Calling in Spirit to Create Sacred Space

By Laureen Rama
- Published in Mosaics Magazine
March, 2000

As a shamanic healer and teacher, I work with spirit, that energy or other reality around us that can comfort, guide, or bring us wake-up calls. Various peoples have named this spiritual realm the spirit world, the dreamtime, the collective unconscious, or a creation of our imagination or intuition. I don't think it matters what you call it or what you believe it to be, because when people of different beliefs share their experiences with that realm, the stories sound similar, for example, a warning voice or hand stopping one from doing something that could be dangerous, a voice or spirit presence that brings a healing message.

In preparation to perform a healing or guide people in doing shamanic journeys (a meditative practice in which one meets spirit helpers and asks for guidance and/or healing), I first perform some clearing ritual such as smudging, wafting the smoke of plants with clearing qualities (eg. sage, juniper, cedar) around me, or visualizing washing myself with light and asking for anything that may get in my way to be released. I then 'call in the spirits' to create sacred space.

The words and intentions I use to call in the spirits of the directions when I am creating sacred space are shared below. Many have asked me to share them so that they can create sacred space on their own. I learned to call in the directions primarily from my shamanic teacher Armand Huet DeGrenier. He based the qualities he called in for each direction on the wheel of the day and the wheel of the seasons and I've followed suit. Although many traditions also use similar qualities when calling in the spirits, what follows is what has come to me personally to use. Each time I call in the spirits, some new or different quality may be called in as appropriate to the situation. This is important as whenever I call in the spirits, I am asking for their help with a specific purpose (eg. to aid in healing someone, to aid the group's learning, to guide me in certain decisions).

I usually perform the ritual of calling in the directions by standing and facing each direction. Although I begin with clear intentions in my mind, I am silent but for my rattle, which I shake vigorously. It feels like energies are then pouring through my body into the room. As I am a highly physical person, this works best for me. Others may talk or sing or dance as they do this. The rattle is used because it wakes up energies and calls us to pay attention. When the energy stops flowing through me, I know the appropriate energies of that direction are with us and I turn to face the next direction I'll call in.

I begin by facing the east and rattling sharply four times to signify a beginning. I then visualize a blue shield of light around the building or space I'm in that acts as a filter, allowing only helpful energies or spirits in. I also call on my spirit power animal to circle the building and keep anyone away who would intrude on the space.

I then call on the qualities, energies, and spirits of the East, as I feel them, to be with us to aid us for the purpose of this sacred work, which I name in my mind. I put the yearning of my heart and soul into this intention, truly calling for help. I call on the energies of rising sun, of springtime, and the excitement of new beginnings to be with us. I call on air energies, the ability to rise above and see from a broader perspective, to easily shift perspective, the eagle's view. I call on the ability to have clear vision and purpose to carry us through the complete cycle of the directions.

I turn to the South and again name the purpose for which I am calling spirits in and yearn and pray for their help with that. South for me is the energy of manifestation, of doing, of fire, of high noon and mid-summer and thus it brings all the qualities needed to take action: courage, perseverance, humour, determination, innocence, trust, faith, wonder, and joy.

Turning to the West, I call in the qualities of setting sun and harvest time to aid with our purpose. These qualities to me are two-fold: all that is needed to put up the harvest well so that it will sustain us through the winter and spring, that is, the ability to look after and cherish that which is important and useful to us; and also all that is needed to let go of the rest, letting the chaff go from the wheat, letting the vegetable peelings go into the compost to fertilize the next round, letting go of what no longer serves us in our life. I ask for support in being able to fluidly shift and change with the natural cycles of development and release. Water is the element of the West for me and with it also comes the ability to deeply feel.

The North for me represents the energy of winter and nighttime. The qualities I call on here are the ability to reflect on what we've learned, to capture the wisdom in the learnings from our experience, and to plan on how we will use that wisdom in the next cycle. North energy is practical, strategic, earthy energy. We can ask for support with any physical or logistical details from the North. It is "seed catalogue" time--the time when we decide what we will plant come spring. North is the direction from which we ask for guidance and support from our ancestors. We can also ask others, living or passed on, to be present with us in spirit form to support our sacred work or play.

I turn back to the east and call on the energies, qualities, and spirits of four more directions to be with us to support the intention. I call up to the Sky, the Sun, and the Moon. The Sky for me represents freedom, bringing all the air we need to breathe, all the room we need to move, and all the time and space we need for our sacred work. The Sun brings heat, light, and energy to sustain us through the work and also shines the spotlight on what we need to "see." I ask the Moon to use her tidal pull to pull up from our unconsciouses and our shadow sides whatever needs to emerge to be more fully owned or let go.

Still facing the east, I call on Mother Earth to send us energy to nurture, ground, and sustain us through our sacred time. I then invite each participant to call on whatever they need of themselves to fulfill the intention for the sacred gathering. I usually ask of myself to stay out of the way, to just allow whatever is meant to happen. Some name this calling of the self the calling of the Centre direction, as we are each the centre of our own universe.

The last call I make is to the Universal Energy that flows through everything, named variously the Ki, Chi, Prana, Holy Ghost, or the Force (in Star Wars) to be with us and flow through in abundance, supporting our purpose for this sacred time.

I stand silently for a minute once the calling is complete, enjoying the experience of tingling calm, peace, and contentment before beginning the sacred work or play.

Once the sacred work or play is complete, I do a short ritual to thank and release the spirits and energies called in earlier. I rattle vigorously for 10 to 30 seconds sometimes turning in all directions, but certainly turning my rattle to all the directions. Others are invited to cheer, drum, clap and celebrate their gratitude as well as rattle. I thank spirit for the help that was given, feeling my heart flooded with gratitude and feeling the energies leave the room as I let them know we are done the session. I may also say a silent prayer for continued support with the intention. I then rattle sharply four times to signify closure.

Please feel free to use these concepts and practices in your own way to create sacred space. Most important is to use methods and phrases that are meaningful and comfortable for you to use. This should allow you to put your attention most fully to the feeling and intention of asking that spirit realm, however you view it, for help with making your ordinary reality life better.

Laureen Rama is available to lead retreats and workshops for private groups. She also teaches advanced shamanic healing techniques and offers shamanic healings in person or by distance.

Laureen can be reached at info@soulrestore.com or 1-403-851-1198.