Finding the Sacred Self by Dr. Susan Gregg
all rights reserved published by Llewellyn

This is an excerpt from my book about removing negative energies and on
how to consecrate an altar.  You could also adapt the process and use it to
cleanse a location.  Excuse any typos this is a rough draft of the
manuscript.



Inorganic beings are entities that exist on the ethereal level.  Just as we
need food, air and water to survive these beings live on emotions.  They
literal feed on emotions generated by other beings especially humans and
animals.  Some feed on emotions like fear, anger and sadness while others
feed on joy.  Angels, fairies and gnomes are inorganic beings that feed on
joy and laughter.  Angels get their sustenance by helping people and
creating joy in their lives.
        There are a variety of universe out there.  Some of them are filled
with anger and hostility.  Beings from those universes can be rather
troublesome.  There were times when I was studying with Miguel when I
would suddenly feel depressed or angry for no apparent reason.  Eventually
I realized that an inorganic being had once again attached itself to me.  The
first time this happened I was terrified.  I went to class that night and I was
furious.  I wanted to leave but I knew that leaving would be a big mistake.
As we went into our meditation Miguel sat opposite me.  I fought every
one his suggestions to relax.  He patiently worked with me energetically
until the being left, I was so relieved that I began to cry.
        After the meditation I asked Miguel what had happened, he laughed
and described how the being had tried to scare him.  I knew it sacred me.
For a long time after that it seemed like a weekly occurrence and I spent a
lot of time running to Miguel to be saved.  When I got tired of feeling like a
victim of these entities I got angry and told them to leave me alone.  Much
to my surprise they did.
        These beings cannot hurt us in any way unless we let them.  We
have total dominion on this plane so if we say leave and mean it they must
leave.  If we passively give them our permission to exist by showing them
fear we give them the power to terrorize us.  These inorganic beings are a
gift, they teach us to go beyond our fear and they force us to step back
into our sacred center.  When we are in that center nothing can hurt us.
Learning about how to deal with these entities teaches us about self
empowerment.
        Occasional some of these beings are very powerful and they require
a little extra effort to remove them.  The easiest way to do so is by having
a ceremony.  This allows us to focus our attention and step into our sacred
center.

RELEASING NEGATIVE BEINGS

        You can make this ceremony as simple or as elaborate as you would
like.  To perform this ceremony you will need a smudge stick, a candle and
lavender or some other pleasant scent.  Start by calling on your protector.
Once you feel its presence say a simple prayer of protection.

        Creator, Great Spirit, universal energy I call upon your love and your
protection.  I call upon the beings of light and all those beings that help lost
souls.  See this being that has lost its way home.  It believes it is of the
dark, it has forgotten it is of the light.  Please surround it with your love
and gently guide it back to the light so that it may heal.  Please surround
this place and all within it with your love and protection.  I give thanks.

        Next light the candle and the smudge stick.  Thoroughly smudge the
area and yourself and allow the smoke to clear the area of any negativity.
Then stand in the center of the room and declare that only beings of light
are allowed in your aura or this dwelling place.  Call upon beings of light to
protect you and this place.  Demand that all lower energy forces leave now
and return to the light.  Declare that this place is only for those who live in
love and light. See yourself and the room filled with and surrounded by a
bright white light. Know you are always safe and protected.  Sprinkle the
lavender oil around the room.
        Make sure you protect yourself for a few days after you release one
of these beings.  You tend to be more open to them once one has been
removed.  If you again feel the presence of one repeat the ceremony.  The
easiest thing to do is make sure you don't attract one in the first place.  If
you always remember to call upon your protector and keep yourself
surrounded by white light they can't get near you.  I always bless any
place I work or live.  I cleanse it and fill it with beings of light specifically
called upon to protect the place and anyone who enters.

