What Are Spiritual Guides?
June 17, 2026 | Updated September 11, 2026 | By Soul on a Journey | 9 Min Read
What is a Spiritual Guide?
Concerned Teacher, Coach, and Trusted friend
Do spiritual guides really exist? According to Unlocking the Soul, a spiritual guide is like a firm but concerned teacher, coach, and trusted friend who offers support when asked. These masters are attuned to higher levels of consciousness. Meaning, they often possess some of the highest levels of wisdom and compassion. They are also capable of bypassing the limitations of lower densities and planes of existence.
We use the term spiritual guide as an all-encompassing term that includes helpers of all forms — both subtle and gross physical. Examples include angels, ancestors, spirit guides, ascended masters, deities, gurus, saints, yogis, and extraterrestrials.
What is the purpose of a spiritual guide? The ultimate purpose of a spiritual guide is to guide us back into harmony with Source. They often do this by providing love, compassion, protection, tools, and guidance. Their wisdom, knowledge of probable timelines, and specialized skills can help us maneuver the complexities of our existential journeys based on our free will. According to the Law of One (70:11), guides can protect when possible and help when asked, but free will is paramount. This suggests that we have to ask for guidance and give them permission to help.
Does Everyone Have a Spiritual Guide?
It’s thought that each of us has at least one spiritual guide, although we could have several with varying levels of seniority and forms. Because of duality and the diversity of souls, it’s safe to assume that there are specific guides for each soul. According to Sarah Elkhaldy (Spiritual Teacher & Energy Healer), a guide typically shares a resemblance in one’s nature or interests.
The Law of One suggests that there are guides who predominately radiate love and acceptance to serve others and guides who predominately radiate fear to control and manipulate. We refer to these spiritual dispositions or polarity paths as service to others (STO) or the path which is, and service to self (STS) or the path which is not, as explained by the Law of One. These paths are said to be determined by our frequency (Law of One, 67:11).
This implies that guides have the free will and capacity to provide aid through love or fear. We try not to see these options as either “good” or “bad”. Just different ways to learn spiritual lessons and be of service (Law of One, 7:15). We resonate with the concept that all paths eventually lead back to Source because All is One. Some of us have just strayed further from Source than others so it might be more difficult or take longer for us to get back.
But consider this fellow souls. Even though STS guides resonate predominately with fear and control, what if they’re guidance is actually meant to serve as catalysts? Meaning, in a round-about way perhaps they’re actually helping us learn how to serve others by helping us understand its opposite. As the Law of One explains, whether we serve others or serve ourselves, we are still serving Source in our own distinct ways. We’re all one team, team Source!
Spiritual guides can offer us love, compassion, truth, guidance, protection, and tools to help us mosey along on our spiritual paths.
What Forms Do Spiritual Guides Take?
Subtle Versus Gross Physical Forms
When we refer to spiritual guides it’s sometimes in the context of their use of subtle versus gross physical forms. For example, spiritual guides can use their subtle forms to establish relationships and vibrationships with us. Using these forms they can often appear as what is referred to as angels, guardian angels, spirits, spirit animals, archangels, celestial gods (Bhagavad Gita: 3:11, 7:20), or demigods. Unlocking the Soul suggests that they can also take on familiar appearances, like ancestors and relatives, to help during our transition between incarnations.
Spiritual guides can also use lower-density forms — entering into soul contracts to offer aid during incarnations. These relationships can be mutually beneficial since guides can also evolve by aiding others. We’re only mentioning these types of labels for reference. We try not to place too much significance on labels if we wish to transcend the limitations of our ego identities, like Sri Ramana Maharshi (Sage & Jivanmukta, 1879 – 1950). Sri Ramana Maharshi was said to not identify as a guru because there was no ego left for him to affirm the identify.
Spiritual Guides as Factions
Spiritual guides have been known to form factions, which we refer to as helper groups. According to the Law of One, some of these helper groups were once known as the Confederation (6:24), Guardians (51:1), Council of Saturn (7:8-10), and Orion Group (7:12-17).
Sarah Elkhaldy (Spiritual Teacher & Energy Healer) explains that those who resonate with serving others (STO) should be careful not to fall victim to the false light of the self-serving (STS) helper groups. She explains that false light sustains itself off of the play of duality, keeping us ignorant so we worship it as part of a chain of command. How is worship different from devotion? Worship is typically associated with a power structure or hierarchy, which is said to be common for STS factions.
So how do we distinguish between the two dualistic groups and types of guides? Based on our research, the biggest tell-tell sign is that groups who serve others will honor free will. Ergo, they will not usurp our personal power, diminish our divinity, or advocate for us to place power outside of ourselves. They will always point us inwards. No worries. If one resonates with the concept that All is One, then no matter who we serve (ourselves or others), we are still in service to Source.
