Listening to the Unseen

Four Guidelines for Communicating with Spirit

A gift I received from a grateful and kind spirit

The spirit world isn’t a parlour trick. It isn’t entertainment. It’s a sacred, nuanced space that deserves the same depth of respect you’d give to a wise elder or a place of worship. And yet, as interest in the supernatural grows, so does the temptation to treat it like a ghost ride at the fair. If you're truly drawn to connecting with spirit, whether the ancient gods of the land or the imprints left behind by those who’ve gone before, here are four things to remember.

Start with Respect

Before anything else, remember that you are stepping into someone else’s domain. Spirits may no longer walk this plane, but they’re no less deserving of courtesy. When visiting sacred sites, ask permission out loud. Thank them if you sense a presence or a response. And if you believe in giving more than receiving, practise that here. But don’t leave behind plastic offerings or sweets wrapped in foil; the spirits don’t want your litter, no matter how well-intended. Instead, pick up rubbish. Whisper gratitude. Ask what you can do in return. A simple “thank you” carried on the wind goes further than you know.

Ditch the Gadgets

We’ve all seen the ghost-hunting kits: EMF meters, motion sensors, light grids. Expensive, flashy, and most of the time, useless. Spirit doesn’t speak through batteries and plastic. They aren’t unthinking shadows waiting to trigger a device. Many have intelligence, will, and humour. They can and do choose to bypass your tools entirely, or worse, react negatively to them. The better route? Don’t waste your money. If you must use something, try a pendulum, but learn how to use it with care and integrity. Better still, learn to feel instead of measure.

Learn to Listen

In a world of notifications, sirens, and scrolling, stillness is a dying art. But stillness is exactly what spirit requires. It’s not about tripping into altered states or chemically-induced visions. It’s about training the mind to go quiet. Sit. Breathe. Listen—not to the birds or the breeze, but to the space between them. That’s where spirit waits. I often need the rhythm of water or the howl of the wind to still my thoughts. It’s never easy. It can take years. But it’s the only way to truly hear what the land and its memories have to say.

Protect Yourself

Opening doors to other realms comes with risks. You don’t always get to choose who or what comes through. Ouija boards, séances, and ‘possession experiences’ sold as entertainment are not for the unprepared. I’ve encountered spirits that are funny, furious, grieving, kind, and chaotic. Protection isn’t just precaution—it’s responsibility. Cleanse the space after you’ve tried to connect. Burn sage or palo santo, but know when to use them. Herbs for ritual are not the same as herbs for invitation. Use them too early and you might confuse the spirit’s intent—or your own.

And above all, leave the theatrics behind. You don’t need blood moon rituals or gothic props. Sometimes, the strongest connection comes from simply sitting in a place that matters, listening, and letting the land speak.

Final Thoughts

There are no shortcuts here. Communing with spirit is not something you can rush, fake, or force. It demands patience. It demands humility. And it demands that we treat the unseen with the reverence it deserves. Be wary of media-made ‘experts’ and ghost-tour gimmicks. This work, if you truly wish to do it, is sacred.

And sacred things can bite back when mishandled.