Collective «vs» Individual Spirits

When working with certain types of Spirits, occasionally they can come in two forms: The unique Spirit of the particular individual you are in current communion with, as well as a more "collective" Spirit that encompasses that individual's entire family and lineage stretching back through time. When we speak of "Working with the Ancestors", for instance, it is generally this collective Spirit of one's entire familial lineage that we are discussing, rather than individual named Ancestors that were alive in life. But this Collective / Individual split is also applicable to things such as Plant and Animal Spirits as well.

Each group offers their own unique wisdom and teachings. Individual Spirits for instance, can be wonderful one-on-one spiritual guides teaching from their own unique experiences. Collective Spirits, however, can pass on powerful wisdom gained from many experiences throughout the ages. What you seek can greatly influence the "size" of the Spirit you work with. But the "size" also determines how easy it is to connect with these Spirits as well.

Connecting with collectives is often easier than connecting with individuals. This is because collectives are frequently more passive and nebulous than individuals are. They have less specific wants and needs, and lower thresholds for relationship and trust-building than individuals do. Individuals, however, can be quite demanding and exacting- especially when one wishes to take one on as a teacher or guide. There are several things one can do to help in the process of connecting to either group, however.

1. Meet them in their own environment: If you want to work with Oak Trees, start by spending time where they are known to grow. You can take a walk through a local forest or visit individual trees in a park or your own backyard. Either way, meeting them where they are can be an important step to begining the process.

2. Observe them: Take some time to watch them from a safe distance in their natural environment. Feel free to get up close and personal as long as it's safe and you are not disturbing a protected species. Just beware that this step does not include direct interaction. Do not get involved, do not touch, and definitely do not feed.

3. Learn about them: Find reading material about the species you're interested in. Learn about their native habitat, behavior, diet, growth rate, myth and folklore, the time of year that they're present, and so on. This ultimately helps you get to know them more personally and will strengthen any spiritual relationships- especially if you desire to keep a specimen of your own from the group later on.

4. Care for them (eventually): If you're looking to work with the spirit of Lilac, plant and care for a lilac shrub. If you want to work with the spirit of Hummingbirds, install a Hummimngbird Feeder. If you're interested in the spirit of cats or dogs, start fostering or volunteering for a rescue; simple actions of care that place you in direct contact and provision of the species is a great way to build relationship.

Once you've learned enough about a Spirit- either collective or individual- and started building a relationship with it, it's not uncommon to begin veneration. This isn't necessarily required, however. But for those who want to build more significant relationships called "Allyships" (Such in the case of Plant Spirit Allies), veneration is frequently a necessary step. This part of relationship building requires two things: Acts of kindness, and regular offerings.

Acts of kindness is a catch-all term that includes any non-offering action performed in the name of the Spirit (collective or individual), for its aid or benefit. They come in two forms: Mundane, and Magical.

Mundane acts may include things like starting a monarch waystation full of milkweed and nectar-producing native plants if you want to work with the spirit of Monarch Butterflies; scattering some seeds on the roadside if you're venerating the spirit of Black-Eyed Susan. Volnteering at the local shelter if you're working with the spirit of domestic Dogs; helping to clean a local river if you want to venerate the spirit there; etc.

Magical acts may include constructing miniature Altars for the Spirit; making Spirit Houses for them; wearing devotional jewelry consecrated and empowered in their name; tending to their specimens in sacred ceremony; etc.

Physical offerings are the most common part of veneration. They can be left at an altar or outdoors. Outdoor offerings should be left with great care for the local ecosystem, however; food should be animal safe to consume, containers should be biodegradable in nature and construction, ingredients should not be harmful to the ecosystem, and so on. They should also not be left in abundance- small portions will do. Indoor offerings allow for a much greater room for variety.

There are many benefits to working with both individual and collective Spirits. They can impart knowledge, teach skills, aid in spellwork, help divination, and more. What they can offer is determined by the relationship you've built with them, what kind of Spirit they are (colective vs Individual; animal vs plant), the purview of their Spirit (what their folkloric and magical uses are), and more. But building the relationship is always worth it, even if these relationships can occasionally be challenging.