical or verbal interaction with others like them. Because of this most packs lower the significance of the awakening process as something that happens naturally. In truth it is from the persons awakening that you can most accurately learn
“A moment of horror, a lifetime of wonder”
Chapter 5: The spirit realm Every society, which has experienced death, seeks to explain what happens after death. In pagan and shamanism the dead join the great spirit of nature, in Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Persian society’s the dead ended up in various forms of the underworld which were in the care of a single god, Buddhism and Hinduism believes in reincarnation, Christianity and Islam believes in a heaven and hell. The reason why death is an event that every civilization has tried to explain is because mortality is something humanity cannot control. Similarly other events which were not understood, uncontrollable and strange forced humanity to create religion which helped explained seemingly supernatural events.
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Even in modern times when science is ever evolving much of the world’s population still looks to religion for answers. It is unlikely that science will ever provide us with all the answers we seek, for humanity is curious, so religion will continue to exist. “Why is it that in an age of scientific enlightenment, when the light of our achievements illuminates the night, do we keep to the shadows of religion?” Because the society is a newer invention it takes and borrows from aspects of all religions. The difference between belief in the spirit realm and other faiths is that it has no primary god that watches after such a place. The spirit realm is a place, not a deity. It is a realm A legion of names The spirit realm has many names that all refer to the same idea of a spiritual universe existing alongside our own. Heaven & hell, the source, God, the creator, the sea of souls, the Great Spirit, Valhalla… Whatever wording you use just, remember it is a different aspect of the same thing.
inhabited by spirits and made from energy. It is boundless and incredibly complex. Some say it is the realm where the dead pass to, others that it is an alternative dimension. Whichever explanation you use the spirit realm is always a higher plane of existence. It is where the spirits of the dead depart and await reincarnation, it is the realm of gods and it is where mere ideas, dreams and fears can be made real with a thought. Change seems to be its only constant and yet it is believed that some of its places are incredibly old and have remained unchanged for millennia. All and all the spirit realm is a place of wonder.
Existence of the spirit realm
In mythology the spirit realm has in a way always existed; heaven, hell, Valhalla, whatever place the gods may thread is translated into our belief as the spirit realm. We believe that the spirit realm exists beside our own and is connected to the physical world. Events in the spirit realm may trigger events in the physical world and vice versa. Where the č2two cross, than that location becomes saturated by energy and paranormal activity becomes common place. We will call such events rifts, for they tear the boundary between our world and the spiritual realm. Places of great emotional upheaval such as graveyards, old battlefields, insane asylums, hospitals or even a house where a murder occurred might create rifts. Such crossings don’t always have to be negative by nature and those created by springs, sacred groves, churches, festival halls and similar can just as easily have pleasant paranormal activity.
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Paranormal activity Paranormal activity is often linked to a set of events which cannot be explained by mundane science and are considered to be bad by nature. The first part is accurate but the second is a gross misconception. Just as places which are saturated by death might attract evil spirits so to can places saturated by life attract good spirits. A bad paranormal activity is when a poltergeist, bad luck or a daemon is trying to do you harm, a good paranormal activity is when you feel good in a particular area, are places where wounds and sickness is miraculously cured or where you feel like you’re being protected. We will revisit such creatures and events latter on but for now it is enough that you remember that just because something is hard to understand it doesn’t mean it is automatically evil, spirits can be good or they can be bad.
Sometimes the place doesn’t have to be special due to an event in the physical realm; it just might as well be saturated by energy because of something that occurred in the spiritual realm, which is why at times even random places appear to be affected. Rifts do not last indefinitely; they can last for years, months or days. Most don’t last for more than a few seconds, but often the area which was previously affected by a rift will have a higher chance of producing a new rift latter on. Similarly as a broken, and then repaired, motor will have a higher chance of breaking down than a new one. The size of the rift is also questionable. Few rifts produce gateways and doors as we understand them. A rift affects an area, but it might not have an epicenter to it at all. As for the size of the rift, well it may affect just small objects (like a token, medallion, coin…) or it may affect large complexes like houses and even an entire landscape. The gateway the rift produces is also very unstable but it always allows for communication with the spirit realm.
The barrier
Of course there must be some mechanism in place to prevent the spirit realm and the physical realm from merging. Such a thing does exist in our belief system, the barrier. 22
The barrier is the border that separates the physical from the spiritual. It is what keeps us from seeing ghosts during our waking hours and it is what minimizes the number and lifespan of rifts. Were the barrier not present than the two realms would merge and the end result would be unknown. Perhaps this is for the best, as I shudder to think what humanity would do if it had the power of creation at its fingertips. The barrier is not a complete block however; spiritually awakened individuals can for instance cross the barrier and enter the spiritual realm. Emotional upheaval (with which humanity unwittingly unleashes waves of spiritual energy) can break down the barrier. Similarly high numbers of spiritually awakened in one area can thin the barrier down. The more the barrier is broken down the easier interaction with the spiritual becomes, but with it the dangers also increase. The barrier isn’t present just to keep us out but also to keep us safe from the less hospitable denizens of the spirit realm. Dangers of the spiritual
Poltergeist, possession, haunted houses and curses, we have all heard of these things but always discarded them as nothing more than elements of a long dead fairytale. However although an event is not frequent it shouldn’t be discarded. The barrier is the main thing that lessens the frequency and strength of spiritual events. Spiritual beings cannot maintain their hold upon the physical realm due to it indefinitely, just as we cannot maintain our presence in the spiritual. Although few in number, negative consequences of the spiritual are more than well documented for our understanding. Curses are the longer present dangers that seek to break down a person through a course of unforeseen circumstances that result in his downfall. Possession is when a spirit temporarily possesses a willing or unwilling host. Such possession is only temporary at best. It’s best known examples are spirit medians. Finally poltergeists are ill fated spirits which cause things to go wrong around your household. All of them are negative by nature but only occur in rare circumstances. Furtehr more a person can protect himself from such things by items, personal abilities or just simple logic. Visiting the spirit realm
For our society the spirit realm is the spring of all our powers. Its members are introduced to its idea early on and some already travel to it during their awakening. The spirits of the dead enter the spirit realm after their mortal bodies have died, for it is the body that is the shell that contains the spirit and anchors it to the physical world; once it is destroyed the spirit might linger on in the physical world but will eventually be forced to retreat to the spirit realm. Spiritually awakened people can project their spirit outside of their body. Society members are already tied to the spiritual realm as their spirits were altered by it during the awakening, because of this they can cross the barrier more easily. Society members enter the spirit realm by the use of deep meditation. During their meditation they create a rift for their spirit to cross the barrier. They do this by projecting a shard of their spirit out into the spirit realm. This is not an outer body experience. The person doesn’t see the world around him but instead visits the spirit realm.
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The realm of spirits is a strange place, endless in scope and depthless to the point of Sanctuaries Because of the vastness and ever changing nature of the spirit realm, it soon became apparent that a stable entry point would be needed in order for any sense to be made of ones travels. Sanctuaries are created after a person enters the spirit realm, with the exact planning done prior to entering meditation. In order to lay the foundation for his sanctuary, the traveler looks at pictures, reads about landscapes and imagines the kind of place which calms him the most. After entering the spirit realm he will attempt to recreate the image in his mind, and because the spiritual responds to our thoughts, it shall shape the world around him. The sanctuary is a reflection of the persons own spirit so it should ease his travels into the realm. After every session is complete the landscape will become a part of the spiritual realm, a place only the creator may enter. Upon each new session the sanctuary has to be recreated again and again until it almost becomes second nature to the traveler. After many such re-creations the exercise eases his entry into the spiritual realm and allows him to complete his sessions faster. Creating sanctuaries is also a good exercise for any traveler, as he will attempt to add new things and make it more complex.
insanity. Our spirit only sees a portion of the realms true potential, for an unshielded view would drive a traveler insane. The spirit realm is made up of energy; its landscapes are emotions and their creation and destruction controlled by mere ideas. Within it are contained the dreams, hopes, fears, ideas, wants, desires and emotions of our living world. These than create your surroundings depending on how you perceive such things. Every journey into the spirit realm will be different no matter if you use the same technique or do it in the same place. There are very few pre-determined stable points in a world which can be changed at mere thought. To counter this many travelers create sanctuaries for 24
themselves. Sanctuaries act as anchors and focal points, a place which calms your spirit and allows you to explore the spirit realm easie. Thoughts hinder ones travel through the spirit realm, which is why meditation is used to visit the spirit realm. It calms the mind, focuses ones being and finally allows you to cast your spirit into the realm beyond. Because the spiritually awakened still have bodies, their spirits will always have an anchor in place to where they can return to. This in effect allows you to return to the world of the living and at the same time hinders your abilities in the spirit realm. After the visit is concluded the traveler will return to his mortal shell and slowly awaken. It is important to note that such connection to the spirit realm is similar to tensing a muscle. The lowest forms of travel require very little preparation and allow the traveler to snap back to reality almost in an instant, while the deeper and longer the meditation is, the longer it will take to return to the physical world. Similarly the more you exercises you perform the better you will become at it.
