How do we know we have spirit guides?

[pianoperformer]

Hi,

I've been struggling a lot lately about what I truly believe. I'm Catholic, and I still hang onto a lot of those beliefs, but I've also been a lot more open to adopt other beliefs as well.

Something I've been having trouble with is the concept of spirit guides. How do we know we have them? Who first discovered that we have spirit guides? I know there are similar concepts, like guardian angels, but what is the difference, if any? For instance I've seen Catholics who fully adopt the idea of guardian angels, and even try to talk to them, but condemn the idea of spirit guides. But I don't know why, or what the difference is.

Something a lot of Catholics would ask is, how do you know your spirit guide isn't trying to deceive you? That is one of the reasons I fear adopting such a belief. What if you think it is a spirit guide, but it is really some negative entity, even a demon? How can you ensure you are communicating with the correct entity?

I've been a lot more open to intuition, and mine has been developing really well. But I'm still having trouble with this concept of spirit guides.