Guides?

[Nikk]

Hi,

My Dad is in a spiritualist Church, and he says that everyone has a guide that's with them all of the time, and that you can communicate with them in the Astral. One thing he told me was that many people's guides are Indians. Is this true, if so why do you think that this is the case? Did the Indians have strong links with the Astral planes?

[James S]

Hi Nikk,

How guides appear to us has a lot to do with what we are most comfortable with. Guides can appear to us the way we hope they will. Otherwise can you imagine the idea of a guide appearing to someone as a medieval knight when that person is deeply fearful of anything in a suit of armour? Wouldn't work!

I did ask the question myself as to why so many guides appear as American Indians, as it does seem to be rather cliche'd, but I know several people that have Indian guides that I've very clearly seen around them.
One thought is that the American Indians were / are generally far more spiritually evolved than a lot of other societies on earth. Similarly, I've seen many guides who are Tibetan monks.

Most often the spirits we have around us as guides are departed loved ones or people who were closely connected with us in a past life.

Blessings,
James.

[TishAnna]

Ever since I started having OBE's intentionally while consciously awake, I have been in contact with my guide.  He is with me pretty much 24/7.  I can feel him on the Earth plane physically, as well as, when I sleep or go out of body.  On the Earth plane, I have felt him as a kind of vapor like, cool feel to the skin.  I have also felt his magnetic like pull on my body.  I have felt him touch me, which feels similar to a physical finger touching me but lighter and more of an electrical impulse type feel.  I have smelled him before too, and sometimes if he really wants to get my attention, I smell fragrances that seem to come from nowhere.  I have been able to see what I think to be his etheric substance.  It was a yellowish foggy type substance which looked to be turning somewhat green.  I also saw him once when I had a fever of 102.  I was very aware and not out of it, but I saw him for a few seconds.  He was wearing a long, white robe and had two long scarves hanging from his neck.  One was white, and the other was green.  His face was blurred, so I couldn't see the facial features though, which I have read is common when guides appear.  I read in Michael Newton's "Journey Of Souls" that a lot of guides do appear as Indians maybe because they are often thought of as being linked to spirituality and nature.

[mactombs]

I think if I have a guide, and I have indeed seen her, she looks like my 7th grade English teacher ...

[James S]

Did you like your 7th grade english teacher Mactombs?
Or have you just blown a big hole in my "they won't appear to you as anything scary" idea?


James.

[bvp663]

sometimes if he really wants to get my attention, I smell fragrances that seem to come from nowhere.

Hmm.. That's interesting.  For as long as I can remember the same thing will happen to me, quite often when i'm up late and/or tired.  I'll start smell random things (usually foods) that are distinct smells that are clear as day.  Of course I rule out any sort of food fragrances coming through my open window because nobody makes waffles and fuitloops at 2 in the morning.  I wonder if there's any correlation, perhaps my guide has been trying to use the same tactic?

[bvp663]

I was just looking through some of my dream journals and noticed one that mentioned something about cereal (and the smells are I usually smell are either cereal or other breakfast items.

Jan 3, 2005 - 1.10am
I was going to sleep and started day dreaming about eating cereal or something at a kitchen bar.  I heard a voice out of nowhere say to me "You have been called."  At first it was faint so I sort of shrugged it off wondering what it was.  Then immediately it came back very loud and distinct: "You have been called."  I then became aware of Trevor (roommate) typing on the computer and felt my body start to fall back as it feels in a trance state.  My legs and arms were crossed however and in trying to resolve that, I ended up focusing too much on my body and waking up

[Wizard of Light]

Hi everyone!

Quote from James: "Most often the spirits we have around us as guides are departed loved ones"

I have to disagree with you here, James.  In my experience departed loved ones do pop in and check on us at times, but they generally are NOT in a spirit guide capacity.  Our spirit guides are at a certain level of spiritual development to be able to take on such a sacred role as a guide.  Generally our loved ones are not at such a level - they don't instantly know everything and become "enlightened" because they have crossed.

I do, however, agree with your thoughts on the American Indian guides.  There are some cultures that are further developed spiritually than others, and they seem to be choosing to come through and assist us at this time.  I think it is because there is so much strife in the world, that we need a hand to get back to a peaceful way of living.

Nikk, I agree that everyone has AT LEAST one guide that is with them throughout their life.  And yes, you can communicate with them - but you don't have to astral travel to be able to do this.

[Sunn]

i've been trying to get in contact with my guide for a while now during my meditations.

