by Laurelle Gaia
The existence of spiritual guides, angels and enlightened beings is becoming more and more accepted as larger numbers of people turn inward to find solutions to the challenges in their lives. Over my years of working with Reiki and following my soul’s longing to learn about the angelic realms and inner planes, I have developed an ever-deeper understanding of how to work with angels, guides and spiritual helpers.
One of the first things I learned is that we cannot receive non-emergency, angelic, or spiritual assistance unless we ask. It is my intention in this article to share information that can help us all develop a better understanding of how we can work with our angels, guides, intuition and inner wisdom. So when I began to formulate thoughts for this article the first thing I did was ASK the guides and angels what to write here. The answer came quickly and very gently as a fleeting thought, "Interview us, we have much to share." After pondering and praying about the idea and listening with my heart, that suggestion felt very right. What follows is a question and answer interview session with my spiritual helpers.
So let’s begin with our interview;
Q. What is a spiritual guide?
"To understand an answer to this query, let us first explore the essence of the question. In what we are about to share with you, let it be known that as we speak of spiritual we refer to that which is sacred or reverent and that which honors the Divine within and without all life.
To understand the concept of a guide we first recognize the action of guiding to be that of suggestion or direction. True spiritual guidance communicates with your soul and suggests possibilities for directing the energy in your life. In this way the individual birthright to exercise free will and discernment is never violated.
With these things understood we come to know that a spiritual guide is simply energy that one invokes by asking for assistance. This energy then chooses a pathway of communication to offer suggestions regarding how you might proceed to make choices that support your growth and ability to experience the quality of life your heart and soul desires."
Q. What do guides look like?
"To answer this question we shall establish a mutual understanding of "look". Let us agree that in this question we are seeking an awareness of how guides can be identified. This would not limit one to the single sense of sight, but would expand to the ability to perceive with all senses.
It is true that guides, or guidance, can at times be seen with the physical eye, but they may also be seen through clairvoyant vision. The latter is accomplished as the viewer raises their vibration to a sufficient level through which they are able to "see" ethereal energy. This energy is vibrating at a frequency that is higher than that of physical things. An example could be the experiences of those who have seen the apparitions of Mother Mary in places such as Medjugore. Some are able to see the apparitions and some are not. Those who have seen accomplished this by a shift in their vibration that allows them to see energy of similar frequency.
Guides can "look" like humans, animals, angels, swirling masses of energy, spheres of light, glittering sparks of light, etc. They can also be perceived as a physical sensation upon one’s skin, or a tingle, pulse, or discomfort in a part of the body. Guides can come in the form of thoughts that seem to come from nowhere, and everywhere at the same time. Guides can come as words that flow from your mouth, or your pen, when you have no prior thought or awareness that the words are forming. Guides can come to you as a prayer, a mantra, a song, or an affirmation that begins to float through your mind again and again. Guides can take the form of a tone, angelic chorus, or rhythm. Guides can come to you as a color or a message that you suddenly see everywhere. Some guides take the form of a scent or aroma, or the sensation of warmth or cold. There are some people who clearly hear spoken or telepathic messages from their guides. This demonstrates that just as Divine Love is limitless, so too are the ways in which guiding energies present themselves."
Q. How can guides help me in my Reiki practice?
"The first step is to come forth with a pure heart and desire to be of service to yourself and others. A simple prayer of thanks that your personality and ego move aside, so that you are able to receive guidance, without analytical interference is a key. When these things are done, you have opened the door for your Reiki guides to step forth. You have also invoked the guidance of the spiritual Master that resides in your own heart and soul. It is with this Master that all wisdom from the heart and mind of God communicates. The guides, angels and enlightened ones are simply conduits for the wisdom of Divine intelligence and love to flow through and speak to you.
The guides can help you find ways to work with Reiki to help you learn, grow and heal. They can help you know where to direct Reiki to help yourself or your clients. They can help you know when to suggest other healing modalities to complement Reiki. Guides can help you speak to the soul of another living being and discern the most effective way to be of service. Conversely they can help you recognize detrimental behaviors, actions and thoughts while providing suggestions for replacing them with healthier patterns."
This is an excerpt from an article in the Fall 2002 of Reiki News Magazine.
