Beginner's Guide and Intro
Who is it for?
Originally, Vibehood was intended to be a youth group (roughly 16-30) for those who were seeing New Age, witchcraft and paganism coming into fashion, who were curious but not really sure what it is about. So I could be there to teach about it. We’re seeing witches appear in pop culture and fiction all the time now, when in reality very few of these characters resemble real life magic practitioners. Real people do not fly on broomsticks and turn others into frogs, but rather work with the subtle energies all around us - you’ll have to read the other pages to find out more! Equally, buying crystals, buddha statues, using manifestation and practicing yoga is becoming very trendy, but what does it actually mean? Are you doing it just because it feels good or because it serves a role in improving yourself and the world around you? We’re going to be doing a lot of myth-busting and setting people onto the path of true freedom, should they wish to take it. Our main site is at www.vibehood.life.
Vibehood is here to inform and empower the real people, the ones who are serious about making a positive change. That’s why we came to the decision that the subjects we share can’t just be for the young and beginners, but also for dedicated spiritual practitioners who want to take their learning to the next level (and, importantly, unlearning!) So it may take a bit of digging around, but be sure you’ll find an area that resonates with where you’re at.
Nonetheless, guiding the young people and those who are struggling is still at the heart of our organization, in which case we’re always open to chat. You can send in a request to join our Whatsapp group where our members are free to share thoughts, resources, can speak their mind and be vulnerable. We also have a fortnightly group call to catch up and pick subjects to discuss. Or, to request a private phone call for counselling or coaching (we’re unqualified, but good at uplifting and advising) please send a message to hello@vibehood.life along with a brief description of yourself and if you have a preference of who to speak to. There are two of us on the team and you can read up about our stories here.
What is on offer?
Online community. Join our telegram or whatsapp groups to connect with likeminded people, have insightful conversations, share your thoughts, experiences and interesting links. We will keep you up to date with what's happening in Vibehood and set up video calls where you can choose what topics to talk about. The growing online community is livening up and is on track to organize some live meetings too.
Blog and Podcast. Here on Substack, ranging from esoteric knowledge to simple tips on making your life better. We have guests periodically speak for our podcast, where they share their stories and unique angle in different topics.
Mentoring. We're here for anyone who's struggling to get over a certain hurdle or needs a safe place to speak about their feelings. Equally, we can offer advice to those who already feel good but seek to reach the next level. Each call is individual to your needs and will be delivered in a down-to-earth way. Prices depend on what each person feels they are able to donate, rather than a one-model-fits all.
Oracle card reading. Got a burning question or need guidance in a particular area? Divination cards are a useful tool in being able to find more clarity - of course, accepting that these can't provide all the answers, as this would defeat the point of being responsible for our own choices. We can offer an individual reading using 2 decks of Goddess and Earth Alchemy cards (NB. not traditional tarot.)
How do I apply?
Email hello@vibehood.life to request any services:
Joining link to Whatsapp and/or Telegram group (you need to speak to someone as a person, not a bot, before this can be provided)
A mentoring session or card reading
Register interest for upcoming courses
~ claim back your energy
~ morning routine
~ prayer and meditation techniques
Glossary
Everybody's got to start somewhere! There would be little point scrolling through the lengthy articles on this site without having first come to an understanding of what it's all about. And equally importantly, getting the chance to decide if it is for you or not. At Vibehood we respect the fact everybody is at different stages of their journey, and therefore have created enough space for everyone to feel comfortable. If the whole spiritual life doesn't click with you, that's absolutely fine and there's no judgement. You'll either feel the call in later years or will continue to live happily enough in your regular life.
To get a feel for the lingo, let's start by explaining a few concepts and phrases that will come up a lot.
Spirituality: Apart from the, you'll pretty much be seeing this word more than any other. But what do we mean by it? The answer is, each to their own. That's right - there is no set definition to spirituality. It is going to mean something different to each person based on their individual experiences, beliefs and knowledge. It is a religion with no set god, goddess or deity, only that you know there is a benevolent being out there that keeps the universe in harmony and does answer prayers. I will usually refer to this all-encompassing power as God/Source, so you can take it to mean what you want it to. In Vibehood we refer to spirituality as a way of life, as the filters through which you see the world around. It's about dedicating each day to bettering yourself and seeing where it might lead...
Waking up: You can only really grasp what waking up means after you've woken up. It's basically the defining moment when you realize that the world is more than just 3-dimensional, that there's more to life than work and routine, that there is a higher source of power tying us all together. For some, the realization comes like a punch to the face, while for others it can be more subtle over a longer period of time. Either way, once you reach the point of no return, you'll never see life in the same way again.
Journey, path, road: Also known as the Hero's Journey. This is the course your life begins to take from the moment you wake up, to all the trials and rewards that come after. As the name would suggest, it requires courage, determination and a certain level of grit.
Ego: Again, a word that can be a bit controversial in its meaning. In this context, we're talking about the identity we build up around ourselves, having figured out what our personality and our past is like. There's no real issue with this if you want to take part in a normal society, but if you are choosing to take the hero's journey, you're going to have to cut a lot of it away. This is because the ego holds on to attachments, old wounds and in general creates a lot of mind-chatter, which we eventually want to learn how to quieten. It's also worth being able to turn away from the labels and categories we sort ourselves into, to accept just existing and being ok with that.
Manifestation: The term gets thrown around a lot, and I have a whole page on why this isn't an all-round solution, but essentially, manifestation is the practice of visualizing what you want in order to get it. As in anything (within the laws of physics here). General methods to manifest include picturing what you want. Acting as if you already have it. Generating the emotions you'd get from having it - eg achievement, joy, relief. Affirmations - speaking out loud or writing down your wish, but always in the present tense. Eliminating doubt.
Consciousness: Is basically being alive and aware of your surroundings. Naturally, the further you go down this path, the more your awareness grows, in turn expanding your energy field. The level of your field can even be measured scientifically on a scale of 1-1000.
Vibe + Hood
noun
a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others.
"we've been picking up some bad vibes on that guy"
verb
enjoy, dance to, or feel inspired by music.
"he shared a video of himself vibing to a song"
transmit or give out (a feeling or atmosphere).
"he vibed pure hate in my direction"
vibration
Every human being is a living, breathing field of energy. Your body is made of particles that are in constant motion as they “vibrate” and create energy—this is referred to as your vibrational field. These energy fields aren’t just physical. They’re also spiritual and help determine how you perceive the world and how others see you.
suffix
-hood
a substantive suffix denoting a condition or state of being. Child - childhood
a substantive suffix denoting a group sharing a specified condition or state. brother - brotherhood neighbour - neighbourhood
Adult + hood = Adulthood. The condition of being fully grown
Brother + hood = Brotherhood. The relationship between brothers
Neighbour + hood = Neighbourhood. A district or community within a town or city
noun
a neighbourhood, especially one in an urban area.
"I've lived in the hood for 15 years"
Vibes: bring the energy, the laughter, the life force that powers your creativity
Hood: the chill part, the quiet time that comes with reflection, winding down