“I lay on my bed and closed my eyes. My thoughts race for an instance before my will silences them. I begin to experience a sinking feeling and a cold chill runs over my body as if the temperature in the room has suddenly dropped. The chill runs further than skin deep and I revel in its sensation. Then suddenly all is dark. I feel neither warmth nor cold, there is only an all-encompassing darkness as I hold my eyes shut. A beat and then another. It is my heart that I hear, sending blood across my body. With it I feel energy, flowing, pooling in areas and then throbbing. I focus on the flow of my energy and imagine it flowing freely into the spiritual. As the unseen barrier weakens I feel as if I am being taken away upon a cold river. I enter the spiritual realm. At first I am dazed, for I possess neither body nor form just a view of it. Its colors clash and burst until my presence stabilizes its surroundings. Oceans turn to deserts, which are than transformed into cities, which are in turn turned to dust as the land becomes mountainous and is in turn reshaped into the deepes t of woodlands. As I travel this ever changing landscape I find a need for stability so I clear my mind and focus first on myself, shaping my spirit into its form. I imagine my human shape, the easiest to recreate, I than continue towards shaping the world around me. On one side I create mountains, on the other a wood of pine and then cover it with snow. I am touched by the power of creation that this realm offers. I reshape myself into the form of a wolf and proceed to explore the realm I created. My mind flares with the senses that the new body brings and I feel completely alive. After hours I feel a tug and sense it is time to return to the physical world. I allow the strings to pull me back.
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I slowly open my eyes, my body is stiff and cold but I feel life flood back into it, more so I feel revitalized. A world of endless possibilities is ahead of me and I intend to grab onto it.” -Voyages of the spirit, by Tirenan Lupercal Noccien Denizens of the spirit realm The spirit realm is not an empty place but rather it is inhabited by a varying degree of energy beings. The breakdown of such beings can only be done in levels, as to try and name every one of them would take a lifetime. •
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Ancients: Certain energy beings are simply so old and powerful that they have become inseparable of the spirit realm. Do they dwell in the realm or are they the realm? None can say. Primary energy beings: Gods, demi-gods, angels, demons and similar beings which inspire great fear or adulation in humanity are defined as primary energy beings. Such creatures are created by a mass belief in a single entity. The more believers one such being has, the greater its power is. In the spirit realm such entity is felt by a change in surroundings. Beings like gods will never manifest before you in their full form for they are so powerful that they are actually the landscape you travel across. As a traveler you may not even notice their presence and they will give very little attention to you. To them you’re like an ant to a human.
Secondary energy beings: The spirit realm seems to also possess guardians. Silent watchers which observe you from afar, taking the shape of predatory animals or frightening specters. Perhaps they are some form of the barrier made manifest, none can know with any degree of certainty, they are there and they do not seem to communicate. The only thing they seem to have in common with one another is a forbidding stare that seems to see right through you. Their presence usually implies that you are interfering whit the grander workings of the spirit realm. Tertiary energy beings : spirit guides, spirits of the dead and spirit animals all make up this category. They are beings which do not have a higher function with the spirit realm and aren’t (at least it seems) instrumental in its workings. They are its inhabitants and the most common types of spirits you will encounter. Travelers: beings that are not tied directly to the spirit realm are called travelers. These are mainly humans who possess the ability to traverse the spirit realm. Spirit 26
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travel might be the predisposition of society members but they are not its sole users for many other organizations, religions and sects have long since discovered its use. Unknown energy being: sometimes what you see in the spirit realm is simply beyond explanation. These beings cannot be named or understood.
The source of magic
All our abilities, from sensing people’s emotions too shapeshifting, originate from the spirit realm. Energy is more than turbines turning or fire burning; its manipulation isn’t just physical it is also spiritual in nature. The world we live in has energy all around us; it is simply stored inside objects and substances like natural gas, oil, all living things, and goes right down to atoms. The world we see is stable, it does change but such changes are gradual. This is because all the energy in the world is stored inside atomic particles, which are solid shapes, if even incredibly small. For comparison the spiritual realm doesn’t have solid shapes like these, all is energy, ever flowing and ever changing. This means that energy is harder to shape in the physical world than the spiritual because it is still locked up inside solid forms that increase the amount of effort we have to put into our manipulation. Less dense forms like gas and liquids are easier to manipulate because particles are less interconnected than in solids. Energy is all around us and it exists in the spiritual as well as the physical, the barrier might filter it but it doesn’t block it from flowing between the realms. Because of this a spiritually awakened person doesn’t need to travel to the spiritual realm to use his abilities once they are developed. Upon entering the spirit realm you control the world around you by thought and emotions, the same rules apply when trying to manipulate energy in the physical world, the process is simply harder. The difference is similar as to being used to run a mile and then trying to repeat the same process while carrying heavy weights as you do it. Energy In science we know different types of energy, there is chemical energy, heat energy, frictional energy, force energy and many more. Energy can change shape, form and function but it can never be destroyed. It is a word that means so little in mundane conversation, but is actually used to describe such a wide specter that its full potential is never realized. No matter its type, origin or end result, all energy is merely energy which is why it features so heavily in our belief. It is like a rubber band; it can be stretched, shaped and contracted but in the end it will snap back to its original shape. Because of this it is an ideal building block that we can manipulate while being sure that at the end of its use it will dissipate back to its original form. If one believes that everything is made out of energy than there are two main ways he can perceive the physical and spiritual world. Either energy is inside all things in the physical world but is trapped inside physical shapes or everything around you is simply a frequency of energy you perceive. If one believes that all energy is stored inside solid forms than his main focus is in freeing the energy from solid forms, while if one believes in the theory of frequency than one builds towards lowering or heightening his own frequency. Both theories are acceptable. Energy signature Each living thing and object has an energy 27 signature. The energy signature dictates how compatible you are towards manipulating your target. Some targets will be easier for you to influence while others may remain completely immune.
Magic might be just illusion but all fairytales have an element of truth to them. The power of creation In many ways the spirit realm is a reflection of the physical world. Our actions, create its myriad landscapes, our hopes create its angels and our fears its demons. Energy changes shape far easier then solid forms so more complex forms are able to take shape faster. The downside to this is that an idea shaped once has to be recreated time and time again. Larger landscapes and shapes are formed by group beliefs. The more people believe in one thing, the more energy they feed it and the larger and more complex the creation becomes; thus are gods created. Although such an idea might seem blasphemous to many, you must realize its sincerity at the same time, for my purpose is not to topple a religion rather it is to produce a different theory as to why it exists. This will also help explain our relationship with any other belief. You see we do not question the existence of another man’s faith, for in our belief all gods, past and present, are very much real because men believe in them, thus creating them and breathing life into their idea. Miracles linked to one god or another only seem to happen at gatherings of the faithful where prayer and devotion empower their deity. A god is after all nothing more than an idea that is repeated over and over again during each prayer or reading of holy text, translating into our belief that means a complex entity isn’t simply being recreated but it is also being sustained in a way. An entity that is being sustained this way for a longer period of time will eventually A peaceful belief While our belief might be more primal, and sets the individual’s spirit in the center of all creation, it is also acceptant of other religions. This is because of the belief in a place of gods rather than a single god. This means that there is room for any deity to exist. The belief in the spirit realm simply takes the laws of nature and applies them to the realm of gods; in place of pasture is energy, in place of rivers are emotions, in place of grazing animals are our thoughts and in place of predatory animals are larger ideas seeking creation, by capturing our curiosity and commitment. It is a primal belief that much is true but it is also one that offers a very real freedom in ones decisions, with neither heaven tempting you or hell threatening you.
