Hi,
The higher-self is YOU. It is the great and powerful spirit that you are. Not to be confused with the smaller physical self you seem to be. Nor the slightly larger astral body you use when Ap'ing.
People who come into contact with their higher-self usually perceive it as a Guide initially. I like to describe it as being the Primary Guide, again, not to be confused with the helper guides that we all speak about when using the term Guides.
It is a state of awareness that we are and always have been, even though we are led to believe that we are small souls. Back in 1977 my Teacher explained to me that our Overself/Higher-self is a massive thing and it can have more than one incarnation on the Earth at one time, depending on what You are working on here. She drew a picture of a puppet master working little puppets (earth incarnates)on the Stage of Life.
I tend to see that the huge spirit we are (the higher-self) is very ancient, having been around obtaining experience whenever a new 'place' comes online for having life experiences. For instance, when Earth came online for incarnating to, we all volunteered to come here for it's unique experiences. And we shall stay here until we are 'ascended' from this world, then on we go to the next available place.
Imagine that your physical body represents your higher-self and you want to incarnate into a world. Once you have chosen all your variables and made firm arrangements for your itinery, you simply reach out with your 'finger' and rest it gently upon the desk in front of you. Now you have incarnated into the world of 'Desk'.
Your finger is now the contact patch you have in the world. This is an analogy for your physical body, which is only the contact patch the great spirit you are has in this world. In this way it is easier to see the relativity of the higher-self to the 'soul' you seem to be here now. So, your body is the tiniest portion of the Great Soul you are, the rest of you lays hidden from view until you are ready to connect and re-experience the memories of what and who you really are.
Sorry for this being a little long, but it is a huge topic that is not easily explained in the written word ! I hope this is some help to you.
Love Always.[
