Communicating with Guides
by Ronnee Ruselle
I move cautiously when discussing how to connect with spirit guides because there are so many people out there who claim to be communicating with their guides and they're not. It is sadly true that some people are selling spirit guide messages when they're really communicating with spirits who are posing as guides. You'll find that some of the information here is similar or the same as in the article 'About Guides', but it is appropriate information for the answers so I add them again.
Why do spirits pose as guides?
I've never found a reason for a spirit to need to hang around a human unless they're perhaps trying to avoid crossing over and it's best for them to keep moving until they can find the right person or circumstance to help them cross over. My years of working with spirit has taught me something very important - never assume. Always do what you can to be certain that the guides you're dealing with ARE guides and not spirits masquerading as guides. They will also masquerade as do-gooders to try and hang around you.
When spirits do pose as guides they may be doing it to help, to control or to keep themselves amused. They can give you details that sound like they are familiar with you, suggesting that they are guides. This is because they are energy and they can read information from your energy but the information they give in relation to other things such as the future and 'the big picture' is often incorrect. Some spirits are extremely good at mimicking guides and pretending they speak what I would call 'guide talk' when really it's just flashy information that is not correct. Unfortunately these communications can sound good to people who don't know any better. It's not always a spiteful thing. Some spirits truly do just want to help, but they're no different from the nosy parker who wants to keep a track of everybody else's business. It's not their place and the effect they can have on the lives of unsuspecting people can be dramatic.
At the end of the day, you must 'feel' the spirit to verify for certain whether it is a guide or a spirit. I would be a little suspicious if you find that loads of guides are constantly coming to you. In all my many years of working with guides which is basically as far back as my earliest memories, I have never had a situation where constantly new guides are coming to me nor have I seen it with other people who have a true connection to guides.
How do people mistake spirits for guides?
People who are connecting with spirits instead of guides have made the mistake of assuming that the voice they hear is a guide and they ignore the gut instinct (the doubt) that would steer them to the true guide communications. Doing this does not help anybody because with patience and further learning these people could have the honour of truly connecting with their guides. Impatience can be the cause as people won't take the time to verify their connection and instead willingly listen to a voice, believing it to be a guide and often the spirit doesn't even have to make the claim that they are a guide - the person will assume.
Spirits can present themselves as guides and be convincing of it too. I consider myself very fortunate that I can feel the difference between guide energy and spirit energy as it has made the process very easy for me. I understand how difficult it would be without that added assistance and sympathise with those who must go of instinct alone, but it can be done.
I will try to give you as much info as I can on communicating with your guides for those whose guides may be trying to communicate with them and they need some way to verify whether it is or not, but I ask you to be very careful about assuming you are communicating with a guide.
Wouldn't guides prevent spirits from posing as guides?
The guides won't interfere in a situation like this unless it's a danger to you because it's up to you to follow those gut instincts on whether you're communicating with a guide or not. If you're not and you get led astray and you allow this to happen, then you will have learned a lesson. Guides only 'guide'. They will not make decisions for you or force you to follow their guidance. They will make suggestions and nudge you in the right direction - especially if there's something good awaiting you, but they believe that the final decision in any situation is always up to the individual and therefore they will not change your decisions. I have had people brought to me in the past by their guides who had spirits posing as guides around them and I have informed them of it. Most listen, but some don't and those people can't be helped. They must wait until they are tired of the antics and ready to let go of them before the spirits can be removed once and for all.
When should I communicate with my guides?
You should let your guides communicate with you rather than the other way around. They know when and if communication is necessary and as life requires careful balance, if you are not meant to communicate with your guides or try too hard to, you will create an unnecessary imbalance in your life and make yourself a target for spirit communication rather than guide communication.
What should I avoid when communicating with my guides?
Using them as a crutch
Once they have connected to their guides, some people will reach out to guides for support when they are not meant to. By this I mean that they will turn to the guides for guidance with everything, relinquishing their own power and ability to make decisions for themselves. Of course this is due to doubt, but it can eventually cause your communication with your guides to cease as they will not fill that role.
Instructing them
I have known people who give their guides instructions to do things for them - usually along the lines of making decisions or leading them to certain things. The guides will not do this and they won't tell you that either. Usually they will quietly say nothing and let you wander down your own incorrect path so that you can learn. This is disrespectful to them and they should be shown respect at all times. They know their task - you will not. They will perform their tasks when the time is right and they will do it well. You only need to trust them and know that you'll be okay. Doubting this is what takes us in the wrong direction.
