~ Spirits of Below ~
Realm of the Ancestors
We call and offer gratitude to the Spirits of Below. Welcome to our loving ancestors, those who have come before, and those who guide us through life’s challenges. We honour the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, knowing we hold wisdom beyond this individual life.
We call on the loving spirits of those have walked this earth before to help guide and teach us. May those who have passed into the realms of spirit be held in love. We thank the guides and forces at work that help us journey through places of suffering, and those that help us to surface again to new life and light. May we carry the wisdom, strength, and medicine of our ancestors with us.
Blessed be.
For many years growing up I was very drawn to the Underworld, and I didn’t fully understand why until I had spent a lot of time journeying into the below realms. I was drawn to the feeling of rest and darkness… there was something about the feeling of being below ground, deep in the earth, held and protected by the dark fertile earth all around me. I was drawn to caves and darkness. Walking at night felt deeply comforting, looking up at the stars, and feeling the quiet of night when all things had retreated into sleep.
The underworld beckoned me in a way that felt familiar and comforting. Walking through a dark hemlock forest, so shaded that few plants could grow. Mushrooms popping up all around me… a deep feeling of peace and calm. Quiet. Still.
The below realms felt like the retreat of winter time, when I could rest and dream, and journey with the spirits. I felt a sense of comfort in the underworld, a feeling of ultimate rest. Something whispered to me there, that I would be held and protected in the arms of the Ancients. Those who came before. Resting in their bones, all they left, now feeding the soil we walk upon. The below realms felt rich and full of wisdom.
In the underworld we connect with our elders and ancestors, those who came before and can bring tremendous insight into our lives and this experience of living on earth in a body that will eventually die as we all do. Those who have walked this earth before carry tremendous insight we can gather in the underworld, helping us navigate through places of struggle and suffering.
Since I was a child I have been drawn to death like a friend or companion on this often painful journey of life. The presence of death always felt comforting, knowing that this ultimate rest and stillness was there eventually, and would bring union with the divine bliss and love I know is on the other side. The viel in the way of us and God's love I think lifts when we die. That has always felt comforting, even growing up in a very anti religion household, where my family never talked about anything bigger that we couldn't see, or what we experience possibly after death. As all of us, I have had a healthy fear of death as well, never desiring it to come until I am old and ready. But also knowing that we don't all get to decide when it comes, or how, and some part of me has always wanted to be prepared. I think about living every day with as much presence and appreciation as possible. Having the presence and awareness of death always with me, allows me to live more fully. I feel greater appreciation for the precious moments of my life. The love and people in my life, somehow always aware that it is finite and ephemeral. I know we don't get to have this forever. I have known this deeply in my bones since I was a child, possibly because of past life memories, or knowing how many times likely I have already been here.
The underworld can bring us into connection with the presence of death and other lifetimes in a ways that truly allows us to live more fully each moment and every day of our lives, reflecting on the specialness of event the smallest moments. Everything becomes brighter and more real, more vivid and treasured in my heart.
The underworld also connects us to the parts of us that suffer and experience sadness, Ian, and illness when it takes us into the dark night... out of joy and hope, and into the dark places of despair. Any of you who have been there, and likely most of you, understand that underworld journey when it feels like all of the lights go out. We are feeling around in the dark and feel often lost, confused, hopeless, and often in pain. We have been hurt, experienced pain and loss... we may ben in acute pain and not sure how to breathe through each moment let alone get through a day. I have experienced many of these moments, sometimes lasting days, sometimes lasting years, with some moments of joy scattered in between.
I often don't know how I have survived these moments in life, often through sheer determination to make the best out of life, knowing this is all impertinent. I do not want to miss the time I have, or waste it. I know it has been given as a gift.
The human realities of suffering here on earth are difficult to make peace with, especially when the suffering is much more intense for some of us than others. Life is certainly hard for everyone, but we can see many have it harder than others.
May you call on your ancestors to give you strength.
Love and blessings,
Sage
Plants of the Underworld ~
Nightshades, Dragon’s blood, Copal, Myrrh, Poke, Osha, Elder, Hemlock, Ayahuasca, Cannabis, Wormwood, Artemisias, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Chaga, Reishi Mushrooms, Skunk Cabbage, Hellebore, Calamus, Mugwort, Wild Lettuce, Usnea & Lichens, Salvia divinorum, Poisonous Plants
Welcome Video ~ Calling the Ancestors
Password - divine
Deep Roots
The underworld also connects us to the parts of us that suffer and experience sadness, Ian, and illness when it takes us into the dark night... out of joy and hope, and into the dark places of despair. Any of you who have been there, and likely most of you, understand that underworld journey when it feels like all of the lights go out. We are feeling around in the dark and feel often lost, confused, hopeless, and often in pain. We have been hurt, experienced pain and loss... we may ben in acute pain and not sure how to breathe through each moment let alone get through a day. I have experienced many of these moments, sometimes lasting days, sometimes lasting years, with some moments of joy scattered in between.
