Spirit guides

I'd never really had much exposure to the idea of spirit guides before i met my Wiccan friends but as i listened to them talk about it and compare their experiences i found the subject more and more fascinating.

I can't claim to fully understand what a spirit guide does, the extent of my knowledge is that they can help and guide a person during meditations and spell work, but I'm sure they mean, and do, a lot more to different people.

So, as a request to all our Pagan visitors, I'd like to hear your views on the subject. What do they mean for you personally?
What, if any, function do they play in your life? Do you feel connected to them all the time, like a welcome friend, or do you only communicate with them at certain times (such as rituals or meditations)?

And if it's not too personal and you don't mind talking about them why not tell us what they're like.
From some of the stories I've heard i gather they're not always the proper, well-mannered characters one might expect in a wise, otherworldly guide!

So share your thoughts and your stories if you've got 'em!

What a fantastic subject!

Spirit Guides hmmm now i guess some see them as this surreal being of light when, at least for me, they are far from it.

Although i would add the question: 'How many Spirit Guides do you have?'

I always said 'they' decided i needed an army and lets face it, i probably do. I have 6 Spirit Guides and all are for different reasons. There are times, usually at low points in my life, when i feel they 'abandoned' me but in fact they never do.

However, from personal experience i would say, no they are not exactly mild mannered 'higher beings'

I guess the simplist way to describe a guide is: its that little voice in your head that says 'don't step off the kerb' and seconds later a car comes racing by

We dont all acknowledge that voice as a guide but, in my opinion that is exactly what it is. Some are in tune with that voice and 'know' their guide/s, others dismiss it as 'mumbo jumbo'.

However just to add confusion there are also Animal Guides aka Totem Animals

So i look forward to reading responses to this thread with interest

Bram wrote:So, as a request to all our Pagan visitors, I'd like to hear your views on the subject. What do they mean for you personally?

Phew! This is a loaded question..in fact they all are. LOL
I'll give this my best shot and hope i don't waffle too much.
For me personally, i consider them both teachers and friends. They are always with me, sometimes more 'present' than others.
To have them so close, its thrilling, comforting, gives me a peace of mind i guess. It helps too with the tougher side of stuff. For instance when casting a spell or performing a ritual, i know they are there watching my back.

A person can have 1 or many more. At one point in my life a couple of years ago i had five, but now have only three.
People tend to have a main guide who is with them always with others coming in at specific times for specific reasons.
Though i don't necessarily see them in front of me, i can see them very clearly on the astral or in my mind's eye.

My main guide J who i have been aware of since i took my first step on my witchy path is forever cracking me up. He just makes me laugh, but then sometimes its the only thing that will knock me out of my doldrums.

As Tiamat has said they are very much like that little voice that tells you to 'take another route tonight', 'pick up
the phone, its important'. Both of which have happened to me. The former was as i was tentatively stepping onto my current path and scared me something cronic.
I had a particualr route which i walked home from where i had to walk down some steps onto a pathway which ran alongside a busy main road. I was heading home when i heard 'take another route tonight'. It was so clear and came with such feelings of urgency i immediately detoured and took another route.
I found out the next day that a car had careered off the road directly beneath the steps and had mounted the curb.
A lucky escape i do think!

As Tiamat said we also have animal guides, and then there are of course guides of the fae persuasion....the list goes on

Does anyone else have any experiences or thoughts to add? I look forward to seeing them as i know we all experience things differently.