“Daddy, she’s in my room again….the Lady….she’s standing over there….” Mikayla is almost five years old, and points to a corner of the room. Her father appears interested, but behind his feigned curiosity is a certainty that this is a make-believe friend, and a figment of his daughter’s imagination.

“Ask her what her name is,” he prompts his daughter, and after a short pause she responds, “Her name is Hannie…but she says she can’t stay long this time, because she is very busy knitting a dress.”

Mikayla’s father shrugs at the made-up name and the reference to the dress. Later that evening, he relays the episode to his own mother (a friend of mine). You can imagine his reaction when his mother tells him that “Hannie” was her mother’s nickname, whose real name was “Johanna” (and who her son had only ever known as “Grandma”). When she was alive, Hannie had loved to knit dresses for her daughters. My friend was certain that her mother, communicating through Mikayla, was letting the family know that she was still around and looking over them.

There are many amazing stories of Angels and Spirit Guides, and the many ways they make their presence known to us - from the gentlest touch to the scent of their favourite perfume, or from a voice spoken in the recesses of our mind to a “vision” of someone standing beside us. Even that deep inner prompting to take a particular action can be inspired by our Guides. As more and more people share their experiences of “higher guidance”, skeptics are turning into believers, and closed minds are opening.

There are many different types of Guides around us, and these guides hold different roles in our lives. It is very common for loved ones and relatives to revisit us in their spirit form after death, and to remain an integral part of family life even though they no longer have a physical body. These “Guardians” are not haunting us, and nor are they trapped on the earth plane. They have simply chosen to continue helping and healing with us. Even children who have died (including those who have died in the womb) may continue to live with their family in spirit form, and to grow up as a normal (albeit invisible) family member.

These Guardians want us to know that they still love us and watch over us, are aware of our lives, and that they are “OK”. Often they’ll communicate with us through our dreams, where they’ll use words and action to reach out to our dream self. Yet in special cases where the recipient is psychically sensitive (as is the case with young children), the presence of these Guardians will also be seen, heard or felt.

My first awakening to this “Higher World” came when I was 18, and driving too fast towards a blind hill. Suddenly a voice came into my mind, and the word “STOP!” came to me with such urgency that I jumped on the brakes. That action prevented me from running over a small dog that was crossing the road at the crest of the hill. It also left me convinced that there is a world beyond our five senses, and one that can benefit us enormously in our journey through life.

In addition to our Guardians, there are other Spirit Guides (including Angels) who we have not met in physical form in this lifetime, yet who have chosen to support and guide us in our life’s deeper (spiritual) lessons. These true Spirit Guides respect the great beings that we are (even when we pretend that we are not!), and because of this they will not interfere in our life’s choices, or our sense of free will. They help us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves as we venture through the different events and “creations” of our lifetime, and to discover the true power and beauty within us. This is such an alien concept to us, in a world where judgment (upon others and ourselves) has been our way of life. Their teaching can therefore transport us into a very fresh and loving way of viewing the world and our personal challenges. These Spirit Guides help us even if we are not consciously listening, by communicating with us through our intuition, and teaching us while our body is asleep.

Many of these Spirit Guides have lived on Earth (or other planes of learning) in past lifetimes, and are therefore very aware of the challenges that our lives present to us. They often appear to us in the “image” of one of their past lives (even though their true essence is one of light, not form), simply because we are more comfortable with seeing them in human-like form.

The Angels, who also choose to respond to our call for help and guidance, are an exception to the rule. They have not to our knowledge ever lived as physical beings on earth, but remain as Spirit’s (God’s) ambassadors, and pure embodiments of unconditional love and service.

DISCOVER YOUR GUARDIAN ANGELS!

Follow these simple steps to discover your own Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides: Sit or lie in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed, and acknowledge with your powerful mind that you would like to meet and learn how to communicate with your Spirit or Angel Guide(s). Often we have more than one Guide, so don’t be surprised if a number of Guides make their presence known to you. Close your eyes and take a few relaxing breaths to quiet your mind, then ask your main Guide to show you an image of what they look like. This will usually appear as a picture coming straight into your mind, no different to visualizing a piece of fruit or a beautiful scene. Not everyone is visual, so if you have difficulty seeing your Guide’s image, try speaking to your Guide instead (see step 3). Now, ask your Guide to talk to you, or to make their presence known in some other way. You can write down the words that come into your mind, or just listen to the conversation with your Guide that is taking place in your mind. Alternatively, you may just feel a deep sense of peace or joy, as these emotions are often associated with our Guides. Being able to trust your intuition is important. In your early practice sessions, you may feel like you are just making it up. As you continue to practice on a regular basis, you will find that the messages become stronger (because you are exercising your intuition, much like exercising a muscle). You will begin to feel the “rightness” of the messages and visions you receive, and will experience the deep sense of happiness that comes from knowing you are not alone. Further guidance on communicating with your Angels and Spirit Guides is available on Artemis’ self-discovery CD, Discover your Spirit Guides.