Spirit possession happens a lot more than most people think. It happens in houses, churches. temples, and circles. Just what is it though? How do we do it?

What Is Spirit Possession?
Spirit possession is exactly what it sounds like: being taken over by a spirit. Allowing an entity to use you like a rider using a horse, hence its other name, “horsing.” Spirit possession is perhaps one of the oldest Magics in the world. The notion that the person who allows a spirit to use them goes back to prehistory. For example, in the Cave of the Trois-Freres (Cave of the Three Brothers) in France there exists a painting of what looks like a shaman being possessed by a stag, dating to around 13,000BCE.

The Dionysian Cults
In due time, another cult in Southern Europe began to grow and spread throughout the known world (at that time). The following was inspired by the God Dionysos: God of Wine, Ecstasy, Madness, Liberation, Shapeshifting, Dance, and Theater.

In ancient Greek theater, actors would practice to transcend their own egos and actually method act in order to make their performances real. Their ability to enter into a state of “non-being,” with the aid of ritual masks, would enchant the audience and bring their emotions into a heightened state of madness. Because of the liberation of the spirit during these events, Dionysos was known as Eleuthereos: The Liberator. His spirit moved through the dances, words, and behaviors of the thespians, directing their energy to the audience.

Permission
In covering the state of spirit possession from the Sorcerer and the early Dionysian cults, there is one thing which remains fact based on my experiences: permission. You must be open and allow a spirit to take you over: to speak and act through you. Even when evil spirits possess a Christian, they are told that they must give that evil spirit “the license to depart.”

Permissive possession is very powerful. You enter into an agreement with the spirit to allow it to experience what we humans are involved with. I have found that some spirits yearn to know our world in all of its senses, just as seek them out to find something Other about ourselves and the illumination of knowledge they can grant.

Lady Sybil
My Craft moniker, Oracle, is that word for a reason. That’s what I am. In the beginning of my calling to be into spirit possession, it didn’t end well. I was immature and no one around me had ever encountered anything like it. I invoked Lady Sybil, the oracle of the past. It was an amazing experience, and I’ll never forget it. But in my naivety I did not turn off the license, and she remained with me for quite some time. I was getting sick, and experiencing strange symptoms such as claw marks on my back, fatigue, confusion, and headaches. In a ceremony with my chosen family, I gave up the license and she was exorcised.

Years later, I wanted to do it again. I knew this was part and parcel of my calling. I dedicated myself to Hekate as her priest, and with her aid, I was prepared to undergo this task. She reaffirmed my name as Oracle, and told me in no uncertain terms that this would be my name moving forward, no matter where I went. So, I slowly began preparations to invoke the Sybil. Hekate stopped me, however, and said that SHE would be the one to possess me. We made a contract: serve as her oracle, and she would watch over me.

I expanded to another deity one night during a dark moon ritual when Hekate introduced Dionysos into the mix. I never aspected him nor devoted myself to him as a priest (I have yet to do this and I have zero idea as to why I am held back from making this move). But, I found myself willingly possessed by the God. It is beautiful, liberating, and dangerous. He is known as the Render of Men among other names. Surely I thought at some point I would lose myself. But instead I have found him helpful when working on me, as he is very much the God of Madness and the mentally ill.

Soon others followed: Apollo, Pan, and Aphrodite.

It was enormously wonderful that I was privileged to host these beings. As a reward, not too long ago I elicited the aid of Lady Sybil again. But Hekate said something interesting: Lady Sybil would be my guide when being possessed. She would watch over me, and assist me in these endeavors.

Oracle
I say this many times: I am not a psychic, but an oracle. The two are different. A psychic is someone with the skill set to learn fortune telling by different methods (e.g. tarot, playing cards, I-Ching, palmistry, etc.) as well as being able to learn psychometry, telepathy, and energy work at will. An oracle does not do any of these things. They may be skilled in some areas, but their main focus is on possession to speak forth prophecy, healing, and to prophesy on immediate future events.

I’ve discovered the differences slowly but surely. It is part and parcel of being an iatromantis (“physician-seer’) and Dream Walker. But again, that only happens when the Gods want to me to see something specific. Other than that, I am blank. I use Tarot, for example, for self-development, spells, rituals, and astral travel. I don’t necessarily use them for divination.

Conclusion
Spirit possession occurs because one allows it to occur. The Gods and spirits take over, and often spectacular feats are performed to prove that the ecstasy happening is from the God and not the human. Many will insert nails and bamboo sticks; drink tons of liquor without getting drunk; stand still for hours without pain; walk over broken glass and not bleed. Or, in my case, I am able to drink heavily when in Dionysian mode and not come out drunk at all. Or eat hot ashes without burning my tongue. Healings also occur, and renewal of strength and purpose. I believe that these actions help us to touch the Divine, and the Divine touch us. They get to experience the flesh and blood of a human, and we get to touch the Spirit. There is rarely anything more blissful than that kind of contact.

Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle