It's Halloween, and the veil between the spirit world and our world is paper thin. It's natural that you might wonder how to talk to ghosts as spooky season comes to a close. Samhain, Halloween, and Día de los Muertos are times when we can connect with those we've lost, and why not reach out to your loved ones on the other side? Well, we're here to help you navigate the spirit world, but there are a few things you should know.
But before reading this article, you must understand that you shouldn’t mess around with spirits. When connecting with them, some precautions must be taken so that negative entities don't attach to you as a result of your communication. Calling in the deceased isn't a sure bet — you could connect with a loved one, or you could reach someone you didn't intend to. In doing this, you're creating a hole in the metaphysical universe, one that can let anything filter in or out.
So, with that in mind, here are some tips on how to talk to ghosts, and how to safely reach out to spirits.
Always have an offering
First and foremost, “connecting with spirits requires RESPECT,” according to Roz Hernandez, the host of “Ghosted by Roz” and one of the stars of Hulu’s new ghost-hunting series Living For The Dead. "[You] should introduce yourself, thank them for having you over, explain who you are, and give them the etiquette you’d have with a living person,” Hernandez advises. Basically, treat the spirits the way you’d want to be treated in the same situation — hence why you'll want to leave an offering.
Offerings are important because you don't want to ask something of someone without giving something in return. "The best practice is to have a gift of some kind in mind to visualize as an offering if you plan to ask for any favors to maintain a balance,” tarot reader, witch, and psychic Blue June advises. Offerings are made to show that they have not been forgotten and as a thank you for helping us see matters through their eyes.
Altars are a great way of showing gratitude to the deceased, while leaving an offering for them to enjoy. Witch, death doula, and tarot reader Marguerite Recupero suggests getting an altar in place to let the spirits you're contacting know you come in peace. To do so, you’ll need to find a clean space in your home to put objects and photos of those who have passed.
"I light tobacco and place my loved one's favorite snacks and wine on the altar,” Recupero says. The offering you leave could be flowers and candy the deceased liked, or jewelry they wore. Some people leave a glass of water on their altar to keep the communication with spirits open.
A word of warning and a word of advice: “NEVER put a picture of the living on the altar,” Recupero says. Why not? It's a matter of separation, and is considered taboo. The living and the dead aren't in the same world, so they shouldn't be on the same altar.
How To Call In The Spirits:
First thing's first: get yourself in the right headspace. Protecting and grounding our energy is essential when reaching out to spirits. This will help you call in your ancestors who won't harm you and avoid anything that's outside your comfort zone.
Once you're in a good place, you can consider your options. There are many ways to communicate with spirits— many more than using the traditional Ouija board that you might have seen in movies (more on that later).
On way to talk with ghosts is via the astral plane, a place that doesn’t adhere to time, where the dead, unborn, and living can meet up. It isn’t physically accessible, but it is where we can psychically find others. Most people connect to the astral plane by consciously projecting themselves there while sleeping. Like any encounter, it’s essential to protect ourselves before entering the astral plane. And, it might be hard to remember if you’re asleep or in an altered state of mind through meditation. Draw a circle of protection in the air with your index finger before sleeping or meditating to ensure your safe entry and return from the astral plane.
The most popular way to call in and to communicate with spirits is through a séance or pendulum. You can invite friends or family members to partake if everyone is in the right emotional state. Cover your mirrors to ensure that the energy of the spirits doesn’t get trapped in them. Light a white candle to call in the spirits and pay attention to how the candlelight flickers in the dark to see if the spirits are present. If it’s a small light, it’s best to bring more energy into the room by meditating and holding hands with others. If the candlelight is bright, then the energy is heightened. Let the candle burn to the end and look at its remains to discover any clues the spirits have left in the melted wax. You may receive a special message there, too.
Psychic, tarot reader, and witch Renee Watt suggests “visualizing a circle of protective white light around you. When you feel at peace and as if there's a higher power watching over you, feel free to open lines of communication by inviting nearby spirits to let their presence be known. Stay on guard for strange sounds, flickering candles, and flashing light bulbs, as they could indicate that you've made contact.”
Watt suggests, “carrying stones such as black tourmaline or fire opal can help ward off negative vibes, though you may want to say a few words to call in your protection or higher power before kicking off your next séance.”
No matter what method of communication you choose, it's best to go the old fashioned route. Blue June warns against using spirit games like Ouija boards if you’re a novice: “anyone attempting to communicate beyond the veil should not use an Ouija/spirit board. A spirit board can be fashioned quickly and easily on paper. Any object can be used as a planchette, and this is equally dangerous as an antique spirit board.” However, if you do, Blue June notes you should always say “goodbye” at the end of your session. “[It's] very easy to break once fear or excitement takes over," Blue June says, but not closing your session "comes with severe consequences as you will have left the door open for anything to come through.”
Aftercare with spirits
After connecting with spirits, it’s crucial to end the conversation well and adequately. Wish them well and give them thanks for their enlightenment. Then, cleanse the room and your body. Watt says to light a black candle to banish negative entities that might remain. Also, “store your items in a closet when you're done and consider wrapping them in black clothes to ensure they don't attract spirits when not in use.”
After “severing energetic ties and sending the spirits back to where they came from,” psychic medium and tarot reader Sarah Potter suggests “waving a selenite wand around one’s body and the corners of the room followed by spraying rose water and burning lavender.” Potter also recommends “to take it easy and to not do anything too strenuous — keep it chill and take a warm bath or shower and drink plenty of water.” Use this time to “reflect on what you heard and felt from the spirits and trust whatever comes up. Even if something doesn’t make sense now, it could later!”
