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from thestrawguy.com

Introduction

How do you contact your spirit guides or guardian angels? This seemingly simple - or perhaps difficult - question has stirred up quite a bit of attention lately, especially in New Age circles. My main goal in putting this information up is to impart some of my knowledge and experience to people, in order to help them help themselves. Of course, my opinions are naturally somewhat limited because they're written from my beliefs. What's important is that you do what you feel comfortable with, not what someone else tells you to do.

I've written this section as generally as possible, and give examples that I feel are relevant. Please take this and everything else with a grain of salt - after all, you're the one who has to live with whatever you choose to do. These articles are merely an attempt to give some guidelines for your explorations.

Attitudes About the Spirit World

First and foremost, it does not cost money to work with the spirit world, and this includes your guides and guardian angels. You don't have to buy books, attend seminars, go to psychics and mediums, or even read this article. A seed of doubt should be planted in your mind if anyone ever tells you that you must do something, that something is absolutely necessary, or that what he or she has to say is all encompassing.

The spirit world is an integral part of our existence. The physical and spirit are not separate, in fact, they interact all the time. If you choose to believe that your guardian angels are inaccessible, then that's exactly what they are. You have put distance between you, but just as you may have created this gap, you can decrease it.

The suggestions contained in this section rely upon these beliefs, as well as the notion that people must take an active role in their own spiritual lives. Spiritual growth is something that you must accomplish on your own, though you can use things like this article, psychics, books and so on as guidelines. There are no hard and fast rules, nor is outside information necessary. You are the one in command of your relationship with the spiritual world, and it would be foolish to allow anyone or anything to interfere with that.

The Nature of the Spirit World

The spirit world is just as diverse as the physical world. It includes things like ghosts (as in dead people), fairies, angels, nature spirits (like elementals) and all other manner of things. If this seems ridiculous to you, consider the range of things we have here on Earth: there is everything from evergreen trees to bats to elephants to rabbits to sea anemones to iron to bacteria to lava. There's no end to the diversity of things on this planet, and we haven't even begun to consider the rest of the solar system, let alone the universe! Don't try to pigeonhole or label things. Spend your time enjoying it all, rather than classifying and limiting everything to your standards.

I think it's also necessary to recognize that the spirit world operates by different rules than the physical. Something that we may consider weird, or that violates our sense of right and wrong, may be commonplace or completely acceptable in the spirit world. Just as you can't go to another country and expect the citizens there to abide by the laws of your native land, you can't expect the spirit world to respect the rules that you follow or set up. Spirits aren't held in by the same boundaries we are, just as humans aren't bound by the rules of the spirit world. The two may mingle or overlap, but they are distinct - so don't be surprised if things don't always turn out the way you anticipate.

Because of this difference, it is usually wise to interpret experiences in the spirit world almost as you would a dream. It is rare for messages from spirit to present themselves absolutely literally. Explore symbols and feelings. The more questions you ask, the more answers you will receive.

Finally, the spirit world is not there for you to control. It does not submit to you for any reason, nor are spirits your slaves. You cannot try to gain power over the spirit world to make up for the lack of control you feel in the physical, and you certainly can't abuse it for your own purposes. The spirit world can never replace the physical life you lead - it can only supplement it. The two worlds co-exist, neither subservient to the other. It's been my experience that anyone who attempts to shift this balance will end up throwing his or her own life into disarray.

Getting Started

There are many ways people can contact their guardians, so the methods I'm describing here are only the beginning. Explore what feels right to you, and feel free to alter and change your approach around to your liking. It's your experience, so go ahead and make the most out of it.

One of the important lessons I've learned is that everyone experiences the spirit world in a unique way. I think that this comes from the fact that being human, our understanding of the spirit world is severely limited. Our brains interpret it for us as best they can, but they are limited by their physical capabilities.