We come into this life alone and we are meant to journey our own path in our own way. Before we come into this lifetime, we set certain tasks for ourselves that will help us achieve what we need to. We have asked our guide/s to help us meet those tasks or find those moments we have set that will affect our decisions and our course in life, but whether we use them wisely is up to us. Although they give us their love and support, Guides are not to be leaned upon and they are not to carry out tasks. Please don't ask them to solve life's issues for you as this is not their job - it's yours and it's why you're here.
Recognizing Guides
I consider a guide as being a wise spirit who has been assigned to guide you along your journey or path in this lifetime. You will have a permanent guide(s) who remains with you through your entire life and you may have the occasional temporary guide. Although guides are spirits too, I will refer to the people who are not assigned guide duties as being spirits.
Guides have a range of behaviours that may help you to determine whether you're dealing with a guide or a spirit. I say may because each situation must be judged on its own merits and some spirits can be very good at pretending to be guides.
- A guide will not try to make you dependant upon them, in fact they will work to make you independent and will not attempt to take over and do things in your place. They do not indulge in the physical whereas spirits will. What I mean by that is anything that is related to the physical will generally not be interfered with by the guides. Though they will at times give advice, they will not 'instruct'. They understand that our learning is done by our own experience and this is why they will be most likely to step back and let you experience the highs and the lows all by yourself. They really do basically just 'guide' so as long as you're on your path, and there's no necessity for them to communicate with you too much, you know you're doing well.
- They keep a respectful distance and allow you to experience life so they will not use excuses like protection or teaching to stay close to you.
- They do not interfere with your day to day life in any way and have a good understanding of the importance of the physical working in conjunction with the spiritual so they will never get in the way of physical responsibilities.
- Guides are loving people and they give love and respect. They appreciate respect in return whereas a spirit may not recognize a lack of respect and let it pass - a guide generally will not and will give you a gentle reminder.
- They do not get angry. They have eternal patience and show love in all situations. Even when setting you straight on something, their love is obvious. You will 'feel' the love of a guide.
- Probably the major difference between a guide and a spirit is that the guide is still connected to the other side so you may feel the beautiful accepting energy of the other side with a guide.
- A guide will NEVER try to make you do anything. They can give advice, but a rule is that the final decision is always up to the individual so they'll never argue with you. They will raise points to help you see different sides of a situation, but you'll never get a debate or argument out of them.
- Guides are love in its true essence and are not living in the physical world so they will not exhibit any of the normal human failings that we do. They do not disrespect people. They will not put people down. They do not swear - and do not like it either. They do have a sense of humour, but never sarcastic.
- It's obvious when you're communicating with a guide. They have an amazing wisdom and each sentence is filled with an incredible amount of information, but it's down to earth rather than flamboyant and confusing and the information often comes with images, feelings and other things to show you their meaning whereas a spirit will be more likely to 'talk'.
- Guides have provided me with proof and in fact, they had to provide me with proof for a full 2 years before I would believe each piece of information they shared with me even though it was wise information. They don't mind doing this, so if you're really unsure and in need of proof, feel free to ask them for some sort of proof that they are a guide - grand words are not proof.
- Guides don't make mistakes - A spirit will slip up and make mistakes. If your 'guide' makes a mistake and your gut instinct gives you the slightest feeling of something not being right then you're communicating with an imposter.
- I have never met anybody with more than 3 regular guides. If you find that you have more than 3, it is possible that others are temporary, but nobody will be surrounded by guides all over the place on a permanent basis.
- When being given information in relation to other people, their guides often pass on information to my guides rather than coming to me directly unless I'm performing a "Meet Your Guide" service for somebody. So should you find that you constantly have other people's 'guides' coming to you, it would be a good idea to be cautious. You can pick up on the presence of other people's guides and this does not mean that you necessarily have to communicate with them. A simple hello as acknowledgement is enough. Oh yes, and one more thing…other people's guides will not 'gossip' about the person they guide. I've met people who claimed that other people's guides were coming to them and discussing personal information about the person they guide - this is absolute rubbish! That is definitely a spirit.
Unfortunately people can tend to have an unrealistic view towards spirituality and their guides. Your guides are around to help you and they can help with situations such as protection by placing extra protective energy fields around you similar to the white light protection but they won't prevent you frome experiences. I've heard many people blame their guides because things are not going the way they are 'meant to'. Please keep in mind that your guides are around to help you stay on the path you've chosen. They do not decide for you what experiences you will have. Only you have that right. You are here to learn and there's only one way to do that - to have experiences. Always be aware your guides are with you and can help you, but they will not interfere so the responsibility of how you deal with life is up to you.
