Invisible forces are all around us. They exist as a spiritual part of nature, and make a deep and lasting impression on our psyches or subconscious minds, even though we cannot always perceive their existence. Unusual or unfamiliar energies are not necessarily evil in and of themselves. Still, because invisible forces tend to shape-shift according to the physical, emotional, and mental constructs of our ordinary world, they are not always pleasant or even vaguely hospitable to us when we happen to fall under their spell.
The Nature of Psychic Attack
We are protected from disruptive psychic influences because we commonly dwell in a state of mindful oblivion, a byproduct of the routine frenzy produced by our fast-paced, high-tech society. However, the unseen remains alive and well in the persons, places, and things we encounter every day, and we are psychically affected by it nonetheless.
During our daily travels, we may meet individuals who embrace a woe-is-me attitude, are prone to attracting the darker side of life, or who are deliberately handling these forces in an unscrupulous manner. Occasionally we may enter office buildings, homes, or wilderness areas that are tainted by emotional discord or haunted by malevolent spirits, or we may touch items that hold the gloomy impressions of unfortunate past events.
There are times when we may bring the more challenging elements of the invisible world upon ourselves. This occurs when our magical inclinations lead us out of our depth of knowledge and understanding, or when we inadvertently fall victim to a vulnerable chink in our emotional armor. Now, with radio, television, and the relatively new addition of computer interaction, we may even reach out and touch the unseen in cyberspace!
All of the above are examples of situations that bring us into contact with invisible forces that overwhelm the psyche, and trigger the instinctual, uncontrollable fear-reaction known as psychic attach.
Primal Fear
The primal part of the back brain, called the medulla oblangata, is responsible for automatic bodily functions such as breathing, substance assimilation, digestion, elimination, and various involuntary physical movements. It is the control center for the central nervous system, which is also in charge of our habitual emotional responses. When we feel threatened, anxious, or fearful, the primal brain reacts by stimulating a big-chemical reaction called "flight or fight." Neurotransmitters release a rush of adrenaline into the bloodstream, which then floods the vessels of the back brain. As a result, we may experience any number of uncomfortable physical and emotional sensations: heart palpitations, cold sweats, hot flashes, numbness, shock, anger, sadness, fear, panic, feelings of dissociation, and even thoughts of impending death.
Obviously these are legitimate, natural responses to real-life crises--violent crime, accidents, relocation, childbirth, divorce, disease, or the passing of a loved one. However, an encounter with hostile, invisible forces can produce the exact same symptoms, with one exception: it is difficult to explain to the average person with little knowledge of the esoteric side of life that you are experiencing these symptoms for no apparent reason.
First, rule out any material causes in a logical, systematic manner. Alcohol and substance abuse, physical, emotional, or mental conditions, stress, or a predilection to hysteria or panic must all be taken into consideration when attempting to make an honest diagnosis. Next, see the following checklist to determine that what you are experiencing is the real thing:
-Strange dreams or nightmares, sometimes accompanied by night sweats, the sensation of weight on the chest or body, or actual physical bruising upon waking up.
-A hallucinogenic home environment, including "breathing" or undulating walls and furnishings. Unusual pet-related antics, like seeing the family dog or cat repeatedly stare at a particular spot on the ceiling or in the corner of a room, chasing invisible objects, or manifesting sudden fearful behavior such as cringing or shaking.
-An atmosphere filled with dread, fear, and oppression, or cold spots in sunny or warm areas of the house.
-Marked nervous exhaustion leading to extreme physical weakness, loss of appetite, insomnia, and possible mental/emotional breakdown.
-Evil odors that come and go, slime marks on the floors, walls, or countertops, or unidentifiable footprints in odd places, leading to and going nowhere.
-Noise and other sound materializations, including ringing bells, creaks, clicks, whispers, laughter, singing, or moans.
-Inexplicable fire outbreaks, moving objects, and appliances or lights that turn on and off by themselves.
-Shiny floating balls of light, sometimes carrying a distorted face or image in their midst, or shadowy figures standing in doorways or passing through walls.
Your first inclination might be to take flight and head for the hills upon experiencing these eerie occurrences. However, it is far better to stand your ground and fight for your right to peace and privacy. Whether the psychic attack is a result of human interference, mischievous spirits, elemental astral forces, disconnected thought-forms of your own creation, or a magical experiment gone wrong, you are being violated by an intruder and you must treat the unwelcome invasion as such.
Every culture and spiritual tradition has a unique way of dealing with the phenomena of psychic attack, but what if you are a novice magical practitioner, or simply an open-minded person who happens upon an unruly hidden force? If you can't get help from someone with experience, no one will believe you, or you dare not tell anyone for fear they'll think you're crazy, following are ten natural psychic self-defense methods that really work:
1. Discontinue your association with any person, place, or thing that may be suspect in causing the attack.
2. Head for the nearest herb shop and load up on St. John's Wort, valerian, and an amino acid called GABA. All of these natural remedies will calm your nerves, allow you to get some rest, think clearly, and stop you from being afraid.
3. Go into a wilderness area and find a hilltop clearing encircled by trees. This type of landscape brings you closer to the higher spiritual realms, and provides you with a naturally protective magic circle. Lie on the earth in the center of the circle and listen to the sounds of nature. Watch the clouds drift across the sky, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and the vast energy of the earth beneath you. Stay there until you feel centered and grounded. Repeat as necessary.
4. Clean your house from top to bottom, including drawers, closets, and storage areas. Throw or give away anything you have not used in a year.
5. Light up your life. Replace low wattage bulbs with halogen lights. Open the curtains and let the sun shine in.
6. Keep moving. Hiking, running, biking, walking, swimming, and dancing are all activities that express life and uplift your spirits.
7. Breathe. Fear cannot exist where there is breath.
8. Drink purified water, eight glasses a day and then some. Add one cup of sea salt and one cup of baking soda to your bath water. Soak twice a day.
9. Make a phone call to the perpetrator of the attack if it is a living person and you are relatively certain of his or her identity. Tell them that you are aware of what they are doing, and demand that they stop or you will report them to the proper authorities. Dark magicians and their ilk usually prefer to work in secrecy, so blow out their circuits by blowing their cover, and return the attack to its sender in the process.
10. Help those in need, take comfort in prayer to your personal gods, and call out to the universe for aid.
by Marguerite Elsbeth
copyright 1999
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