Automatic Writing Gone Wrong: How to Stop Unwanted Spirit Messages
Automatic Writing Scary Messages: What to Do When It Goes Wrong
You started automatic writing hoping to connect with your guides or higher self. But the messages you're receiving feel wrong—dark, threatening, manipulative, or disturbing. The writing feels out of control, the messages are frightening, or you can't stop the flow even when you want to. You're experiencing what many practitioners fear: automatic writing gone wrong. Now you're wondering: did I contact something negative? How do I stop this? Am I in danger? Can I ever do automatic writing safely again?
Automatic writing gone wrong is a real and frightening experience. Unlike passive divination like tarot, automatic writing involves allowing an external intelligence to use your hand—and if you don't set proper boundaries, you can't always control who or what comes through. Understanding what went wrong, how to stop it, and how to protect yourself can help you regain control and decide whether to continue the practice safely or stop entirely.
What Is Automatic Writing?
Automatic writing (also called psychography or spirit writing) is a form of channeling where you allow your hand to write messages from your subconscious, higher self, spirit guides, or other entities without conscious control.
How it works:
- You enter a relaxed, meditative state
- You hold a pen to paper with minimal conscious control
- Your hand begins to write without your conscious direction
- Messages, words, or symbols appear on the page
- The writing may be in your handwriting or completely different
When it works well: You receive helpful guidance, insights, or messages from benevolent sources
When it goes wrong: You receive disturbing messages, feel controlled, or contact negative entities
Signs Automatic Writing Has Gone Wrong
Mild Warning Signs
These suggest you need to adjust your practice:
- Messages are vague, confusing, or unhelpful
- The writing feels forced or uncomfortable
- You feel drained or tired after sessions
- Messages contradict your values or intuition
- You're getting information that turns out to be false
- The tone of messages has changed from positive to negative
Serious Warning Signs
These indicate a problem that needs immediate attention:
- Messages are threatening, dark, or disturbing
- You feel you're losing control of your hand
- The writing continues even when you try to stop
- Messages are manipulative or try to isolate you
- You feel a presence or entity controlling you
- The handwriting is completely unlike yours
- Messages claim to be from deceased loved ones but feel wrong
- You're being told to do harmful things
Severe Warning Signs
These require immediate cessation and possibly professional help:
- You can't stop automatic writing even when you want to
- Your hand writes without your permission or awareness
- Messages are violent, sexual, or deeply disturbing
- You feel possessed or controlled
- You're experiencing personality changes
- You're having intrusive thoughts or voices outside of writing sessions
- Physical symptoms: scratches, bruises, illness
- You're being commanded to harm yourself or others
Why Automatic Writing Goes Wrong
1. No Protection or Boundaries Set
The most common cause of problems is starting automatic writing without setting clear protection and boundaries about who can communicate.
What happens: You open a channel and anything can come through—not just benevolent guides. It's like opening your front door and inviting "anyone" in.
2. Practicing in Low-Vibration States
Automatic writing while drunk, high, depressed, angry, or fearful attracts low-vibration entities that feed on those energies.
What happens: Like attracts like. Your low vibration attracts entities of similar frequency.
3. Contacting Trickster or Negative Entities
Not all entities are benevolent. Some are tricksters who lie, manipulate, or feed on your fear and energy. Others are genuinely negative.
What happens: A negative entity pretends to be your guide, deceased loved one, or higher self, then gradually reveals its true nature through disturbing messages.
4. Your Own Shadow or Subconscious
Sometimes "scary" automatic writing is actually your own repressed thoughts, fears, or shadow aspects surfacing.
What happens: Your subconscious uses automatic writing to express what you've been suppressing. It feels external but it's actually internal.
5. Losing Control or Boundaries
If you practice automatic writing too frequently or for too long, you can lose the ability to control when and how it happens.
What happens: The channel stays open when it should be closed. Your hand starts writing without your permission.
6. Mental Health Issues
In some cases, what seems like entity contact is actually a symptom of mental health issues like dissociation, psychosis, or trauma.
What happens: The "messages" are manifestations of psychological distress, not external entities.
What to Do When Automatic Writing Goes Wrong
Step 1: Stop Immediately
Cease all automatic writing and related practices:
- Put away all writing materials
- Don't try to "communicate" with the entity to ask it to leave
- Don't attempt automatic writing again until the situation is resolved
- Close all psychic channels
Step 2: Command It to Stop
With authority and confidence (not fear), say aloud:
"I command any entity, energy, or presence that is not of the highest light and love to leave immediately. You are not welcome. You have no permission to communicate with me or use my hand. I revoke all access. I close this channel permanently. Leave now and do not return."
Say this with conviction, multiple times if needed.
Step 3: Destroy the Writings
Get rid of the disturbing messages:
- Burn them safely (preferred method—fire transmutes energy)
- Tear them up and dispose of them
- Don't keep them or re-read them
- Don't share them with others (this gives them energy)
The physical writings can hold energetic imprints.
