Spirit guide?

[thoreauvian]

I was trying to practice celtic shamanism for awhile there but have since stopped. However, the one thing that interested me the most was the spirit guide. I never had the chance to meet mine, maybe I did though but I'm unsure about it. But anyways, is there another way that I can find out who or what my spirit guide is, or does that extreme meditation only do that?
Also, I was wondering if there was an online database or some kind of listing I would be able to see the different types of guides and even creatures that one would only encounter in that meditation state, like the mythical ones. I would be very thrilled to see that, thank you! :boing:

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Spirit guides are not unique or bound to shamanic pathways only. About the biggest difference is the way they are titled and recognized. One of my guides is Heron yet a guide that does the same for my sister is her guardian angle. Same concept and usage just different ways of titleing them and working with them.

Another format taken by guides is that of the imaginary friends we have in our youths. Most often at that time they appear humanlike but not unusual to have animal form. A form that later evolves and grows as we do. Yet the growth at time like aging with us, thus the pup which is playful and entergetic grows into the preditor adult wolf. We no longer fear it for we grew up with it and hold a connection to it.

I think where their is disparity is the way a guide is used. In shamanic practices they are more than just guides or there. They teach us in the physical, the guide and teach us in dream time and journey work. Many times take us upon the different plains of existenance or realility we deal with.

They shape-shift us to forms that we may experience various perspectives. Make us aware of differing usages of power, presence, projection and control and our reaction & interaction with each.

But like I mentioned Heron is a world walker guide for me yet the exact same role is filled for my sister by her guardian angle. Yet also filled for both of us by our ancestors who stand in the role of Spirit Guide as well.

The other thing is there are many guides that come in the course of a lifetime. Some for singular purposes, others for long term. Some only come during certian phases then leave when that phase is done. Sort of like imagenary friends that show up in ones early youth. I've heard of women that receive a motherly type guide when they are in delivery to hold thier hands and such.

The thing to my perspecitive with guides is that need is the calling that brings them out, narrow mindedness is the blanket that keeps them away. No amount of journey work or guided meditations will find ones true guide (s) until they are ready and willing to accept them.

Just my personal opinon but the moment someone puts up a database of guides, who they are, what they are, how they are, etc I'd call BS on it. No two guides are the same for no two people are exactly the same. No two persceptions of a thing are the same nor the way that one responds to it.

The very need or notion of such a limiting role model reveals the fact one is not ready for a guide. Not only not ready but in all probability not willing to look beyond the limited confines of self to begin with.

The stagnite and constricting models out there for totems and power animals is bad enough. So many who have no idea of what their connection is supposed to teach or indicate for they realy upon what someone else says its supposed to mean. Unfortuntaley so often those supposed meanings not even matching how the people who live with them all thier lives actually view them.

Want to find out what your guide is? First and foremost record your dreams and over a period of time you'll see what creatures, animals, etc keep appearing in them. Watch the world about you for even the most exotic of guides will show their faces to you, you just have to be observent enough to notice them looking.

But the sad part is many will miss mouse as she appears in their dreams over and over and over for the simple fact she is not the great preditor they long for. Then wolf will appear once and they are convenced they have found their guide and totem. Then create all the supporting influences to make their fantasy real. Well real untill it all falls apart and they are left high and dry except for the crap all over them.

Heck for some its even a little cricket who sings let conscious be your guide..

[Symandinome]

Thats was beautifully writen and explained GOOD JOB!

[Umbress]

I have been doing shamanic work long before I knew it was called shamanic work - Most of my work has been with the transitional energies within those who are dying. The term applied to what I do is death walker.

I have yet to have a spirit guide.

A lot of people insist I must have one but simply fail to recognize it - I do not argue because it seems pointless. I know my way around well enough to assist others. If I needed a personal guide I am sure I would have found one by now if I do not recognize my guide then maybe I do not need to.

When I work with others it is about them and their journey through the death transition not how I mange the navigation - Due to my profession much of this goes on as an over lay to the physical realities My physical presence is nothing special as I am an expected part of the environment hence I performed this long before knowing what to call the experience and way before other people insisted I needed some variety of guide.

Journeying is a personal thing, I do so alone only when I find myself way off kilter I know other entities/ conscious energies /beings are present but have no need to experience form or voice to communicate I simply do so with a lot less effort than it take to type this stuff out. Some relate to a formation of form or voice and there is nothing wrong with that - their experience is a valid as my own.

If your journeying works then let it work - You never indicated why you stopped the Celtic shamanism I just hope it wasn't due to being overly burdened by a "must do" list.

The spiritual guide can be any form one relates to - and communication with the guide should be natural even if is not as others do.

. I know many find these things fascinating which is fine as long as diversity is accepted and dogma is avoided.

We are all already part of the spirit realms we just need to learn how to recognize it while physically being in this realm. If it takes a dragon guide then so be it , personally I like dragons.

Just be you within your being the rest well for me came quite naturally.In all earnest I think spiritual journeying is as natural and birth and death it just goes by different names and earthy or non-earthy associations.