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A spirit guide, in Western spiritualism, is an entity that remains as a discarnate spirit to act as a guide or protector to a living incarnated human being.

In traditional African belief systems, well before the spread of Christianity and Islam, Africans believed and continue to believe in the eternal and ubiquitous spirit of the ancestors and the Almighty God. The ancestors are thought of as the ‘living-dead’, who continue to show a compassionate interest in the daily lives of their living descendants. Ancestor spirit guides are superior to the living and may include deceased parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles or aunts. It is believed that because they have crossed over to the other side of life, the spirit guides act as mediators between the living and the Almighty God. This way of life is regarded as ancestor reverence, communication or remembering, and not as ancestor worship per se. According to Western theosophical doctrine, spirit guides are not always of human descent. Some spirit guides live as energy, in the cosmic realm, or as light beings, which are very high level spirit guides. Some spirit guides are persons who have lived many former lifetimes, paid their karmic debts, and advanced beyond a need to reincarnate. Many devotees believe that spirit guides are chosen on "the other side" by human beings who are about to incarnate and wish assistance. Some early modern Spiritualists did not favor the idea of spirit guides. Spiritualist author and medium E.W. Wallis, writing in A Guide to Mediumship and Psychic Unfoldment, expressed the opinion that the notion of spirit guides is disempowering and disrespectful to both spirits and living people. Although he does not deny that seeking people may be helped by spirits here and there, he decries the idea that said spirits are appointed or assigned to do nothing but help the living. He advises would-be mediums to steer clear of the notion that they are being "guided" unless they have demonstrable proof that such is the case. - http://wikipedia.com

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Connecting with one's spirit guides is a worthwhile and enriching experience, and there are many excellent resources out there on how to do so. Excerpted from Sterling Moon's Talking to Spirits, here is a simple mind room meditation to help you get started.

Ensure you can be undisturbed for at least twenty minutes. Sit or lie down in a position that is comfortable, but not so cozy that you will fall asleep. Close your eyes and take four deep breaths, releasing any excess energy you are carrying. The goal is to get to a neutral state with no expectations or attachments to what may or may not happen.

Envision you are surrounded by a protective circle of light. Any color that comes to your mind is perfect. State out loud, "I am protected. Only that which is for my highest good is welcome." Set the intention that you want to meet your highest spiritual guide.

Envision a door in front of you. State out loud, "Behind this door is my highest spiritual guide."

Go through the door and take stock of what you find. What does it look like? Who or what do you see in there? Keep exploring. How far does it go? Is there anything that would make the room more pleasant, such as more light or cleanliness? Whatever it is, envision it and make it so!

If needed, state out loud that you would like your highest spiritual guide to greet you. What changes? Your guide may appear as a person, an animal, an object, a ball of light, a feeling, or perhaps something else. If someone or something appears, ask them if they are your highest spiritual guide. If they respond in an affirmative manner—it may not be with human words—ask their name. Ask if there is anything they need from you. You may find that something materializes in your hands or nearby. Give it to your guide and enjoy the satisfaction of giving a gift. Ask if your guide has anything to give to you. Accept what is presented with an open heart. Allow the feeling of this offering to permeate your entire being, rippling out from your core beyond the edges of your perception.

Have a conversation and ask anything you want. This is someone who has been with you since before you came into your current body, and this process can feel like getting back lost memories. Make sure to ask how you can recognize your guide in your daily life. I once had a guide turn into a bird with very specific coloring after asking this question. I began finding feathers with that exact same coloring on an almost daily basis for the better part of a year. I still find them to this day.

Don't get discouraged if you don't make contact right away. This can take practice.

If you encounter anything that feels false or wrong, tell the source to leave immediately and bring your meditation to a close.

When you feel you are ready to end the conversation or your guide is beginning to fade away, thank them for speaking with you. Leave through the door you entered from. Take a few deep breaths as you wiggle your fingers and toes. Check back in with the circle of light you cast at the beginning of your meditation. Allow yourself to come back to your body fully and allow the circle to gently fall away.

The more you communicate with your highest spiritual guide, the easier it will become. Adapt this meditation to meet your needs.

Working with deities, angels, and saints is powerful. Cultivating a relationship with your highest spiritual guide is both powerful and personal. Ask for your guide's help in connecting with the spiritual realm. They can assist you in opening lines of communication and help keep you safe—if you learn to hear what they are telling you.

Please journal on the following:

• How did this spirit guide practice feel?
• Who or what did you see?
• Were you given any clues to look for in your daily life? Did you find any signs of your guide in the first week after doing this practice?
• Are there ways you can adapt this meditation to better suit your needs?

Excerpted from Talking to Spirits, by Sterling Moon. https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/3081

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