Spirit Guide or Imagination?

[Gayathri]

Hi,

I had this experience today, which I would like to discuss with others who have actually contacted their spirit guides and know what it feels like.

For some time now I have been trying to establish some contact with my spirit guide during meditation and also before I go to sleep. Two nights back I thought I heard "When you are ready" inside my head when I was trying to establish contact.

Then today at work I suddenly had a shiver, a jerk and goosebumps all over my body, and since I had read somewhere that it could be your spirit guide trying to contact you, I immediately tried to open myself up for contact.

And almost immediately, I started hearing things inside my mind - I started having a two-way conversation inside my head. I am not sure whether it was just my imagination or really my spirit guide, anyway I was told that I can call him Jonathan. The conversation lasted for at least half an hour inside my head. Jonathan told me to "Cherish every moment" and that he "chose to be my spirit guide." I asked him a lot of questions, so many that at one point he told me that this is enough questions for the first contact. He had a great sense of humor and said some things that made me smile. He seemed a fun, amused sort of guy, and said his last incarnation was in the 19th century.

He didn't answer some of my questions like whether he was permanently assigned to me or just for the new phases of my life that has just started, and whether I would ever be able to see him. In our talks, he even talked about the Internet so I asked him how come he knows about all that if he is from the 19th century, and he said he "keeps himself updated," with a sort of wink in his voice.

He also told me that we "shape our own destiny" and some other things. He said he would contact again if I am ready. After he was gone it was kind of hard for me to remember all the specific details and even all the topics we discussed, although I was able to write most of them down after a little effort.

All through the experience I felt very cold and rather shivery (admittedly the AC is on although I had never been this cold in the AC before).

Anyway the questions I would like to ask Erin and other knowledgeable people are these - Does this sound like a spirit guide contact or just overactive imagination? He did not give me any advice except to cherish every moment, and that he would protect me. Does the things he said sound like stuff a spirit guide may say? (I have no idea what kind of stuff a spirit may say) Are there amusing, fun and even witty spirit guides out there, aren't they supposed to be wise and old and serious? Do they know about internet? (!) For the record, I do not know anyone with the name Jonathan and also have no special love for that name, although I do like it.

So, spirit guide or imagination? And is there anything special I need to do now? Thanks for reading the epic post.

Cheers,
Gayathri.

[Erin Pavlina]

Spirit guide contact, not imagination.

Did it feel like you were talking to yourself or another consciousness? A conversation that long is way more likely to be spirit contact than imagination.

Yes, sometimes spirit guides give names and sometimes they don't care what you call them.

As a spirit guide he would easily know about the internet. They have a higher perspective there.


And yes, amusing, funny spirit guides abound. When I'm doing a reading for someone I will sometimes encounter a guide that is really funny and I just laugh out loud at some of the things they're telling me. Some guides are stoic and analytical. There are all kinds. All of them desire to help however or they wouldn't be there.


Congratulations on the contact.

[jawillie]

Wow! That is amazing, thanks for sharing your experience!

[Gayathri]

Hi Erin,

Thanks for clearing that up.

One of the other things I asked him is this: Would you mind if I post about this contact online? And he said, "Aren't you going to do that anyway?" in an amused, good-humored sort of way

I would like having him as a spirit guide I love people with great sense of humor

It was a really long conversation indeed. I do talk to myself all the time, but usually I answer my own questions in a way I want it to be answered And I always answer questions. I cannot bear to leave my own questions unanswered. Obsessive compulsive I guess

But Jonathan said things that I didn't expect and sometimes even didn't answer my questions, and I felt like I was waiting for someone to answer - I did not make up a "favorable" answer like I usually do when I talk to myself. And anyway I don't talk to myself for half hour or more at a stretch. Besides, I got a clear feeling of another "Personality" talking to me - one of an amused, witty and fun sort of guy. (When I self-talk, I am usually Ms. Emotional or Ms. Rational.)

One reason I was able to hold this conversation for so long was that I remembered you had written in your blog that we need to extend the conversation as long as possible and also not be afraid. Thank you Erin for that. I did not feel any fear when I talked to him. I felt like I was with a good friend whom I could trust and talk to freely.

