How Do Your Spirit Guides Respond to You?
How do you sense the presence of entities like spirit guides or attending angels? What are the patterns and forms your guides take that indicate they are responding to you?
The key to developing your sense of their presence is to make a mental note of how you feel and then look for a pattern. Each spirit entity feels different from another. Also, the general patterns of feelings, thoughts, or other phenomena may be unique to you — don’t expect your personal experiences to necessarily resemble what another person reports.
Communicating with Spirit
You may inititiate divine communication as a form of prayer, meditation, dreaming, or a common everyday activity.
This shouldn’t be a “one time” activity — you don’t maintain relationships with a single introduction… You will benefit tremendously from integrating your dialog with spirit as an on-going component of your daily life.
Keep in mind, you are not praying to any of these entities — spirit guides are messengers, direct go-betweens with God / the Source / the Creator. You are God, so on a very basic level, I believe you are always soul-searching — connecting to your highest Self.
Call on your guides by name, ask questions, and pay attention to the way you feel immediately or soon after.
Angels seem to be more likely to manifest in some physical way: an all-over emotion, or it could even be a particular physical sensation. Sometimes, you may experience something external in your physical environment — such as a faint white flash of light, an “orb” caught out of the corner of your eye, or you suddenly notice a change in temperature or the quality of light…
Many people report inexplicable smells — like a sudden whiff of a flower or perfume that has no obvious source. (It’s my personal opinion that many of the manifestations associated with ghosts are actually the presence of angels. How do you tell the difference? Again — I’m being redundant — it’s about how it makes you feel.)
Don’t limit yourself to expectations of “super-natural” or extraordinary experiences — if you ask your perception of God, your Higher Self, your personal guardian angels, or your spirit guides to help you with a particular question or situation, the answer you receive can take an almost infinite number of forms in your daily life — from a “gut feeling” to something like a book that you are drawn to in a store, a channel that you flip to on the radio or television that seems timely, an email from someone you know, an interaction with a total stranger, a billboard you pass while driving, a song lyric that comes out of nowhere and sticks in your head… A number sequence that pops up again and again…
Pay attention to your emotional response to anything that seems like “meaningful coincidence” — the form that the message may take can vary so greatly, and can “look” like a coincidence. The best way to tell the difference is ask yourself about the feeling it gives you and the timing — does it FEEL like you just received an answer to your question?
Your spirit guides are slightly different in the way they communicate — they are more likely to feel like parts of your own thoughts, the “still small voice” inside you, a whispering or sudden flash of inspiration, dreams, gut feelings, intuition, hunches, or instincts.
Spirit guides also put information in your path in the form of books or the discovery of web sites — even something you see on TV, a song on the radio — or a lyric that’s stuck in your head.
Note feelings; look for patterns.
Care to share?
I’d love to hear about some of the ways YOU identify how and when your guides are responding to you. Can you describe some of the patterns, sensations, emotions, or physical phenomena you’ve come to associate with divine communication?
Seek Wisdom — Practice Love
September 16th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Slade, the article that I just posted on Forgiveness was so full of “coincidences” that I even mentioned them in the post. I “knew” what topic that article was going to be able. I waited to write it to see where my focus was going to be and even that was guided. As I said in the article, every where I looked I ran into something on forgiveness for 3 weeks. I don’t believe in coincidence any more. Each of these instances I was guided to at the appropriate time and place for the pieces to fall into place. Even after I thought I had finished the article and was proofing it, then a final paragraph came through for me to add. This was a guided experience, all the way.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Slade,
I first struck up a conversation with my primary Guide via mediation. As our rapport developes, I communicate with her outside of meditation in everyday life. I feel her like a cloak wrapping around my shoulders when I simply ask “[Name of Guide], are you there?” The answer is always yes. I check in this way several times a day - in the car, waiting in line at the bank, etc. She speaks subtley, most often as the thoughts in my head that address me as “You” instead of “I”.
Another Guide has emerged that seems angelic. He imparts nuggets of wisdom in a voice that resonates through me like the ringing of a great golden bell. While teasing out the words of my primary Guide from my chattering thoughts can be a challenge, there is never any question when this Guy speaks! Sometimes I wake up in the morning with one of his shining sentences in my head, such as:
“Improvement is more important than achievement”
Good point, Angel Guy.
-Sarah
September 16th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Not too long ago I saw a show on the Discovery channel that documented the deliberate sinking of a de-commissioned aircraft carrier in order to create a marine habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. It was quite interesting, all the work involved in preparing the carrier for sinking; removing everything that could be, the obliteration of all toxic substances, the intricate planning of the timing of the explosives. The crew mounted cameras throughout the carrier and filmed the actual explosions and the water filling the cavities of the carrier. (It was apparently extremely important to achieve a “level” sink). What an incredible sight to see the explosions then the ocean rushing in and filling every inner space. A wall of frothy water, engulfing everything in its path.