develop a type of group conscious that its faithful give it. This is the most powerful expression of creation in the spiritual realm done by the physical world, the creation of an idea, that once gaining critical mass, starts to manifesting itself in the physical realm. Fact or fiction
Belief in the spirit realm is subject to just as many forms of skepticism as any other religion. Meditation can just as well be creating an illusion that is repeated time and time again by each individual attempting it and that the similar events we experience are simply linked too guiding the mind over the same pathways. We have very little direct scientific backing to support this belief. Unless one applies that the simple presence of religion, faith and belief, whether organized or a personal pursuit, is present no matter how much science we try to apply towards explaining it. Perhaps it is mankind’s nature to create fantasies and then try to make them a reality. Whatever the case I believe that absolute certainty in 28
science is just as bad as fanatical devotion to one’s faith. A person should not chain himself to a single idea and then grind all other opinions into dust. This means that our faith, however strange it might seem, is actually our right. Even if it is a group illusion its application focuses a person’s mind, strengthens his resolve to succeed and most importantly gives an individual a higher purpose. A lie is living with truth and denying. We do not believe that our word is absolute but we neither believe it is absolutely wrong. The men in the cave There once lived three men. The men lived in a cave and tended to a small fire that kept away the darkness. They slept by the fire where it was warm, drank water from an underground spring and ate mushrooms that grew in the cave. To pass the time they watched the shadows thrown out by the light of the fire as they illuminated the cave walls. One day as one of the men was gathering dead wood washed up by the spring he got lost. He wandered the darkness for a day before he felt a cold breeze upon his face. Since the man lived in the cave his whole life he never felt the sensation of the wind. He followed the breeze until he saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Curios he approached it with cautious steps. In the end he emerged outside to a starlight night and wondered at the sheer scope of the world around him. At that moment he was terrified that he lived in the cave his whole life. Suddenly he didn’t want to return back into the black cave, but he decided that he would show his peers this wonderful discovery. When he returned to the other two men, he told him of his experience and begged them to come with him. The men laughed at the stories and beaten their comrade for what must truly be the lowest of lies. The fire was the only thing that mattered to them and they were happy with their existence. The man who discovered the outside world limped away bloody and hurt, deciding that he would rather live alone in the true world than live with them in a lie. Upon his arrival outside the men died from his wounds while gazing up at the heavens. Many years later the spring in the cave went dry and stopped washing up deadwood to feed the fire and the fire died. With its end the men were gripped by panic and killed each other in their fear. The men in the cave died with expressions of horror while staring into darkness, the man who found his way out of the cave died with a smile while watching the stars. The tale above is a cautionary one and speaks of the ill-fated quest of trying to bring enlightenment to the stubborn. Enlightenment comes in many forms whether it is selfrealization or scientific advancement. The fire in the cave represents humanities known certainties; religion, science, history, politics… In the tale one of the men found enlightenment when he was lost alone in the dark, signifying that true spiritual enlightenment comes at our darkest hours rather than our brightest moments. After he returned the men’s supposed friends had brutally beaten him for doubting the certainties of their world. This signifies that humanity fears change as well as its stubbornness in holding onto to things that make their world seemingly stable. Even
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thou he was beaten the man chose to die outside rather than live in the cave. This signifies that an idea truly is bulletproof and carries a man’s spirit further than his body. In the final act the two men died in the cave as well. They didn’t die a peaceful death, for their world suddenly ended. This is the real warning that our world isn’t as stable as it seems and that humanity succumbs to its bestial nature when the world they know shatters. The tale can be told in many ways and can have a different symbolism but the message that Using the idea of the spirit realm in packs People don’t wake up one day and pick a belief, but are indoctrinated into it at an early age. Because of this many of your packmates may have preexisting beliefs of their own. This is where the concept of the spirit realm becomes your greatest tool for binding people with different views and opinions together. Belief in the spirit realm allows for the manifestation of gods through ideas, meaning each god exists in a way because the person believes in it. Such level of religious tolerance within an existing belief system is unheard of and will help you ease conflicts that arise from the different beliefs this world has to offer. All pack members should keep to this basic truth; that the belief of one man is his own personal choice. This also means that the forceful spread of one’s religion on other members of the pack is prohibited and is the similar to breaking one of its most sacred traditions. Take heed of people with a religious background that has a tendency of installing its own religion over others as they will create tension in the pack. Also remember that pack loyalty takes lead over religious loyalty.
it brings is that the world around our So we must learn ideas while ones.
our perception of us is limited by understanding. to accept new respecting the old
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Chapter 6: Spirit
This symbol represents the holy trinity of understanding the relationship between the spirit realm and you. The triangle features heavily in therian forums as a part of their symbol. I personally taken the liberty of adding three circle at each point of the triangle (which also features in the Dark Hearts pack symbol) to emphasis my own understanding of the symbol and pass on that knowledge to you. The three circles contain the words: body, mind and spirit. You see as a person it is the body that interacts with the world around you, the mind that perceives it and the spirit that breathes life into your body. All three are dependent on one another. The body is the vessel for the spirit and the minds preceptor of the physical world. The mind guides the body and channels the spirit. The spirit in turn breathes life into your body and empowers your mind. One could not function in this realm without the other. All of them combine to make you what you are on this plane of existence. So what is a spirit if body, the mind and the spirit are merely parts of a larger entity? Out of all three the mind and body are well understood by modern science but the spirit remains an enigma. We have no way of proving of its existence or even knowing how it works. Scientists say it’s just another form of energy that our bodies produce, religious texts call it a soul that continues to live even as the mortal body fades, I say it’s a shard of creation, the sparks that actually brings you too life. Let’s consider this for a second. The body itself is nothing more than a collection of bones, organs, skin, blood and meat that is guided by the mind. On the other hand the elevator is nothing more than a collection of steel cables, gears and pulleys, with a prewritten program. So what is the difference between you and a machine? None actually, just as the elevator is a tool for transport so too is your body merely a form of transport. The real difference is who its traveler is. The elevator can carry loads and people, but only a living body can contain a spirit. We already established that spirits cannot exist in the physical realm, so they need a subtle body to be able to maintain their grip on the physical realm. With it the spirit can survive on the physical plane. But for what reason would it want to exist in the physical world? Well you have two choices, you can either attempt to look deep inside yourself and find out why you are alive or you can simply live your life because you are alive. A spirit is a being of pure energy that every living thing on this plane possesses. Souls are spirits. Energy cannot be destroyed, merely change shape and function. A soul cannot be destroyed for it is eternal. Thus the spirit is immortal even if your body isn’t. But what parts of you does it allow to carry on into eternity? 31
Well the body certainly isn’t eternal for it grows old and withers. That doesn’t however mean that once you die your spirit is doomed to wander the spiritual forever. The spirit can always inhabit another body and breathe life into it a new body. The mind also dies but some of its memories, ideas and wants will carry on as well as a part of your consciousness with it (if not indeed all of it).
The theologian alternative Theologians also use the triangle to represent the nature of the spiritual. The main difference between my explanation and theirs is that they mark the three points differently. They use spirit, body and soul as opposed to spirit, body and mind. In their belief it is the soul that is the domain of such things as creativity, will, bravery and so on. Whatever explanation you use is correct in the end, I simply find my explanation simpler than theirs as it allows eliminating the duplicity between spirit and soul. In both cases the spirit allows interaction with the spiritual and the body interaction with the physical.
Death & rebirth
The main reason why humans invented the idea of spirits (souls) was because they needed to explain the experience of death. In our belief death is merely a transition from the physical to the spiritual. While I say it lightly it is not a pleasant affair. Your body is lost forever, in death, as are elements of your mind. So your ideas, dreams and wants may never be realized because they wouldn’t be remembered. The spirit might remember but once you are reborn into this world you will have little to no memory of your past life. Upon death the spirit doesn’t have a body so it will be forced into the spirit realm, parts of the spirit might linger on in the physical realm for years but it will ultimately move on. When first entering the spirit realm the spirit will be dazed and confused and flow upon it’s currently freely. After it recovers it shall become one with the realm once more and may one day once again inhabit a body of flesh and blood. When the spirit choses to return to the spiritual realm it inhabits the still developing body of an infant being, whether it be animal or human, and thus breathes life into a new body allowing for the circle of life to continue. This process isn’t well understood and for good reason, I am still alive as I write this after all.
“Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust. Or so the old song goes. As my body lies there burning, So too is my soul now yearning, 32
Too travel the physical, once more, transcending the boundary of my soul. But alas I am called to my god’s side as the reaper prepares my ride; Cry not ohh brother, weep not ohh sister for I shall return to your side one day. Reborn too your side in a new form that is more fitting. And when your time comes and tragedy steals you from our loved ones, I shall be there to greet you into the realm eternal.
An excuse for our existence? Many modernists believe we overcomplicate the reason for our being on this planet, that we invented the soul to fulfill our purpose for being. One of the biggest paradoxes in souls and rebirth is how can souls be reborn when there are more people on Earth now than there were 2000 years ago. To explain this we must return to the basic principle that all living things contain spiritual energy. When one thing dies its energy becomes one with the spirit realm. Thus it is not the amount of human life that is questionable but the amount of life in general that dictates the cycle of rebirth. Still there have been periods when life reached an all-time low. Well the spirits don’t NEED to pass the barrier; they do so at their own pace and at their own choosing. So spirits and souls aren’t an excuse for our existence but are rather the answer to the cycle of life in the universe.
Death is only the beginning.” Time
Time is a concept that humanity invented. The spirit is not burdened by the passage of time so it has no need to hurry in its journey. After all if you’re walking along a path with no clear destination in mind, what would stop you from pausing every now and then while taking in the scenery? The absence of time liberates the spirit and allows it to continue on its endless journey with an ample amount of patience. In the spiritual realm there is no sense of past, present or future, just as the landscape can change at thought, so to can ages pass in seconds while a minute of wonder might last millennia. It is also important to apply this concept to the theory of death and rebirth, after all if you have a limitless amount of spirits, coupled with a limitless amount of time, than rebirth can suddenly seem like a more plausible theory since life on earth is no longer limited by the amount of spirits in the spiritual realm. The chaos of eternity
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Since the spirit is eternal and seemingly neither time, gravity nor any other man-made law of the universe applies to it, it is a difficult concept to grasp. I can talk for days on end about the different theories which are out there but in the end I would simply be wasting time. The spirit or the spiritual realm cannot be truly understood without driving a human mind insane. It is not the same as reading a textbook or wanting an absolute answer as if it is a mathematical equation. Humans understand by experiencing events, whether it is witnessing a scientific experiment or watching a documentary. What human can truly claim to have experienced death, who can claim he has seen the truth of the universe while remaining sane and who in their right mind, other than a fundamentalist, would believe he has the one truth for our spiritual journey.
