![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonvoiceROLE of the SPIRIT HELPER
Amongst all indigenous practices, whether derivative, native, new age, etc. there is a discrepancy across cultures when it comes to the meaning of words like 'guide,' 'spirit guide,' 'totem,' and so forth. Because of these discrepancies, I seek to make it very clear what terms I use and what they mean:
The spirit helper is an English translation I have chosen to differentiate between those amorphous terms of 'guide,' 'energy,' and an actual being which is designated to specifically help those shamanising in the otherworlds. In Vilturj, the spirit helper is traditionally called the perevrnija, or perevrni (plural).
The spirit helper, or perevrni, is neither a totem, nor is it an animal energy or guide. They are not specific gods, though they may eventually be deified. They often have no specific folklore attributed to them within a living culture. They may, at times, be an ancestor - a human Oraite (shaman) - who has chosen to exist in the otherworlds for a multitude of reasons, but often to help younger generations of Oraite on their spiritual journeys to help their community.
However, spirit helpers most often appear as animals with something 'off' about them. It may be a horse with a lizard's tail, an eagle as big as a sequoia, a white shark with iron teeth, a human with feathers for skin.
The spirit helper is an entity that appears specifically to shamanic practicioners in order to help them to shamanise and work within the otherworlds. They are different for each person and often uniquely individual, though they can also be 'inherited' from other Oraite within the bloodline or familial culture. Their appearance and symbolic meaning often tells us something of the Oraite themselves, and their practices.
The spirit helpers / perevrni can assist in several ways:
- They negotiate on behalf of the Oraite in the otherworlds.
- They increase the Oraite's ability to travel to destinations they may not be able to normally reach on their own. They also enable the Oraite to travel to destinations at speed.
- Refining the Oraite's practice through teaching specific lessons in the otherworlds. This includes overseeing shamanic death states, aiding and causing initiations, and 'gifting' the Oraite with the powers that enable him or her to be successful in their ventures.
- Aiding the Oraite in all aspects of soul retrieval and possession.
- They are able to sometimes locate the totem, animal energies, ancestors, and spirit helpers of other people. This assists greatly during healings and magical works.
- They foster a sense of humility, respect and self-confidence. Without them, the Oraite is nothing of worth in the otherworlds.
Each spirit helper is helpful in different ways Some will specifically aid one's movement between worlds. Others will help with healing, 'travelling' or negotiation. Some will specifically teach lessons of fear and humility to remind the Oraite that he or she must be focused on the community, and not just themselves. They are not slaves to the whims of the practicioner, though some will (rarely) permit to being commanded. Others will make the commands, and treat the Oraite as a slave.
Spirit helpers are bound in the otherworlds, that is their realm of existence, and they may only present themselves in the 'real world' or material plane through omens and signs. They cannot be physically present.
Spirit helpers are also limited in what they are able to do. Some are able to move between all worlds, but most - like many animal energies - cannot move everywhere. For example, one of my own spirit helpers can never be of any meaningful assistance in the underworlds, and another one likewise can never visit the upperworlds. This is why it is important for the Oraite to negotiate healthy and positive relationships with all of their spirit helpers, because one will not be enough to create a powerful Oraite.
I cannot stress this enough, without perevrni, we truly believe that the Oraite is nothing more than a figurehead without any real power in the otherworlds. There might be some places they can traverse, but many of the more dangerous places become 'off limits.' Any Oraite who attempts to 'heal' others without the aid of their perevrni are selfish, and putting the people they are trying to heal in danger. Do not trust anyone who says, 'I'm fine in the otherworlds on my own.' They are either deluding themselves, simply 'visualising' and not truly journeying, or flat out lying.
Without perevrni, or spirit helpers, the Oraite cannot attempt to heal others or the community successfully. Some might ask why the totem or 'gods' couldn't help instead, but in our belief system, the totem does not perform the function of soul-retrieval, and gods are fickle and often demand higher prices than spirit helpers which is why we only appeal to them when necessary. We also do not address gods during every healing or journey out of respect, in the same way you might not bother an elderly and respected family member every time you wanted to get dressed - after all, you can do it yourself! Or you could certainly ask a sibling to help you first.
In some practices, the spirit helper is the 'highest' entity an Oraite will worship, before turning directly to non-personified deities like 'rain' or 'forest.' They are often deified, and over time they will gain their own stories and folklore if they are successful while working with the Oraite. Some might think that the perevrni is a manifestation of the higher self, but in Vilturj, they are external entities and can exist and function in the otherworlds without us. They are generally infallible.
In my practice, totems, guides and animal energies etc. cannot ever be perevrni. They can 'help' us, certainly, but they do not fulfil the same functions of the perevrni as adeptly as they can.