That’s what I imagine and what I feel when I am in meditative and deliberate contact with my guides. A complete rush of filling, of sensation, that starts at my head and extends to the tips of my fingers and toes. Not a running through, but a filling up. With this signal, I know I’ve established a clear connection.
Additionally, sometimes I get the scent of roses, which I always associated with the presence of my grandma’s spirit and which you pointed out is known as a sign of the Mother Mary. I don’t get roses as often and it’s not something I have yet to summon at will. But I pay very close attention to what’s happening in my life when I do.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Uh, okay, I’ll go first.
I’m not sure how I’d define “Spirit Guide”, for one. The beings/subpersonalities/Spirit Guides I interact with do not feel as if they originate from outside of me, so I tend to take the Jungian view of things and assume they are part of me. Divine, yes, because I am Pagan/Wiccan and I believe everything is Divine. But the skeptic in me is strong and so I lean towards the psychological explanation. But it’s probably all the same thing, really.
That said, I know exactly what they look like, being a strongly visual person (as an artist); most of them are their own persons and don’t look like anyone else in the world, but have certain colors they wear or looks to their faces. I could probably paint portraits of them, I see them so clearly. But the one I talk to the most, the Animus/God Within/Indwelling Glory (to borrow a phrase from Qabala) is very specific, because he’s always borrowing the form of an actual human, actor, musician, whatever. So with him I know very very specifically what he looks like, sounds like, haircut, height, color of his eyes, the plaid shirt he’s wearing, if he bites his fingernails, &c.
I read your descriptions above and actually felt kind of bad. I guess I’m lucky in that I see them so clearly, and don’t have to rely on half-guesses or vague intuitions. I use automatic writing a lot, and when I have a question, I just ask. And I get an answer, usually a pretty clear one that doesn’t require a lot of interpretation, though there are always many layers to it, and the wisdom and simplicity of it is sometimes stunning. It is, very literally, a dialogue, with questions and answers and interruptions and jokes and tangents. I don’t know. Like I said, maybe this isn’t a proper Spirit Guide experience? But I’ll take it.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Boy, this is the first time I have told anyone this outside of a very close circle of friends, but it seems very appropriate to describe this experience here.
Several years ago, when I was a single parent and a member of a cult that did not respect me, and judged me relentlessly, I was thrown into a deep dark depression. I needed to reach out for help, but I was discouraged from it because I was suppose to get everything I needed from my religious leaders at the time. And when I did reach out, all they said was that I was not praying hard enough.
My depression was so bad I could barely move. One day after praying each leg out of bed, getting the girls over to a neighbor to play (a big no-no by the way according to my religion at the time) I collapsed on my couch in tears. I felt like I was lying under a thousand pound rock. I prayed, I cried out from the depths of my soul for God to make me feel like I was being held in some way. I needed to feel cherished, cared for by someone; anyone. I needed so much to be held. Suddenly as I lay there with my eyes closed, I felt a rising up. I could physically feel my body being pulled up and suddenly I was in the arms of some all-loving being; being cradled like a small child. (I know it was just my spirit being lifted up, but all the feelings manifested in my physical body as well.) The tears poured out and I was held through all of them till I stopped and then a flow of love swept in to replace what the tears had washed away. I don’t remember any dialogue, but I remember being held until my need was filled, and then I was gently placed back on my sofa in my living room.
I am writing this because I feel a deep need for support right now. I am no longer in this cult, but I live alone and have so much to face, alone.
This article is helping me to get in touch with that loving support around me. I am the type that gets the heebee-jeebees when anything supernatural happens around me, but I want to get over that. I believe that I am… This experience above reminds me that there is nothing to be afraid of and only loving support to gain from this spiritual communication.
Thank you
September 17th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I agree with Patricia - no such thing as “coincidence.” When I ask for guidance or assistance, it shows up, like a theme song running through my life.
My Guides often communicate with me through inspiration, or total lack thereof, which I just blogged about the other day (no coincidences, right? Here’s the link: http://www.empoweredsoul.com/blog/?p=125). I also have a Guide who impulses me with a tingling on my left elbow. That’s my little signal to stop and pay attention.
I never used to communicate with angels much - I was actually taught that they couldn’t lower their vibration enough for contact, which I have found to be untrue. Hey, we all know when it’s time to question our teachers … anyway, my angel and I have been on speaking terms for a while now. He keeps me from taking myself too seriously. Here’s some angelic sense of humor for you - he gave me the name “Bob.” That’s about as un-angelic a name as I can think of, and it always makes me laugh.