But the reasons I were skeptical were because he didn't deliver any important, life changing message, seemed to know about the Internet, seemed a funny person in stead of a wise, omniscient, respected, old person, talked for a long time etc. Thanks for saying those are baseless doubts!

And thanks you two for your replies I will keep this updated if/when Jonathan comes again

Cheers,
Gayathri.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Gayathri

Hi Erin,

Thanks for clearing that up.

One of the other things I asked him is this: Would you mind if I post about this contact online? And he said, "Aren't you going to do that anyway?" in an amused, good-humored sort of way

I would like having him as a spirit guide I love people with great sense of humor

It was a really long conversation indeed. I do talk to myself all the time, but usually I answer my own questions in a way I want it to be answered And I always answer questions. I cannot bear to leave my own questions unanswered. Obsessive compulsive I guess

But Jonathan said things that I didn't expect and sometimes even didn't answer my questions, and I felt like I was waiting for someone to answer - I did not make up a "favorable" answer like I usually do when I talk to myself. And anyway I don't talk to myself for half hour or more at a stretch. Besides, I got a clear feeling of another "Personality" talking to me - one of an amused, witty and fun sort of guy. (When I self-talk, I am usually Ms. Emotional or Ms. Rational.)

One reason I was able to hold this conversation for so long was that I remembered you had written in your blog that we need to extend the conversation as long as possible and also not be afraid. Thank you Erin for that. I did not feel any fear when I talked to him. I felt like I was with a good friend whom I could trust and talk to freely.

But the reasons I were skeptical were because he didn't deliver any important, life changing message, seemed to know about the Internet, seemed a funny person in stead of a wise, omniscient, respected, old person, talked for a long time etc. Thanks for saying those are baseless doubts!

And thanks you two for your replies I will keep this updated if/when Jonathan comes again

Cheers,
Gayathri.

I think we are attracted to the types of people who have traits that are similar to our Guides'. It could be vice-versa, but since our Guides came first, I'll wager that we seek out and admire those traits that our Guides posess.

My Benefactor is extremely casual, and like yours, very witty. I often find myself laughing out loud at things he tells me. During our Sacred Drumming Circles, when we journey as a tiospaye, there have been many times when I'll come back just giggling like a kid at something he showed me or told me. This is often a little awkward when someone else was shown something or told something that was very hard or upsetting.

Also like you, my Guides and Benefactor usually don't share something mind-blowing. Life-changing, yes - but in a long-term "if you do this, this will happen," sort of way. And even in those instances where I WAS shown or told something of incredible magnitude, it didn't FEEL like some huge revelation. More like being reminded of something I already knew but forgot or just didn't want to acknowledge. One of my favorite quotes that I post occasionally here is, "Before enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water. AFTER enlightenment.... you chop wood and carry water."

The thing that always still surprises me is the total lack of judgement or recrimination our guides hold for us. I've had, for lack of a better term, "temper tantrums" with my Guides who have told me I needed to do something and it didn't fit into my plan or seem like something I "wanted" to do. Like a two year-old kicking and screaming, "NO NO NO NO NO.....I'm not gonna! I don't wanna!" and each and every time the response was the same, "Ok. Just let us know when you're done. We'll pick it up then."

[yossarian]

I love your story, that is amazing! And inspiring. I haven't had a contact nearly as fleshed out as yours but I get glimpses here and there and I feel like I'm learning to recognize more clearly what comes from myself and what comes from "above"

The thing about having a funny contact is something I can relate to, I think my guides might have been professional comedians in their past lives or something, as when I am able to open myself up and listen I often end up laughing a lot.

One time I was told a downright hilarious joke (One that only I would understand so I won't bother to repeat it) and that has really stuck with me. There's nothing quite like laughing uncontrollably at some unidentifiable voice in your head.