For example, if I traveled back to the 16th century and showed people there a car, what would they call it? I think that's how we see the spirit world. One person calls it a horseless carriage, another sees the Devil's vehicle. How you interpret things depends on your background, your beliefs, the type of person you are, and what needs the spirit world is filling for you.

Therefore, I think it's safe to say that we each experience our guardians in vastly different ways. The next few articles will look at communicating with your guides and understanding this relationship.

Communicating with Spirit Guides

There are dozens of different ways people communicate with their guides. This can include:

FEELINGS ("I really shouldn't walk down this alley way...it doesn't feel right...") SCENTS (getting a brilliant whiff of lavender or cigar smoke from out of nowhere) DREAMS (remembering long dreams about talking with someone, usually the same person) PREMONITIONS AND DEJA VU DIVINATION (Tarot cards, runes, I Ching, reading tea leaves, scrying, etc.) SEEING (visions of your guides) SYNCHRONISITY OR COINCIDENCES (You notice a lot of experiences surrounding one theme, often leading up to an event. For example, you go to the supermarket, and notice that dog food is on sale. A couple of days later, a barking dog wakes you up. The next day, your children rent a cartoon about a couple of dogs. Finally, on your birthday the next week, you get a dog as a present.) HEARING MESSAGES (the little voice in your head you sometimes call your conscience) MEDITATION

There are many other ways, but these are a few basics. You've probably experienced some of them already.

Once you've made a conscious choice to try and communicate with your guardians, one of your first orders of business should be to try and figure out which way you communicate with them best. You have to pay attention to every little thing that happens, and question why you do things. At this stage, it may be helpful to keep a journal.

One of the ways that I communicate with my guides is through my dreams. I've done this all my life. Occasionally I'll have a very long dream that I remember in great detail. The structure of it is always the same. I'm wandering along some kind of path looking for something when the dream seems to "stop" or "pause." I then have a very long conversation with a certain man who always looks the same. The dream then re-starts and finishes up. The next day, I feel totally relaxed and very happy. I never remember what exactly it is we talk about, but I remember the feelings that I associate with it. When I have one of those dreams, I know I've been talking to my guardian.

Another way I communicate with my guides occurs only when I'm in imminent danger by someone else's hands. I literally see my guide appear in the physical. I'll catch a fleeting glimpse of my guardian out of the corner of my eye. If I didn't know better, I'd say that there was a physical person there if only for a moment, but it happens so quickly that it would be impossible for a person to have physically been there. Usually, I have no clue about the hazards surrounding me, but now that I know the signal my guides give me, I'm sure to pay extra attention to what's going on around me when we communicate this way.

These are only a couple of examples, and you can find several different ways to communicate with your own guides, so pay attention, and above all trust yourself.

Observe the situation around you and try and pick up on connections, no matter how weird they may seem. Test out which ways you and they prefer to communicate. For example, my guardian hates the pendulum and the Tarot, so I get another spirit to do the Tarot with me, and only use the pendulum to find lost items. It's trial and error to see what works best for both of you, so have fun exploring.

Establishing A Relationship

Once you've picked up on at least a few ways that you feel comfortable communicating with your guides, it's time to start building a relationship with them. Having a relationship with your guardians is just like having a relationship with anybody else. You just don't march up to someone on the street and say, "Help me and protect me forever!" That's not realistic at all.

Of course, the relationship with your guardians is dictated somewhat by different rules. After all, they live in the spirit world. Therefore, it is a different and unique relationship that you can have with them, one that cannot replace the relationships that you have in the physical world, and one that can't be replaced by physical relationships. While they may share some of the same characteristics, they are not interchangeable.

You shouldn't completely rely on your guardians for every decision you make. Would you completely rely on another person for all your choices? It's unhealthy to be completely dependant on someone else. You also wouldn't make plans with one friend, and then ditch them if another friend asked you out, so if you promise your guardian you will meditate every Wednesday night, keep that promise. Of course, there'll be times when you have to break plans, but you can't treat your guides badly just because they're in the spirit world. On the other hand, you shouldn't neglect any of your friendships in the physical world on the whim of a spirit.