When an upper-dimensional being tries to get my attention, that’s when I usually get a strong visual. It used to freak me out, but now it’s just part of my life. These beings pop in with a lot of energy, and make themselves known very explicitly. I welcome it now, because I always learn something of tremendous value from these masters and teachers. My client’s Guides also come in with strong visuals.
I am always awed and deeply grateful for the depth and wealth of assistance that we are given. Thanks for giving us all the opportunity to share our experiences of this, Slade!
Blessings,
Andrea
September 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Thanks for all the great personal examples (so far) — they do seem to follow known patterns — and I too experience many of the same things:
Patricia — repetition of information, extreme “meaningful coincidence.”
Sarah — the feeling of being enfolded; the subtle “you” instead of “I” is a great detail… The clear, loud, unmistakable proclamations that come through, particularly upon waking — that is one of my most powerful experiences. I love the phrase “shining sentences” — yes, I know those!
Lola — the rush of filling/feeling; the scent of roses — this may be more widespread than we realize.
Thalia — your experiences are much more clairvoyant in nature; the internal versus external — I agree that the distinction is greatly blurred, and perhaps ultimately the same at some level.
I’d love to see portraits of your guides — I create these myself, usually altered photography; the act of creating the visual aspect often triggers or opens a powerful channel for them, too.
Rosie — a special thank you for sharing such a personal, heart-wrenching moment. I have known my own version of that despair and also the feeling of being lifted, comforted, saved. You are loved; you are never alone. That connection is available to you — it is yours — and it can not be proscribed or controlled or directed by another person.
September 17th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
After reading all of these replies, I am almost envious. I don’t do visuals very often so when I do I pay attention. Mine is voices in my head. They usually sound like me or my pesky, wonderful friend Carol who died about a year and a half ago and visits me periodically with information she thinks I need. I really do love her. She makes me laugh and loans her support when I need it. Anyway, I want to share the 2 visuals of my guides that I have gotten in meditation years ago. By the way, the message that I received when thinking of writing this was, “You don’t meditate enough or maybe you would get more visuals.” After laughing, I thought, “Ok, Ok, I will do better.”
Salde has heard about these 2 guides already in our emails back and forth last year when we first “met” over the internet.
My first experience of a guide was in the quiet space of a guided meditation. She was suddenly sitting in front of me, facing me. We were both sitting with legs crossed. She didn’t talk to me. I wasn’t ready for that. She has visited me many times since.
I call her my Lady In Blue. She is dressed totally in an irridescent blue gown and the air around her that I am looking through is also that same but lighter shade of irridescent blue. After about 2 years, she did start to talk to me but I still couldn’t hear her. I have actually heard her a few times since. Right this minute, I can’t remember what she said, but it was appropriate for th time that she spoke.
My second guide is very tall, dressed as a eunoch from Arabian nights time. When I say very tall, I mean maybe 7 feet or more tall, very imposing in stature. He doesn’t speak to me. Am I too stuborn and they know this???? He did tell me that his name is Manoah, once.
One my first trip to India, I had an experience in meditation where I was suddenly enveloped in a black swirling clock of warmth. A figure that I didn’t recognise was there swirling the black cloak around me and himself, dancing here and there. With my American brain, I immediately decided that this was a sign of doom and gloom to come. I said a prayer to God and asked for His support for whatever was to come. I didn’t tell anyone about this vision.
I was staying in a house with about 6 other people next door to Sai Baba’s house where he goes in the summer months to get away from the heat. One of these 6 people was a wise and wonderful older Indian woman that we all called “Ma”. One afternoon, we were all sitting in the living room talking and she started sharing her experiences as a Krishna devotee. I knew very little about Krisna. For those of you who may have seen pictures of him, he has dark blue skin. (The Bhagavad Gita is about the story of Krishna and Arjuna and the road to self-realization. Needless to say, I came home and found the copy of this book in our library and read it. The odd thing is, I understood it.) Ma talked about the “black” energy that people experienced who were Krishna devotees. Then I had to share my meditation experience. Ma told me that I was just being visited by Krishna and not to fear it. She said that I was obviously a Krishna devotee in a past life. For the next 2 years, I would be visited by Krishna and his black swirling cloak when I would meditate. I learned to see and appreciate the beauty and depth of the color black. It has always been one of my favorite colors. Now I knew why.
To add two more things and then I will quit talking. A few days later, I was sitting near the special place that the elderly ladies were sitting when Sai Baba came walking by close enough that I could hear his words. A lady 2 rows behind me had an encounter with a bee that morning. Baba talked to her asking what color the bee was. What he asked was, “Bee black?” What I heard was, “Be black.”, an affirmation that I should enjoy the experience with Krishna and go where ever it took me.