I often don't know how I have survived these moments in life, often through sheer determination to make the best out of life, knowing this is all impertinent. I do not want to miss the time I have, or waste it. I know it has been given as a gift.
The human realities of suffering here on earth are difficult to make peace with, especially when the suffering is much more intense for some of us than others. Life is certainly hard for everyone, but we can see many have it harder than others.
In the Underworld we go to help those who are in the most suffering, or those who are experiencing a transition of death that includes a lot of suffering. We are drawn as healers often to the Underworld to help those who need support, love, and light, as well as the parts of us that have been forgotten as well. Those parts of us we have pushed into the shadows, the parts in pain or in need we cannot bring love and acceptance to. In the below realms we find what we have pushed into the shadows. It is there to be embraced and met with love.
Those who are in suffering reside in the Underworld... it is a realm that exists within and around us, and is often feared. We shun those in suffering or lost in illness and pain. We do not want to get close to it, because it can be destructive and harmful. Sometimes in pain we feel anger, and desperation, which can cause us to lash out at others. For this reason we do need to be careful when we are journeying into the below realms, traveling there with protection, guardians, light, love, and the spirits of the plants.
When we travel into the underworld to help others, we bring all the tools we have, and ask who is desiring help to be lifted out of their stuck place of suffering.
Video ~ Offerings to the Below Realms
Password to view - light
Tending to Suffering
Ceremonial Plants Around the World
When we travel to the Underworld for ourselves, we have to be careful we are going there to bring needed medicine and love... not to get lost there. We can get stuck in our own suffering and pain.
It can help to release emotions held there, and voices that need to be heard and released... but we need to make sure we bring the balms needed to soothe grief and pain. As healers our role is to bring medicine where it is needed, including to ourselves... and if we need help, we have to ask others to bring their medicine to US.
We cannot always tend to ourselves, we need help and others to bring the soothing balms we need. So call into the below realms the strength of Rose, the protection of Elder, the light of Dandelion... Call the sweetness and soothing of Linden and Marshmallow. Bring the grounded support of Burdock.
We call our allies and those who will tend pain. We call our elders and ancestors who understand what suffering is like, and can bring us needed care.
Seomteims the trauma experienced from an event stays hidden inside us, buried, and unattended to. All wounds have to be tended to. And in the underworld we find the places within us or within others who are needing our love and embrace. We call in the love needed, the sweetness and tenderness needed for those places in pain.
We have to start with ourselves, and then bring that to others. The medicine we have received and have access to we are able to bring others. And we need to understand what happens in the underworld spaces of suffering, through observing how we have experienced it first hand. We need to understand suffering intimately in order to tend to the suffering of others. Unfortunately, it does build incredible compassion and understanding, if it doesn't turn us into destructive unconscious balls of pain.... We have to tend to the wounds or the wounds rot and fester, sometimes eating us and others alive. It is not the way to live.
We cannot expect people to know what is going to help them in places of suffering and pain. That is the role we play, not to tell people what they need, but to offer what we have from a place of compassion and kindness. We have a desire to relieve suffering from a place of compassion and lovingkindness. So if it is safe and won't harm us to do it, we offer what we can. If someone is too difficult for us to help, that is a job for someone else. We all have many roles. Some are there to just hold boundaries and contain people in pain and suffering while they are lost in it. And if or when they are ready, many of us are available to bring medicine when they are ready for it. Not all will be ready. And not all will find a way out of suffering.
We are not here to control suffering, pain, illness, or death. It is part of all of it. We are just here to bring the support and help we have available.
Many will reach their hand back out to us to receive it.
Do not ask if the support and love is good enough. All love is good enough and needed. All kindness is needed. Do not waste time doubting the value of what you have to give. You are needed and valued, the love in your heart is needed and received.
Plants to Feed the Soil ~
Comfrey, Nettles, Coltsfoot, Burdock, Clovers, Cover crops & Legumes, Oats, Alfalfa, Dock,
The Underworld
Below Realms
Calling our Guides & Ancestors
Our ancestors and family members who have passed into the spirit realms have an incredible amount of strength and support to offer us. There are experiences they have had, partly from living, and partly from being on the other side, that can bring us tremendous help. They can see things we cannot I believe, and they can push us in moments we need help to move towards what will be most fulfilling and important in our lives.