I know I'm close, I've gotten strange feelings in my left ear while meditating but I'm still abit afraid of making contact.

is there anyway to stop this fear and make the leap... or follow a kinda 7 step programme to no fear  

[Wizard of Light]

There is not really any way to stop the fear, other than to maybe ask yourself what are you afraid of?  Our guides are nothing to be frightened of, they are beautiful beings that are here to help us in every way they can.  They are gentle and loving, like your favorite grandma!

Perhaps you could try asking your guide to help you not be so afraid - they can't do things for us without us asking for the help.  Also, when I am afraid, I often find deep breathing helps.  

[James S]

I have to disagree with you here, James.  In my experience departed loved ones do pop in and check on us at times, but they generally are NOT in a spirit guide capacity.

Yep, that's fair enough.
I'm probably jumping to conclusions here.  They do appear around people a lot to give comfort and support, so they're probably more like an astral cheer squad.

I feel though that past life associates can help as guides. I have a couple of guides around me that I've spent much time with in past lives. One appears to me as an old man, looking a lot like Gandalf, who told me that it was his turn to look out for me this time.

Blessings,
James.

[jilola]

I'd go along James S here.
What we see is determined largely (but not always solely) by what we expect and feel appropriate.
The cultural stereotype of a spiritually advanced person seems to be somethgin akin to a native american aka indian.
Whether a guide, such as one is perceived to exist, is one or not is not at all relevant. What is relevant and significant is one's reaction and response to the perceived guide.
The reaction is a good gauge of your perception of who and what you are and how that relates to everything else.

2cents & L&L
Jouni

[Leyla]

I am very skeptical of guides being humans. It is only White westerners that think of Native Americans as being spiritual.

Mexicans and American blacks think of Indians as being angry people prone to outbursts of violence, and think that any kind of Indian magick is black magick.

My guides are not and never were humans. And they almost never ever appear unless it's a really big deal, otherwise they can't be bothered.

[NickJW]

How can you verify that Leyla? You are always jumping to strange conclusions half-angel.

[Wizard of Light]

Guides appear as they feel you will be most comfortable.  I know people who have many animal guides who work with them, because they relate and feel most comfortable with animals.  If your guides, Leyla, are not human, well that's fine - obviously that is what works for you - but it doesn't mean no one Else's guides are human.

Guides, in their "pure" form, are energy.  They present to us in ways we may relate to, or identify with.

[James S]

I am very skeptical of guides being humans. It is only White westerners that think of Native Americans as being spiritual.

Mexicans and American blacks think of Indians as being angry people prone to outbursts of violence, and think that any kind of Indian magick is black magick.

Now I've got this image of Mexicans looking at us saying "man, you white westeners! you're SO spiritually backwards even Native Americans are more evolved than you!"

I think what you've stated here Leyla is very much indicative of the idea that we tend to work with the type of spirits we resonate best with.

There's one lady that works in my shop as a reader that deals almost exclusively with angels. Another consultant deals less with angels and more with human guides. Another tends to have dragons, eagles & other animal totems around him as guides.

I have a number of guides around me regularly.
One presents her self as a Goddess - the Green lady. She's been around me my whole life, and is the one that really gave me a good shove onto the spiritual path I'm on. One is a human, named Vharya, who when I asked what "race" she was, she told me she was a Saxon. More investigation revealed she had last incarnated on earth in England around 1200 C.E. She guides me in the development of my heart and psychic skills.

Another, is a Spanish woman - Maria, who lived during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, and was taken and killed by the inquisition because of her philosophical beliefs. She guides me in matters of the mind and creative inspiration. I've an old man, calles himself Aranath, who my friend described as looking like "father time". Apparently it's his turn to look out for me in this lifetime. There's a male angel that comes around from time to time to give direction in matters of healing, and recently I had a visit from Quan-yin during a meditation to give me guidance in a matter requiring wisdom.

As to other people...
I've spoken to a Seraphim that acts as guide to a close friend, my wife's best friend has a lady around her who could be best described as looking like Florence Nightingale, who's ben with her ever since she went into hospital as a young teen with Toxic Shock Syndrome. Her fiance has a Native American around him. The guy who runs my shop has a Tibettan Monk as his main guide, his niece constantly has fairies buzzing around her, and her husband has a medieval knight as one of his main guides.

It was the Seraphim that gave me the most to think about when I spoke to it (her - as it appeared as female). The energies of this being were overwhelming! I felt like I was being flattened by her presence.
When I questioned her about what a member of the "inner circle", what  one of the highest order of angelic beings was doing as someone's guide, she answered that they don't place value in "rank" as we do. It simply comes down to a matter of which spirit is best suited to the task.

