Many cultures believe in the concept of Spirit Guides, ethereal beings from otherworldly dimensions that are with us from the time of our incarnation, through our journey here on the Earth and ultimately on our departure back home.
Spirit Guides are entities that we have chosen who are helpers that are assigned to us before our spiritual incarnation. Other ideas assert that Spirit Guides reflect dimensions of our unconscious mind that symbolically assist us in finding wholeness. And to others our Spirit Guides are components of our Higher Selves that manifest to us in various shapes and forms at dedicated times in our lifetime.
Though we may never have a completely concrete or scientific understanding of who our Spirit Guides are and their specific role in detail in our lives it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that all of us need guidance, direction and spiritual support in our lives that go far beyond our own capacities and those who surround us.
Spirit Guides, like many other aspects of our spiritual lives, have been greatly commercialized and monetized both online and in our everyday lives. Despite the opaqueness of their value in society Spirit Guides are nevertheless an valuable human connection that offer us protection, love and sustenance.
Spirit Guides are often thought as spirits that protect and love us us, and that’s part of it. In my interpretation and experience they present themselves to be non-corporeal beings that guide our souls to greater clarity, liberation and wisdom. They nudge us in the right direction so we can meet our spiritual agreements with others and ourselves and sustain us in the conflicts and sorrows we must endure throughout our lifetime. Their main objective is to advance us towards our spiritual ascension.
Spirit Guides may take on a variety of forms including Guardian Angels, Animal or Nature spirits, Fairies, Religious Saints or Ascended Masters as well as Ancestors and Descendants who have crossed over to the spiritual realm. Spirit Guide assist us in our daily lives even though most people are not aware of their presence, although some sensitives and mediums are due to their extra light body. I would encourage you to seek out your Spirit Guides to understand their practical and mystical efforts, their healing modalities and protection from harm they offer. Their essential purpose is to keep you on the planet so you can meet your spiritual obligations and move through your karma.
The History of our Spirit Guides
Our contemporary concept of Spirit Guides is derived from the nineteenth-century spiritualist movement, which emerged from Swedenborgianism, Mesmerism, and Theosophy. The leading figures in these groups, Emanuel Swedenborg, Andrew Jackson Davis, and Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, were deeply involved in mediumistic activities. These individuals believed they had made contact with the spirits of the dead, either angels or highly evolved beings that imparted great wisdom to humanity and in so doing they acquired information that was useful to the world of the living. Their experiences and the religious movements they awakened contributed to an emerging belief that spirits could speak to and assist human beings. Spiritualism quickly spread in America during the mid-1800s, with mediums appearing everywhere, offering a variety of services. Even with the discovery of fraudulent communication by some famous mediums, spiritualism retained its hold. It kept a fairly low profile in American society until the 1970’s when spiritualism clearly resonated with the New Age movement. This movement contained a wide variety of groups that encouraged personal spiritual development which held a holistic view of the cosmos and had a therapeutic orientation. In the early 1970’s Jane Roberts began channeling a spirit entity called “Seth” and published several volumes of his teachings. In the 1980s J. Z. Knight further popularized channeling through her public dialogues with Ramtha, a thirty-five-thousand-year-old warrior deity. These figures and the others that followed in the 1990s stimulated interest in spirit communication. New Agers were drawn to holistic health conferences, divination workshops and classes on spiritual development as well as the concept of a Spirit Guide became part of the common parlance.
In the early 1980’s Michael Harner introduced modern methods of shamanic journey based on his prior experience with the Brazilian Jivaro Indians. With the aid of a steady drumbeat and guided visualization, seekers were taught to travel to the spirit world to discover their “power animal” guardians. It must be noted that Harner has been criticized by academics for offering pop shamanism to the masses. His method has enjoyed a great deal of success, offering those who can afford a tape or a workshop the opportunity to seek a Guardian Spirit without hallucinogenic substances. Being fully present is key in working with your guides.