[Erin Pavlina]

My guide, Bob, is really funny. he's the one waiting for me in my white room when I do readings. One time after my June hiatus last year I walked into my white room and Bob was dusting away the cobwebs. I laughed out loud. He always finds a funny way to greet me when I get there. There seems to be no end to his shenanigans. Some of my other guides are not as funny, they are more serious, wise, and guiding.

[Rockchick26]

So people can have more than one guide? What are some ways of contacting them,just meditating and asking for them to appear? I know i would assume it was just my imagination because i'm always having "visions" and words being spoken in my head that come out of nowhere,and i am convinced they are something important,only to find out they were just my imagination. I wish guides were more obvious!

[Erin Pavlina]

I'll write a blog entry about how to identify your guides. Good question.

[Gayathri]

Hi Erin,

I will look forward to your blog. I am sure it will be a great help to all of us fledgling eagles!

Meanwhile, I had contact with Jonathan twice yesterday. He came to me when I was doing other everyday stuff and just thinking about spirit guides. But both times were really busy for me and I had to end the connection sooner than I would have liked But both these times, the connection opened sort of spontaneously, and there was no shivering / jerking / goosebumps. I just thought about my spirit guides and I started hearing the voice inside my head. Is that possible?

Also, during meditation yesterday I set up protection and tried really hard to open myself up and contact the spirit guides, but it did not work out Guess I am yet to master the art of summoning them at will

Today, I again had another contact. But I am not sure it was Jonathan, because this entity was a little bit different. I asked him whether he had a message for me and he gave me a really long message, the gist of which is that I am entering a phase of exponential growth and a lot of experiences will come to me, and that I should be open-minded and brave about them. The message was spoken in a serious, yet caring way, sort of like the stuff a parent may tell a child upon her coming-of-age. (He felt like Sirius Black from Harry Porter, as regards the personality I felt.) He did not give me a name and said I can call him anything I wish. I wanted it to be Jonathan but I knew somehow that it wasn't him. The message was seriously long.

Then a little later on today, I had a very persistant and strong tingling in the back of my neck when I was about to read an article by Slade Roberson about how to approach Spirit Guides. Don’t Ask Your Spirit Guides : Shift Your Spirits Many suggestions in this article were very new to me, and I guess my Spirit Guides want me to use them in my further contacts with them.

I am trying my best to be brave and open-minded through all this. I am not psychic and except for some small incidents of premonition, I haven't really had psychic experiences either. Although I have had voices in my head advising me before - but then I knew zilch about Spirit Guides etc and thought I must be just really wise for my age whenever a good idea came through

I hope it is okay even if the spirit guides do not come to me during my meditation and only come spontaneously? Also is it possible that this second entity who made contact with me is another guide that I may have? Will I be able to contact them through meditation or dreams if I really try? Should I tell them to come to me only when I initiate contact? Am I well on my way to la-la land or are these for real?

Thanks so much for reading the post, and for any help and insight you could offer.

Love,
Gayathri.

[Erin Pavlina]

Gayathri, you are so psychic you're dripping on the nice clean floors with it.

Seriously though, everyone is psychic or has the capability to be psychic. Don't let the word trip you up. You're clairaudient. You can hear your guides and possibly spirits talking to you. It's a wonderful gift.

Yes spontaneous communication can occur. Happens to me a lot.

They may not be coming through during meditation because you're trying too hard. Are you quieting your mind or are you doing something more visual? If you are just quieting your mind it's like pulling a curtain around yourself and taking the phone off the hook. The guides see that as "shhhh, she's meditating, no one disturb her."

[Gayathri]

Thanks Erin, reading your replies always makes me feel comforted and happy.

During meditation sessions prior to reading your post, I was basically pushing myself to listen, by quieting my mind down and waiting, and nothing would come through. If at all I hear something, I know it is just me talking. When Jonathan talks to me, I know it is him. I can sort of feel it is not me talking, but him. Yesterday evening I again had a spontaneous and rather short contact with him.

When I sat down for meditation last night, I tried something different. I went through some elaborate rituals like setting up protection and then opening up each of my chakras, and then visualizing myself open up for contact. This time I had a female energy talking to me. She was so very gentle, sweet and yet confident. Before she came, I had a scent of Jasmine floating up my nostrills. Then I heard her. She had a very musical sort of voice. I never saw her, but I felt what her energy was like, and knew it was feminine.