Sorry if that's all too much information for some, but I wanted to show a point, by way of examples I've experienced, that guides can and do come to us in many various forms depending on the need.

Blessings,
James.

[Eternity1]

Hmm, I am aware of a few different guides if that's possible and most are male human forms. I believe my older brother who was murdered is one of my guides. He's the one who initially came to me in a lucid dream and told me I could fly. That's how I became interested in astral travel and OBE. Since that time he has taken me to see my other deceased brother (a suicide) and I feel strongly that we are both assisting in the progress of the suicide brother.
At other times, there are guides who "feel" different to me. It depends on the lesson I suppose. At any rate, I always feel very comfortable with these beings. Like I have known them for eons and trust them completely. Maybe we have a group of guides who assist us from the different realms? I have also been with a radiant light being with striking blue eyes that cradled me in his arms like a baby. I never felt so much at home and loved in that encounter. The greatest "love" I have ever felt. Would that be merely a guide or was this God? I don't know. I wished now I had asked for his name..

[James S]

I've heard of and experienced situations Similar to yours Eternity.
I'm going to backpedal on one of my previous comments and put forward again that we shouldn't write off "ex humans" being viable guides just because of the percieved lessons learned while they were here on earth.

I know my late brother comes to me from time to time. He had a lot of issues in his life, none the least of which he died from symptoms of alcohol abuse. In spirit though, he's a different person.

If you take into account the access we have to past life information when in spirit form, some "human" spirits can have many many lifetimes of knowledge and wisdom to call on. Its the same as the skills some of us gain here on earth can allow us to guide others who are just starting to learn the same skills. We're helping each other along the path of life.

As to the other spirits you mentioned feeling around you Eternity, the different feelings you get from different spirits is really a very important indicator of who and what they are. As an example, when I first started to encounter angelic spirits, they felt different in their energies to other spirits I knew to have been human. When my clairvoyance developed, I could see differences in their energies. That's how I discern one spirit from another.

Its good to remember though that while the old addage of "appearances canbe decieving" is still true with some spirits, the feeling of them can't be masked, thats why your feeling of spirits is still your most valuable sense.


James.

[Eternity1]

Here, here! Well said James

[Wizard of Light]

My previous Quote: "In my experience departed loved ones do pop in and check on us at times, but they generally are NOT in a spirit guide capacity."

I still stand by this, but wish to clarify.  

When our departed loved ones pass on, yes they have access to all this wonderful past life knowledge, and have access to things like the halls of knowledge and other very knowledgeable entities from which to learn.  However, they are generally (it is not always the case, but in my years of experience with this, tends to be in majority of cases) not in a fit state to just go access it all and jump into such a huge role of responsibility such as a guide.  Many spirits require rest, healing, releasing and forgiving people and deeds from this life they've just left and help in their transition.

Many passed on friends and family do come to visit us and they do want to help you to progress in this life, but they can still give you a nudge or caring advise occasionally without being a "spirit guide".  I guess once again it is a case of labeling.

Eternity 1 wrote: "At any rate, I always feel very comfortable with these beings. Like I have known them for eons and trust them completely".  This is a wonderful way to know that they are spirit helpers that are safe for you to work with!  Trust your gut and you will never go wrong!

Eternity 1 wrote: "At other times, there are guides who "feel" different to me".  This will likely be because we have a couple of guides who tend to be around us a lot and whose energies we get used to be around, and at other times we have what a tend to term "visiting guides".  These are the ones who only need to come in and help you with that something specific on the odd occasion.  Those that are sensitive, like yourself, will pick up on the change in energy, but it will only be for a short while - maybe several minutes, an hour, a couple of hours.  Then they are gone again.

Personally, I have a good assortment of guides - both genders and a variety of realms and races.  I find some people have a lot of one type around them (i.e angels or male guides etc), but I think it depends what your life mission is to whom you need to work with in this lifetime.

[James S]

My previous Quote: "In my experience departed loved ones do pop in and check on us at times, but they generally are NOT in a spirit guide capacity."

I still stand by this, but wish to clarify.  

When our departed loved ones pass on, yes they have access to all this wonderful past life knowledge, and have access to things like the halls of knowledge and other very knowledgeable entities from which to learn.  However, they are generally (it is not always the case, but in my years of experience with this, tends to be in majority of cases) not in a fit state to just go access it all and jump into such a huge role of responsibility such as a guide.  Many spirits require rest, healing, releasing and forgiving people and deeds from this life they've just left and help in their transition.

Yes!!
I get where you're coming from now and definitely agree!
Thanks for clarifying.  

James.