Amongst all indigenous practices, whether derivative, native, new age, etc. there is a discrepancy across cultures when it comes to the meaning of words like 'guide,' 'spirit guide,' 'totem,' and so forth. Because of these discrepancies, I seek to make it very clear what terms I use and what they mean:
The spirit helper is an English translation I have chosen to differentiate between those amorphous terms of 'guide,' 'energy,' and an actual being which is designated to specifically help those shamanising in the otherworlds. In Vilturj, the spirit helper is traditionally called the perevrnija, or perevrni (plural).
The spirit helper, or perevrni, is neither a totem, nor is it an animal energy or guide. They are not specific gods, though they may eventually be deified. They often have no specific folklore attributed to them within a living culture. They may, at times, be an ancestor - a human Oraite (shaman) - who has chosen to exist in the otherworlds for a multitude of reasons, but often to help younger generations of Oraite on their spiritual journeys to help their community.
However, spirit helpers most often appear as animals with something 'off' about them. It may be a horse with a lizard's tail, an eagle as big as a sequoia, a white shark with iron teeth, a human with feathers for skin.
The spirit helper is an entity that appears specifically to shamanic practicioners in order to help them to shamanise and work within the otherworlds. They are different for each person and often uniquely individual, though they can also be 'inherited' from other Oraite within the bloodline or familial culture. Their appearance and symbolic meaning often tells us something of the Oraite themselves, and their practices.
The spirit helpers / perevrni can assist in several ways:
- They negotiate on behalf of the Oraite in the otherworlds.
- They increase the Oraite's ability to travel to destinations they may not be able to normally reach on their own. They also enable the Oraite to travel to destinations at speed.
- Refining the Oraite's practice through teaching specific lessons in the otherworlds. This includes overseeing shamanic death states, aiding and causing initiations, and 'gifting' the Oraite with the powers that enable him or her to be successful in their ventures.
- Aiding the Oraite in all aspects of soul retrieval and possession.
- They are able to sometimes locate the totem, animal energies, ancestors, and spirit helpers of other people. This assists greatly during healings and magical works.
- They foster a sense of humility, respect and self-confidence. Without them, the Oraite is nothing of worth in the otherworlds.
Each spirit helper is helpful in different ways Some will specifically aid one's movement between worlds. Others will help with healing, 'travelling' or negotiation. Some will specifically teach lessons of fear and humility to remind the Oraite that he or she must be focused on the community, and not just themselves. They are not slaves to the whims of the practicioner, though some will (rarely) permit to being commanded. Others will make the commands, and treat the Oraite as a slave.
Spirit helpers are bound in the otherworlds, that is their realm of existence, and they may only present themselves in the 'real world' or material plane through omens and signs. They cannot be physically present.
Spirit helpers are also limited in what they are able to do. Some are able to move between all worlds, but most - like many animal energies - cannot move everywhere. For example, one of my own spirit helpers can never be of any meaningful assistance in the underworlds, and another one likewise can never visit the upperworlds. This is why it is important for the Oraite to negotiate healthy and positive relationships with all of their spirit helpers, because one will not be enough to create a powerful Oraite.
I cannot stress this enough, without perevrni, we truly believe that the Oraite is nothing more than a figurehead without any real power in the otherworlds. There might be some places they can traverse, but many of the more dangerous places become 'off limits.' Any Oraite who attempts to 'heal' others without the aid of their perevrni are selfish, and putting the people they are trying to heal in danger. Do not trust anyone who says, 'I'm fine in the otherworlds on my own.' They are either deluding themselves, simply 'visualising' and not truly journeying, or flat out lying.
Without perevrni, or spirit helpers, the Oraite cannot attempt to heal others or the community successfully. Some might ask why the totem or 'gods' couldn't help instead, but in our belief system, the totem does not perform the function of soul-retrieval, and gods are fickle and often demand higher prices than spirit helpers which is why we only appeal to them when necessary. We also do not address gods during every healing or journey out of respect, in the same way you might not bother an elderly and respected family member every time you wanted to get dressed - after all, you can do it yourself! Or you could certainly ask a sibling to help you first.
In some practices, the spirit helper is the 'highest' entity an Oraite will worship, before turning directly to non-personified deities like 'rain' or 'forest.' They are often deified, and over time they will gain their own stories and folklore if they are successful while working with the Oraite. Some might think that the perevrni is a manifestation of the higher self, but in Vilturj, they are external entities and can exist and function in the otherworlds without us. They are generally infallible.
In my practice, totems, guides and animal energies etc. cannot ever be perevrni. They can 'help' us, certainly, but they do not fulfil the same functions of the perevrni as adeptly as they can.