“We are all blessed with immortality; it is simply our bodies which lack durability.”
Chapter 7: Channeling Our kind has the ability to manifest many strange abilities. There are many theories as to how this is done, from calling upon existing spirits too meditation. Whatever the process we will call all of them channeling. Channeling means the focus of one’s spiritual energy towards a set goal. It is the evolution from idea to action. The pyramid of needs
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Spiritual exercise cannot take place unless one’s mind, body and soul are prepared for the journey. To achieve this, a member must adhere to the pyramid of needs. The pyramid of needs promptly stacks the pre-requisitioned requirements needed for successful channeling. If you feel like you are getting nowhere with your spirit work or if you are not meeting the requirements you set for yourself than it might well mean that you disregarded some of the most basic necessities of your being. The pyramid works on a very simple system, the lower the need on the scale, the less complicated it is and the more basic it is for your existence. The most basic life needs such as air, water and food cannot be overlooked for you die without them. The higher the need the more gratifying it might be to your being, the more complicated, but the less needed it is. Some needs can be overlooked or simply disregarded entirely. I strongly advise against this, for the effect is the same as taking bricks out of a towers foundation, the more are missing the more unstable it becomes. Also know the difference between need and greed, a need is a deep longing for something that you feel like you absolutely cannot live happily (or live at all) without, greed is when you have an overabundance of something and still want more. So basic comforts, like a bed, bathroom and running water is a need, while a
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limousine, a pool and a fifth home is simple greed. It really comes down to what kind of person you are, some people are content with little, and others are simply slaves to their desires. This is really a pyramid of needs for the spiritually awakened. A normal person’s highest need would be the formation of a family and then becoming as successful as he can. The spiritually awakened person considers higher goals aside from the normal cycle of birth, reproduction and death. The higher needs are made up from three set Family versus dreams requirements; the People living in first world countries are split into spiritual, mental and two types. Those who chase dreams and those who physical requirements. It seek to form a family they can support. Members of is no coincidence that they sound familiar, they are the community, especially those who adopt the wolf the three elements of your as their symbol, are therefore set before a being that make up the predicament. As spiritually awakened individual we holy trinity which we have a burning desire to succeed in a higher goal, spoke about in the as adherents to the symbol of the wolf we must previous chapter. admit that family is the highest form of success. Higher physical requirements are usually To be honest most society members forget this and observed by athletes, they rather, than think about family, fill their existence are the needs that arise by exposing their spirit to as many experiences as from a competitive class they can. But if we only fulfill our spiritual needs, of physically fit who will be left on this planet to remember our individuals. Thus higher teachings? In truth a family is the bridge to the physical requirements are highest form of spiritual enlightenment, the creation health, a fit body, strength, of new life and continuation of the cycle. endurance and beauty. A higher mental So by forming a family we are actually adhering to requirement is usually the the highest form of spiritual requirement. While area of scientists and exposing yourself to experience you gain the psychologists. It is the knowledge to teach your family. So family and need to understand the dreams are undeniably linked. Dreams give a family world around us. Its meaning, families make dreams immortal. elements are understanding, intelligence and logic. A higher spiritual requirement is the want for spiritual enlightenment. It is observed by the faithful, priests, seers, shamans, emirs, individual believers and free thinkers. Its traits are creativity, passion, unwillingness to submit to an unwanted system and so on. For most normal people this higher need is filled by the establishment of a family. All people on this planet are to an extent spiritually awakened, some to a greater degree than others. The element that often determines this is where you’re born. A European born to a free thinking and secure family will have a higher chance of exploring new ideas than 36
an African from a war ravaged state that is fighting for his bare survival. There are of course other factors to consider. Wealth after all comes in many forms aside from currency. Experience is very important in one’s development. This means that while the American born to a rich family, who spends all his time in front of the computer, will be less enlightened than an Indian, who travels the world on spare change. Meditation
Meditation is the most common form of channeling. There are, literally, hundreds of books written about it, ranging from simple mind calming techniques too spiritual enlightening journeys. Luckily meditation is an entirely manmade method of spiritual communion so it can be divided into sub-groups more easily. These are: Visual meditation • Sensual meditation • Vocal meditation • Visual meditation uses images and scenes to communicate with the spiritual realm. It is the most widely used form of communion and for good reason, after all a picture is worth a hundred words. Sensual meditation uses bodily sensations such as pain, pleasure, warmth and cold as communication tools during its process. Vocal meditation uses words and sounds for communication. It is not unheard of for people to communicate with spirits in the spiritual realm for a lengthy amount of time. In chapter 4: Awakening we spoke about the ways spirits communicate with you. The visual, sensual and vocal communications are the three main types of spiritual communion possible for humanity. The effect created during channeling is virtually the same process as during our awakening with the exceptions that we are the architects of our spiritual journey. Meditation types can also be further divided into conscious, semi-conscious and unconscious forms of communication. When as the first one divides the meditation techniques based on the type of communication we are trying to establish, this one divides the techniques based on how alert we are during our meditation. So for instance a quick meditation that clears the mind in a few minutes is a conscious form of meditation for the person is at all times aware of his surroundings, able to react to potential dangers in the physical realm. A semi-conscious state is when a person is meditating so deeply that the line between reality and spirituality becomes blurred. In this state a person is still able to react to the world around him but his movement and reactions are sluggish and lack the desired sharpness of reflexes. It usually takes a few minutes for the person to return to normal. Meanwhile a person in an unconscious state of meditation is completely unaware of the world around him, similar to as if he was sleeping. An unconscious state of meditation will yield the highest results as the person is well and truly unchained from mortal limitations and can travel the spiritual further and longer than he would otherwise be able to do. The complexity, difficulty and time spent on meditating really depend on the technique you are using and the effect you’re trying to achieve. Otherwise all techniques can be divided by the type of communication that is used and the level of consciousness you possess during it. A list of meditation techniques Coin method
Type: Sensual/Visual
State: Semi-conscious
This method of meditation requires a small coin or similarly round and heavy object. To 37
perform the method the subject should lie down on the bed and place the coin onto the third eye region (the center of the forehead). The subject is then to close his eyes and try and calm his mind. First the subject should perform a mind-purge. Afterwards the subject should focus upon the sensation of the coin on his forehead. Because the area is sensitive, energy will start to pool under the coin. You should feel a strange sensation, as if the coin is attempting to turn or spin. When this sensation is achieved start to visualize your body and the energy flowing with it. Your veins which would normally carry blood now carry energy in the mind image. Attempt to try and manipulate the energy in the picture by sending it from one part of your body to another. This should be done slowly; I find that it is best to do it with the rhythm of your heart. If it works you should feel that the body part you’re focusing on becoming warm. The goal of this exercise is to gain better control over your energy in future exercises. It is also a good starting meditation technique for a longer meditation session as the exercise does focus and calm the mind within a short amount of time.
Mind-purge The human brain sees and remembers many sights, sounds, smells, sensations, emotions and problems during the day. This is a normal process that burdens our minds, creates stress, makes us remember and is ultimately removed when a person sleeps. The brain is like a muscle. An athlete wouldn’t perform his given task before stretching first, so you shouldn’t try to meditate deeply on a burdened mind. Luckily every meditation technique is preempted by a process that calms the mind. Since memories collected during the day and unresolved problems are the main factors that attribute to a disturbed mind they also disturbed the spiritual work of channeling the most. Thus they need to be removed. We will call this process a mind-purge. To achieve it a person, after entering his meditation stance, allows the images of the day to race past him as visual and vocal pieces of information. He focuses for a few moments on each image and then discards it away, somewhere deep in his memory. This process doesn’t really destroy the memory it merely suppresses the minds need to think about it for the next few hours during your meditation work. The longer and more complex meditation you want to perform the longer the mind-purge should wipe in order to sate the minds curiosity at its own memories for a longer amount of time.
“Prepare the body, focus the mind and channel the spirit.” Type: Sensual/Visual State: Conscious Chakra points Chakra points are spiritual focus points which are scattered throughout the body. Depending on the exercise there can be 7, 10 or 13 main chakra points with hundreds smaller energy points scattered throughout the body. We will talk more about chakra points latter on, but 38
what you need to know is that they are present at certain points of your body and that their manipulation can affect your energy flow. The meditation can be performed whether sitting down, standing upright or laying down, whichever is really easier on the subjects. The subject starts the method with a mind-purge. After it is complete the subject’s proceeds to focus upon his chosen chakra point. Depending on the chosen chakra point the subject will have a different sub-process to follow. However all chakra point meditation requires the use of hands, to create hand gestures, and the vocalization of a sound. The sound is usually a long ohm but can be lahm or other. Why ohm (or similar)? Well it is believed that the frequency produced by its wording from a human throat creates a frequency that is similar to the frequency of the universe (more on that latter). The hands usually form a circle or other more complicated hand signs that rest over the chosen chakra point that the subject wishes to manipulate. When the hand sing is combined with the sound it forces the chakra point to open, thus drawing in more energy and becoming energized. The sensation should be a warm tingling sensation. After the technique is completed on a single chakra point there should be a feeling of cleanliness. In a single session the person could focus on just one chakra point or all of them depending on how much time and concentration he is willing to spend on the technique. Chakra points are the gateway to focus, success and well-being so the point of this form of channeling is to improve one’s energy system, health and efficiency in all forms of life.
