A Little Trance Reference Guide
Disclaimer: These are things I’ve learned to do through trial and error. My advice might work for you, or it might not work for you. I don’t have many resources, as this is something I simply learned through working with Spirits, along with trial and error.
How I define and experience it, trance is going in a state where I’m relaxed, less in control, and allow myself to become a conduit for either information, energy, or imagery; sometimes it’s two of those things at once, or even all three.
I use trance during hedge walking (astral travel), introspective spirit work, and some spell work.
In part one I’ll be discussing three forms of trance that I use, along with things I help to induce trance and aid in the process. In part two I will discuss what type of trance I like to pair with what aids, and what those combos have been useful for me for.
Also a lot of this is off the dome from just experience being a witch on the specific path I'm on, and experience with using trance for my spirit work, hedge walking, and some spell work– so I don’t have resources to cite.
Ecstatic trance - This form of trance is high energy, and involves a lot of movement. The movement is usually big, and oftentimes can be symbolic.
Light Trance - This form of trance is not so high energy. It involves little movement.
Deep Trance - This form of trance requires either no movement, or very little movement depending on what you do to help achieve it.]
Note: All of these will be discussed further in part two, along with examples of each type of trance.
Trance Aids (things to aid in helping you achieve trance)
Forewarning: When using any herbs please be mindful of your allergies, any medications you’re taking that may interact with herbs, along with any other health concerns, and the legality of herbs where you are and your ability to use them.
Herbs like mugwort and chamomile have helped me with trance.
Mugwort is an herb that has associations with second sight, visions, and clairvoyance.
While I’m not sure if chamomile has any direct ties that are widely known with its help with visions and the like, I have used it before to help aid in the process of relaxing myself to better be “present” in my trance activities and it worked very well for me.
You can make tea with chamomile, but I would not suggest making tea with mugwort. Like, you can, but the price you pay in taste is not nearly worth it.
I’d suggest burning mugwort to get the same hard hitting effects that will help you with trance. The downside to this is mugwort does have a pungent smell– so crack a window if that bothers you, or also if you have sensitive fire alarms.
Smoking a joint can be very helpful with aiding hedge walking, and trance! If you’re not used to smoking, I’d say start off with a hit or two of a joint, and increase from there.
Flying ointment is something I use for all of my trance activities– it doesn’t matter if it’s ecstatic, light, or deep. Flying ointment (or oil) is a salve that has herbs or roots that’s properties are associated with spirit travel, clairvoyance, and spirit sight.
I wrote a post about how to make your own flying ointment, but there’s many wonderful etsy sellers who make great ointments! Here’s two different options at different price points: CatCaveCrafts ($10) + DeadLandsApothacary ($25).
I like to put it on with intention, and ask the plants in the oil to aid in my session.
You can rub it on your inner wrists, behind your ears, and the bottoms of your feet. I also like to anoint my spirit eye (the point in the middle of your forehead) with it, and the top of my head.
(Disregard if not applicable to your practice.)
If you have Spirits that you have relationships with, there’s always the option to ask them to help with your sessions! Spirits can range from Deities, to animal spirits, to fae. It’s dependent on you, who you feel comfortable asking, and sometimes the purpose of what you’re doing.
For example: If I’m doing hedge walking and I want help not only crossing over, but being protected, I know I can ask the Ferryman (a Guide I have a relationship with) for help by simply asking him to guide the session after I put on my oils, but before I start the actual activity.
I use music as a base component for all my trance activities, because it helps not only filter out the noise of my house, but it also helps my ADHD be not so distracting.
For me I like to repeat songs with heavy drums, repetitive chanting or sounds, and I usually like to go for songs in other languages because it helps me not to focus on the lyrics vs. what I'm trying to do.
A few songs I've found helpful:
Traust by Heilung // Drumming by Drums of Trinidad Tobago // Hagal by Wardruna // Fire by Oakville Choir for Children // Vibrant Night by African Tribal Orchestra // Whirling Dervish by Omar Faruk Tekbilek // Tyr by Wardruna
Depending on what sort of trance you're trying to achieve, some songs will work better than others. If you want to do a deep relaxing trance, using a song that's too energetic might not help.
Also, these songs are songs that are just examples of what I like.
I used Drumming by Drums of Trinidad & Tobago because I have relationships with deities from the African diaspora. It works well for me for that reason.
The songs are to provide an example and reference for things that can be helpful, but by no means will 100% work for you. Use songs that speak to you, your spirit, and even your spirit life.
Be okay with trial and error here!
Ideally Part 2 of this will be posted this Friday (3/18), so keep your eye out! :) I'll update in the comments of this post when it's up, and I'll also edit this post to include the link.
