The Personal Trinity:
Notes on the Three Souls of F(a)eri(e)
by Storm Faerywolf
Many cultures have recognized the multiplicity of the human being.
Ancient Egyptians recognized seven souls, each having their own unique position and role within the community of the self.
Many cultures illustrate the concept of a Divine trinity. Ancient Egyptians honored a sacred triad in the worship of Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Ancient Celts were very fond of the number three, recognizing three seasons, three elements, and numerous manifestations of a triple Goddess.
Christianity recognizes the sacred power of the number three with its idea of the Holy Trinity. Representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this esoteric concept describes the dynamic relationship between three interrelated Divine forces that have been recognized and variously named throughout history. Having characterized Divinity as existing in triune aspects, it is not a small step to then describe humans in the same way? If man is made in Gods’ image, then why not?
The Feri/Faery Tradition of Witchcraft recognizes three selves or souls in a manner similar to that of the Polynesian Huna, amongst other spiritual cultures.
Shamanic practitioners have long worked with a practice that some call ‘soul retrieval’ in which part of a person’s soul or vital energy is re-claimed and brought back into alignment with the totality of the human being. This is a common healing technique amongst tribal healers and is something that can be used just as easily today.
A commonality in these systems is that each soul has its own language or method of communication, as well as its own type of energy. By familiarizing one’s self with each of these enables us to more easily access our fullest potential.
Talker (Talking Self, Middle-Self, Ego*)
This is the energetic interface through which we engage the world; it is that layer of ourselves that is concerned with exchanging energy and connecting with others, and also in defining our separateness from them. It is analytical, logical, verbal, and self-aware. It is that part usually described as the ego, and so is the part of ourselves that we are generally most familiar with.
Fetch (Younger Self, Child Self, Lower Self, Animal spirit, aka body, wraith, sub-conscious*)
Called by the Kahuna Unihipili, and Nephesh by Jewish mystics, the Lower Self, Younger Self, Child Self, bush soul, or the fetch is often perceived by psychics to extend about 1” from the physical body, and is in charge of gathering and storing mana, or life force. It is also concerned with maintaining the functionality of the physical body. It is emotional, pre-verbal, childlike, innocent, and sexual. It is that part of ourselves that is primal, and animal-like, while still being uniquely “us”.
It tells us when it needs or wants something by the means of subconscious impulses. These can come to us as symbols in dreams or visions, or simply as a “hunch”, or an intense feeling.
When the fetch speaks it is important for the talker to know how to listen properly, lest the message gets lost in the confusion. This is why an understanding of basic symbolism is necessary for the practitioner of the magickal arts. When we are aware of how symbols impact our consciousness then we are better able to decipher the messages from the fetch, and just as important, be able to respond.
It is this form of pre-verbal direct communication to a deeper layer of our being that is a critical aspect in learning to wield magickal power, as the fetch is the only part of ourselves that is in direct communication with the third and highest of our three souls: the holy daemon.
Holy Daemon (God Self, Deep Self, Higher Self, Personal God, Bird Spirit, Super Ego*)
It has been referred to by many names by many different cultures. Deep Self, Higher Self, God(dess) Self, Divine Self, Personal God, Aumakua, Neshemah, Holy Guardian Angel, Dian y Glas, Christ-within, Bird-Spirit—all are terms used to describe that part of our soul structure that is our personal link to the Divine Source. This is that part of ourselves that is perfect and complete and endless. It is eternal, and survives physical death.
It is this part of ourselves that performs miracles, and to mediate its power into the world is a major goal of any spiritual practitioner.
It is sometimes taught that this spirit can be visualized variously as a bird, a star, or sphere of light, that hovers about 6-8” above the head. One’s holy daemon is, quite literally, their guiding light; it is that part of ourselves that steers us towards those life lessons that we need to experience while we are incarnate. It is through the daemonthat we may commune with the Gods and other higher powers, and so it is to this spirit we must first direct our prayer and attention.
ALIGNING THE THREE SOULS
Ground and Center. Feel your consciousness as being rooted in your head. Focus your awareness on a point in the center of your forehead. This is an anchor point for the talker. Breathe slow and deep while you contemplate the talker… your logic, reason, and your language are all in the domain of the talker. Take three deep breaths of power, feeling your talker energized and purified.
Now allow your awareness to slowly sink down inside your body, coming to a rest in a point about 2-3” beneath your navel. This is an anchor point for the fetch. Contemplate your fetch as you continue to breathe in a rhythm. Your emotions, your dreams, your memories, and your body functions are all in the domain of the fetch. Take three deep breaths of power, feeling your fetch energized and purified.
Become aware of your Divine Spirit hovering above your body. You may wish to visualize it as a sphere of blue light, a star, a flower, or alternatively as a bird. Feel your holy daemon shining about 6-8” above your head. Know that this is that part of you that is Divine, holy, and has your best interests at heart. Raise your hands above your head so that you might touch the light above you. Begin to see a pearlescent light emanating from your daemon. Feel this light shining down onto and through you… feel it flow slowly down into your fetch, and then slowly up into your talker. Feel how this holy light is permeating every cell and now spills out into your aura, making you a bright and shining being. With your attention focused on your holy daemon say:
"All Three Souls aligned within me
All Three Souls aligned within me
All Three Souls aligned within me
We are the Three who speak as One."
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©2003 Storm Faerywolf
www.faerywolf.com
* I have listed this obviously psychological reference here to illustrate the basic flavor of the soul in general, but it should be understood that the soul component, being both a spiritual and energetic presence, is much larger than a simple psychological designation can allow for.