We are spiritual beings having a human experience, an experience that we repeat again and again, both for unique growth as individual spirits and for comprehensive growth as part of the spiritual essence of the ‘spirit’ and ‘soul’ of the universe. We interact with other incarnated spirits, who are part of our family, friends, society and world. But we also have access to spirits who are still in spiritual form, who are available to guide us when we need their help.
Most Common Types of Spirit Guides
Deceased loved ones
Very often our closest and most interactive spirit guides are other incarnated souls who chose to be part of our family, a close friend or a lover. If a connection is particularly strong in life, there is a good chance that the connection will last even if you are both on different planes of existence.
I had a very close relationship with my maternal grandmother, so much so that she could remember me even in her late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She was the real grandmother and I had so many wonderful years growing up with her. She communicates with me constantly and has done so since her death in 2003.
Angels
For many of us, angels primarily provide guidance guardian angels and Archangels. Of the 9 Orders of Angels, Guardian Angels and Archangels are closest to humanity and work interactively with individuals. The princes or principalities also interact with humanity, but primarily with leaders of nations or powerful individuals who largely determine the course of human affairs.
Personally, I have little connection to angel guides, although I have been told and have no doubts about their involvement in my life journey. From time to time I will see a message guided by their influence and recognize it as such, but their jurisdiction and my spiritual path only rarely intersect.
Gods and Goddesses
The gods and goddesses of various cultures and spiritual beliefs of the past also provide guidance and will usually form a lasting bond with an incarnated soul that is somehow connected to their history due to significant past lives or as a spiritual part of the archetype God or Goddess.
For me personally, these spirits are daily and important guides in my life, especially the goddesses Athena, Hathor, Isis and Diana. From time to time the gods of Greece and Egypt will provide guidance, but for me it is much more often the goddesses. I have had numerous past lives in Greece and Egypt, as a priest or priestess at different times and for different regimes throughout much of the ancient period.
Animals
Animals can provide guidance specifically, as one of your pets, or in general, as an archetype that acts as your protector and a source of that animal’s medicine or wisdom. Most of us have one or two animal guides. If you know your Western and Chinese astrology, you have two easily recognizable animal guides. In my case, as an Aries, one is the Aries. And because I was born in April 1968, I am Monkey. On a personal level, my consistent and persistent spirit animal is the cat. Several people who were with me in life still connect with me as spirits when I need certain guidance.
How to connect
Like the many different spirit guides, there are many different ways to connect.
To dream
Perhaps one of the most common ways to connect is through dreams. This channel can open up for you naturally, or you can choose to invite connection through the dream space. Dreams are a wonderful way to connect, especially with loved ones, because the interaction can perfectly mirror living interactions, both past and present.
In the dream state, you may find yourself talking to your loved one at the ideal age for that connection, which could be a much younger self. However, you may also find yourself talking to your loved one at your current age. Or they may choose to show you another version of themselves, a younger version if they happened to be your grandparent.
Prayer
Prayer can sometimes be a bit one-sided, which is fine as long as you know you are being heard, which could be an internal knowing or from external events sometime after the prayer. In general, prayer is a common way to connect with angels and gods/goddesses. Each spirit guide, entity or group has primary modes of preferred connection.
You may see angels in your dreams or pray to your deceased grandparent, but more often than not, using the more common tool in alignment with the spiritual energy will give you the best results. Angels, gods and goddesses receive and appreciate messages delivered ‘through proper channels’.
Numerology
Numbers are another source of connection. While prayer is essentially you for them. Numbers appearing in your field of consciousness are “them for you” connections. Angelic numbers are the mundane numbers in triplicity (111, 222, and so on). When you see these numbers, there is a specific Archangel sending you guidance or a message.
It is also possible that you see the numbers of the Orders of Angels, which are the everyday numbers in quadruplicate (1111, 2222, and so on). You may also find songs related to your loved ones, especially if the song was special for them or just the two of you. To send a connection, simply write the important number on a piece of paper, make your request and keep the paper with you all day. You may or may not receive and respond, but it is a way to ask for help.
Characters
I mentioned above a strong bond with my maternal grandmother. She has a unique way of communicating with me that I have shared in other articles. She was a generous, but frugal woman, who knew how to save money even if there were not many extras. I think most of us worry about money. When my worries become too much, she will leave a penny in my path to remind me that I am okay and that money will be okay.
Signs can come in many different forms. If you are open to spiritual guidance, the guides will choose the connection, which means that sometimes in life they use signs to give you a message and see if you are aware enough and smart enough to understand what they want you to know .
We are never alone
Spirit guides are always nearby, even if you don’t see or ‘hear’ much activity from them. Connecting with spirit guides as part of your spiritual endeavors in this life can give you tremendous emotional and sometimes practical support. It can be especially helpful if you develop regular moments to communicate with your spirit guides, whether through prayer, ritual practice, or simply through daily conversations. The connections are there if you choose to enable them.
