[JanT]

Hi erego -
It has been my experience that as our light grows brighter (we become more spiritually aware) - others will be drawn to our light - and yes, that can mean negative entities as well as positive.

Shielding self and home (removing negativity and bubbling in white light) is one way to gain some control over the negative entites approaching. (free podcast on my blog to help walk you through the process). And yes, our guides can help with that as well.

it's better for me to return to the place I started from (ie where you started the meditation imagining) because if I just go back to my physical body, a bit of my soul will remain in the guide-meeting-place.

I have never heard of this before. I do know that trauma can result in partial soul loss - but never have I experienced what you described. (I know, no help there!)

Animal totems are animal guides. I believe that we each come in to this lifetime with at least one life guide and one life totem. "Specialist" guides and totems move in and out of our lives as needed.

Animal guides bring messages, support, and guidance (just like our other guides). One way that I like accessing the totem info is using Ted Andrews "Animal-Speak" book. He has animals; goes into the animal's habits and provides possible message information for each animal.

There is also meditation - talking to the animal guide to get the message.

As for tips for hearing better - I found that the more I practiced, and the more I trusted myself (had faith that I was hearing better and correctly) - it all worked out. I think it's trial and error for each individual. Seems to me that you have begun that process:

For me I actually 'see' and hear better when I'm seated, but with my arms supporting myself and legs out

During daytime, I do better seated on the couch (crossed legged) or at the table. At nighttime, I will work before I go to sleep - laying in bed.

As for what surprising information have I gotten - not sure what you think is surprising.

Mediumship is not my life path, and I'm spending too much time on it, so my guide said :P

I ran into this myself. Anytime I would focus on refining a single ability - my guides would tell me I was spending too much time on it. Very frustrating! I finally 'complained' to them that I felt I was a 'jack of all trades, but master of none'. My guides weren't impressed with my compaint.

Turns out they were preparing me to be able to switch between multiple abilities - as the needs dictated - to help others. That led to begin teaching twenty years ago. So, even though I (as in the ego-I) felt I needed to perfect each ability, my guides and higher self really knew what I needed to be doing. Ha! Go figure. Oh, and turns out, even though I was guided to quit trying to perfect outlaying abilities, they really do work when they are needed. (Is that egg on my face?)