Have you ever heard of something called a "walk-in?" My friend said that someone told her that she had one. She said it was when another spirit came into her body to inhabit it for the rest of her bodily life. I asked her what the difference was between a walk-in and one's own spirit growing and changing. She didn't give me a very clear answer. I looked for information regarding this subject and found nothing. If you have heard of this, I would like to know more. Thank you,
Concerned and Confused
Dreamchaser:
To understand what a "walk-in" is, first we need to understand that our physical body is not really "us" - it is just a vehicle for us to use while we're here on Earth. It is very much like someone who is driving a car. When we see the driver, we understand that this person exists whether or not they have the car with them at the time. Well, we exist whether we have a physical body or not. When our physical body dies, we will continue to exist without it.
Most people understand that each physical body is "owned" by someone, and this person is attached to their body until the body dies. If nobody was attached to the body, then it would die. This is one of the reasons babies don't move in the womb before "quickening" - nobody has yet become "attached" to the body. Like a car without an engine, the body cannot work without a soul "powering" it.
Walk-ins are beings that have spiritual work to do in the physical world, but for a variety of reasons, do not need or want to spend the time it takes to grow up in a new physical body. When a person has finished his or her life's lessons and would normally die at that time, in some cases they allow another spirit to "walk-in" to the physical body that they are leaving behind.
In this situation there is still one physical body and one spirit attached to it, but the spirit now inhabiting the body is not the same one that was born into it as a baby. Obviously, this can mean that the person may seem to have a personality change, which can sometimes seem very severe. This is in fact one of the ways we can tell if someone is a walk-in. They will usually be much more compassionate, loving and spiritual than they were before.
Naturally, this tends to create problems for friends and family, as they simply cannot understand what has happened. While it may be emotionally painful, in this situation, it may be best for them to understand that the person they previously knew is, in practical terms, no longer physically alive on this plane. It is often not much easier for the walk-in. He/she inherits the memories and situations of the prior occupant of the body, and may take some time to make sense of all of this.
So the difference between a walk-in and one's own spirit evolving is that in a walk-in situation, our spirit/soul actually goes to the Otherside. We leave our body. Normally, at that point, our physical body would die. For all intents and purposes, we are now dead as our spirits are living on the Otherside, but our physical body remains alive and animated by a walk-in spirit who wants to take it from there in order to learn needed lessons.
Has your friend changed DRASTICALLY? Does she seem like a different person?
I wish you continual understanding.
*****
Astrea:
Dreamchaser explained "walk-ins" to me a couple of years ago. Until then, I hadn't really considered that possibility. Once she educated me, I was SHOCKED to see how many ignoramuses INVITE those soul suckers into their lives.
I frequently see signs on beauty salons and other businesses announcing "Walk-ins Welcome!" It gives me the HEEBIEST OF JEEBIES! I NEVER go into any of those places! Even my daughter-in-law, who is a Fundamentalist Christian, is terrified of walk-ins, because in her church, they believe in Demonic Possession, and have a long tradition of driving out demons, walk-ins and other evil spirits who are bent on taking people over for their own benefit. Of course that's what she tells me. I can't go there - I might burst into flames.
Without speaking to your friend, I can't tell her if she is possessed by one of those creatures or not, but I will say that in my experience, it's very rare for the person who is in a body now to know or speak about the possibility of being a walk-in.
Walk-ins are SNEAKY critters, and they try to BLEND with the personality of the person. The last thing a walk-in wants is to be NOTICED by others, so it does seem odd that she could tell you that she has one or IS one - however you want to put it. Regardless, she BELIEVES that is happening to her, so here is something that might help you help your friend.
To get rid of a walk-in, honor St. George, the famous dragon slayer. His Pagan counterparts are Bellerophone and Sigurd the Dragon Slayer of Norse legend. These three heroes are the personification of the Sun, and using the waxing power of the spring Sun can banish any demonic force.
For this ritual, you'll need a gold candle and a drawing of a dragon. It's best to do this outside when the sun is shining brightly, and after April 23, because that's when the Sun is gaining power.
Cast your circle and call in your corners. (For protection, I urge you to do this before ANY kind of ritual. If you don't know how, there are a million books on the subject.) If you or your friend knows the name of the walk-in, write that down on a piece of paper. If you don't, "Demon" will do.
Place the name beneath the dragon. Light the candle and visualize this walk-in taking the dragon's shape. Picture the light and heat from the Sun burning up the dragon. Set the name and the drawing of the dragon on fire with the flame from the candle and watch the fire diminish its power. Send what is left of the ashes to the Sun by scattering them around inside your circle.
Pray in your own way for freedom from this demon. The walk-in's power will diminish as you watch the wind take the ashes.
Release your corners, undo your circle and walk away from the walk-in forever!
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.