Our Spirit Guides have always been a part of Native American spirituality. The Tenino Indians sent their children into the wilderness at night to find their helper guardian spirits. Among the Oglala Sioux lifelong personal spirit guides are sought through strenuous vision quests requiring lengthy periods of fasting and movement deprivation designed to put them in touch with the spirit world. Nature spirits, animal spirits, and revered ancestors, all endowed with powerful qualities, are called upon for assistance in daily life as well as in the sacred sweat lodge. The medicine people, or shamans, are thought to be especially powerful as they attract many spirit guides that help them fulfill their charge of healing in their communities.
Modern-day pagan groups, such as druids and witches, also use shamanic techniques to achieve inner wisdom to become closer to goddesses or gods. And though some may talk to elves in the forest or comment on a grandmother spirit while walking by a stream they do not generally speak about Spirit Guides. Many people are currently captivated with a particular spirit guide, the Guardian Angel. This spirit frequently appears in jewelry, figurines, books, and the popular media. Unlike Nature Spirits, fairies, or even the dead, Guardian Angels do not seem to pose a problem for those who adhere to certain mainstream religions such as Christianity and Catholicism. As more people become involved in Native American and other nature spiritualities there may be a corresponding attraction to Spirit Guides. Judging by the amount of web sites and the volumes of books written on this subject interest in Spirit Guides may be expected to increase into our third millennium.
Totems of Spirit Guides
Some Spirit Guides have been with you for your entire life, even since before you were born, through other lifetimes. Others have joined you as you have needed them at different times in your life. You can always use your powerful free will to request more Spirit Guides and additional guidance. The lines of communication are always open between you and your guides.
Archangels
Archangels are the soldiers in the Angelic World and have a very powerful and authoritative energy signature. If you are a physical empath or sensitive to energy then you most likely have an extra light body and can readily call upon an Archangel. You might feel a strong shift of energy enter the room when they are near you. There may also be the scent of roses that accompany these visitations, this is what is known as the odor of sanctity and is signature to their presence. Each Archangel has a specific specialty and a unique task that they are to assist you with. Archangel Michael who battles demons, has the ability to work and help multiple individuals at the same time. These angels are mainly called upon when people are in danger or if the soul is embattled. They will intervene in life and death situations and can be anywhere in an instant.
Guardian Angels
Guardian Angels are ours exclusively and are assigned to us at birth. Depending upon the karma that we have accrued and brought with us into this lifetime and the development of our souls presently we can have more than one. This specific type of Spirit Guide devotes their life to us during our time here on Earth. You may call upon them at anytime for immediate assistance. Guardian Angles love you unconditionally. They are not here to give you things though. They instead will steer you in the right direction, nudging you, so that you can meet your agreed spiritual goals. They will also stand back and allow conflict into your life to allow you to grow and deepen. Gotta love them here! This isn’t meant to harm you but to build character and strengthen your independence and humility. Also remember that Guardian Angels are nondenominational and work with people of all faiths and beliefs system. They are spiritually beyond religious beliefs and only operate from a place of light and neutrality that is connected to the Divine.
Spirit Animal Guides
A Spirit Animal Guide may be a cherished pet you once owned who has passed away and is now part of your Spiritual Guide Group. Spirit Animal Guides may also be any animal that has something to teach you such as a lesson or theme that is part of your karmic lineup. An example would be a dog showing you the importance of learning about survival and loyalty. Spirit animals could show up in your life for the first time in one of your dreams or in your backyard such as an owl that keeps returning to sit on your fence for a few days and then suddenly leaves during a difficult time in your life. They can even appear on your front porch looking for their human owner, this has happened to me many times.
Ascended Masters
Our Ascended Masters such as Buddha and Jesus Christ were once human beings living on the Earth that have experienced journeys of profound spiritual growth and purpose. Presently they have a very important role as Master Souls in our spiritual world and function as guides and teachers for humanity. The assist and appeal to all faiths and individuals at various rate of spiritual ascension and are so very important. They can be called upon in times of need and
Our Loved Ones
Sometimes a loved one or family member who has crossed over may choose to be one of your Spirit Guides by assisting you in earthly ways. It would most likely be someone with an older soul who knows you very well and who at times still feels like they are still very much alive. Their assistance is more three dimensional and can be related to soul and family issues. If there were gifts that were passed down from a certain member in a family line these need to be protected and nurtured and they can assist with this. Someone from your Soul Family would volunteer for this position. These specific type of Spirit Guides may be with you throughout the duration of your lifetime or for a specific time and purpose and their visitations more of a transient relationship.