Step 4: Cleanse Yourself
Clear your personal energy field:
Physical cleansing:
- Salt bath (1-2 cups sea salt or Epsom salt)
- Shower while visualizing negative energy washing away
- Smoke cleanse yourself with sage or palo santo
Energetic cleansing:
- Visualize white light filling your body and pushing out darkness
- Call on your guides, angels, or higher power for protection
- Get energy healing (Reiki, etc.)
- Ground yourself in nature
Step 5: Cleanse Your Space
Clear the area where you practiced automatic writing:
- Open windows to let energy flow out
- Smoke cleanse the entire space
- Sprinkle salt in corners
- Use sound (bells, clapping, singing bowls)
- Place protective crystals (black tourmaline, obsidian)
- Pray or invoke divine protection
Step 6: Seal Your Energy Field
Close the psychic channel that was opened:
- Visualize a door closing and locking
- See your energy field sealed in protective light
- State: "All channels are now closed. I am protected and sealed."
- Imagine a shield around you that nothing can penetrate
Step 7: Ground Yourself
Reconnect to your body and physical reality:
- Walk barefoot on earth
- Eat grounding foods (protein, root vegetables)
- Physical exercise
- Spend time in nature
- Engage in mundane, practical activities
- Avoid all spiritual practices until you feel stable
Step 8: Seek Professional Help If Needed
Get support if:
- The problem persists despite your efforts
- You can't stop automatic writing
- You're experiencing severe symptoms
- You feel you're losing control
- You're having mental health symptoms
Who to contact:
- Experienced energy worker, shaman, or medium
- Priest, minister, or religious authority
- Mental health professional (therapist, psychiatrist)
- Spiritual teacher or mentor
How to Practice Automatic Writing Safely
If you choose to continue automatic writing after resolving issues, do it safely:
Before Every Session
Set strong protection:
- Visualize white or golden light surrounding you
- Call on your guides, angels, or higher power
- State clearly: "I only allow communication from my highest guides, my higher self, or beings of the highest light and love. All others are forbidden. I am protected."
Set clear boundaries:
- Specify who you're willing to communicate with
- State what topics are off-limits
- Set a time limit for the session
- Affirm that you're in control, not the entity
Create sacred space:
- Light candles or incense
- Place protective crystals around you
- Clear the space with smoke or sound
- Make the environment feel safe and sacred
During the Session
- Stay grounded and present
- Maintain awareness—don't fully dissociate
- If anything feels wrong, stop immediately
- Don't surrender complete control
- Keep sessions short (10-20 minutes maximum)
- Trust your intuition—if it feels bad, it is bad
After Every Session
Close properly:
- Thank benevolent guides
- State: "This session is now complete. All channels are closed. Thank you and goodbye."
- Visualize closing and sealing the channel
Ground and cleanse:
- Ground yourself (eat, walk, touch earth)
- Cleanse your energy
- Return fully to normal consciousness
- Don't practice automatic writing daily—take breaks
Red Flags to Stop Immediately
Stop the session if:
- Messages become threatening or disturbing
- You feel you're losing control
- The entity refuses to identify itself
- Messages contradict your values or intuition
- You feel fear, dread, or wrongness
- The entity tries to isolate you or create dependency
- Messages are manipulative or demanding
When to Stop Automatic Writing Permanently
Consider stopping if:
- You've had multiple negative experiences
- You can't maintain control or boundaries
- It's affecting your mental health
- You're using it compulsively
- You feel it's more harmful than helpful
- You're not emotionally or spiritually ready for this practice
Automatic writing isn't for everyone. It's okay to stop permanently if it doesn't serve you.
FAQs About Automatic Writing Gone Wrong
Can automatic writing cause possession?
True possession is rare and requires consent (conscious or unconscious). Automatic writing can create attachment or influence, but full possession is uncommon.
How do I know if messages are from my higher self or an entity?
Higher self messages are loving, empowering, and aligned with your values. Entity messages may be manipulative, fear-based, or contradictory to your wellbeing.
Can I get rid of a negative entity on my own?
Mild attachments can often be cleared with cleansing and commanding. Severe cases may need professional help (energy worker, exorcist, etc.).
Is automatic writing dangerous?
It can be if done without protection, knowledge, or boundaries. It's higher-risk than passive divination like tarot. Approach with caution and respect.
What if I can't stop my hand from writing?
This is a serious sign. Stop all spiritual practices, seek professional help (both spiritual and mental health), and focus on grounding and protection.
The Bottom Line
Automatic writing gone wrong is frightening, but it's fixable. Stop the practice immediately, command the entity to leave, cleanse yourself and your space, and seek help if needed. You have more power than any entity—remember that.
If you choose to continue automatic writing, do so with strong protection, clear boundaries, and respect for the practice. Never surrender complete control. Never practice in low-vibration states. And always trust your intuition—if something feels wrong, it is wrong.
Automatic writing can be a powerful tool for guidance and connection, but it requires maturity, discernment, and spiritual protection. If you're not ready for that level of responsibility, stick to safer divination methods like tarot or oracle cards.
Your safety and wellbeing matter more than any message. Protect yourself first, always.