How to Meet and Work with Spirit Guides 3

Here is a checklist to help you remember what to do when contacting the spirit realm so you will not have any difficulties.

Nothing in the spiritual realm can ever hurt you as long as you approach it with common sense and discrimination.
You control all aspects of work with your guides. If any display a quality or temperament that you do not like, dismiss them strongly. You do not have to tolerate ignorant behaviour in your physical life and you do not have to tolerate it in your spiritual life either.
Although we have a number of guides assisting us, they are not watching and observing everything we do 24 hours a day. They are not voyeurs. They have other tasks to perform for their own growth. Frankly, most would be bored stiff hanging around us all the time.
Although many cases of possession have been reported, I have never personally encountered it. This does not mean it can’t occur. When it does, there is usually something in the physical which has occurred to make it possible. Much of what the public knows about possession comes from movies and is completely false. As long as you lead a balanced, healthy life, you will never have to worry about such a thing, even while working with your spirit guides. Additionally, the entertainment industry has fostered a belief that children are more susceptible to possession. This also is not true. Children have an extremely protective energy and a strong light about them. Yes, they often are more perceptive of the spirit realm and many ‘imaginary’ friends are not all that imaginary. With all this, though, unless something has torn or ruptured their basic energy field (such as in the case of abuse) possession of children is nearly impossible.
You do not have to learn to be unconscious or in trance in order to meet and work with your spirit guides. In fact, it is best to be a fully conscious channel. It is more difficult to develop but in the long run it is safer and healthier.
Spirit guides will play almost any role you request. Do not become overdependent upon them and do not use them to assuage your own loneliness or to parade around too others for the benefit of your own ego. It is amazing how much name dropping goes on in metaphysical and spiritual circles concerning spirit guides. Remember that names are unimportant. The name might have been chosen simply because it would be easier to relate to. As long as the relationship is productive and beneficial, what difference does it make if no one has ever heard of your particular guide?
Test the spirit. Do not follow their promptings blindly. Those who are your true guides will expect this testing and be patient with you in it. Your doubts and worries are not going to offend them and push them away. In any relationship trust is built slowly.
Working with spirit guides is just that – work. It is a relationship involving you and them. They are not there to do everything for you, nor will they. They are not an excuse for inappropriate activity or even for inactivitiy. There are still people their guides to do everything, or at least use them as an excuse for their own inactivity. In the Bible we are told “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” We can adapt that phrase when describing our spirit guides. “Spirit guides help those who help themselves.” Ultimately, the responsibility and the consequences of your actions (or inaction) is yours and yours alone.
The laws of spirit are as immutable as those in the natural world. Not learning proper techniques, rushing the opening, allowing the ego to manifest is similar to handling high voltage with no insulation or before the wires are fully grounded. It will ultimately short circuit you. There are no tricks. There are no short cuts. It does not even matter how ‘developed’ you were in previous lives. You still must reawaken and redevelop your higher senses.
Contact with those of true higher soul energies is a blessing which you will feel. It will strengthen your will and enlighten your mind so that you exert yourself to reach your own goals. You will, as a result, find yourself to be more healing and compassionate in the lives of those you touch. It is not a highly esoteric process that only a few can use and experience. If you wish to commune with the angels, simply take time to learn about them and speak to them. If you wish to talk with your guides, take time in your prayers and meditations to acknowledge them. Initiate the contact.

Taken from How to Meet and Work with your Spirit Guides by Ted Andrews