Continuing our discussion of spirit guides, one of the most common questions I think people have regarding them is how to meet them. In a day and age where everything is instant, we’ve grown spoiled with the idea that we can have everything virtually “right now.” However, our guides generally don’t work that way; if you want to meet them, you have to do a little leg work (most of the time).
Now I’m not speaking in absolutes here; there’s no “all or nothing” reasoning when it comes to the spiritual world. For some lucky people, their guides just show up and introduce themselves. For the rest of us, we need to work at it, and by “work” I mean meditation. (Of course.)
Most of us know the benefits of meditation: reduced stress, better health, more restful sleep, ability to focus and solve problems before they become overwhelming, and so forth. Even though we know this, we hesitate to do it. (Not gonna lie here, I’m as guilty as the next person.) So why? Why do we hesitate to sit down, close ourselves off to the world around us and just get in-touch with our Higher Self? Because we’ve been programmed to stay tuned-in lest we miss some sort of vital nonsense that—and let’s be totally honest here—we could probably have lived without knowing in the first place.
Our society drives and supports the notion that if you aren’t completely absorbed in some sort of electronic device or App, you’re missing out. The irony is, while we sit nose-to-screen typing, texting, blogging, updating statuses, and doing our best to convince the world in 145 characters or less that we’re the most awesome thing since Chuck Friggin’ Norris, we are missing out. We’re missing out on the live event called Life. (Surprise!) (Besides, no one believes you’re that awesome anyway, otherwise you’d be called Chuck Norris instead of whatever people call you.)
So if you are sincere in meeting your spirit guides, you need to get sincere about meditation. The reason being: we need to get our minds clear and learn to focus ourselves so that we can essentially clear a path for communication. Think of it like doing a spring/fall cleaning: you want to get out all the junk and cobwebs so that you have more room to expand (or feel like you can expand).
Now meditation doesn’t need to be a long, drawn out process. You also don’t need to worry about making sure your mind is completely devoid of thoughts/distractions. As far as I know, the only people who are successful in such endeavors are Tibetan monks because they have the ability to sit and meditate for hours/days/etc. Essentially, if all you think of is having a mind that is completely clear of thoughts/distractions during meditation, then you’re setting yourself up for frustration and possible failure. Work on quieting the mind, not silencing it.
For example, sit yourself in a comfortable position (no need for the Lotus here, unless that’s comfortable for you, then by all means, show off, go for it, J). I recommend finding a comfy chair that allows you to sit up and place your feet flat on the ground. If propping yourself on a couch in the cross-legged positions suits you better, have at it. However, if you plan to lie down in bed, you might want to plan to fall asleep too, as that tends to happen. Some people, though, highly recommend meditating right before sleep and right after waking but before starting your day. For me, every single time I’ve attempted either of these things, I’ve been out cold in minutes. No Higher Self contacted there, I can promise you that.
The point is there is no one perfect way to prepare just as there is no one perfect way to enter into meditation. Some people, like myself, like special music. I personally love the sound of Native American flutes and drums and that helps me enter into a much deeper meditation if it is playing softly in the background. Others like utter silence. And some may just like soft noise, like the sound of water running, and so on. Try a couple of different things and see what suits you. You may think one way is going to work out amazingly well only to find out it isn’t so.
Next, don’t enter into meditation with preconceived ideas of how it should go, and don’t get caught up in successes and failures. if you’re attempting to meditate, it’s a success. Whether or not you managed to quiet your mind is another matter. It will come with practice, so keep practicing. For me, visualization works wonders. Because I know I can’t shut my mind up completely, I try to limit the “noise” of ego (the worrying about bills/chores/responsibilities, the chastising for not doing it right, etc. etc.) by literally “talking” to myself in my head.
I first begin by counting my breath to a certain number- usually four or seven, depending on how I’m inspired that day. I focus on deep breathing as I count, imagining I am inhaling pure white air or light and exhaling all my troubles/worries/etc. The practice of breath work helps to calm your energy and your mind. In the beginning, this might be all the farther you get, breathing over and over and counting it out. Like I said, silencing your mind to distractions is nearly impossible, so when those thoughts show up just let them flow past. Our egos are hugely troublesome, but they serve a purpose too. They’re rooted very firmly in the rational world, which is why they constantly badger us about “you can do this” and “what if” and “what about…”. For a long time I sought to remove my ego completely, but now I see it is a piece of me- just like psychic awareness, mediumistic abilities, my ability to write/paint/draw, my sense of humor, and so on. It is one facet of my existence designed to help me survive. So now I recognize its input and ask my Higher Self to step in and assist. Go ahead and reassure your ego- let it know you’re not dismissing it, but need some “me” time.
As you start to meditate, if visualization works for you, walk yourself through a certain path. For myself, I enter the woods on a footpath and wander through purposefully until I get to a meadow. Sometimes I sit in the meadow, and sometimes I meander my way to a massive crystal cave where I seek to raise my vibration by doing more breath work. Maybe that doesn’t work for you, or is too woo-woo. Instead of the forest, visualize yourself on a secluded beach or in a quiet park. Maybe you’re in an abandoned church, or a special room at the library. The point is, find what works for you. Go to where you are drawn and keep going back there. Always take the same path so that your body flows into its relaxed state easily. We are creatures of habit so if we’re always trying to invent new places to travel as we meditate, we’ll focus all our time in building that space.
I’m not saying don’t try different areas, but the one that feels right is the one you should go with. Take cues too from your waking life- do you even like the forest? If not, then maybe wandering about there in meditation won’t be relaxing at all for you. Maybe you’re terrified of open water. If that’s the case, the ocean is probably not where you want to imagine being. Or what if you’re just not a visual person? There are plenty of guided meditations out there that you can listen to, and honestly even for those of us who are visual, they are incredibly beneficial. (Plus you can usually find them for free on iTunes! If purchasing a meditation c.d. or track, be warned. They aren’t all created equal. I bought a track once where I’m certain that the woman was reading this in her living room and someone else was there. I swear she started to giggle half way through as if even she wasn’t buying it. I’ve never listened to it again. Moral of the lesson: Read the reviews, not just the description!!!)
Practicing meditation is the best way I have found to meet your guides, but remember that you need to be intentional. They’re always with you, but you need to reach their vibration to hear/see them. Some of you will never see them, some of you will never hear them, but you can all learn to sense them. The more you meditate the more in-tune with your self you become. (And yes I meant to separate that word.) You will sense changes in your body, the environment, and so forth before the rest of the world catches up. It’s no secret that I knew I was pregnant with my daughter only two or three weeks after conception. I just knew my body and the way it felt after spending so many hours meditating that I sensed very strongly it was different. (When I got the blood work done the doctor’s office was floored at how newly pregnant I was. They wanted to know how I knew and even said “You must be psychic.”)
Next time we will discuss actually meeting your guides, challenging them (to confirm they’re who they say they are), and working with them. If you have had experiences with your guides, please place a comment here or let me know! I’m always interested in hearing about how other people have met their spirit guides or how they’ve been introduced. Like I said, for some people their guides just show up. Maybe you are that person!
Also, if you have any questions, please post a comment or write me. Just like in school- chances are pretty high people were wondering the same thing. I may not have all the answers (though my ego assures me I do! Ha!) but I can hopefully point you into a direction that will help.
My Spirit Path 