Spirits – Guidance, channeling & encounters 

Spirits are energy beings that exist outside a physical body.  Many who exist in the pure energy realm – deities, guides, angels – might never have inhabited a human body.  Their purpose is to provide guidance and protection to us in an effort to progress us along our karmic path.  The goal of humankind (from a spiritual perspective) is to achieve clarity that will release us from the need to resume life as a physical being.  Spirits are there to guide us on this journey. 
In many cultures and religions spirit guides and angels are acknowledged as the energies that convey information and messages between the deities and the human being.  They are able to vibrate at an energy level that is much easier for the human to achieve.  We enter that higher vibrational state through meditation or in the dream state, which is why so many choose these as the door openers to spiritual work. 
Ask your guide or guides to come forward and connect with you.  It is common to feel a physical manifestation of their presence such as a band around the head, pressure on the crown or a hand on the shoulder.  The sensation is one of security and knowledge beyond personal experience.  Here you can pose questions (on your own behalf or for someone else) to your guide and note the answers. 
Before beginning a channeling session with your guides you might wish to jot down a few thoughtful questions.  It helps to begin with a few “control” questions that have “yes” or “no” answers that you already know.  “Is my name Margaret?”  “Am I 35 years old?”  “Am I married?” are all examples of appropriate questions for this part of your session.  Pay attention to the responses you get.  Does the energy move away or shift?  Do you hear a reply or see a change in the light around you?  You are learning how your guide will communicate with you, so be prepared to ask a lot of control questions before you delve into purposeful channeling. 
The process to connecting with angels and deities is similar to connecting with your guides.  Invite them to come forward and wait quietly.  If your energy vibration is high enough and strong enough, you may feel them quickly, but don’t despair if it doesn’t happen right away.  Some astral energies are very gentle – more like a whisper at a rock concert – and take a great deal of patience to feel.  Once you connect with them, however, you will never forget the feeling.  Tingles, a pleasurable “hair standing on end”, the sense of being enfolded in wings and a gentle caress of the cheek all indicate the presence of an angel or deity.  The overall sensation should be exciting and soothing at the same time. 
When you connect with your guide or angel, ask them their name.  Write down the first thing that comes to mind … this is usually correct.  You might ask them to show themselves to you – either while in a dream state or in the physical world.  Depending on your ability to connect with them and your sensitivity to clairvoyance you may be one of the lucky ones who sees your guides and angels.  Remember, though, that if they have never inhabited a physical body they might only present as a bright light or haze.  You might also ask them to send a messenger to you so that you will know when they are present.  Look out the window … do you see a dragonfly or bird or raccoon or deer?  Guides are very effective at sending an “animal guide” or totem to let you know that they are with you.  Strengthen your connection by buying or painting a picture of your totem or finding a decorative totem object for your home. 

Over time you will strengthen your relationship with your guides and angels and possibly begin to connect with others, as well.  If you are ever in doubt about a person or situation, ask for guidance.  The answers you get will not be impaired by personal opinion.