The term spiritual guide refers to helpers of all forms (subtle and gross) including angels, spirits, deities, gurus, and saints.
How Can Spiritual Guides Help Us?
Help As Subtle and Gross Physical Forms
Using subtle forms, spiritual guides can work with our higher selves to plan our incarnations, orchestrate synchronicities, design catalysts (obstacles) for growth, and ensure we’re not taking on too much during a lifetime. They can also bridge the gap between spiritual and physical worlds, as Christina Lopes (DPT, MPH & Heart Alchemist) explains. Using gross physical forms, spiritual guides such as gurus can offer us support in a more direct way since they’re currently using gross physical forms like their incarnated devotees.
Based on our personal experiences, the most effective guides won’t co-sign our BS. We suspect that sometimes they even allow “bad” things to happen to us. One reason for this could be that they don’t really have a choice since karmic consequences may already be in motion and can’t be stopped. Perhaps another reason could be so that we can learn lessons. Guides are said to often use catalysts, like causing our computer to freeze at random moments, to teach us the value of responding with love rather than reacting with anger.
Other reasons could be to help us avert an even bigger catastrophe or ensure we stay or deviate from a path. Like causing us to sleep through an alarm, which makes us late for work but helps us avoid driving through a severe storm that would result in a totally wrecked vehicle.
We try not to look at situations as good or bad and see all situations as conducive to our spiritual growth. Perhaps there are also guides who prefer to provide inactive, lead-by-example guidance (like saints) versus those who prefer a more active, hands-on approach (like gurus).
What is the Role of a Guru?
Even though Sri Ramana Maharshi did not identify as a guru, he did provide insight into a guru’s role. He explained that gurus can create conditions to drive us inward – from the exterior, giving the mind a push to turn inward and from the interior, pulling the mind towards the soul. He further explained that the guru’s silence is the loudest instruction — it is grace in its highest form.
What is grace? Sadhguru (Yogi, Mystic & Guru) clarifies that grace is the force that is trying to pluck us out of our egoistic limitations. We have to become conscious of grace or available to grace so that we know the joy of being in grace. We resonate with the idea that grace is essentially the divine light of Brahman (Bhagavad Gita, 12:2) — the loving, sustaining, nurturing aspect of Source often associated with feminine nature and Mother Shakti. But we digress…
Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher) explains that gurus can give us jnana (Bhagavad Gita, 7:2). Jnana is considered theoretical knowledge of the scriptures. It’s the knowledge we learn by applying our intellect. But once we put jnana into practice as sadhana (spiritual practices), we’ll have the capacity to do two things. One, purify our minds to achieve experiential self realization. Two, attain vijnana (wisdom). Wisdom is considered knowledge gained through spiritual practice. We refer to wisdom as direct experiential realization.
Bestowing Cosmic Consciousness
Can gurus give us a glimpse of unity consciousness? It’s said that gurus can bestow the divine experience of cosmic consciousness, as was the case with Paramahansa Yogananda (Monk, Yogi & Guru, 1893 – 1952) and his guru, Sri Yukteswar.
But, it’s suggested that this can only be done when devotees have strengthened their minds enough so that they aren’t overwhelmed by the liberating shock of omnipresence (Autobiography of a Yogi, 14:128). This is said to be done through spiritual practices and devotion rather than intellectual willingness or open-mindedness. So, one way or another it seems that we have to put in the work to remain in a permanent state of omnipresence.
What is meant by devotion? The term devotion is often misconstrued and, for some, carries negative religious connotations. When we refer to devotion, we mean in the context of allowing Source’s grace to flow through us, as Sadhguru explains. We resonate with the concept that devotion is more closely aligned with gratitude and humbleness, which doesn’t have a need for or acknowledge any type of power structure.
Spiritual guides create "good" and "bad" conditions to drive us inward.
How to Communicate With Spiritual Guides
Asking Guides for Help
How do we communicate with our spiritual guides? With sincerity, intention, clarity, mindfulness, and practice is a good place to start. Gabby Bernstein (Author, Speaker & Podcast Host) offers a great process for connecting to one’s spiritual guides. There are a couple of tidbits that resonate with us. The biggest hurdle in our process has been getting into the habit of asking for guidance. We can sometimes forget that help is available 24/7 or think we have to rely solely on ourselves.
The next hurdle for us has been figuring out what to ask for. For example, we could simply ask for ongoing, general guidance — to be lead in the right direction for the highest good of all. Or perhaps we could ask for guidance about something specific — like uncertainty about a job offer or lack of creative inspiration. Gabby Bernstein suggests we jot down the 5-10 biggest things we need help with or clarity on. This includes if we want to ask for signs of validation or messages of reinforcement.