She gave the name "Shakti" to me. She gave me a message about embracing my womanhood and being proud of who I am, and something about nurturing and being gentle. Her voice and presence, although feminine, were entirely different from those of my own inner voice. She was very nice, and I really liked her. She too was silent when I asked her one question, but after a while answered it without me asking.

Then I told her that I would like some sort of symbol or proof that I am not just imagining things, and that what was happening was for real. I said that since she came with a scent of Jasmines, I would like to see Jasmine flowers or their pictures after I finish meditation. She agreed to that.

After she left, I closed the connection, closed my chakras, thanked the spirits and ended my meditation. I felt very peaceful.

When I had arranged the Jasmine symbol with her, I expected it to come up when I browse the Internet, as that was what I intended to do afterwards. But the symbol came up almost immediately but in a very different way. I casually looked at the contents of a bowl (that I had got a couple of days back from a local prayer meeting) and found to my surprise that it had actual Jasmine flowers! Most of them were dried but there were a couple of fresh flowers too. I then thought maybe the Jasmine scent came from them, but I had sat for meditation farther away from this bowl on the other side of the room, and besides when I smelled these flowers I could detect only a very, very faint scent if any. The scent I obtained during meditation was much stronger. And for the couple of days this bowl was in the room, not once had I got a scent from them.

I guess it is the proof I had asked for, that I am not imagining stuff. On the one hand I am really happy and rather curious, but on the other I still don't know! I do want to believe this, but it is more difficult than one may think. I do not have a history of such experiences, except, as I said, in my teen years when I used to have conversations with "God" inside my head occassionally (I was brought up as a Hindu and to me God meant Krishna). But after that I had gone really worldly - happily at that too - and have only recently turned to my spiritual side.

Erin and other psychic people here - can you do me an immense favor - it will mean a whole lot to me if you could - Could you please use your psychic powers (and maybe ask your guides or something) and confirm that I am actually contacting the "other side"? I know it is a lot to ask, and I will be grateful to you always for this. A simple yes or no would be sufficient if you are really busy - I just need to hear it from someone valid so that I can be more open-minded about this. Thank you ever so much - I really really look forward to it.

Love,
Gayathri.

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes I am sure you are communicating with your guides.

Now you need to know that your connection will be stronger when you have faith and trust in them and that they are really there.

[Gayathri]

Erin, I trust you. Your confirmation means a whole lot to me, and I really believe all this now. I am trying to be more open and have faith, I wouldn't question my sanity again.

I just had a very uplifting meditation, in which I communicated with a group of spirits - they are all the guides and angels I have with me. A very wise, old man's voice was all I heard. I saw them as very pure and white beings, grouped together behind this old sage, who was a being of white light and purity too.

First he asked me what I wanted and I gave a long, long list of wishes ^_^ But then he asked, "yes, but what about your life purpose?" I tried to sound grand by speaking about some things I thought a "good" person should want, but then he started speaking.

He talked to me about the real reason why my soul chose this incarnation. He told me that my experiences - good and bad - so far have been karmic debt clearing, and basically cleaning out clutter from past lives. He told me many things about my real purpose - which, if I repeat here now, some people may think too crazy or too boastful, so I would keep it to myself. Yet I have a feeling you could figure it out, Erin, without me even telling you. Anyway, I have been promised protection, guidance, help and many more signs that will help me with my life purpose.

I cannot thank you enough for helping me believe myself. I would never have trusted these experiences or pursued them if it weren't for positive confirmations from you. I believe it was something pre-arranged as well, coming to think of it. Thank you!

[Erin Pavlina]

You're welcome. It sounds like you're getting fast-tracked too. enjoy the ride. Keep a journal.

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Keep a journal.

Please do! And post it online!

Your story is amazing

[Gayathri]

Thanks

I am keeping a journal, which has a potential to be used as evidence that I am ready for the funny farm But it is so much fun and enlightening all the same!

