Embodied Cohabitation: Spirit Communication with Hans Using the Tarot

Image designed by Lavavoth Stuart. Dreams + Shadowlands is my Etsy shop that I hope to reopen soon.

I've started doing therapeutic counseling with Hans via tarot readings. Technically, all my tarot readings with Hans are therapeutic, but given that I am still struggling with the ghost from my previous house who keeps reminding me of my beautiful Victorian that I remodeled, then reluctantly sold in 2018, I knew it was time to get super intentional about my daily tarot readings. Whenever my thoughts and visions return to the house, or whenever I am energetically pulled there, Hans is quick to interject.

Hans is my apparitional coach, pumping me with encouragement that almost always electrifies me out of my bad mood.

“Focus on this reality, on the present moment. Where are you now?” He says.

“I’m in Stowe.”

“Yes. This is your new life, and it is a good one!” [1]

Hans is my apparitional coach, pumping me with encouragement that almost always electrifies me out of my bad mood. But not this time, not about The Manse, the term locals (and billing companies) used to refer to my old house. For the first time since joining me as my spirit husband, remaining mostly in the background after his death in 1993 before becoming fully active in 2010, Hans has been contending with a persistent disruption from a ghost that resides in The Manse, a previous owner from the early 1900s and spirit overseer of the property.This ghost is benevolent, but he misses me in a way that is now interfering with my life.

Of course, Hans is allowing this spirit to interfere. This is a life lesson in the making, and I am in the midst of growing from this experience.

Spirits, like people, come in all shapes and sizes based on what we have decided to work on in the physical realm.

Before anyone mislabels Hans as something other than a spirit (i.e., a malevolent spirit or demon), let me clarify a few things. Spirits, like people, come in all shapes and sizes based on what we have decided to work on in the physical realm. Hans and I are both doing some heavy shadow work that has carried over from our previous lives. Furthermore, in this life, playing out these roles with each other, I requested that he act more like “boot camp” spirit husband with me, an apropos request considering his past life in the military. Although he is primarily tender, loving, supportive and protective, demonstrating time and again that he is here for my highest good, he is also a no-nonsense spirit, an Aries like myself. He identifies most with his recent life, always telling it like it is, blunt in his approach. I respond well to that.

Whenever I encounter an earthly challenge, Hans is quick to point out, “What is the lesson you need to learn?” He always grounds me to the purpose of this physical plane, which is to spiritually develop. All physical accomplishments are just icing on the cake.

I fan out the cards facing down, then he walks into my body as I take in a deep breath.

But let's get back to the point of this post, my tarot reading. So how does Hans “select” tarot cards for me? He does this through a process that I call “walk-in.” Essentially, Hans “walks” into my body, which allows him to manipulate my body as he pleases. He taught me this ability several months after making first conscious contact with him in 2010.

As I shuffle the cards, I say to him, “Speak your wisdom through the cards. What lessons and advise do you have for me today?”

I fan out the cards facing down, then he walks into my body as I take in a deep breath. Whenever he enters, the force of him moving into my body causes me to inhale as though he needs my breath to help him enter. It’s a strange feeling that is outside my control. Once inside, he moves my hand toward the appropriate card.

Yesterday, I was so upset about being back in The Manse yet again that I did a tarot reading specifically about this issue. As soon as I turned over the first card that Hans selected, I began crying. It was the Eight of Swords [2]. The representation on this image is uncanny and absolutely spot on with my situation.

The figure represents me ensnared and blinded by my past and by the ghost of the old house who is trying to keep me from forgetting my life in The Manse.

In the distance sits a castle on a hill. My old house literally sits on a hill, and I always called it my castle. In the foreground stands a brunette figure, bound and blindfolded, facing away from the castle. She stands far from the structure, surrounded by a semicircle of swords. The figure represents me ensnared and blinded by my past and by the ghost of the old house who is trying to keep me from forgetting my life in The Manse. Although I am looking away from the house, it continues to linger in my thoughts.

“This is where you are now, but it’s not a permanent situation. You are strong and have the power to cut old ties. This doesn’t just happen with one ritual process of banishing and de-cording. You need to do this several times and smudge like you used to in the old days,” Hans says.

I weep not only for the truth in what he is saying but because his presence and his active involvement in my life are such powerful things to experience.

It is moments like this with Hans that inspired me to pursue my Ph.D. I am on a quest to learn more about the research surrounding encounters like these and to write openly about my experiences with him.

“Please, I need a clarifying card," I say to him, already aware that I am bound and blinded by my house.

Hans walks into my body again and selects another card. It's the Three of Cups.

“Work on releasing these ties, get more consistent about your spiritual practice and you can be assured of a celebration.”

The heaviness lifted almost immediately. I felt energized, knowing he had been responsible for kickstarting the shift in my mood, which carried on for the rest of the day.

It is moments like this with Hans that inspired me to pursue my Ph.D. I am on a quest to learn more about the research surrounding encounters like these and to write openly about my experiences with him. No doubt these blog posts will eventually serve as data.

Notes

[1] LOL, he’s such a German. Once he decides something is objectively good for me, there’s no room for argument.

[2] Like many of you out there, I read the cards intuitively allowing the presenting question to guide the interpretation of the card’s imagery. I always have a tarot book or two (or three) on hand because I also like to go into depth.