Recognizing guide communication
Recognizing their energy
When a guide approaches you, you'll know it. They will let you feel their energy. You feel no fear at all, but you can experience a feeling that is almost 'blissful' - so full of love and comfort that you'll recognize it instantly. You will also know their energy if they let you feel it. It has been around you your whole life so it will feel familiar. The energy of a guide is strong, reassuring, minus doubt and negative emotion. This may seem odd, but most of our emotions are physical. As the guides don't feel fear, they will not have the presence of any emotion that's associated with fear in their energy. Feelings such as nervousness, anger, impatience, sarcasm - anything at all that seems 'human' will not be present - they are only present in spirits. The guides are supremely wise and will show this wisdom. They do however have a sense of humour. Some can be very funny and friendly. They are a joy to have around.
Recognizing their voice
The communication with guides varies from person to person and not everyone will necessarily be approached in such a forward and obvious manner. Sometimes it suits your energy better to be communicated with through your thoughts or your gut feelings and they can help nudge you in the direction you need to go.
For those who have the capacity for hearing, you may experience hearing your name called and not know the source of it or hear other things. It can be easily misinterpreted as imagination and some people will brush it aside, not wishing to look into what it means for them. It could be spirits, but it could also be a guide preparing you for communication with him/her. Should this happen to you, ask questions such as:
- Was there a gender?
- Do I feel uncomfortable?
- Do I feel anything at all the creates a doubt in my mind?
- What direction did it come from?
- Is it a spirit?
- Is it a guide?
And anything else that's appropriate. Follow what your gut instinct tells you - not your hopes.
Although it is possible for people to hear their guides with their ears, most often the communication is heard in your mind just as you hear your own thoughts. This can be used as one method for determining the difference between the guide and spirits because spirits often make the error of speaking too closely to you and you can feel them physically near to you. This feeling is slightly different to the feel of the guides' presence and will be missing that loving warmth that comes with energy from the other side that you'll soon grow to recognize. The guides have a general rule of thumb for any work with your energy and that is: "If you doubt, then don't trust it."
Know what to expect
There is a common belief that everyone else hears their guides loud and clear and therefore when you don't, you'll feel that your talent is inadequate or that you don't have the capacity for communicating with your guides. This is untrue.
Sometimes the communication is clear and at other times, it's soft and subtle. It varies just like it does when you speak over the telephone and even if you can connect through thought, don't expect to always receive guidance that way. To connect with your guides, ask questions and wait for the answers. It's a step by step process where you may consider first asking them for evidence that they are around. This evidence can come at any time so be patient as it won't necessarily happen within a day of asking. It can come from any direction, so please don't assume or jump to conclusions.
As I said previously, they may connect with you through your mind and you'll hear them just as you hear your own thoughts. This can be tricky because enthusiastic or desperate people may feel that communications are the guides when they're not and others will worry that what they're getting is not their guides, but their own imagination - both valid concerns. I'll tell you as much as I can think of about how to discern the difference, but in the end, it will come down to your gut. If you feel even the slightest doubt, then ask for proof before believing anything.
When you begin communicating with your guides, it will sound like your own thoughts. This is because the brain has not been taught to distinguish the difference between your thoughts and the information coming from an outside source. Also, the brain is likely to have been taught due to society's teachings to ignore such information so it will take time to adjust the brain so that it is receptive to the voices of your guides (and that goes for spirits too).
Often the guides will be answering the questions that you 'wonder' about. These will be the answers that come to you unexpectedly when you're idly thinking about something. At first it will sound just like your thoughts, but it will come quicker than you can think. You will soon realize that you have put no physical effort into finding an answer to the question.
At this stage you would say to your brain "Okay, it won't do any harm to be open to the idea that it could be a guide so we'll just be aware of these communications until we learn for certain whether it is or not." What this does is to program your brain to be receptive to it. It will not raise any previous fears that the brain has used as a gauge in blocking information that comes to you as it is a non threatening approach.
Then when the information comes again, just ask "Are you my guide?" and see if an answer comes and then take it from there a step at a time. If an answer does not come immediately, then it may be one of several things:
- Rather than being a guide, it is your mind's way of delivering information to you that comes from the energy around you or a situation you're thinking about.
- It may be a guide, but it could be that nervousness or expectation creates a barrier of energy that helps to block it out so remain calm and try again. Just know that there will be an answer, but you may not be hearing it. You will when you're not expecting it or when you're more relaxed. Over time the method will improve.
If you wish to verify whether you are communicating with a guide, feel free to send me an email with details of the guide and your conversations and I'll try to verify it for you.
Once you've established that you are connecting with your guides, leave it alone. Many people feel that they have to keep constant communication but this is exhausting for you and the guides and wastes time. All you need to do is to train yourself to recognize when THEY connect with YOU and you'll find that their wisdom will guide you beautifully.
The most common form of communication from a guide is the strong nudges and urges we get to do things especially when you can't really put an explanation to them. This usually saves us from a discomfort or takes us to something good for us - often leading us down our correct path.