Yesterday I meditated and again talked to the guides. Actually only one guide, and it was very informative.

I was told that a particularly stressful and difficult issue at work would be resolved today so that I can take my mind off it And although I doubted it at the time, it did get solved today, in a much better way than I imagined! Also more and more changes are coming over my life, and somehow my empathy has really gone up. I know it from how different my day-to-day interactions are these days. I love it

Also, today I have been seeing really big flower bouquets everywhere - a synchronicity I guess, although I cannot understand its meaning right now. I do not live in a particularly flowery area or anything, but only today I have seen three different people in three different places carrying huge flower bouquets. And some other bouquets in flower shops near my home but I am not counting those. I loved the beautiful bouquets and I rarely see even one a day so this is strange. Yet I don't know what they could possibly signify... I love it all the same

Oh guess I should stop now, been taking up too much place here already as it is

Cheers,
Gayathri.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

They may not be coming through during meditation because you're trying too hard. Are you quieting your mind or are you doing something more visual? If you are just quieting your mind it's like pulling a curtain around yourself and taking the phone off the hook. The guides see that as "shhhh, she's meditating, no one disturb her."

OMG!!! When I read that I laughed so hard I cried. I'd never thought of it in those terms before, but that's EXACTLY what it's like. That's why I always get this sense of released pent-up anticipation when I finally ask my guides a question out of a meditation and they "finally" get to answer. Of course that's not really accurate since my Guides are the epitome of patience, but there was always this sense of "YES!! We get to say something!!"

I had always thought it was similar to the relationship between Joey and Chandler from "Friends". Where Chandler would make a point or a joke and then just sort of wait for Joey to catch up; "Come on... get there....get there..."

I'll make sure I acknowledge that from now on.

Thanks.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Gayathri

Thanks

I am keeping a journal, which has a potential to be used as evidence that I am ready for the funny farm But it is so much fun and enlightening all the same!

Yesterday I meditated and again talked to the guides. Actually only one guide, and it was very informative.

I was told that a particularly stressful and difficult issue at work would be resolved today so that I can take my mind off it And although I doubted it at the time, it did get solved today, in a much better way than I imagined! Also more and more changes are coming over my life, and somehow my empathy has really gone up. I know it from how different my day-to-day interactions are these days. I love it

Also, today I have been seeing really big flower bouquets everywhere - a synchronicity I guess, although I cannot understand its meaning right now. I do not live in a particularly flowery area or anything, but only today I have seen three different people in three different places carrying huge flower bouquets. And some other bouquets in flower shops near my home but I am not counting those. I loved the beautiful bouquets and I rarely see even one a day so this is strange. Yet I don't know what they could possibly signify... I love it all the same

Oh guess I should stop now, been taking up too much place here already as it is

Cheers,
Gayathri.

Your Guides don't have the number for FTD, so they send you flowers in their own way.

It's like dating without every getting over the "honeymoon period."

[Erin Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Mato Kinze

OMG!!! When I read that I laughed so hard I cried. I'd never thought of it in those terms before, but that's EXACTLY what it's like. That's why I always get this sense of released pent-up anticipation when I finally ask my guides a question out of a meditation and they "finally" get to answer. Of course that's not really accurate since my Guides are the epitome of patience, but there was always this sense of "YES!! We get to say something!!"

I had always thought it was similar to the relationship between Joey and Chandler from "Friends". Where Chandler would make a point or a joke and then just sort of wait for Joey to catch up; "Come on... get there....get there..."

I'll make sure I acknowledge that from now on.

Thanks.

Yes! I was surprised too until I started seeing the pattern with the people I read for, and in my self too.

[Gayathri]

@Mato: Thanks, I think it is a great explanation! It feels great to know someone is out there, looking after you.

@Anyone who cares: I will tell you my own method of contacting my guides, and I am no expert in this field, but I hope this would help you as a guideline.

My first contact occured spontaneously (as you can read in the posts above). (I had been meditating and trying to establish contact for some time.) Then, I had a couple more spontaneous contacts when a conversation would just start happening inside my head, and I felt I wasn't just talking to myself. I was skeptical though, and until I got confirmation from Erin that it is indeed happening, I couldn't believe any of it myself.

