In the previous posts, I talked briefly about the different kinds of shades and how important it is to maintain a good working relationship with the spirits that you plan to call upon. As an example, let me tell you a bit about my spirit guide that I’ve been working with for some time now. I honestly don’t recall how I really stumbled upon this spirit. I went to SVA in New York and used to visit my boyfriend in Rhode Island when I could afford the time and money. Despite enjoying my time there, I was constantly spirit bothered at night.
Haggard from lack of sleep, Jason nonchalantly told me that Providence, RI happened to be one of the most haunted cities in the USA. I think I wanted to choke him at that point. One night, I woke to someone hanging in the corner of the room staring down at me. Later on, I found out that the dorm building we were staying at was once a slave auction house. By the time we left, the dorm was supposed to be marked condemned due to the foundation sinking into the ground. The building has since been demolished.
We used to walk – oh so much walking! Oh, how I loathed it. To the park, mall, and little shops and eateries during our animation thesis breaks. When Jason was in an animation groove, I left him behind to go eat, smoke, or wander the streets at night taking in the small city of Providence. On one of these late-night walks, I remember seeing a lanky individual dressed in what looked like work business attire from a bygone era. The individual was tall and looking up at the houses. The person saw me passing by and then in a blink disappeared. I dismissed it as insomnia. We had been up for probably a few days working non-stop.
After graduation I know I must have gotten ahold of one of Donald Tyson’s books. That was my introduction to a particular spirit. I was intrigued by this spirit and began to see if I can do extensive research on them. One day, this spirit showed up and decided to help me. They never asked for anything in return. They were kind, generous, picky, very helpful, talkative, and eloquently well-spoken. They hate my swearing but expressed that it reminded them of certain friends they used to hang out with. They had a weird stance on things sexual though. Usually, they leave me to “do my thing” for the erotic works. They’ll come in for the more interesting and weird ones.
They would make suggestions, critique works, open doors (metaphorically), and introduce me to people I’d never expect to meet in a million years. They would even push me to do things that would scare me to death. I think they got a kick out of that. Everything would just fall into place organically.
Several years ago, I started an intimate animation salon with a group of professional friends that met monthly at the Productive in NYC to critique one another’s work. We were officially called the “Animation Group Therapy Class.” Yucky name. I know. Unofficially we were “the boys.” As a tradition, we annually made the trek to Sleepy Hollow for our picnic in the cemetery. I only found out recently that my spirit mentor did almost the same things with their friends.
This year since my spirit guide has done so much and asked so little in return, I wanted to create a spirit vessel for them to help deepen the connection. I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner. Fear was most likely the culprit. In the past, I just offered the usual coffee and cigar to the shrine I had and that was that. The cigar, even cigarettes, felt wrong to give them. I never gave them any alcohol. I recently discovered why I probably felt these things. They explained to me they had never touch alcohol since it “dulls your wits”. Cigars were a nasty habit as they saw it. They did enjoy coffee and sweets.
A friend suggested one night to “throw a dead _ at them”. I laughed and replied, “I guess I have to if both of us thought the same thing!” One of the things I found most amazing was what happened next. I mentioned to my friend I would be happy to get them a statue but couldn’t afford it just right now. Within the hour, I got a notification that I had sold a print, booked two Skype tarot readings and an art commission! It was like my spirit guide’s ears had perked up and said, “Did you say I can get a _? Sure, here’s some money. Now go get it!”
I asked my spirit guide, “Why? Why me?”
They replied, “Why not? We’re artists. That’s all there’s to it.”