I’ve been thinking about spiritwork more than usual lately. Anyone who’s spent any length of time with me knows it is a favorite topic of conversation. So yes, even more than usual. Spiritwork is something that historically has not been discussed much in the ADF community, although spiritworkers have been part of ADF since the beginning and in recent years I’ve been noticing the shift in conversations forming around this topic more and more.
So, what is spiritwork? When I talk about it, it is the work done by a person to both communicate with the spirits about their concerns, as well as facilitate communication from the spirits to the humans I share this world with. For me, this looks like regular and consistent trance practice where not only do I seek out my own allies, but I also invite spirits who have concerns to come forward and speak with me. It also includes doing work on behalf of others, often to find spirits in the Otherworld for them and relay messages between the two parties.
More than a decade ago I was named a spiritworker by folks in my local community, and while it took me a while to accept and claim that title, it is now one that I sit comfortably with most of the time. I have always been open-headed, and getting into trance comes fairly easily to me. I have had experiences for as long as I can remember that involve communication with unseen entities, often involving them coming to me with thoughts, concerns, or requests both inside and outside trance work. When I’m doing this kind of communication for myself and the spirits, I set aside a time and space for that communication, so that I’m not overwhelmed by the spirits.
While doing spiritwork for myself is one aspect of this, there are additional considerations when doing spiritwork on behalf of others. I try to do it within a structured setting like a ritual in order to provide a safe container that I can ensure is purified and protected. In group settings this is another way of creating a set time and place for the spiritwork to occur. This spiritwork on behalf of others nearly always involves the passing of messages back and forth, though sometimes it progresses to Horsing (a type of possession work) where the spirit and the person can communicate directly.
In conversations about spiritwork, two big things typically come up: Can anyone be a spiritworker, and how do you know if you are? How do you do it ethically, and how do you know if someone else is doing it ethically? Before diving into these questions, if you’re interested in deepening your practice and building stronger relationships with spirits overall, I always recommend doing regular devotional and trance work, and both journaling and reflecting on your experiences and interactions. Those things are the grounding of spiritwork, so whether or not spiritwork is for you, those practices will lead to connection and fulfillment in your relationships.
So, can anyone be a spiritworker? I mean, technically yes? For someone without a natural inclination however, it may be a major uphill battle to develop those skills, and will likely come with uncomfortable personal sacrifices. To be clear, I think anyone can do trancework and communicate with the spirits, but there is a level of natural talent that combines with learning, and practice that can lead to a person becoming a spiritworker.
Mentorship with a more experienced spiritworker is also hugely beneficial, as well as working within a group of other spiritworkers. This helps keep you balanced in the work, and gives you a safe place to process the experiences. For someone who has the natural inclination for spiritwork, the first step is learning and practicing as much as you can. But knowing you are one is largely a role given you by your community, and not necessarily one that you can claim or take on yourself. Part of my understanding of this has to do with the ADF context of roles and titles. In ADF, you aren’t called a Priest until the ordination ceremony where the community of Folk lay that title, role, and stole upon you. The role of spiritworker feels similar to me.
Then, if you’re engaging in spiritwork yourself, how do you ensure you’re doing it ethically? In many ways, the reason I support the title of spiritworker being given by the community is that the community then acts as a safeguard to ensure the work being done remains in line with the community’s values and needs. The community can help prevent bad actors from preying on the vulnerable in their community.
Other things to take into account when gauging your ethics include your willingness to say “I don’t know” or “I can’t find that spirit.” You’re not forcing every experience to be successful. Also consider your willingness to encourage multiple ways of knowing. For instance, we know that spirits have their own agendas that may not align with ours. An ethical spiritworker will often encourage the person to seek a second opinion for any information they receive. They’re not threatened by a person seeking more information from someone else.
And finally, consider the power or money involved in the interaction. If you as a spiritworker pressure people to come back to you (and no one else) again and again, that would be a red flag. This is amplified if you charge outlandish prices for services. It is normal and expected to pay for spiritwork consultations, however this amount is typically similar to what you would pay someone like a hair stylist or tattoo artist. Someone with specialty knowledge and training, who is providing a one-time service.
Obviously spiritwork is a big topic, and not one that could ever be encompassed by a single column or single author. I’m always interested in continued conversation around this, and would appreciate reading about other perspectives, both here in Oak Leaves and in other venues.
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