how to find your spirit guide

Dale Hyde is a noted pagan author who is also a Wiccan High Priest with a coven. He is the author of many pagan-related articles.

In many traditions one may a call upon guides to aid one in life. Many of these spirit guides are animals . . . our teachers in other skins.

Human and Animal Spirit Guides Defined

Spirit guides are non-physical entities existing in spirit and vibrational energies. While we may have guides who materialize into human form or animal form to help us along sometimes, our spirit guides are usually not seen in physical, touchable form or as a material being. While not seen most of the time, we will be able to acknowledge their presence by simply feeling their energies around us.

Usually, we contact them through clairvoyance (seeing), clairaudience (hearing), or clairsentience (feeling). Some spirits will show themselves to us visually if we are able to see them. Some may reach us through touching us, our hair, arm, neck, etc. You could also feel chills, find your hair standing on end, etc. And some may speak or sing to us, as well as other ways to contact us. The main thing to remember is that they WANT to contact us, they have chosen to help us in this lifetime.

Why Are Guides Here?

Spirit guides, in whatever form chooses to be with you, are here to help guide you on your life path. Guides help us with our growth and development. They also help when we don't feel like we are progressing fast enough. During these times, it's important to know that we are not alone. For those of us who have chosen to learn and grow spiritually, the guides are here to assist us with our lessons. Chances are you will encounter several guides over the course of your life.

Guides will take various forms that will mean the most to us at any given time. If you're religious your guide may manifest as an angel or a deity of some type, a saint, etc. If you are an animal lover, your guide may manifest in animal form. If you believe in faeries, you will probably have a faerie guide . . . and so on. If you are lucky enough to work with many different entities and forms, consider yourself blessed and open to experiences they will bring you.

Summoning a Spirit Guide Using a Shamanic Drum

Can Your Guide Be a Guide for Another Person?

Yes, in fact, most guides work with more than one person. There have been many instances where people have shared guides to teach and learn a lesson. That's just one example.

Will My Guide Scare Me?

It's possible the experience itself may frighten you, but your spirit guides never intend to scare you or upset you. Remember that they are here to work WITH you and FOR you. You don't work for them, they are here to work for you. You always have free will as to whether you follow their guidance or not! You have to find your own way with this . . . that's the only way it will make sense to you and speak the truth for you.

Your guide may first come to you gradually so as not to frighten you. Speaking for myself, when I first did a meditation to meet my guardian angel, I first saw his head and face . . . then gradually his body began to fill in. But it didn't happen at once for me. It took more than one meditation exercise to see the full body. Even the first time I met my first two guides in a class, they both came to me as only head and shoulders until I was ready to see them fully. So don't be surprised if that happens with you, and don't be frustrated by it. Chances are your guides will know and understand what may make you nervous while doing this work.

Something similar may happen if you see animal guides. Some people wonder why others will see wolves or mountain lions—generally "big" animals—while they may see a domestic cat or dog at first. Your guides will show themselves to you in whatever form you'll be able to accept without fear. So if a domestic cat comes to you, that's how they choose to show at that time. Plus, each animal totem specifically has a meaning, just as many other guides do.

The point is it could take days . . . weeks . . . months for your guide or guides to manifest to you. If you're impatient like me, you'll get annoyed now and then. Try to remember that if there's a delay in getting the desired result there must be a reason for it. And then it's time for you to slow down and try to figure out that part of the lesson before going forward again.

Does My Guide Have a Name?

Guides will usually have a name if you want them to, but they don't need a name to communicate with you. Guides will usually say they don't care what we call them—as long as we call them. I remember one time watching a talk show on TV a few years ago when a famous psychic was telling people in the audience who their guardian angels were by name . . . I thought that was so odd because I had always been taught that guides usually keep that info personal between us and them. So, I guess this is one of those points where you will believe what you want. Maybe yours has a name, maybe it doesn't, maybe it will tell someone other than you . . . but no matter what happens or how it happens, listen with your heart and not with your head. Your heart will speak the truth and help you with your guide experiences.

Creating Spirit Guide Meditation Through Visualization

A Sample Meditation and Visualization Technique For Spirit Guides

Here is a sample that can be adapted by you for your own personal tastes and what resonates with your heart while attempting to work with your spirit guides.

The main thing to remember before starting this is that your guides are here to HELP you. They don't want to frighten you or make you do things you don't want to do. You need to go into this with an open mind, an open heart, and feel that you are protected by God/Higher Power.

It's best to read through this a few times until you are comfortable with it and how it flows, rather than just sitting down and reading this and try to make it happen while in front of the computer. You may even want to print this out so you can have it with you when you find a comfortable place to practice this. When you feel that you understand the meditation, then give it a try.