Just a few months ago, the Library Group here in Hot Springs, Arkansas asked me to talk about my India experiences at their meeting. I agreed. One of the ladies is a psychic that I don’t know very well. Afterwards, she approached me and told me that I was a devotee in a past life in India because He (She said she didn’t see whether it was Krishna or Sai Baba that she was talking about.) had saved my life. She said when I was a little girl that I was very, very sick and dying and He saved my life by healing me. When she said it, I “knew” that he was Krishna. I knew that was why I feel such love in his black energy cloak.
Ok, I am done. Hope I haven’t talked too much.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Many, many times throughout my life, I’ve had in pics a strange light of blue, many times I’d smell a wonderful scent bywhich I can’t discribe though it was a most pleasant scent. I have had since very young a drop of water fall on me, I’ve asked for guidance for which I’d found direction, I’ve wished to take on half if not most of physical pain for others to only have experienced for a short while as for only certain pain to have left them. I have a very special person in my life inflicted with MS, this person for almost a year was having a like burning sensation mostly at night before bed, a discomfort which was keeping them from getting proper rest, nightly this pain from the back of their neck all the way down their left side of arm as with back. Anyway, I wished and prayed to take atleast half of this persons pain away or atleast the burning, he shortly there after hasn’t since had any further problems, I about a week later along my spine had the most burning sensation mostly at night which lasted about 2 weeks, I’ve not nor has he had any further problems since then and it’s been now 2 years. It’s more likely that this was just wishful thinking that I merely brought onto myself for the great need to take their pain away.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
(Whoops; comment moderation. It just looked like I was first!)
Slade–great. More art for me to do.
I’ve got quite a backlog already! Talk to Athena Nike, Athena Polias, young Britomartis the Bee Goddess, Banba Eriu and Fotla, and Skadi the Norse Goddess of Winter and Skiing (that one was in thanks for not breaking my leg the first time I got on a ski slope in decades, and it’s been half done for a couple years now.) –Seriously, though, I’ll see what I can do. I have a couple of sketches of some of them. Have you put any of the photography of yours up? Is it something you’d like to share? I’d love to see yours!
Another amazing conversation. My main Guide is almost always present with me these days, if I just look around for him. (He’s sitting here smiling at this conversation right now.) A lot of times, though, I can feel him by a warmth on my lower back, like he’s got his hand there in support.
Sarah, I love your description of your Angel Guy, his voice like “the ringing of a great golden bell”. Wow. I know some of those “shining sentences” too, like: “There is no ‘backsliding’, or ground lost; it is impossible, like time running in reverse. It is always and only forwards.”
Rosie: I once did a meditation on the Tarot card the Lovers. I learned then that there were four kinds of Love: the Love others have for you, the Love you have for others, the Love you have for yourself, and the Love the Universe has for you. Now, the Love others have for you, well, no, that one is not your call, it’s true. But the Love you have for others and your Love for yourself are things you can do something about. And on top of that the Love the Universe has for you is a great and abiding constant, and is always there, if you can find a way to trust in it. I don’t know if it helps you to think of it that way; I know it did help me to realize that three quarters of the Love out there is something that is either a given, or something you have the power to cultivate and grow.
And I know what you mean about the heebie-jeebies; I live in a house that’s a couple centuries old and I have to will myself not to even think about the concept of ghosts if I’m to get any sleep. I have to just push it away.
Patricia: My main guide didn’t talk at first either. The key for me was not to sit there asking him stuff, but to tell him that I was listening, and that I heard him.
And Andrea/Bob: I am all too familiar with that sense of humor! I think the Universe is powered by laughter sometimes!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
This has been such an awesome thread/discussion — so many amazing stories, piled up into a banquet of laughter and tears.
Just recently I made contact with a new guide. The first inkling or “message” I had from this guide was last summer, when our family was visiting the Badlands of South Dakota; I found myself deeply moved by the herds of bison there, and in particular one painting of a bison in snow in a gift shop, whose eyes seemed incredibly human, and were absolutely searing.
A few weeks ago I was going through a box of oddments and stumbled on a stone carving of a bison given to us by my in-laws; I remember them saying something about it being a good-luck charm. Holding this carving, I was suddenly struck with a profound feeling of longing that I couldn’t put my finger on.
Lately, I started thinking more and more about the bison in the picture. A few days ago while driving, thinking about the bison, I realized I had slipped into a meditative state without realizing it, and the bison was speaking to me about strength, slow power, careful, deliberate action, and most especially an odd sort of joyful longing/sadness. It was then that I realized I had myself a new guide! I feel like I’ve found a new friend — what an amazing gift.