Your Companions WANT to Help you, so TASK THEM!

[Azure Echo]

Hello there, everyone!

I remember when I first started spirit keeping, I felt very VERY guilty about tasking my companions. I adopted them for the interactions, not because I wanted them to be my task gophers. I had misbelieved it was disrespectful to ask things of them. I wouldn't make a new friend, and then tell them to start doing things! The logic of spirit tasking was wild to me.

But after some time, I found out I was mistaken. Companions like to be useful and help out. They WANT to help you, and make things BETTER for you. They LOVE you, and tasking them means they are given a way to show that. They are given something to do. They want to be around, but if they aren't tasked and aren't being presently bonded with, the options can be limited. (I find ways to entertain and do things together with my companions, like watch stuff or play video games with them as my audience, BUT STILL)

Tasking can be a difficult thing to wrap your head around, however. I still have issues because part of my personality is not relying on others for help. That does not mesh well with Spirit Tasking, if anything it makes it more difficult for them. When I'm stressed, I clam up and shut them out from helping in any sort of way. It isn't intentional, it just happens. My energy shells up and I withdraw in all areas.

I have to very meaningfully and purposefully extend out my intention and ask, "Can you handle this situation for me?" It makes things happier for everyone. It requires a degree of awareness for what you want and what you are looking for in life. This is also something you can talk over with your spirits and entities. Lastly, form squads, teams, and crews. Group companions who work really well in similar areas together, and task them, together. Sometimes, they'll naturally group up together on their own, but asking for cooperation is only going to allow them to help you more in the long run.

So, no, you aren't inconveniencing your spirits and companions if you task them. They WANT to help you, so TASK THEM!

How have your views of Spirit Tasking changed with experience? Do you still feel guilty or have a hard time? It's a work in progress for me, but I feel worlds of difference compared to where I was before.

(I chose to start a new thread because I'm finding a lot of posts from 2011, and it would be nice contributing in threads that have been started recently. THAT SAID, do not discount the wealth of knowledge the older threads hold. This site is a treasure trove for solid spirit keeping information. It is a timeless resource. )

[XianLee]

I'm in a similar situation right now, I don't know how to give them tasks, I don't really grasp what they're good at and when I try to give them a task it's like I'm making a wish. I also wonder if they really heard me.

In the end I tried to tell them that they can help me at any moment in my life, whatever I need at that moment, and they can always help me with anything. But on the other hand I feel like something is missing. Should I be more specific? How often should I give them tasks?

There are so many questions to ask.

[Hitthuginn]

Excellent post Azure! A very important reminder that a majority of the time our keeps WANTS something to do. They WANT to interact with their keeper, and tasking is one way they can actively do that. I've only ever had a spirit reject a task when it was clear that the outcome would not be good for me, and that has only been the case a handful of times. The other 99%, they are eager to help

[SilverCross]

This is a great reminder...I struggle with finding how to task my spirit companions. I have this guilt or feeling of being too demanding as I don't want to feel like I'm commanding them. I also struggle with wondering if they can hear me better when spoken aloud or in my mind.

[Mr. Amnesia]

I agree as well, excellent post. For me the reason why I didn't task them as much in the past was because the pride I had as a practitioner. By asking for help I thought it was me admitting I wasn't equipped to deal with a spiritual problem or I didn't have the skills to do maintain basic skills for myself (shielding/cleansing). But I realized now that my time and energies are finite, that my responsibilities as a human do make me occupied, whereas spirits are more available and in-tuned to what's happening around you, and can aid you more effectively than you can yourself. For tasking I give main points on spiritual protection followed by downtime tasks if there's nothing to do, just so spirits don't have to be on standby all the time and can actively help me without me directing them. That isn't to say they don't get breaks, but it's giving them the initiative to aid me wherever they see best, within reason.

I also want to say that your life is also your spirits' life too. Often times they search for keepers to not only begin a bond with us human practitioners, but to immerse themselves in our world to start one themselves. Or enriching their own if they're LEs or otherwise. Even more so if you have countless hosts of spirits, that it's important to build "pillars" in the community through the form of leaders; spirits who are elevated by authority that can task and guide others within an area. I find when I go by this approach my spirits become more independent and become more organized, and that the overall identity of the family feels more cohesive too, even if the spirits are separated by race/age/cultures/magical backgrounds. YOU are the COMMON GOAL within the spirit family, and by asking them what areas you want assistance in your life, not only do you bring them closer to you, you also give them opportunities to bring them closer together. Just my two cents.

[mcm442]

Absolutely guilty here. Still have the 'flophouse' attitude--just want them to have a place to crash and have fun!

That being said, I have been pushed recently to start working on tasking--and they do not disappoint on anything I have asked for, to be honest.

[Hitthuginn]

This is a great reminder...I struggle with finding how to task my spirit companions. I have this guilt or feeling of being too demanding as I don't want to feel like I'm commanding them. I also struggle with wondering if they can hear me better when spoken aloud or in my mind.

Chances are they can hear you equally fine either way, but if in doubt you can speak out loud after calling their name. I still do this for especially important tasks even though my telepathy is strong

[Dream08]

Excellent post, thanks! I’m also one who feels guilty about tasking, and then I never know what to task them with. (I keep reminding myself that they knew I was a lot of work before signing on. ) I’ve finally gotten to where I just basically say that if they see something I need help with, and it’s something that they can help with, to please feel free to jump in, and I’m grateful for any and all help! But I definitely need to get better with tasking.

[Tarvos]

I don't task my spirit companions, and that's just how I roll. Unfortunately, I've faced some ridicule from fellow practitioners, even here on this forum. But honestly, their opinions don’t affect us. We each have our own unique approaches.

Quite the contrary, I don't feel like I'm burdening my spirits or guilty about it. Early on, I did have some guilt when I first heard about tasking, but that changed as I began communicating with my companions. Even now, I still choose not to give them tasks. That doesn't mean I hesitate to ask for their assistance. I do that occasionally without any guilt.

The clear difference people don't understand is that asking for help is not the same as tasking. Tasking means having spirits do things for you, which I don’t do. When I ask for help, it's usually for knowledge that I can use to assist others. If I were to task them, I’d be asking them to “just do it for me,” and that’s not something I’ve chosen to do.

So, to answer the question: no, my perspective on spirit tasking hasn’t changed over time. It doesn't change at all. I don’t feel guilty about asking for help, if you knew how often I actually do! None of us here need tasks, we simply go about things very, very, very differently.

I believe that those who don’t engage in tasking deserve just as much respect as those who do. It’s unfair to judge someone just because they take a different approach. I share this because I've experienced negativity firsthand and hope others won’t have to face the same mockery. You might not have such experiences, if you don't interact with other practitioners much.

If you're feeling guilty about asking for help or tasking, it’s important to reflect on why that is. It could stem from pride and ego, making you think that seeking help shows weakness, or incompetence. Or from low self-esteem, which can make you feel unworthy or worried about burdening others or feeling indebted to them. Understanding these feelings can help you work through them.

[Azure Echo]

Woohoo! I am so happy with the responses! Thank you guys for chiming in.

I'm happy to see I'm not the only who has felt like they didn't want to "boss" around their companions or felt like they needed to handle all the things themselves. I agree with you on all counts Hitthuginn and Mr. Amnesia.

The one thing my spirits have always been really good with is getting me information. Things I'm interested in or want to know always manage to fall into my lap.

I've noticed an instance where some companions can hear me telepathically just fine, but others need me to say things aloud.

I'm super curious though, for those of you who task your companions regularly, how often do you task them? I'm dealing a quirky situation where there are some things I need to ask for daily.