There are experiences we need to have that are going to enrich and nourish us deeply. We can't always trust our path's in life, or we feel stress around the not knowing what is ahead. Motivation can be difficult when we doubt what is possible for us.
Reaching into the strength and inspiration of our ancestors can push us forward. We carry some of what they carried inside them. If they were able to do it, so can we. We are more than we realize and cable of more than we know. We can withstand struggles better than we realize. Just as they were able to. They found resources inside them we can also find in ourselves.
In the Underworld we can go back as far as we drawn or invited, to loving ancestors who see us as their child. We came from their love, their courage, and their nurturing. Every one of us.
Receive their love, see how important and special you are in their eyes. Just as you may see your children or grandchildren. You are believed in and loved. Others see your depth, your courage, your kindness, your wisdom, and the medicine that you offer.
Spend time writing about what pain you are carrying right now. Spend some time journaling about anything that feels raw and difficult. What parts of you that have suffered have you pushed into the shadows and felt ashamed of? What parts have you not been tending to that need your love?
Create a ritual to call guides to support you through the pain you are working through. Write down on small slips of paper what you are needing support with, that is causing you suffering. Let the spirits hear the parts of you that are lost in shadow, unable to feel the light and love that is available as a needed balm to soothe.
Invite in light to the dark places within you that suffer. Ask to be held and soothed. Call in peace and the light of the above realms. Feel them surrounding you in cleansing peace and healing light. Feel every part of you in suffering be filled with light and the love of spirit.
Imagine all of the hidden places inside you filled with dust and cobwebs, all that has been thrown there and rejected, let out into the light to be free. See the light streaming into every crevice, healing energy seeping into every place of pain and sadness that may be there.
When you are ready rest and thank the spirits and energies that have brought you their love and care. Welcome all the elders that are there in the unseen holding support and space for you. See their strength, and what they have been able to survive and get through with the support they had. (Even if it was only from the spirit realms). Know that everyone is held, no one is left out.
Underworld Plants
Bringing Support to Places of Suffering
At all times, all around the world, there are people experiencing suffering. It is a part of life, and unfortunately a part of human society as long as there has been war and a fight for resources. We have wanted to protect (and sometimes hoard) resources for ourselves, to the point of unsustainability. Capitalism and the business of making people more and more money without limits, as cause immeasurable suffering. We have not found a way out yet, other than in our individual lives and hearts.
We can bring support to those in suffering, and help from the other realms. When disasters and wars are happening, we can go to the battleground and bring light, bring medicines, and bring our lovingkindness. We can wrap those in suffering up in our arms and pour healing energy and light into their heart, minds, and bodies.
Choose a place, group of people (or animals) you would like to lend your loving support to who you know are experiencing suffering.
Make sure that you are feeling grounded and strong in your energy field, knowing you are not taking on their suffering.Your job is to pour loving and healing energy into them. So in order to do that, we need to br filled with peace, light, love, and the spirits of all that can soothe. I call the plants close to me, any I want to ask to help me, and any I feel are needed. I ask the spirits who will help, and send out the call.
Stand at the center of the wheel, or imagine you are there. Feel the light of the fire burning in front of you, and the strength of the circle surrounding you. Welcome in the powerful healing energies of the elements and the earth that surround you. Call in the spirits of the animals and plants, the powers of nature.
Ask for them to surround you in light and protection.
Now think of the place or beings you wish to help. Go to them, traveling to where they are in your heart and consciousness. Reach out in spirit to feel them. Imagine yourself there with them, knowing you are just a visitor. Now call in all of the light and love you have access to for thesis community. Let it fill your heart and surround you, like a huge sphere of [powerful light and energy. Call in the energies of peace, comfort, ease, soothing, and love. Now send that energy out in all directions to wash over all those in suffering that surround you there. Watch the healing energy and light spread, penetrating everything in its path. See that light and healing energy spread light exploding stars of spirit's love and healing light covering everything it touches.
Call in any plants you wish to, asking their spirits to wash over and through all who are in pain.
Call the power of the elements to bring needed healing and cleansing of wounds. See all the spirits at work there already, and know that all who are in suffering are being tended to and loved. No one is left out. Noe one is alone. There is always help coming from the unseen. All voices are heard, even in the darkest moments.
