Article by Angie Webster
Long before I first heard of Reiki, I was aware of guides in my life. I had been aware of guides and spirits since my earliest childhood memories. However, I found early on that most people either were not aware of their own guides or were not comfortable talking about them, so I learned to stop discussing them and eventually began to wonder if something was wrong with me for experiencing these loving presences. I pushed them to the background as I grew up and went on with the business of making my way in the world.
Later, after a near death experience, the encounters came to the forefront again. I still refused to talk about them with others, fearing even more what would be determined about my state of mental stability. However, I was grateful for their guidance and their love. They always radiated complete love and peace, like nothing I had felt before, except from them and in the space between life and death. Their guidance was always kind and it was always helpful. I didn’t always listen or understand the guidance, but I learned to ask questions when I didn’t understand, just as you would with a tender and gentle teacher.
I have since come to know many other people who admit to knowing their own guides and trusting them as wise counselors and friends. It no longer seems like such a strange idea to me to be open about this, yet I am aware that for many this is a taboo subject that speaks of witchcraft or mental illness.
I also know that not everyone is aware of their guides. I believe we all have them, some of us simply may not be tuned in or may be expecting to receive a connection in the same way as others do. Our brains are all unique and we each receive information in different ways. Some may receive information from their guides through visual stimulation in the mind, with images appearing in the mind’s eye or perceiving things in their environment more clearly than others. Others may receive sounds very clearly in their ears or as words in their heads. Some may receive a sudden “knowing“, very clear information about something they have no previous knowledge about. There are many ways to receive information and some receive in a combination of these.
You do not need to be connected to or aware of your guides to practice Reiki. Sometimes new practitioners become very concerned that this hasn’t happened for them. Chances are, you are receiving information and you simply aren’t aware of it. There is no need to worry about being a “bad” practitioner or that you aren’t spiritual enough if you aren’t aware of your guides! You are fine!
You can keep setting the intention that you would like to connect with your guides, in the way that is most appropriate for you. Ask that any blocks or fears you have about receiving information from guides be removed as well. When the time is right, it will happen. Be open to it and be open to the manner in which it may happen. Relax.
Try keeping a dream journal, as messages often comes through both our subconscious and our guides in the form of dreams. Writing down your dreams can be a valuable way to see what your dreams are telling you. You may also benefit from taking note of any instances in waking life where you felt inexplicably drawn or led to do something. What happened when you did this? Or what were the results when you resisted?
Don’t get stuck on expecting to see a person appear in front of you. Not everyone has this experience. And not every experience with the same guide will be like that, even if it is sometimes. In my experience, when I have “seen” guides I saw them in my mind’s eye, not with my physical ones and they were not like physical people. They were beings of light. They were auras that emanated light, especially from their hearts.
Whether you think of guides as actual beings, as your Higher Self, your subconscious mind, as God or as intuition, it really makes no difference in the end. It is receiving information from a part of you or through a part of you that is capable of seeing and understanding things in a different and more expansive way. If this is helpful and loving, then why not make use of it? There is also no need to banish logical thinking. A good balance of intuition and logic makes for a balanced mind and a more functional life. Embrace your whole mind, logic and intuition.
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Angie Webster made a significant contribution to the Reiki community, with a particular focus on Animal Reiki, which she had a deep affection for. As a knowledgeable Reiki Master Teacher and Author, she conducted online courses on energy healing, herbalism, flower essences, and personal growth.
She is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. Currently, Angie has decided to retire from her professional life to devote more time to her health, family, and the little joys of life.
Love this article easy to understand and informative thank you x
Beautiful article. Love this! 🙂
Dear Angie Mam
Thank you very much for this article. Its really informative and useful.
Thanks a lot!!!
May God Bless You with more and more wisdom knowledge and strength.
Warm Regards
Neelam
So, how do I connect with a guide?
This article spoke to me as I always feel incompetent not knowing who my guide is. Deep down I know I am guided in so many ways. so thanks for the reassurance.
I do automatic writing to connect with my guides, my loved ones on the other side as well as the Angels. It takes a lot of practice and you have to careful to protect yourself, but you will recognize the energy associated with each one with practice.
Many a times esp during exams I would feel and studya certain portion, and it would be there in the paper.
I would talk to MY GOD, but it took a meeting with an enlightened one, to realise what all I did. He said …she talks to her GOD..and I was zapped. As these conversations were a part of me, never know to anyone…but yes I always got answers in them. My thinking was “everyone in their private seves must be like this”.
And yes GOD, NATURE, GUIDES…never named them, but they are always there. Think of a question and throw it to the universe and the answer comes back.
Your article was right on time and right on the money with me with my need for assurance that my guides can and do help me in my Reiki sessions with some of the more spontaneous needs such as attending to someone in seizure (a pet actually). Though I have had others say they have seen my guides and one described 3 to me, I am gradually seeing more in my minds eye and expect that will be where I am to see them myself too now. Thank you 🙂
Awesome article ..thank you!!
So beautifully put! Thank you.
Interesting & informative. I just love your articles.
I can actually sense your loving & attentive personality. God bless
Simply, “Thank You”. X
Your article is informative thanks
You can connect with guides and arch angles by linking across the Vail with the distance symbol or ride the drum to the other side of the Vail and connect with them. I will often use a combination of both. Ask for physical sine’s. Keep at your practices and bee open to everything. I am a shaman and still don’t get messages or hits on the first try or things will come to me at a later time.
Angie, how do you teach others about distinguishing between guides/angels of the divine and those who “act like” guides/angels but are parasites that feed off our energy. I read an article the other day about spirits/guides that seem “legit” but aren’t. I think people need to be careful about invoking spirits and guides, and make sure they are from the divine (god) and have only our highest good in mind. Thank you
Thank you 🙏
I enjoyed your article. I think at first everyone feels they aren’t doing it right.
Great article ❤️