The World doesn't really speak straight in my brain, either-but will always help me to be taught what I need, as long as I keep my eyes and ears open. It's not something 100% internal, so one has to be open to the external truth, at least thet's how I see it
The snake was the only one of my guides who wouldn't appear if I didn't ask (he does it on purpose). The others would be around whenever they saw it fit, wether it was after me asking or not. (okay, maybe not the wolf-he kept coming almost whenever I asked. Great guy!)
Your crow vision gave me chills! Wow...the proccess looks a little too complex, quite interesting too. So you have a tradition of psychics in the family...
It's interesting you mention adolescense, because I actually started growing up about the time I met them. The time between my childhood and my 20 has been a quite weird and messy for my inner self. Now I feel like getting "together" and passing my delayed teens. You're lucky you met them sooner-if things are the way they look, you saved yourself a lot of time.
My first meeting was triggered just by reading some shamanic text in the net- but there's something that may have played its role. I didn't really have someone of my age to speak at as a kid, so I kept trying to "listen" around (I would even sometimes dress up as indian and call spirits, and make up personal spiritual rituals
) It's possible I was training myself without realizing, spending so much time far from people. Or maybe not. I guess it's diffrent for everyone.