Spirit stone meditation
Type: Sensual
State: Unconscious
Spirit stones are used for a myriad of purposes but their main boon is in the stabilization of one’s spiritual system. However using spirit stones is problematic as each spirit stone has a type and specific function. A more in depth and focused communion will require a deeper understanding of the type of stones you’re using and how they clash with your energy signature. All that aside spirit stones have a positive effect regardless of the type you use. This form of process uses chakra points as the connection between spirit and spirit stone. For this meditation a person should lay down on a comfortable surface. He should be lying on his back as the primary entry point for affecting the chakra points can be found on his chest. The spirit stones are than placed on the area of the chakra points. The subject than proceeds to sleep. This sounds simple if you don’t consider that the subject has to remain still and on his back the whole time. All of this means that the subject will remain in more of a half sleep state than real sleep. The point of the exercise is for the subject to calm down his energy flow and make future exercises easier. It is a great meditation to choose if you are having an exceptionally stressful week behind you.
Focusing rod meditation
Type: Visual/Vocal/Sensual
State: Conscious
A focusing rod is a longer piece of wood, metal or other element that is large enough for the subject to carry in his hand. It should have some meaning for the subject that goes beyond material wants. To begin the subject should stretch before really beginning, as the position that the method requires is somewhat straining on the body. The subject sits on the floor cross legged and begins whit a mind-purge. After this is over he takes a deep breath and grabs the focusing rod with both his hands. He holds the focusing rod with both his hands 39
and focuses on his energy flowing into the rod. All this time his look does not break away from the focusing rod. This process continues for as long as the subject can maintain focus. It is a good idea to imagine the spiritual energy flowing from you into the rod as a blue (r other colored) flame. This is as much a test of concentration as it is of ones control over his body. During the focus the arms will inadvertently tense as their grip upon the rod tightens. This is a sign of control loss; the muscles in the arms should be relaxed at all times. The exercise develops into a conflict between one’s body and your will as the hands tighten because of your concentration on the object (it is a natural reaction). The point of this exercise is increasing one’s ability to affect items in the physical realm. Telekinesis, cursing or blessing an item and similar energy work that focuses on the physical realm is developed this way.
Half sleep
Visual/Vocal
State: Unconscious
Dreams are the minds way of dealing with the accumulated memories of the day. They are also an easy gateway into the spiritual. After all emotions project into the spiritual. Even though dreams are the easiest form of transition they are fraught with their own set of problems. For starters a person really has no control when he enters the spiritual. It also takes a truly awakened individual to realize when he is dreaming. A further element that complicates the helpfulness of dreams is that most people have no real control over them. To achieve the half sleep technique the person lays on his bed, making sure an alarm clock is set to awake him after about half an hour (anymore and the subject enters deep sleep). He does not cover himself with a blanket and he positions himself in a way that he usually doesn’t sleep well. I for instance always sleep on my stomach so when attempting this meditation I rest on my back. Afterwards the subject attempts to fall asleep. Thanks to the unnatural position and the preset goal of not allowing your tired mind to turn off completely the subject will enter a half sleep state. During this time motor control is reduced to null and the subject’s sense of surrounding influences is also diminished. If successful the subject will start to dream. At this point it depends on his/her willpower really. If the mind is sharp enough it will recognize that it is dreaming. Should this be achieved the subject will find himself in control of his dream and be able to interact with the spiritual on a greater scale. The problem with this form of meditation is that it is incredibly sensitive to the subject’s thoughts, which become even harder to control in a half dream state. Meaning that merely thinking on an object or event will lead to its manifestation. The side effect of this form of meditation is a greater control of one’s dreams and a more rested and calm spirit (as the person has essentially just slept and is rested). The main focus of this form of technique is building up the person’s self-confidence. Elemental Type: Sensual State: Semi-conscious Fire, water, earth, air, spirit. The five elements in nature (at least as far as the wiccan belief is concerned) are commonly used in channeling. In order to successfully use this technique you will need the physical representation of the five elements. The spirit is already present in you; fire can be represented by a lit candle, water with a glass of water, earth with a rock or a pot of soil. Air is a bit difficult to represent as a hot air balloon will float away and hardly demands respect. Try using a bird’s feather to represent air. To begin perform a coin meditation before properly getting into this one. Afterwards stretch as the position you will be in is most uncomfortable. The subject begins by placing a mat on the floor and placing the symbols of the five elements
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in a circle, square or in a line in front or around you. Turn off the lights and proceed by sitting cross legged on the floor, close your eyes and perform a further mind-purge if needed. Afterwards try and let go of your surroundings. Close your eyes and imagine everything going dark. You’re in darkness and there is nothing around you but an empty void. It is in this kind of silence and emptiness that you truly get to know your inner spirit. During such communion with one’s inner self you are able to find a measure of true purpose. The four elements are meant as a balancing tool. During the meditation you are sensual aware that they are around you. As your mind focuses on your purpose other elements of this exercise can be performed. You can attempt to reach further into yourself, awakening latent abilities and • stabilizing your spirit. This is done in a similar form to the coin method. Reaching and experimenting with one’s energy flow until a change is felt. You can attempt to communicate with a spirit or another person, thus increasing ones • abilities as a spiritual traveler and summoner. To perform such a technique one requires a spiritual link to a person or a spirit. If it is a spiritual entity than its true name will be required or an image of the spirit that was met and imagined once before in the spiritual realm. To summon the creature the speaking of its true name will be needed. If it is a physical person, than blood, bone, skin, hair or a piece of the person’s personal trinkets (a favorite piece of jewelry, anything really with significance to the person the subject is attempting to reach) will be required. Focusing on such an object prior to the elemental meditation by using the focusing rod technique will yield a spiritual link. This will only truly work if the other person is also sensitive and has a spiritual link to the subject. A forced connection can also be established but it will be strained and require a high amount of pressure on the subjects side. You can try and expand your senses, using the four representations of the elements • that you placed around you. Have a friend or packmate rearrange them and try and guess where they placed them. To sense them correctly use your instinct but also pay attention to the changes in your surroundings. Fire will be easy to identify as it gives out light and warmth so can be felt the easiest if not outright seen in the dark even with your eyes shut. The air surrounding the pot of water will have a more moist air surrounding it. Earth will have a dry feel to it and you will be able to literally smell its position. Air is the hardest symbol to guess as it is silent and without a scent. However a lack of evidence of its existence is exactly what gives it away so much so that air can be sensed as emptiness. The elemental technique is the most difficult to perform as it has so many sub groups and workings. Be patient in its execution and remember to not lose faith in your abilities. Sanctuary
Primarily visual/Vocal/Sensual
State: Semi-conscious/ unconscious
We spoke about sanctuaries during Chapter 5: The spirit realm. We already know what a sanctuary is; now we are going to learn how to make one. To initiate the construction of a sanctuary the subject first has to have a well-developed mind image of his sanctuary. A mind image is a full formulated idea about a certain picture or landscape. In order to initiate this, the subject first needs physical imagery of different landscapes that appeal to him. They can be man-made landscapes, but I find it easier if they are natural. An 41
idea of a landscape can also be formed from sounds and books. It is important to gain as much detail of your chosen landscape as possible. Once the proper preparations are done the subject proceeds towards taking a meditative stance. This can be either standing, sitting or lying down. The subject than proceeds by closing his eyes and performing a mind-purge. The mind-purge is more select in this technique as purging the recently gleamed images will ultimately hurt your chances at performing the technique. To do this a subject is to simply ignore information that is tied to his sanctuary and focuses on expunging the rest of his thoughts. This should be easier than it seems as the mind won’t be overly curious about such a recent memory. Afterwards, when the subjects mind is calm, he casts his spirit into the spiritual realm. The images he first receives might be chaotic as the mind attempts to make sense of what it is experiencing. After a period things should go dark. It is at this point that the subject can start creating his sanctuary. This is done by simple visualization. Re-calling the memories of the pictures, writings and sounds of his chosen landscapes. As these images are called upon the landscape will begin to take shape. First try visualizing the ground; does it have grass, is it a sandy dune, is it broken by crevasses? Afterwards envision the primary elements of your surroundings (woods, small hills, caves, streams, rivers, structures), continuing the subject is to envision the backdrop for his sanctuary (mountains, ocean, and endless area of forest, or simply a fog that swallows up everything as far as the eye can see), as this is complete you should form the sky (is it night, is it clear, are there stars, is the sky filled by a bright sun, is it cloudy or perhaps even stormy?). Finally the more sense based elements are put into place such as temperature, scent, wind factor and the background noise. Most sanctuaries are nature based, whit very little background noise or disturbance as the sanctuary is primarily a place of calm self-imposed seclusion. After the exercise is complete and the subject slowly exits the spiritual, the sanctuary will be lost to the spiritual realm and dissolve into baseless energy. Even so, just like a builder gaining experience each time he constructs a house, the next time the person builds his sanctuary will be easier, faster and allow for more complex forms to take place. Furthermore the image of the sanctuary will become imprinted on the subject’s memory, meaning that he will be able to call upon the calming images and fell a small portion of their serenity without having to meditate. Perfect for a stressful day at the office.
