When I was a little girl, I was told that everyone has a guardian angel, a spirit who watches over us and is ready to help with anything if we just ask. That belief stayed with me, even when I forgot about it for a while. But as I got older and began working more deeply with Spirit in my 40s, I realized something: that childhood idea was true. In fact, it was more expensive and beautiful than I ever imagined.
Let's talk about spirit guides. Who are they? What are they? And how do we work with them?
Types of Spirit Guides
Spirit guides come in many forms. Some are angels. These are powerful beings of light who have never incarnated in a physical body. Ascended masters, similar beings to Jesus, Buddha, and various saints and avatars, to be spirit guides. These beings have lived on Earth and mastered its challenges. They understand human struggles, including our emotions, decisions, and fears. Because they have experienced it themselves, they make compassionate and grounded guides.
Then we have ancestors. These may be members of our genetic lineage, such as great-grandparent, or they may belong to our soul lineage. This idea might sound cosmic, but the belief is that before we incarnated on Earth, we may have lived in other galaxies, on different planets, or in distant realms. Beings from that place of origin connected us to a soul family still watches over us. They are part of our broader spiritual ancestry.
The Agreement Before Birth
The belief is that our guides agree to walk with us through life before we are born. You may have a few guides or several.
Some teachings suggest different guides support different areas of life. For instance, you might have one guide for relationships, another for finances, and others for learning, healing, or personal growth. Some of these guides stay with you for life, while others may come and go based on what you are experiencing. These possibilities could all be true. Spirit works to support what you need that is unique to you.
Connecting With Your Spirit Guide
When you're ready to connect with your spirit guides, I recommend starting with just one. Each guide has a distinct energy, similar to how people have unique personalities or accents. Their ways of communicating are also unique. By focusing on just one guide at first, you can become familiar with their presence and communication style to build a strong relationship.
When I teach others how to connect, I always suggest asking for your spokes-guide. This is the guide who speaks on behalf of all the others. The one who helps you with every aspect of life and communicates clearly and consistently.
You can ask this guide for a name, or you can choose one for them. My guide first introduced himself as Fred, which was sweet and simple. From then on, I always knew who I was talking to when I used that name. You can do the same. You may get a simple name first or you can give your guide a name so that you always know exactly who you're speaking with.
It's important to be very clear and specific in your request. Say, "I ask to connect with my guide and only my guide, the one who speaks on behalf of all my guides and serves my highest good." This level of clarity protects you because not all spiritual energies have pure intentions. Some may pretend to be guides, but authentic guides work only in love and alignment with your soul's purpose.
Just Ask
You don't need to be psychic or spiritually advanced to work with your guide. You don't need to receive visions or profound messages. All you need to do is ask. That's the beginning.
Be willing. Stay open. Invite them into your life. The more you ask, the more they will show up. You'll notice them through synchronicities, subtle nudges, insights, and small but meaningful changes. Their presence becomes stronger with time.
And no, they likely won't appear in physical form. That would be quite startling! But they will be real, and you will recognize their influence in your life more and more.
Join Me
If you're curious to learn more, I'm teaching a class on working with spirit guides on May 29th. We'll explore how to connect with your guide, how to receive their messages, and how to deepen your communication with Spirit. It's going to be a magical and empowering experience, and I would love you to join us.
Until then, keep asking, keep listening, and remember—your guide is already with you.
Find out all about the "Your Spirit Guide and You" class here: https://janetkadow.com/your-spirit-guide-and-you/
About the Author
Janet Kadow is a spiritual teacher, writer, speaker, and psychic reader. You can contact her for services and classes at www.janetkadow.com. Text or call 619.866.4405, or email [email protected].
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