The Otherworld beckons.
The veil grows thinner by the day…
…will you answer the call?
4-Week Initiation into the Ancient Art of Spiritual Journeying & Working with Spirit Guides
October 6th – November 2nd, 2024
☾ Learn the ancient art of spiritual journeying, also known as trance journeying, spirit flight, hedge-crossing, hedge-riding, or shamanic journeying.
☾ Quest into the Otherworld with guided spirit flight journeys.
☾ Explore the terrain of the Lower, Middle, and Upper Realms, and discover the unique teachings each realm holds.
☾ Meet three spirit allies: a well and wise ancestral guide, a familiar spirit, and a god or goddess.
☾ Build a Place of Power in the Otherworld — an astral sanctuary where you will begin your journeys, work magic, and commune with spirits.
☾ Learn best practices for safe, successful journeys.
The Veil Between the Worlds
The physical world that you and I live in is not the only world that exists.
There is another world, separate from yet parallel to our own.
Our ancestors knew of this realm; its memory is kept alive in folklore and fairytales.
It is known as the Otherworld.
The Otherworld is the domain of the spirits: the gods and goddesses, the ancestors, the faeries, the plant and animal spirits.
It exists above, below, and all around us, separated by a barrier that is imperceptible to most.
This threshold between the worlds is known as “the veil.”
The permeability of this veil varies, becoming thinner in certain locations (known as “liminal places”) as well as at certain times of the year.
In the Celtic lands, the fire festivals of Bealtaine and Samhain are the times when the veil between worlds is said to be thinnest.
At these times, spirits pass through the veil into our world with greater ease.
And we can pass more easily into theirs…
Into the Otherworld.
Journeying Beyond the Veil
Journeying into the Otherworld is an ancient art that has been practiced in cultures all around the world by witches, mystics, shamans, healers, and other practitioners of the magical arts since time immemorial.
This practice is known by many names — spirit flight, astral travel, trance journeying, hedge-riding — and is done to acquire power, meet spirits, gain esoteric wisdom, heal oneself or others, and work magic, among other purposes.
Spirit journeys are not physical journeys. The body remains here in our world, while a part of the spirit or consciousness journeys through “the veil” into the spiritual realm.
Myths, legends, and folk tales frequently reference these journeys.
Stories tell of heroes visiting the Otherworld — intentionally or otherwise — and reemerging with newly attained knowledge or powers.
Witch trial era records from across the European continent describe the nighttime “flight” of witches, sometimes on broomsticks or the backs of animals, as they journeyed to the Witches Sabbath to feast, drink, dance, and commune with spirits.
In modern witchcraft, those who practice this craft are known as hedge witches.
The term “hedge witch” pays homage to the folk magic practitioners of the past, who often lived outside the borders of the village — beyond the hedgerows, in the liminal space between civilization and the wilds.
Additionally, the “hedge” is yet another metaphor for the veil, gateway, or threshold between our world and the Otherworld.
Hedge witches work with one foot in each world, “riding” the hedge as they commune with deities, the dead, and other spirits.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Introduction
Sunday, 6th of October, 2024
1 Live Call + 1 Guided Journey (Audio) + 3 Guided Practices (Audio and PDF) + Q&A Recording
☾ Live Opening Call: Sunday, 6th of October, 6:00 – 8:00pm GMT+1 (will be recorded)
☾ Teachings about the foundations of trance journeying, including cross-cultural history, lore, and practices
☾ Step-by-step guidance for journeying into the Otherworld
☾ Best practices to help you prepare for a safe and successful spirit journey
☾ Guided journey to create your personal Place of Power in the Otherworld (audio file)
☾ Pre- and post-flight rituals for safe, successful journeys
Week 2: The Lower Realm
Sunday, 13th of October, 2024
2 Teachings (Audio and PDF) + 1 Guided Journey (Audio) + Q&A Recording
☾ Teachings about the Lower Realm — the Land of the Dead & the Ancestors (audio file + PDF)
☾ Teachings about working with your ancestors (audio file + PDF)
☾ Guided journey to the Lower Realm to meet an Ancestral Guide (audio file)
☾ Suggested homework
Week 3: The Middle Realm
Sunday, 20th of October, 2024
2 Teachings (Audio and PDF) + 1 Guided Journey (Audio) + Q&A Recording
☾ Teachings about the Middle Realm (audio file + PDF)
☾ Teachings about familiars — spirits who aid witches and other magical practitioners in their workings (audio file + PDF)
☾ Guided journey to the Middle Realm to meet a Familiar Spirit (audio file)
☾ Suggested homework
Week 4: The Upper Realm
Sunday, 27th of October, 2024
2 Teachings (Audio and PDF) + 1 Guided Journey (Audio) + Q&A Recording
☾ Teachings about the Upper Realm — the domain of the divine gods and goddesses (audio file + PDF)
☾ Teachings about working with deities (audio file + PDF)
☾ Guided journey to the Upper Realm to meet a Deity (audio file)
☾ Suggested homework
What’s Included?