Signs of validation could be in the form of anything including numbers, animals, songs, or videos. We try not to get hung up on what they should be as long as they’re recognizable. Because we’re in the early stages of our relationships, we tend to resonate with Christina Lopes’s suggestion to ask for reinforcement through our physical reality since it will be easier for us to perceive through our physical senses. Asking for signs also implies that we’re willing to release 100% control and collaborate with the universe.
Communicating Through Sincere Invitation
Once we’ve established what we need help with, our research suggests that communication should be done through sincere invitation, clarity, and conscious intention. Gabby Bernstein also suggests asking our guides for their names because this can help to build trust. Because there are different guides with different agendas, this type of specificity also helps to ensure we’re reaching out and giving permission to our specific guides. Ergo, not everyone is invited to the party. Only those we given permission too.
How do we send a sincere invitation? We can do this through prayer, meditation, or by simply asking out loud or internally. Meditation, being in nature, and tuning our frequency to love and peace has been helpful for us because it helps us quiet our minds. This puts us in a better state to communicate clearly. Meditation also makes us more receptive to whatever guidance will be offered.
I call on my guides of the highest love and light. I give you permission to guide me for the highest benefit of all including myself. [Ask question if applicable]. Thank you.
In the past, we’ve mainly prayed for guidance during times of distress, like during a work or family crisis. This meant our message was received, but it’s unlikely that we were in the right state of mind to perceive feedback clearly.
How might we experience the presence of our guides? Christina Lopes explains that our guides will likely communicate with us in the best way for us to receive the messages. Ergo, there doesn’t appear to be a right or wrong way.
Some experience guides directly through thought, audible sounds, sparks of light, and other physical manifestations. For example, we have family and friends who have internal conversations with their guides. Others experience their guides in more subtle ways, like simply having an inner knowing or gut feeling.
Releasing Outcomes
While in communication with our guides, we’ve found that it’s important to release outcomes because guidance may not appear right way. This is consistent with Taoism teachings which focus on letting go through wu wei (effortless action, non-doing, non-action). Ergo, if we don’t receive answers right away, we shouldn’t constantly ask, “where is my guidance?” Or “why hasn’t my guidance come?” Some guidance will come quickly and other guidance will take time.
Patience has been key for us. We won’t lie…it isn’t always easy to wait for signs or aid to appear. But Gabby Bernstein suggests that we should do the things that bring us joy and guidance will show up faster. Trust has also been a cornerstone for us. Trusting ourselves that we are worthy to establish clear contact. Trusting our guides to reveal whatever they want us to know at the right time. And trusting the universe to do what’s best for the highest good of all since we resonate with the concept that everything is connected.
Yes, sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, blocking guidance and our ability to co-create. We’ve experienced firsthand how trying to control outcomes and influence situations can be alienating and disruptive. Ergo, it’s not a stretch to think that a controlling nature could also interfere with guidance and plans that are already in motion.
So we try to remember that our spiritual guides are tapped into far more information than us (timelines, life times, etc.) since they’re operating from higher states of awareness. This means they can often bypass the pesky laws of nature governing lower densities and planes of existence. This also suggests that our guides are privy to plans much greater than our own. This insight makes them wonderful collaborators and co-creators. But, here’s the kicker. We must trust that their guidance is better than what our egos want and surrender to the process.
Paying Attention
Gabby Bernstein stresses the importance of paying attention and being mindful during the collaboration process because guidance can appear in unexpected ways — as repeating numbers, in dreams, and as sudden insights, to name a few. In our experience, guides have worked through technology, partners, friends, and even strangers. We can only imagine how many times we’ve missed signs because we were too busy to perceive them or were expecting them to appear a certain way.
What’s interesting is that sometimes it’s as if our spiritual guides are providing us with aid based merely on an expression or feeling rather than actual spoken words or direct asks. For example, there have been countless times where we’ve been in research-mode and we simply think to ourselves, “I just need a credible resource for this.” And magically, the perfect YouTube video would show up in our feed the next day or a friend would send us a link to the perfect documentary!
Coincidence? Manifestation? All possibilities are there fellow souls. Including the possibility that we had a little help from our guides. We mention all of this to say that perhaps once initial permission is given to our guides, the floodgates might open. Meaning, we could receive ongoing, daily behind-the-scenes guidance from our guides without us actively asking for or being consciously aware of it.
Expressing Gratitude
Once we receive guidance, our research stresses the importance of expressing gratitude to our spiritual guides rather than remaining in a constant state of neediness or ignoring the guidance altogether. Showing appreciation can also help keep the collaboration strong even if we choose not to follow their guidance. Their love, compassion, and support is invaluable and much appreciated, especially as Earth experiences the chaos of shifting to 4th density.
The more we tap into our divine capabilities, the more we’ll be able to allow grace to flow through us (Bhagavad Gita, 10:11), as Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher) explains. Then it’s to infinity and beyond!