You may want to light a white candle of protection, or a pink candle of love to make you feel better/safer. You may also want to try this using music or sound effects. Some people like to meditate with the sound of waves or birds chirping, rain, etc., and others like to use meditation music CDs that are available in new age sections of a music store. The idea is to use something that will allow you to relax totally—not be distracted by the outside world—and allow you to go with the flow.

Remember also that sometimes the meditation won't work right away for a number of reasons. Sometimes I fall asleep when I want to meditate. This used to make me so mad but then I realized that my body is doing what it needs to at that time. So if you fall asleep, don't worry about it. Just try again another time. You'll meet your guide(s) when you are supposed to, in your own time. There is no right or wrong with this.

Another thing you may want to do is once you get this working for you, try to make an "appointment" to meet your guides once a week if time allows, or twice a month, etc. Try to keep the appointment on the same day at the same time. Spirit does like to work that way.

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, try to keep your back as straight as possible.
Start with a prayer, anything you like, really. Whatever makes you comfortable. It could be the Our Father, it could be a simple "Dear God/Goddess/Higher Power . . . thank you for this time with my spirit guide and for protecting me with love and light. Please allow me to be a good channel for communication with spirit."
Try to keep your mind as clear as possible of any outside thoughts. Breathe in deeply . . . exhale . . . try to hold your breaths for a count of eight each time. Continue to breathe deeply until you feel relaxed and ready and centered. *If you find that you are not able to slow your thoughts down or keep outside distractions away, then you should stop and try another time*.
Allow your thoughts to take you to a special place. It could be a beach along the ocean, a mountainside, a meadow, under a tree, your own room—wherever feels relaxing to you. Feel yourself there. If you choose the beach, allow yourself to feel the sand between your toes and smell the ocean. If you're near a stream, put your feet in the water and feel the cleansing cold. If under a tree, imagine birds chirping nearby if you want to . . . feel a breeze . . . (You get the idea!)
Once you feel that you are in that place and you feel comfortable and aware of your surroundings, look around you and see if you see anything or anyone. Look in each direction . . . maybe an animal has appeared. Maybe a person has appeared as a bird or mythological creature. Take note of the location you see this entity and where in your landscape it appears. Also, if you see a flower or flowers, take note of the kind and color, whether you can smell them, etc.
If you see something or someone, ask them if they are your guide. They may nod, they may speak, they may get lighter like a glow. If they give you an affirmation, thank them for appearing to you. If for some reason you get a negative reply or no reply, ask them to leave. Your guide will be happy to give you a yes. If you feel comfortable enough to converse with them, ask a question of them and note the response. You may feel ready to have a lengthy visit, or you may want to leave quickly if you are unsure. That is entirely up to you. Your guide will respect your wishes, whether to stay or go. *If you ever feel something that does not feel positive or right for you then it is probably not your guide, and nd don't feel bad about asking them to leave.*
If you were able to see someone or something, remember what you saw and take note of details. What did it look like? Did it smell of a fragrance? Was it wearing clothes? Were the clothes from a specific time period? Was it an animal? What kind and color? Did they speak to you? What did they say? Did they give you anything—what was it?
The first time you try this you probably should try to limit your visit to a few minutes. You can extend the visits longer once you are comfortable with your guides and the whole process.
When you feel it is time to leave or the guide tells you it is time to go, allow yourself to come back to your body in present time and space. Picture yourself back where you started the meditation and breathe again. Count to eight. Some people like to count backward from 10 to come out of a meditation. Others are able to just come out of it. You will find whatever works best for you.
Once you are back, thank your guide(s) for appearing. Thank God/Higher Power for allowing you a positive experience and for guiding you thru it. Say any closing prayer you may want to say at this time.

Finding and Meeting Your Spirit Guide

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on January 04, 2020:

Interesting. Informative article about spirit guides. I have spent time with my guardian angels, and they are excellent spirits. Thanks.

Pensue579 on March 21, 2019:

Interesting. I have a guide in the form of a hawk. I've done several journeys over the years to see if any new guides appear and its always the hawk. Do you find it unusual to have only one?

Manasi10 on February 26, 2017:

Hello, I'm very new to this concept of animal spirit guide, let's say I did not even know about this like few minutes before I read a few articles about this and was very stunned and surprised to know that what ever I have been seeing and feeling all these years was true? I have been seeing animals in my dreams, these aren't normal dreams you can call them visions. These visions last till a few minutes and have been forming a story since a last few years since I saw them first. I thought it was just me fantasizing or maybe I have been watching top much television but at some point these visions have been giving me a message and these messages sometimes come out to be the most valuable pieces of wisdom I could have ever gotten in my life. Most of the things I see in my dreams are mythological creatures. I see parts, I see this huge palace made of pure white or let's say lavender colored marble, I see angel wings and dragons, recently I have been seeing dragons alot, a pure white colored dragon. I've always admired dragons since I was a child, their beauty, the way they carry themselves and how majestic they are, I see myself riding its back or hugging it or just sitting with it very comfortably. I have never stayed in that place for too long, like 5-7 minutes approximately? I started realizing this when I made out the difference between my dreams and my visions. I forget my dreams completely the second I open my eyes in the morning and I always remember my visions, weird right? I'm not a bit fan of reading articles but today I just really felt like searching up about this on Google and I am still shocked yet very happy, while reading the article I just felt this blocking feeling inside me, as if something was stopping me from reading it but I continued scrolling down and I'm not disappointed, I feel free and I can breathe properly now so I'm very happy. I don't know if you can understand me but I feel like I can accept myself as a normal person now. Thankyou for writing this wonderful article. :)