Hunt
“If all great things in life are free; creativity is certainly one of them.” Visual/Vocal/Sensual State: Semi-conscious
This technique is useful for any type of otherkin and/or therian. It is meant as an exercise towards increasing the subject’s connection with his inner beast. It is a more complex form of meditation with high levels of visualization required on the subject’s part. To begin the subject lays upon a bed, sits or strikes a proper meditation pose. He proceeds by performing a mind-purge. He then recreates his sanctuary and places himself in it. Now he must envision becoming his chosen animal via a process called spirit form manipulation or a spirit shift. This process doesn’t take long and is completed when the subject feels a rush of adrenaline, an animalistic intellect and his senses becoming confused. Afterwards the subject places his chosen prey into his sanctuary. The prey shouldn’t be 42
something complex at first (probably best if you use your inner animals own natural prey). The subject than proceeds by hunting down his envisioned quarry. As it is caught he is to focus on the smell taste and feeling of bringing down his prey. The run during the chase, the smell of the hidden quarry and the taste of its blood at the inevitable end. This exercise is meant to increase your ties with your inner animal and enhance your senses in the physical world. The negative side effect is that it (in primarily males) increases the aggressiveness levels. This isn’t a meditation that should be done on a day to day basis. Warning Unlike most meditation techniques, this one IS fraught with negative side effects. Sensitive individuals could become overloaded, their senses unable to cope with the sight, smell or sounds they are experiencing. Others will become overloaded on adrenaline. This could lead to uncontrolled fits of anger, sickness or even a temporary loss of consciousness and motor control. Before proceeding, the subject should take heed and remove himself from a possibly dangerous environment and seek seclusion.
Spirit shift Spirit manipulation or spirit shift is the process by which a person transforms his spirit into its chosen form during meditation. To do this he simply focuses on becoming his spirit animal. Remember that the spirit too is made out of energy and can be manipulated just as much as your surroundings. The process of spirit manipulation is similar to the creation of the sanctuary. To be able to perform it the person needs to have a good mind image of what his inner animal looks like before initiating the transformation. Do note that other forms can also take place as the possibilities of the spiritual are endless but it is preferable to become one's spirit animal due to the unique connection you have with it.
Free flow
Sensual/Visual
State: Unconscious
The so called flow of spiritual energy is constantly changing. It tugs a spirit along its intricate paths. The free flow meditational technique is meant to allow such spiritual currents of energy to flow through you. To prepare the subject lays down on his/her bed and performs a mind-purge. He then closes his eyes and focuses on letting go. Every person can on some level feel the flow of energy even if he interacts with it differently. In order for the subject to perform the flee flow he must simply focus on calming his spirit down and keeping his mind blank. It is also easier if you envision yourself like you’re having a sinking feeling. When the subject “hits the current”, so to speak, he feels like he is being carried along a cold river. There should be a feeling of cold that penetrates the body and only affects certain areas of your being. The free flow can only be maintained for a couple of minutes on end without the individual falling asleep. But the technique can be repeated several times over. 43
The goal of this form of technique is in purging your spirit of the worries of life, much the same as you take a bath to clean your body after a hard-days’ work. This leads to an increase in one’s energy efficiency during other exercises.
Hand gesture
Visual
State: Conscious
This is a short focusing exercises that only takes seconds to perform and can be done in almost any situation. Its goal is the stabilization of ones emotions and energy flow. The subject brings his primary hand up and opens it. He stares at the hand and focuses on it. He tells himself the following word: “These are my hands, with these hands I have the power to build and destroy, and all of my life is in my control, my spirit, my energy, my will that guides them”. Or another form of mantra that allows to certain yourself that you are the master of your own abilities. The goal of this exercise is in building one’s self confidence in his own abilities.
Using meditation in packs Meditation is usually viewed as a solo exercise, due to its reference to personal enlightenment. However it can also be used in packs. Since packs are made up of spiritually aware individuals, their acceptance and use is regarded as a pack practice. If possible perform your meditations as a group. This will increase your chances of success, as members will draw confidence from one another and challenge each other to go further than they would usually be able to do. Creativity and imagination is also important. As the exchange of ideas becomes second nature so too will the creativity and awareness in one’s spiritual surrondings become higher. And aside from all of that it is also a bounding tool for the pack.
There are plenty of meditation techniques out there for improving different areas of ones being. Channeling done by meditation is an inward directed exercise meant for improving the person rather than casting changes in the spiritual realm. Its main effect is the stabilization and empowerment of one’s inner spiritual abilities. Meditation is a useful tool for getting rid of everyday stress and should become a daily exercise to someone with knowledge on how to do it. Even if one doesn’t want to go the distance the knowledge will help you during the more stressful periods in your life. How does meditation work?
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The spiritual and physical abilities you possess are initiated by a command formed in your mind. The mind sends its commands to the body or spirit but those commands are not always understood. The cause for this is disturbance. Physical disturbance that makes your command chain break down is extreme cold, fatigue and pain. That’s why sometimes when you’re extremely tired your movement is sluggish, and why you cannot sense the world around you as clearly when it is freezing cold. In the spiritual sense disturbance comes from stress and emotions. Disturbance will hinder your attempt at high spirit work or completely block it. Meditation works as a barrier or filter that either temporary banishes the pains of the day or completely negates them. Meditation doesn’t truly remove negative emotions it just takes the edge of them and allows you to deal with them from a clearer perspective. Thus meditation is a needed exercise to master as one attempts to perform deeper spiritual work. Prayer
It might seem strange but prayer is indeed a form of channeling. The mind process behind it is actually very much alike and the brain waves in both cases form a very similar picture. The difference between meditation and prayer is that meditation focuses on the individual’s spirit while prayer focuses either on an extreme form of symbolism or a higher entity to show you the way. Prayer is in fact a defensive and self-improving form of channeling. Humanity first invented religion in order to stave of the inevitability of death, so prayer type channelings main purpose is the protection and preservation of one’s self.
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There are many different religions out there but all work more or less on the same principle. Absolutism and belief We all have heard of wars of faith. Conflicts fought because of religion but for all the wrong reasons. Absolute belief forms an absolute valediction of one’s actions which result in there being no room for questioning and will ultimately lead to conflict against others who take the same stance. Gods might be almighty in stories but your patron cannot be expected to do the impossible especially when it goes against core writings of the belief. Thus it could be said that holy crusades and jihads are doomed from the start as the patron doesn’t support such actions as they are not supported in his holy writings. True patronage from a higher being only works if the believer understands his own
The individual asks a higher being than himself for protection and guidance. Its process is simple yet powerful. A person merely recants a prewritte n prayer and is done. Exactly how much of an effect it will have depends on the individual however. If he truly believes in his patron for the right reasons, than the so called blessing will have the desired effect. If he is doing it for all the wrong reasons and doesn’t truly believe in his patron than he might as well not word the prayer. Trance During a trance a person enters an extreme state where he is only suggestively in control of his own abilities. In order to enter a trance a person must be able to let go and be at the mercy of the spiritual completely. All living things are protected from the influence of the spiritual by mental barriers. The trance allows for not only the weakening of the barrier but also lowers the mental protection of the person allowing for the spirits and energy to flow through him freely. A trance is a costly and hard to perform form of channeling. It is achieved with song, dance and drugs. The trance s used for a higher form of communion of the spiritual. Vocal channeling
It is done by a select wording of phrases and sentences that has spiritual meaning. This could be magical in nature, battle mantras or a quote. Remember it is men that honor words and not words that honor men. The words themselves might have no power when written down on paper or thought off during the day. They might not even have any s trength when spoken in casual conversation but when worded with the proper spiritual backdrop and purpose they become magical. Vocal channeling divides into defensive and offensive channeling. Speech given to a chosen audience carries more than words, it carries story and purpose. Offensive channeling is when words are meant to discourage and frighten a person. Defensive channeling is when words encourage and empower a person’s conviction in his own abilities. This is the most common form of vocal channeling which is used to this day. It is the power of the spoken word made manifest in the teeming masses of humanity. The more “magical” form of channeling is meant to call upon spiritual support and manifest manipulation in the physical world more easily.
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Unlike other forms of channeling, the vocal technique is done more on the basis of knowledge and learned ability rather than pure instinct. In other words the person must know the actual words which have gained power over the course of human existence. All together
Name Meditation
Prayer
Trance
Vocal channeling
Pros
Cons
Level of experience -Has a type for -Cannot be done Is acceptable for every person. by more hyper anyone from -Everyone is people beginner to capable of at -One can get professional. least one form easily lost by the of it. sheer number of -It takes very techniques little preparation -There are many or time different guides -Is good for for the same one’s health meditation technique meaning misinterpretatio n is ripe. -Is widespread -Absolute Is only really -You will rarely religions clash acceptable for be alone in your with one another believer’s thus prayer -It requires an less inquisitive -Is easy to existing body of beginners. perform administration. -Allows very little flexibility.