Independent Angels
Helper or Independent Angels are angels who are available for humans to assist and help with specific situations such as finding and introducing you to a new friend group or pointing your towards a new career opportunity. These angels are more involved with furthering your karma and assisting you with transitions from cycle to cycle.
Forms of Spirit Guide Communication
Spirit Guides will often enter your life by sending Spiritual Downloads to you telepathically. These downloads can otherwise be known as synchronicities. Carl Jung defined synchronicity as “a meaningful coincidence.” I myself don’t really believe in coincidences. Honestly, most things are fated.
An example would be realizing you need to repair your relationship after having a argument with your partner prior to bedtime, and out of the blue the next day you notice a book about communication in romantic relationships advertised online.
Spirit Guides may also communicate to you through palindromic numbers in sequences such as 1111 or 333. Each number sequence has a vibrational message. I have a glossary on my website in my blog as to the meaning each number sequence that can be helpful when trying to determine what they are trying to tell you.
Spirit Guides may also try and communicate with you through music. Sending messages through music is also a vibrational connection. You may hear a song that provides inspiration and can open you playing on the radio when you get in the car after a rough day.
Spirit Guides might send you a dream that gives you an idea about how to handle a situation, or a guide could even appear to you in a dream.
Spirit Guides will also send helpful people and opportunities your way, which is another form of communication that often requires you to take action (asking an interesting new person in your life out to lunch, buying a ticket to a transformational workshop) regarding the person or opportunity your guide has sent or somehow put on your radar.
Ideas For Communicating with Your Guides
Living In A Twelve Hour Grid
In order to receive abundant guidance from your Spirit Guides you will have to recognize the messages they are already sending. Many times the messages our guides send are lost on us because our lives are too busy or our minds are filled with to do items. Staying in the day from the time you wake up to the end of your day when you turn in for bed can create a crisp clarity in your life. You will notice more of the subtle nuances and make better decisions which will lead to fulfillment and stability.
Try opening up some space in your schedule or taking some responsibilities off your plate, if possible. When you’re not rushing around you’ll notice more messages from your guides. Help quiet your mind by finding a quiet space in your home or garden so that you can decompress. This will allow you to get better at creating more space in between your thoughts.
Pay Close Attention to Repeating Numbers, Synchronicities and Serendipitous Events
The more you are aware of signs from your guides, the more you’ll recognize the signs they send. But something else magical happens too—as your guides sense you are more aware of them and their helpful messages, they will send more.
Action step: Remind yourself on your train commute to work or while you’re showering in the morning that every day your guides are sending you messages. If you’re trying to make a major decision, or you’re going through big changes or challenges, expect the guidance coming at you to increase to help you navigate this situation.
Daily Journaling
Journaling is an incredible way to increase communication between you and your Spiritual Guides. This is a sacred and special practice where you can write to your guides and express your feelings, fears and to request guidance. Your guides know you and your life well. It can be powerful to use your free will to ask for help and guidance. You can also use this journal to record any important signs they send. This will also help assist your in making decisions and slow your pace down. It will give you a place to reflect from and chart the progress of your soul.
Deepening Your Intuition
We all have our own personal intuition and we can improve this intuition with study and practice. There are four important channels in which you can develop your intuitive abilities:
Clairaudience-Hearing and sensing gentle voices in your mind eye
Clairvoyance-Seeing guidance as images in your mind
Claircognizance– Knowing guidance as breakthrough thoughts or mental downloads
Clairsentience– Feeling guidance as energy, emotions, or physical sensations.
Develop Routine Spiritual Practices
Spirit Guides are connected to the spirit world and have a powerful ability to ground you in your own spirituality and help you discover it.
You can also make a list of some of your most profound spiritual beliefs. For example, you may have a strong belief that the soul lives on after the body dies, or feel closer to your Spirit Guides whenever you spend time in nature. These are important things to cultivate as they nourish your soul and help stabilize your everyday life.
Develping a relationship with your Spirit Guides is a very important part of our spiritual journey. This relationship is eternal and reciprocal and is the foundation for the souls growth and never-ending expansion.
Graciously: T Foltz