CREATING AN ALTAR

        Another tool that can be very helpful to you whenever you wish to
focus your mind is an altar.  Almost every temple or church contains an
altar of some sort.  An altar is a specific structure or location where
ceremonies take place.  You can find very complicated instructions for
creating an altar but is really a very simple act.  You can use any type of
material you wish to make your altar, it can be any shape or size.  It can be
wooden, a simple shelf or a piece of cloth that you use to symbolize your
altar.  Let your intuition be your guide and let your imagination run wild.
Take as much time as you need to find just the right objects for your altar.
Spend some time meditating about your altar, how would you like it to
look?  Will it be a permanent structure or something you can role up and
carry with you?  What will you put on it?  How will you use it?
        Relax as you think about this process, let it be something that you
enjoy fantasizing about.  Make it fun and enjoyable.  Relax and remember
that there is no right or wrong way to do this.  However you make your
altar and whatever it looks like it is yours and yours alone.  It is a place for
you to center yourself or worship your idea or concept of the creator, it is
place to put your dreams and wishes so the universe will know what it is
you want to manifest.  It is a place to create magic.
        As with most of the exercises in this book this process is one you
must feel rather then think about.  It is important to decide if your altar is
going to be a permanent structure or a portable one.  If you travel a lot or
enjoy doing ceremonies out doors it is useful to have one of each.  How
you plan on using your altar will influence what materials you choose to
use for it.  It would be difficult to carry around a hundred pound rock or
hang a thin cloth as a shelf.  Let yourself feel what would be right for you.
        Take your time collecting the treasures you will put on your altar.
Just be open to the process and objects will just show up in your life.
After you have gathered all the materials together to make the altar you
must decide where you want to place it.  What you put on it is also a
matter of personal choice.  My altar seems to collect little treasures
feathers, crystals, coral and pretty pieces of whatever.  Allow your altar to
be a dynamic structure rather then a static object in your life.  Let it change
as you do.
        Once you have everything ready set aside some time to consecrate
your altar.  Decide what type of ceremony you will create, how will it look,
do you want to do it alone or with a few trusted friends?  Gather everyone
and everything together and get ready for the ceremony.  I highly
recommend using a smudge stick and some candles.  Smudge sticks are
usually available at new age bookstores or you can make your own from
dry branches of sage and cedar or choose some of your favorite herbs,
which ever seems appropriate.  Salt is often placed on alters to symbolize
life.  Salt can also be used to bless a place by sprinkling it around.
        I find that fire is a very powerful element so I choose to use it in
most of my ceremonies.  Start out by lighting a candle and calling upon the
beings of light to assist you.  Then light the smudge stick from the candle
and allow the smoke to cleanse the area. Allow the smoke to surround
each object, all the participants and to flow around the area.  Native
Americans have used smoke for centuries to remove negative vibrations
from an area and to call in the beings of light.  Allow the smudge stick to
smolder during the ceremony.  It will usually go out by itself but if it
doesn't gently dip it into a glass of water.
        Next stand in front of your altar.  If it is a fixed altar put it in its
designated place, if it is a portable on spread it out in front of you.  While
standing in front of the altar say a simple prayer of consecration.  For
instance:

        Oh Creator, Great Spirit, Universe I stand before you, your humble
servant.  I call upon all the forces of light to energize this holy place.  I
consecrate this altar to the beings of light.  May all that come before it feel
the presence of your love, your strength and your wisdom.  May this altar
serve to guide me and strengthen my commitment to my sacred self.  May
I use it always in love and light and may it be an inspiration to me and
others.  May this be a sacred place for me to bring my dreams and wishes
too.  Bless this place and this dwelling place.  I give thanks for your
presence in my life.

        Now begin to place your objects on the altar.  Make sure you include
several candle holders and if you like incense an incense holder.  Carefully
place each item on your altar and when you are done spend a few minutes
in front of your altar in quiet contemplation.  Some people place fresh
flowers on their altar every day.  Use your altar however you see fit.  I
often place letters about issues I want to release on my altar, after they are
there for a while I burn them.  Some people write letters to the universe
about their wishes and dreams.   The ways in which you can use it are
endless.  I just suggest using it in a sacred and loving manner.
        Whenever you use a portable altar make sure you bless it and
consecrate it again.  As you continue to use your altar you will feel the
energy begin to build in it.  Just as churches are made "holy" by the people
who have worshipped there your altar will be made "holy" by your use.  I
like to meditate in front of my altar.  I also put objects on it that I want to
energize.  An altar can be a wonderfully powerful and fun tool.  As you
consecrate your altar you will also create a sacred place.
        We create that tool as we do our reality by focusing our attention
on it.  As we created our altar we made a conscious choice to use the
energies that are always around us.  We are seldom consciously aware of
those energies but we can use them whenever we choose to wake up and
focus our attentions on them.  There are so many energies out there that
we can utilize once we become aware of them.  The energies of teachers
and guides are a wonderful example of that.