Use
-Is one of the strongest form of channeling
Only really still practiced by real life shamans.
Higher communion with the spiritual realm.
Is meant for the more experienced individuals who dive into forgotten lore.
The manipulation of one’s physical surroundings (including other people).
-The complete removal of barriers makes the entire process volatile at best -Often requires the use of alcohol and drugs -Can be used by -Requires the anyone right, often -It doesn’t forgotten, require any form sequence of of meditative or words other focusing technique. 47
Improves one’s inner energy flow and thus one’s future spirit work.
Shields but also isolates one from outside influence
Chapter 8: Tools of the trade Over the years, as the science behind the spiritual grew, it led to the creation of many objects that are said to hold power over the spiritual. It is perhaps mankind’s greatest achievement that he can create tools which aid him in the physical world so it is only natural that he would try and create tools that aid him in the spiritual. Such tools have featured in history, legends, and stories and pers ist to the present day. Most tools are meant for simple focusing while others affect the spiritual energy around you. Type of spirit tools
There are several types of spirit tools available to a student of the spiritual arts. They are divided by function rather than look or origin. The types of items out there are: Focusing tools: • Featuring such items as focusing rods, certain spirit stones, coins and other smaller trinkets, focusing tools are meant to make the channeling of one’s spiritual energy easier. While focusing tools work for everyone they often work better if the user is already connected to them. Such connection is established by repetitive uses of the same item for your exercises. Energy manipulation tools: • Primarily including spirit stones, mirrors and other materials, energy manipulation tools distort the energy field around you by their simple presence. Some have to be charged by the owners own spiritual energy but most work independently without an on and off switch to them. The unknown presence of such object often leads to a disturbance of one’s energy so they can become annoying if they cannot be removed. Protective charms: • Talismans, medallions, a favorite type of coin and protective charms create a defense for its user. The most commonly featured such type of trinket is usually a religious symbol carried by the owner (a cross, a figure of the Buddha…). Protective charms work primarily on symbolism and lend the owner personal strength rather than project profound spiritual changes. However since emotions resonate within the spiritual realm such object do inevitably play their role by strengthening the owners resolve in the spiritual sense. Because they work in symbolic means the most powerful protective charms are those passed down the family line. Such items don’t just symbolize protection but also the greater connection to one’s family making their symbolic power even stronger. Restraining items: • Not all spiritual energy is necessarily good to the individual and not all of its users are good natured. This is what probably led to certain items becoming an anathema to the spiritual. These are almost without exceptions man-made objects that symbolize the restraint of one’s freedom. Metal chains and collars were once believed to break the hold of the devil, a line of salt was supposed to keep demons from crossing the doorway and a cross, made from precious metals, supposedly banished evil spirits. Restraining items are made out of necessity and are not
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•
•
•
universal in their use. This means that while a certain situation might call for one form of item to be used to banish a spiritual being, that same item cannot be used for anything else than the explicit use of banishing a spiritual being (it cannot manipulate the energy field, or restrain another subjects power with any amount of certainty). While all spiritual tools are to some extent man made, restraining items are unique that they are made solely by human touch which might be the reason why their use is so limited. Inspirational tools: Pictures, banners and lines of script, such items are in common use even today. You have to realize that a person’s morale during spiritual exercises is incredibly important and an object reminding him of the glory, power or past successes is incredibly helpful. Inspirational tools are perhaps unique that they can also be a person instead of just a thing. Anything that can basically raise one’s spirit is an inspirational tool. Such tools contribute to sudden surges in power and are often used in group mediations. In modern days the flag is the most common feature of such an item. Bonding tools: Tattoos, specific parts of one’s clothing or rings are commonly featured bonding tools. Such items are used to establish a group connection in order to initiate a collective energy manipulation. Such items can at times be skin deep, in the case of tattoos, and are used as a sign of the group’s devotion to one another. The only problem in using such items is that they can only be used when true trust forms amongst members. Cursed items: Certain items are truly cursed. The reasons for this may be many but mainly it is due to a collective misery that they have witnessed. Such items attracted negative energy and their main use is in the breaking of the owners will. They are most dangerous when their presence is felt but not understood. However despite their negative nature such items can be overcome by the application of will. In other words a strong willed person will be able to master the negative forces they exhume. Cursed items can also be ritually purged which restores the natural flow of energy or in extreme cases destroyed.
Commonly known tools
Some tools are commonplace and feature in many of our branches that they should be singled out and their use further understood. Spirit stones
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Spirit stones are naturally occurring items which are quarried from caves and then worked into shapes. Spirit stones are not actually rocks despite their naming but are actually crystals that formed under extreme pressures. The fact that they come directly from the earth only helps to increase their symbolic nature. They are energy manipulation tools that are used to stabilize the flow of energy in your surroundings. Such crystals vary greatly in shape, color and use. Some are meant for a particular type of person while a different collection of spirit stones will lead to different manipulations of spiritual energy. Although spirit stones do not have an on and off switch they do have to be occasionally spiritually charged. This is done by actually meditating with the stone in your hand, in which case the energy that your own being exhumes will be used by the stone as an energy source, or you can simply leave them on sunlight and the stones will draw energy in from that. Focusing rod A focusing rod is in essence a wand of sorts. It takes the shape of a shaman’s staff or a smaller totem pole. Such staffs are usually intricately designed and often have other smaller trinkets attached to them. In order to use the focusing rod its owner meditates with it, constantly sending his energy to and from the rod. Over time the rod will become sensitive to its owners needs and will react to his spiritual energy, focusing and refining it. It is worth noting that certain focusing rods can in fact be weapons such as swords or ritualistic knifes. Their origin comes from pre-industrial wars where the life of the soldier often depended on his skill with the sword. Thus weapon and soldier developed a bond, which in some cases led to weapons being used as a focusing tool. After all did you ever wonder why the medieval sword had the form of the churches cross and was used as a field altar as well as a weapon? This “weapon rods” potential only increases when you consider their symbolism of taking lives. Whether by fortune or misfortune such weapons are rare nowadays as their accusation is hard to achieve as such weapons have fallen out of favor in modern warfare. A focusing rod is a focusing tool. Dream catchers Dream catchers are popular Native American trinkets that are used as decorations in modern times. Their primary purpose is in the banishment of nightmares that would otherwise plague its owner. They do not work in any way that an individual might be able to further influence them. You simply hang them in your room and they protect your dreams. Because of their somewhat odd nature dream catchers are a hybrid tool. They are at the same time a 50
protective talisman, a restraining item and an energy manipulation tool. It is good that they protect you but sometimes they can affect the normal flow of dreams. Furthermore an individual should face his nightmares instead of hiding from them.
Tattoos Symbols, that are truly skin deep expressions of loyalty, are perhaps one of the earliest forms of markings for a persons loyalty to a given group of people. Tattoos can be complex and make symbols that connect a person to his “tribe”. A spiritually sensitive person can indeed harness this bond and gain the ability of creating a collective spiritual ritual. In essence the constant symbolism of such markings reminds the person that he is part of a bigger whole thus easing his connection to those of the same group.
Elemental representations A light candle, a pot of water, a feather of a bird, a person and a handful of soil, these are physical representations of the five elements. Commonly featuring in Wiccan lure, the elements are used as focusing tools. They are placed in a circle, line or other constructive formation depending on the users wants. Since the five elements represent the physical realm, their owner uses them to aid him in creation of his sanctuary. Because they are physical ties to the physical realm they help stabilize the owner’s thoughts as he attempts creation. The best spiritual item In the end it is the person rather than the item that is the most important part of the spiritual process. It is prudent to begin one’s spiritual journey without the aid of items and then apply their use latter on. The reason for this is so that a person doesn’t become overly dependent on his spirit tools and first develops his spiritual powers without their aid.
The message The beating of the drum, the roar of the camp fire, the silent breeze of the night, the smell of the pipe, the teachings of the elders, the hymns of my tribe, the laughter and cries of newborns and a dozen other sounds, sights and smells bombard the shamans senses. As he takes a step forward he throws his head back and takes a deep gulp of agra, the tribe’s local alcohol. Its warmth fills his body and he spits the last of it into the camp fire as an offering for the spirits. He proceeds by starting a chant that is nothing more than a low rumble of words. He puts his hand into his robes and produces a handful of herbs from a hidden compartment. As the 51
dance continues and the beat of tribal drums reaches a higher pitch he throws the herbs onto the fire. The flames greedily consume the dried herbs and fill the air with oddly pleasing smells. The shaman raises his staff above his hand and call upon the spirits of the tribal dead, the spirits of the four winds, of the open steps and of mother earth to hear him and offer their guidance for the tribe in its time of need. He produces a black paste and proceeds by rubbing it onto his tongue. He continues to dance and chant with the rest of the tribe. Suddenly the shamans head snaps back and his eyes go white as the spirits use him as a conduit for their message to be heard. All goes silent as the tribe witnesses their shamans ritual reach its height. The shamans body shakes uncontrollably for a few moments before words form, half animal and half human. “Go to the west and unto you the lands will be plenty, remain here and the land shall bleed and reject you.” The rest of the message was distorted and the shaman falls down, his body shaking with the effort of such a communion. The chieftains gather the tribe, intent on traveling west. Many of the old and infirm will not make the journey and there are enemies along the way, rival tribes and ever opportunistic raiders, but the message was clear and the blood price will be paid in full as the tribe begins its long journey.