But once I got the confirmation, I read up even more on the subject, and found out that there are some protective measures I need to take. I also learned that we need to close our connection to the spirit realm if we don't want to end up drained and invite negative entities to our lives. So I devised a ritual for my explorations in the "other dimension". I decided I would only open myself up for contact during meditation and wouldn't let any being "in" when I didn't want a contact from them. This has really helped my sanity

So let me share my own meditation ritual with you, perhaps it would help you as well, in case you want to know. I meditate in a comfortable and quiet place - the same place every night before I go to sleep.

As a first step, I take some deep breaths and relaxes myself. I relax my body completely by first getting each muscle really tensed for about 30 seconds, and then relaxing my body and easing the muscle. I do this for each body part from my feet up.

Next, I imagine a big, black crystal dome in the Earth below me, and I visualize big roots coming up from this crystal and encircling my feet and calves. This is to keep me grounded. I visualize all my negative energy going down to the Earth through these roots and getting converted to positive vibes. This helps to dissolve fear and other negative feelings.

Now, I imagine beings of good, positive vibrations and pure white light surrounding me, protecting me from all contact by negative entities. The I imagine a white light rising up from the Earth, surrounding me and rising to the sky. Then I imagine a white light spreading above me as an umbrella, and sending a white wall of light around me, to the ground. Then I clearly state in my mind (you can say this aloud if you are alone) that only positive, helpful entities which intend the greatest good for me are allowed to contact me.

Next, I open up my chakras, by imagining each chakra as a glowing flower of its corresponding color, situated in the corresponding part of my body. I imagine their petal unfurling and opening up. When I open the Third Eye chakra I visualise an indigo light wrapping me as a membrane. When I open my crown chakra, I imagine a membrane of white light surrounding me, emanating from this chakra. Of late I have started to feel a pressure on my crown chakra as I do this - I have read that this just means the chakra is just opening up.

Then, I imagine the doors to the spiritual world opening up and the connection starting - I visualise this as the dams opening up and the waterfall jumping out from them, but you may visualise it as a white door opening up or any such symbolic event.

Then I go to my "happy place" where the spirits contact me. To me it is a big, scenic, shady and cool lakeside with trees and green grass and rabbits and birds and trees and cool breeze. I wait by this place and invite my spirit guides to contact me.

Now the conversation begins within a short time, sometimes even immediately. I am not particularly visual - I am better at hearing them inside my head, but it may be different for you. I identify their gender and age from their voice. I thank them for coming, and start talking. Sometimes I ask questions and they answer, sometimes I ask them for a message and listen to what they have to say. We have really long talks! And when I am done I thank them again and tell them I will now get back to my world, and they will leave. These days they have taken to kissing me on my forehead before leaving - it feels very good.

Then I reverse the whole process I did in the beginning - I walk away from the garden, the dam shutters fall, the chakras close, the white walls of light disappear, the protectors vanish and the roots go back inside the black crystal. Then I get up from my meditation after some deep breaths etc.

This is my ritual - and I am very glad if this helps at all. I am not sure if these will work for you - but it does for me! Now they always come when I meditate and it feels very good. My empathy and general happiness and even luck, I believe, have gone up. I am very, very thankful for this gift and more than ready to share these experiences. I feel more connected to others and I really want to share and help. It is an amazing feeling.

Please let me know your thoughts and experiences regarding this! And thanks again for the wonderful community here, Erin especially!

Cheers,
Gayathri.

[Rockchick26]

Wow,that was interesting! Thanks for sharing your ritual. No wonder i haven't had any luck,when i meditate,i take focus OFF my body,not like what you do with your muscles. And then i only imagine things that dont matter,like fantasies,and more often than not my mind cant stop clutter from interrupting. And i've never tried the chakra thing only because i haven't finished reading my book on it yet and i dont want to do it until i fully understand how to. I will devise my own ritual,i dont want to copy anyone else's,but thanks for sharing,its nice to have an idea of where to start!