Discernment is Your Best Friend
When walking into anything on this side of life, paganism, witchcraft, and even spirit work things can get confusing. Not only all the information but the constant questions of, “Did I do this right?” “Was that a sign from my Gods?” “Is that spirit really there?” and even more than that. We cannot see half the stuff and even when we do, we still question it.
Doubt is good. Doubt keeps us questioning and in check. However its about the right amount of doubt. Too much doubt can make us miss even the most obvious piece, because we questioned it too much. Too little and we become gullible by believing everything handed to us.
This is where discernment comes into play. Discernment and protection, when used right, can be some of the biggest allies. So it is important to set up a good system. Why set it up in the beginning? You can set it up later. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just hard years later when your knee deep in it all and something disproves everything you just worked through. Its reality crushing.
I have gotten a lot of questions on discernment lately in our chat. So below are some tips and tricks in helping you set up the best system for yourself. At the bottom will be a resource list to some other great articles on discernment. This post is centered on spirit work and deities with discernment. though discernment can be used for a variety of things.
I do not think everything is 100% accurate even in printed word. Nor do I believe lore to be accurate 100% either; however, it has been around much longer. There will be some validity to it. Yet do not believe everything you read.
Practice good research skills. When you read something, read about the author. See where they got their information. Follow the trail. You need to make sure the source you are getting your information from is legit. Wikipedia pages are great for quick reads, but they are not always accurate. The thing about wiki pages are anyone with an account can edit and write the information there. Though down at the bottom are sources to which you can follow to find more reading material.
This is the same thing for Tumblr and social media/blogging sites as well. Do not believe everything you read. I can not stress that enough. Tumblr is great for blogging, but not that great for informative research that you want to do. Even research beyond my post on this subject. I encourage it.
So when a spirit shows up or a God, do some research about them. Under stand them. Then if they give you some information, research that. You’ll be surprised what you can find. When finding that information in multiple places, it will help you build trust in yourself.
Divination: Outside Advice
Divination can help a lot too. I am not just talking about you doing readings for discernment. You are biased. Your energy, want, and need will be put into that reading. If your trying to discern if something is accurate it will not work accordingly.
This is where you will want to get an outside opinion. Find someone who does not know your situation. Give as vague of a question as possible. The less you tell them the better, because their readings will be more meaningful.
Also when getting a reading by someone, practice good shopping. Look to make sure the reader would connect well with you. Look at the reviews from others. If you have a friend who would be up for it good (just as long as they don’t know much about the situation)! If you have divination skills you can always offer trades. I have done that on occasion. Most times when I really need the discernment piece, free readings start to pop up. So if you don’t have money keep your eyes on free readings. But again make sure its a reader whom would tune in to your energy well.
Any forms of divinations will work! It does not have to be cards, those just typically are the most popular form. Do however be careful with pendulum readings on your own. Unless you know how to take the ego out completely. Pendulums swing due to energy and will, and if you or the reader has any biased it will move to that. So just be careful, but don’t count it out completely. (I always pair pendulum readings with cards to support both answers)
Asking for signs is great! Its a good way to know they are there. This is one of the first discernment techniques I have learned and still use.
There is one thing about asking for signs though: be specific. Asking for them to give you signs gives them too much free reign. Make sure and be as specific as possible. The format I usually follow goes something like this:
“If you want me to do this give [insert sign here] 5 times in the next three days [or insert date].”
Example: King if you want me choose to move give me Tigger, 3 times in two days.
I usually pick the most random sign possible. Mostly because its something I haven’t seen and the high possibility of it happening is low. They tend to blow me out of the water with how wrong sometimes I can be. Its okay if the signs do not happen. That gives you an answer to your question all the same. The point of discernment is to differentiate between brain weasels and them.
Side Note: Make sure and do your research too. When Gods and spirits try to get attention they will send signs. Though watch patterns of people. Look up population/rarity of animals in the area. Just research before jumping to the conclusion it is a sign. If your not sure either way write it down! Nothing says you can’t come back later to it. You can even follow the above format to see if someone is sending you signs.
Once establishing a good relationship with a spirit and/or deity now its time to build up a security system. This way you know its that being contacting you. This also helps when others approach you and claim to be the voice of said spirit and/or deity.
It can be anything from words, sentences, or even a picture. It is something only you and the spirit and/or deity know. An example is like me giving King the sign of puns when He is around. I know how His personality is, so puns is something that just happens around Him. Especially when its done by someone whom is not usually into puns. We even have signs for during readings, so I know that He is there telling the reader the right information.
Journaling Is Important Too
Oh great another post about how important journaling should be. I know. I know. Most of us start journals and never follow through with them. Its difficult some times. Yet this will actually help a lot in the long run of things. Bare with me.
Sometimes spirits and deities will give you signs to get your attention. There are times they have given me information that I wasn’t sure what to do with. Or things that happen and I’m like “your crazy so I’ll ignore this.” Most times I will write things down like that. Its just little notes in a little notebook. Mod Tara takes notes on everything we do in the astral. Just so its somewhere with dates on them for when we do it.
Its amazing how many times we both go back and read through the notes. Then things start to line up with other pieces. The bigger picture starts to show. Then you see the signs and know what to look for in the future. This builds not only discernment but trust in yourself.
Dates are important too. We actually had an article pop up in our states newspaper that paralleled with our experiences. This paper came out a year later, but the events took place a year ago. We looked back in our notes and things were eerily similar to the article as well as dates AND places lining up. This gave us a huge boost in our trust in discernment and ourselves.
Trust in Yourself and Intuition
With all the other techniques this comes next.
It is the toughest thing to do and we all struggle with it. I have gotten better about this, but there are days that I slip. Which is okay! We all stumble. It is also good to question and doubt. You need to when facing the unseen world.
The techniques above can also help build that trust in yourself. I know I went through severe doubt in everything for years. Then some journalling and some great help by one spirit I was able to overcome the bulk of it. It takes work and patience, so do not feel pressure in that it has to be done now. There is nothing wrong with trusting yourself and going with your intuition. Your intuition can lead you to some great places.
Some Warnings Before I Go
Not everyone’s discernment will be the same. We are all different thus things work for us differently. This is why I suggest reading up many different ways to execute discernment. Then build which works for you.
Just like everyone is different, so is every spirit. Make sure and take the time to find what communication is there strongest form. I have worked with a few spirits to help them become better at communication. Not every spirit is good at all forms, unlike deities. So be patient with them.
I know not everyone can sense. Yet you do not need to sense to practice good discernment. Discernment is for everyone, regardless of personal abilities. One system will not work for another and will evolve over time.
With everything, be patient. It takes time to develop a good system. Do not be afraid to check and adjust either. You want this to help support you down this path. You will be more thankful to have a good system in place in the beginning than down the road.
If you have suggestions on more discernment posts please let me know. I will gladly add them once I have read through it.
Discernment - Is It A Sign? by Jace Sea
A Note on Discernment: Hearing Your Own Voice by @stsathyre
Signs Don’t Have to be External by @thewitchingcow
Notes on Discerning Sans Godphone by @thetwistedrope
Suggestibility, Peer Pressure, and Groupthink by grumplokenelder
What Do They Want? Hints for the Headblind on Determining the Will of the Gods by @hearthfirehandworks
How Do They Know? by @realsocialskills
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you guys have further questions. c:
