In an era where esoteric practice has lost sight of its roots in spirit work, many are searching for a place to begin to work with the spirits. In this introductory class, Astraea will discuss the foundational aspects of beginning spirit work, including developing prayer, altar, protection, and intuition. This class is based on a channeled curriculum for beginning spirit work that has been guided by the higher spirits to bring personal empowerment and healing to the community.

Being able to work with spirits is at the core of most spiritual practice. But just as in our human relationships, building strong and positive relationships with spirits poses many challenges. In this workshop, Astraea will discuss the major dynamics at play in positive spirit relationships, including guides, ancestors, deities, and nature spirits, what they expect of us, and how to fulfill those expectations without venturing into unhealthy patterns. This is an opportunity to evaluate the spirit relationships you currently have and to reflect on how they could be improved.

Psychic perception is the foundation of all spirit work practice — the ability to access intuition, to understand the spirits, and to sense greater truths are necessary for receiving good messages and guiding healings. If these abilities are not honed, the spirit worker risks allowing thoughts, emotions, and presumptions to stand in the way of important truths. In this class, we will practice our psychic connection with practical exercises to identify the properties of spiritual tools and to gauge the presence of good and evil. After brief instruction and setting of protected space, each participant will choose how to connect in a safe, fun, and non-judgmental group setting. Practitioners of any level can benefit from viewing their perceptions in a new light.

Discernment is the practice of questioning, evaluating, and being diligent and humble on the spiritual path. Working with spirits, and spiritual people & community, comes with inherent dangers and a need for careful steps. Everything cannot be assumed to be as it seems, and the true spirit worker is careful not to jump to conclusions. In this class, Astraea will outline the parameters for doing spirit work in a safe and serious way, and explore the dangers of working with people & spirits who do not routinely discern the parameters of good & evil, compassion & manipulation, and reality & fantasy.

Protection is and should be considered a fundamental aspect of all spiritual practice. Dangers are present in most spiritual experiences, even if we are not aware or open to them. From the perspective of protecting spirit workers from the presence of negative intentions in community, ritual, and daily life, Astraea will discuss fundamentals of a regular protection practice, building protective spiritual tools, and preventing attachment to all harmful energies, spirits, or constructs.

In the realm of working with the spirits, deity work is a popular yet risky activity that has benefitted from very little guidance in the West. Misconceptions about the nature of deity or personal egoic motives can easily cloud the spirit worker from engaging with deity in the correct way. Over 15 years of working with spirits, Astraea has slowly and carefully advanced her engagement with the divine, channeling proper protocols and witnessing the living polytheistic traditions of many cultures. She has also learned to discern the presence of the divine and witnessed what grave errors can be made when we mistakenly attribute a divine presence in ritual or community. In this class, Astraea will outline for the beginner spirit worker the correct posture with which to approach a deity and with what purpose in mind, in a way that can circumvent the ego and open oneself to the transcendent power of divinity in a safe and effective way.

When the basics of spiritual healing practice have been surpassed, huge questions on the role of the healer and the consequences of spiritual work come into focus. If certain ethical standards aren’t upheld, the healer will soon learn that there can be mild harm or disastrous results. In this discussion-based class, we will identify some nuances of a holistic healing practice and the ethical issues that arise from the complications of relationship, the expectations of the spirits, and the messiness of Earthly life. Participants are encouraged to come with stories, questions, and perspective from their own practice. Astraea will guide the discussion with case studies and horror stories as a means of stoking reflection and identifying the highest manifestation of our personal ethics in our individual healing practices.

Soul-speaking is a practice channeled by Astraea that allows oneself to connect to their soul and allow it to speak. The insights gained by this practice are reported by past participants to be like a concentrated form of truth that in daily life tends to come on only very slowly. In a ritual space, participants will connect with their soul and speak their truths, sharing in a free-flowing way about their paths, their troubles, their frustrations, and reacting intuitively to what other people share. There is a magic that occurs when people come together in good intention, and together in this community space we will witness what we each have to say, and perhaps recognize some deep aspect of ourselves for the first time. This ritual is best for smaller groups.

Seeking the Oracle is a ritual in which student oracles and oracle Astraea answer queries from the community. Participants are guided in prayer and intuitive inquiry to determine what question they might be guided to ask. The spirits of purpose and destiny speak through the oracles to answer productive questions that lie at the axis of your hope and your stagnation. The spirits of purpose are elevated spirits that have unique perspectives on destiny and personal and communal blockages, and they often encourage us to challenge ourselves to progress. Participants should expect the unfiltered truth, and approach the spirits from a mindset of reverence for the positive role they play in the universe. This ritual can be done with small or large groups, preferably with a small group having learned Astraea’s oracle method in her workshop titled Being the Oracle.

This ritual aims to uplift those who are seeking their purpose. “Seekers of purpose” will be given spiritual insight about their purpose, gifts, and destiny and receive a blessing. Other attendees will support the seekers in their journey, providing messages, support, and guidance. Participants will work in this session to either become their true self, or to witness and support the becoming of another. This ritual is supported by the spirits of purpose and destiny.