1 Live call with teachings and discussion (will be recorded)
4 Guided journeys into the Otherworld
6 Lessons (delivered podcast-style, via audio files)
4 Q&A Recordings
Dedicated group forum
Recommended reading list
Additional homework assignments
FAQ
I am new to trance journeying / witchcraft / magic — is this course suitable for me?
Yes! This course is designed to meet you where you are, from complete beginners to those who have explored spirit journeying already. In Week 1, we will cover the very basics of journeying, including history, lore, methodology, safety, best practices, and guidance for more successful journeying.
I already practice spirit flight and/or work with deities/ancestors/other spirits — will I get anything out of this course?
Yes. This course will offer a supportive container for sharpening these skills, practicing regularly, and discussing your experiences with a group of peers. Witches and other practitioners of the magical arts have always worked with many different spirits; there is no reason you can’t have more than one familiar spirit, ancestral guide, or deity you work with. You never know who may be waiting to meet you on the other side of the veil!
What are the “Q&A Recordings”?
Throughout the 4-week course, you will have the opportunity to submit any and all questions about the practices of hedge-crossing and working with spirits. Every week, I will record myself answering all submitted questions that week. You will also have access to a discussion forum where I will be able to answer simpler and/or more urgent questions.
Will I be able to download the course materials?
Yes, you will be able to download all lessons, recordings, and guided journeys. They are yours to keep for life!
Is trance journeying safe?
Is driving a car safe? Is walking safe? Is swimming safe? As in most of life, there is no black and white answer to the question of safety in any magical practice, including spirit flight. If we want to experience these things, the best we can do is take all precautions available to us to minimize potential risks. This course will teach you what those precautions / best practices are, to help you journey more safely. Additionally, the journeys you will be embarking on in this course are fully guided, offering a low-risk container for sharpening these skills.
What if I’m not good at this / not able to journey successfully?
Riding the hedge is a skill — something anyone can learn, practice, and develop. Certain individuals may be more predisposed to learning the art of spirit journeying, just like how certain individuals are more “naturally skilled” artists, musicians, or athletes. But just as anyone can pick up a paintbrush and learn to improve their painting skills, anyone can strengthen their trance journeying abilities. This course will teach you how to do exactly this, and provide plenty of opportunities for practicing. If you have ever experienced dreaming or getting lost in thought, then you already have experience utilizing the same skills used in hedge riding!
Do you offer refunds?
Due to the nature of online courses and digital products, there will be no refunds provided for any reason.
Meet Your Guide Through the Otherworld
My name is Celeste Larsen, and I am a practitioner of earth-based and ancestral spirituality and magic. In simpler terms, I am a pagan witch. I am also a writer, ritualist, and facilitator of witchcraft retreats, courses, and workshops.
At the core of my spiritual and magical practices is devotion — devotion to the land I live on, to the spirits I work with, to the gods I worship, to my ancestors, and to my highest self and my soul purpose.
Trance journeying, spirit communication, and divination are foundational aspects of my practice.
Both my personal practice and my teachings center around the themes of animism, folk magic, polytheism, ancestor veneration, ritual practice, and self-healing through magic.
My path as a pagan witch is based in the traditions of my ancestral homelands, specifically those of Scandinavia, Ireland, and the British Isles. These traditions are my anchor and my compass, rooting me and guiding me in my esoteric explorations.
Originally from the United States, I now live in County Cork, Ireland.