Chapter 9: Left and right sided Despite the chapters misleading title this has nothing to do with whether a person is more experienced in using his left or right arm or whit what leg he starts his walk. Predominantly left and predominantly right sided (also known as female and male energy) actually refers to the two half’s of your brain. You see a person’s brain is an organ that is divided down the middle. The left brain side handles complicated processes so it is responsible for structure, organization, your understanding of math, strategy and organized thinking. The right brain side is responsible for creationism, expression, emotions and impulse. Usually every person is more left sided or right sided in this way. This isn’t necessarily bad but an overabundance of one side leads to instability in the natural process. Thus people who are to left sided will learn quickly and be able to complete complicated tasks but be unable of performing creative thinking or invent something new. Meanwhile right sided people will work more on emotions and impulse; they will constantly shift from one subject to another but quickly lose purpose and won’t do anything meaningful with their lives beyond simple self-satisfaction. To put it simply the left side is usability/analytic and the right side is design/creative. In the spiritual sense this determines your meditative and energy processes.
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sided individuals tend to need less upkeep in order to maintain them. In a physical sense such people would rather take the more direct route to save time rather than the more scenic one. In the spiritual sense they tend to pick up small details that would otherwise be overlooked. Right side
Left sided
People who are primarily left sided will be at the start of their journey at a spiritual disability as their cold perception of reality will conflict with their senses. Such people do eventually overcome this weakness by a strict discipline they set themselves. Left sided individuals tend to be the more inquisitive as they are more likely to actually do their own research. Such people are easy to teach but actually demand the presence of an authoritarian figure in their lives. They can sometimes be stubborn and slow at accepting new ideas. In the spiritual realm their powers grow slowly as they explore each concept with measured strides, however unlike their right sided counterparts the abilities that they gain are better learned and right
People who are primarily right sided will be able to perform the most basic spiritual exercises without thinking. Their energy in the spiritual will spike to create newer and bigger objects in coherence with their emotions. Right sided people will often reject structure and won’t handle situations where strict rules come into play. They will be easily accepted by a group but will have trouble with authoritarian figures. Teaching such 53
people is hard even thou they are talented, the trick is to get them to become interested in the teaching process otherwise they quickly lose interest and shift to other subject. They are creative enough to formulate sometimes complicated projections in the spiritual but have a hard time maintaining them.
In the physical sense left sided individuals will rather take the scenic route rather than the most direct one, while in the spiritual sense they will be like a bright burning flame that can only stay alight if it keeps moving.
Above: the Fibonacci spiral is one of the best examples of the difference between the left sided (the straight lines) and right side individuals (the spiral). Which are you?
All people are left and right sided to a degree so it is not uncommon to be a creative math teacher or an organized artist. To find out which side is predominant in you s imply ask yourself the following questions: Do you: Upon receiving an object to build, read the manual or try and do it yourself? Enjoy more, history or fantasy stories? When you go out with friends, plan your activities in advance or just tend to do what comes to mind? When someone proposes an activity, ask question or do it on impulse? When you look at a pattern on the floor, try and make sense of it or simply enjoy its complexity? When you go to a restaurant, order a meal you had before, which you know is tasty, or do you try something new? If someone yells at you, take a step back and consider the situation or yell right back? Which would you rather have, a high paying job or an enjoyable job? 54
Tend to listen to a preferable type or do you listen to all forms of music? Simply believe a formula in a science book or do you consider the formula?
If you chose the first option than you’re primarily left sided while if you chose the second option you are primarily right sided. Whether you act on impulse or strategies even the smallest detail really isn’t up to you. This is something a person is born with. However the effects of an over creative and an overly planning individual can easily be lessened with the right guidance and application of will. Instead of covering a painting in random colures try and draw a coherent picture for a change, instead of going to the store and straight home try and take the more scenic route and so on. There are endless ways of gaining balance but the important thing to remember is this. Both order and chaos are needed in life, just don’t have an overabundance of either and you’ll be successful.
Chapter 10: Wolf names & Spirit names Names, they are one of humanity’s most impressive creations. Of all living things on the planet it is believed that humanity is the only thing that names things. Animals also have a sense of recognition of course but they lack the ability to vocally form names. In society a name is given to the child by his family or guardians. Nearly all names we know today have some ancient reference as to what they mean so much so that even simple names have some connection to a famous event, deity or a person. Wolf names are the society’s creation which came into being by as much due to belief as by need. The society widely believes that sentient spirits have names but because spirits communicate differently than we do in the physical world their true names are difficult to pronounce. Often spirits have ties to the physical realm and adopt names, or are named, by others based on their connection. So a spirit that is believed to be responsible for fires will have a name that will reflect its nature, for instance Flamespite.
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The true name of an existing spirit is a powerful tool for a skilled spiritualist. A spirit name can be used to summon, banish, bind, communicate or otherwise affect the spirit. Luckily however such power is beyond the reach of most people due to complexity and ever changing nature of spiritual beings. Only the largest spiritual entities, those whose names invoke dread and respect on a worldwide basis, are beyond control, their spiritual forms grown beyond the control of any one person (the Reaper, Gods, Devil…). The society soon discovered that it would be ridiculed and oppressed by the masses of humanity if it operated in the open. Individual names, especially last names, could lead to negative consequences for one’s entire family. Because of this fear of human reaction many packs and smaller gatherings adopted the use of so called wolf names. Wolf names are in essential nicknames chosen by society members. In time these names were tied to one’s spiritual self and the naming of an individual’s spiritual guides, or even a person’s spirit side, became common place. Eventually a wolf name was used to symbolize one’s alternative life within the packs, thus did wolf names gain symbolic and traditional status. Although not used in all branches of the society wolf names do have a spiritual potency all of their own. Similar to a spirit name, a wolf name can be used to form a connection whit its owner. Unlike weaker forms of spirits however, the spirit of a person is impossible to control, it can be manipulated, but its total submission is impossible. Far from being spiritual liabilities wolf names do provide a host of positive effects. For starters in the physical sense wolf names mask your true identity within the society. In the spiritual sense they help you focus. The pronunciation of your wolf name will have a similar effect as a focusing tool. This is because a wolf name is created to have meaning for its owner and has symbolic ties to his life. Creation of a wolf name
A wolf name can be given or chosen and it shapes ones identity as a person. Wolf names don’t always have a single word forming them and each word can mean more than one thing. This is because wolf names are derived from a host of exotic and sometimes dead languages. To further complicate matters a wolf name is often made up from several different types of languages or even uses a combination of the words to create a hybrid version that cannot be found in any dictionary. This means only the user of the wolf name will understand its true meaning and only he will properly use it in a spiritual ceremony. To further complicate matters wolf names evolve and grow as time goes on. During great achievements or losses a person may choose to add another word to his overall name or delete one of its words completely. This is all well and good as wolf names need to stay complex to have meaning for their owner. For instance let’s take my own wolf name. Since I am an experienced society member my own name will evolve and grow with time I am not afraid of anyone knowing of its true meaning. My wolf name is: Tirenan Lupercal Noccien. The first part of my wolf name (Tirenan) was given to me by my alpha and is a derived from old welsh. It has two meanings, it can mean son of leader or it can mean tyrant depending on the pronunciation. The second part of my wolf name (Lupercal) is taken from an old myth of Romus and Remus. Lupercalia is either the she wolf or the cave at which the twins of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were found. Because I am a male I could not bear a female name so I changed this potent name to better suit my purposes.
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The last part of my wolf name (Noccien) was given to me by a pack sister that has a very special connection to me. It means the secret shadow and is derived from yet another language. My name wasn’t created in a day however but evolved over a period of 5 years, each word carefully chosen and used to compliment the greater whole. From it I draw power when I enter the spiritual.
Human names
Human names are of course not discarded by the society but kept at all-time alongside our wolf names. The society doesn’t consider its origins as shameful and a human name can just as easily be used as a wolf name for spiritual purposes, it just tends to happen that a name given by ones parents (although no less special) tends not to be as symbolic as the name taken up by a person after he reaches awakening. Whatever name you use make sure it has meaning for you, for only with a true connection will you be able to use its power.
Rights and Disclaimer I claim no rights to the pictures you find in this book. They are taken from various websites and are the sole property of their users. I do however claim the rights for the writings, quotes or their adaptation and graphs in this book. Although they are adaptations of exsisting information they are unique for they are my designs. This is why I ask you and warn you not to distribute this book beyond those you trust or use it without proper guidance. The theories and techniques I write about have just as many negative side effects as there are positive ones.
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