Astral spirit guides or familiars

[hermes_thricegreat]

Are astral guides "real" in the sense of their own astral realities or are they are own thought-projected forms manifested astrally? Or both (if possible)? I am a newbie who has just recently begun to seriously undertake astral projection.  I am working from the so-called basics up; energy work, etc....  One thing has always intrigued me about astral projection and that is contact with a spirit guide.  In hopes that I am successful one day in projecting, I am wondering whether it is better for a person to try to contact a "real" astral guide or create one to manifest itself (?). If the astral plane, according to the research I've done, is both real and illusion, which is better?  I am guessing that the "realer the better" is the proper way to go (?).  I know I am jumping the gun, but this area of OBE is extremely fascinating to me.

Thanks for your precious time.

[knightlight]

in my experience I am not sure.  I have encountered a few people in the astral who came acrossed as people that I have known forever and they often regarded me with a parent like care.  I guess I dont know, but I will wager that they are a part of me that wants me to improve.

[Dagalvyi]

1st you can not create a guide. There are many things your mind can create, but another soul is not one.
 As far as guides are concerned; they are familiar spirits that take you on journeys and are almost always with you when you go on a journey by your own will.
I never knew I had a guide until a year ago. In fact i never placed labels on anything I ever did and saw until i interacted with other Apr's on line.
What a wonderful thing it was to find out I wasn't crazy. There are others that leave there bodies lay asleep at night as there souls go out and travel.
The spirit guide concept is rarely new to me also. I do know that in the many years I have been flying around there has always bee a woman and or a man there. They both are comfortable as if I have known them for ever. I know now they are my guides.
I did not create them. I can create a tree or a flower or a familiar room, but not a spirit. That is something only God can do.

[hermes_thricegreat]

Thanks knightlight and Dagalvyi for your comments.  When you have meet with this "comfortable" guides, Dagalvyi, do you feel like your consciousness is somehow linked to them, or do they feel separate from you if you catch my drift?  Did you try to willfully seek them out, or did they sort of seek you out (in a manner of speaking)?  I don't mean to be confusing, but I hope one day that I can have these same types of experiences that you have had.  Thanks again.