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This thread is dedicated to topics involving guides, spirits, and ghosts
Various ways to connect with them and possibly communicate.

To my knowledge the only way one can connect to their guides is by being in a relaxed state and being open to what may come. To communicate with guides will depend on ones abilities.

Primarily, meditation/hypnosis is the easiest way for a person to connect with their guides. Usually, these meditations involve visualizing yourself entering your heart area and creating a tranquil place, and asking your guides to come forward. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Other ways, involve dreams, scrying, pendulims, Ouji boards, ESP, Clairvoyant/Clairsentient and probably a few others. But just be cautious with the methods used and make sure that the intent of the spirit is in your best interest, not theirs.

Recognizing the presence of a Spirit or Guide

* Through Dreams and meditations
* odd tingling sensations
* soothing touch sensations
* slight weight or pressure on shoulders and hands
* slight movements of hair (as if being brushed aside)
* sensation of being brushed against
* smells that are familiar or comforting
* brief glimpses of flashing or dancing lights and shadows
* comforting sounds (music, singing, trickling water, laughter)

Sighted Forms
Guiding Spirits
In dreams, meditations, and aparitions they can take on any form. Usually, it is a combination of something you are comfortable with and best represents the topics they cover with you.
Main examples:
* soft light (of various size)
* creature or insect forms
* plant forms
* Water, rock, fire, air
* human forms of various cultural or time periods (possibly even nude redface )

General/Earth Bound spirits aka GHOSTS
Also can appear in a variety of forms, but tend to be less comfort based and more self representation. These spirits may try to communicate, but know that they often only do so for their self interest only. They may on occasion offer imput, but they are by no means Guiding Spirits.
Main examples:
* light or shadows of various size and intensity
* misty or foggy shapes
* creature, or insect
* Human forms of various cultural or time periods

I'm glad you tried to go by sound and not by spelling. If they are not earth bound, spelling has no meaning to them, but sound does (and spelling will often change until you are both comfortable with it). Each tone/vibration for her name has huge signifigance, and some believe also represents where they are located in the astral plains. For example, I know that guides that have an "EL" sound at the end of their name are usually associated with arch angels (like Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, etc...).

Other tones I'm aware of but not sure where they are in the angelic/Guide Heirarchy are "AN, AH, ON, UM, OM"

There are all kinds of spirits that roam this side of the veil that separates our world from theirs. And they all have their own personal reasons for not leaving. If I were to go into details about that, I'd be here all day.
But they do break down into different categories which is easier to explain.

Firstly I need to offer a slight definition to explain that there is a difference between a ghost and a spirit. Though most will use them interchangable, a spirit is a being (ghost or other source) that has been to the other side of the veil (or barrier that divides our world from theirs). But for some reason has chosen to visit or connect to our side. A Ghost is a being that has yet to go to the other side, but for what ever reason has chosen to stay here.

We have Spirit guides (or Guardian Angels to some)
Those ghosts, spirits and angelic beings who hang around us in attempts to offer us their guidance to benifit us in some form. Be it comfort, friendship, or a guiding hand. These ones have no intention of harm or to cause fear. But they might play the odd little prank or cause those odd tingling sensations to let us know they are present.

There are wanderers
These are the ghosts and spirits that stay for a brief period, possibly out of curiousity or we just happened to be in their route to where ever they are going. Usually these ones go unnoticed.

There are also Imprints
These are not a true ghost, but a residue energy that was left behind usually due to trauma involved with their departure. Their inteligence is limited to those few moments before death, and involve very strong emotions. Good luck trying to communicate with these ones, you will not get much from them, but they do eventually fade over time unless they have some energy source to keep that emotion strong.

Then we have the Haunters
Those ghosts and spirits who for what ever reason have chosen to hang around us, but are not here for our benifit. In most cases, they have something at stake and either feel we can help them, or believe they can gain from our presence. These are the heavy pranksters, the creepers, the startlers, the haunters and polterguiests. They have no concern about how their presence affects us, so long as they get the desired affect. Most of the time they are attracted to our strong emotions that we emit. Primarily our fear.

I am aware...
yeah I should revise that as Earth bound spirits do not necessarily have our best interests in mind. But as some do draw on our emotions, it is best not to fear them as it reduces the chance of them lingering around.

thanks

it sounds like a neat experience.
I will have to look up what the bear means off hand I think it has something to do with contemplation or wisdom, {Edit add to that: awakening the power of the subconscious, personal energy (resources and strengths), be mindful of the effects of personal judgements (criticisms), and applying those things to the world around you}. Purple is often a purification or transitional colour. (also sometimes associated to influences of Archangel Michael)

So the combo is amazing

But something too is that any meditation offered in here is just a starting point. By all means if you feel the need to travel your own course or alter the meditation to suit your needs, please do. So if you feel comfortable following the hand or would rather jump into the water instead of sitting on a rock, by all means do. These things are intented to be played and exparimented with so you are comfortable and don't feel restricted.

Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides are pretty much the same idea. Certain older religions believe that guardian angels are assigned to all things by God at the moment of birth and because no man can actually look upon God they are messengers between us and him.

For those of the New Age and Spiritualizm these angels are usually made up of everything from deceased friends and relatives of current and past lives, as well as angels of the various levels of the angelic heirachy/demensions/vibrations.

They often offer their insparation through intuition, thoughts and dreams. It is also believed we can communicate with them through prayer and meditation.