Clyde Grauke from Garland, Texas on August 02, 2015:

This is a very good presentation of this material. I particularly like your Meditation and Visualization Technique. I started back in 1986 using almost exactly the same approach. Great job.

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on February 12, 2013:

Hello and thanks for stopping by. I am not sure of the various "levels" and "groups" of spirit guides.

I do appreciate your comment. :)

vladean on February 12, 2013:

Hi, Dale

I read a lot about Spirit Guides and Angels ... but I wonder, what are the (highest) Levels of Spirit Guides and what Groups they are forming?

Thanks a lot & all the Best!

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on February 06, 2013:

Molly could be your spirit guide. I would more think that Molly is your familiar. :) We have one named Misty.

Meditation is something that I don't do as often as I used to. But I do remember that at first, I was cautious and very limited in the amount I did and the length of the meditation was not very long. Over the years, however, some meditations have become rather lengthly. I have not had anything "bad" come at me yet, at least in meditation.

Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting!

Snurre on February 06, 2013:

Thank you very much for this hub and the meditation. I've never tried meeting my guide for one simple reason - I'm scared that some crap will appear instead and talk rubbish and frighten me. This is probably why I'm consciously blocking all visions. Although quite often I see a man wearing a black hooded cloak walking around my garden.

By the way, the summer before last a cat came to live with me and I have reasons to believe that she's not a simple cat. For one, she didn't allow me to perform a spell once until she sat in the stone circle that I created (she sat with her front paw on one of the stones and didn't move for the whole length of the ritual - about 15 minutes). And we talk. Verbally. Her name is Molly. She didn't like any other names. I guess you could say that she's some sort of a spirit guide.

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on December 23, 2012:

You are most welocme WiccanSage! Thank you for stopping by and commenting as well. :)

Mackenzie Sage Wright on December 23, 2012:

What a great resource you have here. thanks so much for the great info!

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on September 20, 2012:

Hello Lizzy. I can understand your connection with all the various animals. I don't think that one has to be psychic in nature to always make connection with guides. Sometimes guides will be non-verbal and will simple provide you comfort and "feelings" when needed. Many times this is just as important if not more important than a verbal communication. :)

I do appreciate you stopping by reading and commenting. :)

Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on September 19, 2012:

Hmmm....I feel an affinity and attraction to several animals...but, I'm thinking it's only because I think they are beautiful.

These include wolves, cats of all kinds and sizes, horses and owls; and that's not a complete list. But I've never "heard" or "felt" any of them speak to me on any level....

I cannot even communicate 'psychically' with my own cats...LOL one in particular, whom I would really like for him to stop sucking his tail & tossing up hairballs almost daily (he's 12, and has done this since kittenhood). ;-)

I don't feel that I have a very strong psychic ability, anyway, as I've longed to connect with my mother who passed in 1998, but if she's "spoken" to me, I haven't been aware...

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on September 19, 2012:

Thanks, Angela. :) About the two Angela's..well not sure. I suppose that the previous person commenting shares your same name? Glad that you found the article instructional and "superb".. I like that. :)

Thanks for taking the time to stop by, read and comment! :)

Angela Blair from Central Texas on September 19, 2012:

Again, excellent writing and superb instruction, Dale. Thanks for sharing this with us (wonder if there's anything to two 'Angela's" being your first commenters? Best/Sis

Dale Hyde (author) from Tropical Paradise on Planet X on September 18, 2012:

Hello Angela. I am glad you find this fascinating. :) Spirit guides can do an abundance of things from teaching you, helping you make the right choices, being your friend, offering encouragement and reassurance as you mentioned. They can be like a best friend or buddy. That has been my experience. All the formality really just gets in the way. I relate to them as if they were simply "here" and a part of my life. Oh, by the way, no, I don't think you would be crazy to have heard the voice you did. That is one way a spirit guide will be there for you.

Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting. :)

healthylife2 on September 18, 2012:

This is so fascinating. What do your spirit guides do for you? When I was diagnosed with cancer and was in the depth of fear and depression I'm still today convinced I heard a voice that sounded reassuring. My husband never heard it and I'm pretty sure thinks I'm crazy. Could it have been a spirit guide? I wasn't on pain medication so don't think I was imagining it.