#controlled processing

There are two types of major cognitive processes: Automatic and Controlled

What is Automatic Processing first of all? This is when the muscle of the mind is able to do something without having to consciously do it. If a person has done something many times it is built upon and takes less effort to do.

What is Controlled Processing? This type takes more conscious awareness to do and involves more effort on a person’s part. There is also a tendency to have extra cognitive loads if extra tasks are involved.

What is Flow? A task that requires large concentration but includes a loss of time perception and can be easier to perform a task, similar to automatic processing. It is a mind frame that includes deeper cognition but mimics automatic processing.

It should be said that cognitive processes can be ambiguous in certain cases as well. A certain process may be both of them (at the same time) or a combination.

How can this be applied to spirit work?

In application to spirit work, these two process may be most helpful in spirit communication, such as: Clairaudience, clairsentience, clairvoyance, clairalience, and more. 

Many people can have trouble sensing spirits all the time or even just a little. That may have to do with other factors unique to a person but it also may be a processing thing. How a person processes information can affect how well that individual is able communicate with spirits, but remember it may not be the only thing either. It is important to take a look at other pieces before coming to a conclusion. Discerning between outside factors, personal contributions to the situation (health, mood, energy level), and how a person processes spiritual matters will help examine what is going on at a given moment.

For people new to spirit communication:

There will be more work required on their end since they may not have the benefit of automatic processing. Consciously practicing communication with the spirit or spirits of choice would help build up the “muscle” that a person uses to communicate, whichever it would be. The more a person practices that skill the stronger they should become and the less work should have to be done. Please note that this is not limited to telepathy or clairaudience, but can involve other forms of spirit communication too.

For people who are more practiced:

Less work should have to done since the process is less controlled and slightly more automatic. Make no mistake that it does not make a person free of error or bias though. Automatic processing definitely makes people prone to error as there is less conscious thought on the task. It does give the benefit of easy communication if the person is familiar with the spirit they are communicating. Less cost on energy but discernment should still be practiced.

Another Word on Processing:

A quick word on sensing spirits and processing, sometimes automatic processing may make communication easier but it leaves out the details regarding who a person is speaking with. Before letting the process go more automatic, it is best to know who the person is speaking with. That way a person can discern and be safe in their dealings with spirits. Always take the proper precautions and be courteous of the spirit in question.

Automatic processing can leave out certain details like complex facial details, vocal tones, scent and the spirit’s location. It shouldn’t cause too much worry for a person since it can be resolved by focusing more on the spirit they’d like to communicate with.

Also automatic processing can be a way to access flow. This allows for concentration but with less taxation on the mind. It is similar, if not the same, as a trance state. In Flow, a person may be able to get more snippets of the spirit regarding to one or all the clairs, if they have been developed. This can be what some people think of as the golden state of spirit communication, but it’s just another form of processing.

In regards to mimic/impostor spirits, keep in mind that the cognitive processes of the mind can easily make it seem like a spirit may be not who they are because of automatic processing. Discernment and a more conscious concentration on the spirit or spirits around should be used. Do not jump the gun to directly use banishing as the solution, it may simply be a processing error. If the spirit really isn’t who they say they are, then take measures to use protection and banishment.