It's a fine line, but I guess it comes down to treating others the way you would like to be treated.

You also have to balance this relationship by giving something back. Often times, what they would like us to give back to them doesn't really seem like much. It could be something as simple as using the information that you have been given in a Tarot reading. A thank you may not even be in order - depending on the guide - just as long as you acknowledge what you've received. This may not seem like a lot to ask, but it does require you to play an active role in the relationship, something that not everyone is willing to do.

You may want to honor them in other ways. This could include writing poetry, painting, doing volunteer work, helping some aspect of nature like cleaning up a local park or singing for them. There are a lot of different things you can do to show your guides that you're listening.

Personally, I try and do several things because I've gotten a lot from the spirit world. First, I help out others when possible, using my knowledge. This writing is one aspect of this. Not only do I enjoy creating it, but also as far as I'm concerned, I'm giving back a mere fraction of what I've received. I like imparting my knowledge to others in hopes that they can learn more. I also do a fair amount of volunteer work in my community. Another way I honor my guides is by burning incense for them. I make a point of burning a stick a day.

These are some of the things I choose to do, and you may pick others. Choose something you love and that you will follow up on. Give back what you get, and you'll get even more.

About Your Guides

From what I've seen, people have more than one guardian; there tends to be a group of them. Most people seem to have one main guardian, complimented by others who take care of specific tasks. I won't guess at how many guides one person should expect to have, because I suspect it differs for every individual. In fact, I've spoken to some people who feel like their guides rotate, each one taking charge of different circumstances or times in their lives.

There are grand debates as to exactly what or who your guardians are. Some like to call them guardian angels, some spirit guides, while still others see them as spirit companions. Perhaps you knew them in a past life, or maybe they've only existed in the spirit world. In any case, they're your spirit guides, and no one else's, so choose (or not!) the idea that fits into your belief system the best. Explore which way of thinking appeals to you.

As I mentioned previously, I've recognized one guide that's been around me my whole life. However, I've noticed others too. For instance, there's one who helps me with my Tarot readings. I've also seen one specific guide that comes around only when I'm feeling sad or sick. I know when he's nearby, because I can feel someone hugging me; it's a very distinct sensation. I feel protected.

All the different guides have distinctly different personalities and ways of presenting themselves. One of my friend's guides rarely shows his face - he either hides it or has the head of an animal. Another guide that I met presented herself quite assertively as a beautiful leopard.

I've gotten a lot of mail from people inquiring about how to tell the difference between their guides and departed loved ones that may be helping them. Unfortunately, there's no real set formula for this, so you have to go on your instincts. Most of the time, I suggest that you simply ask for a sign.

For instance, if before starting communication with a certain guide (doing a Tarot reading, going to bed with the intention of lucid dreaming, getting some sort of warning), you get a whiff of a rose garden, then you can be certain that it's a particular guide letting you know that he or she is there. You should then be able to tell the difference if another one announces his presence by giving you chills on the back of your neck. This is why it's so important to pay attention; the signals are there, you just have to be able to pick up on them. Watch for themes that occur around certain events, and allow your guides to communicate who they are to you.

Summary and Conclusion

These articles are only meant as an introduction. I can't encourage you enough to explore and choose what you feel comfortable with, and have fun! I get too many letters from people who seem to think the world will end if they can't be in direct contact with their guides tomorrow. Enjoy the experience.

Summary

it does not cost money to contact the spirit world do what you feel comfortable with the physical and spiritual interact all the time the spirit world is very diverse the spirit world and physical world are bound by different rules your relationship with the spirit world should be a mutually beneficial one everyone experiences spirit guides in different ways there are many ways people can communicate with their guides, so find ones that work for both you and your guides be aware of your surroundings, and the signals you may be receiving trust your instincts treat others the way you would like to be treated show your appreciation for the help you receive have some fun!