A spirit guide, in Western spiritualism, is an entity that remains as a discarnate spirit to act as a guide or protector to a living incarnated individual.
In traditional African belief systems[which?], well before the spread of Christianity and Islam, Africans believed and continue to believe in the eternal and ubiquitous spirit of the ancestors and the Almighty God.[1] The ancestors are thought of as the ‘living-dead’, who continue to show a compassionate interest in the daily lives of their living descendants.[2] Ancestor spirit guides are superior to the living and may include deceased parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles or aunts. It is believed that because they have crossed over to the other side of life, the spirit guides act as mediators between the living and the Almighty God. This way of life is regarded as ancestor reverence, communication or remembering, and not as ancestor worship per se.[3]
According to Western theosophical doctrine, spirit guides are not always of human descent. Some spirit guides live as energy, in the cosmic realm, or as light beings, which are very high level spirit guides. Some spirit guides are persons who have lived many former lifetimes, paid their karmic debts, and advanced beyond a need to reincarnate. Many devotees believe that spirit guides are chosen on "the other side" by those who are about to incarnate and wish assistance.
Some early modern Spiritualists did not favor the idea of spirit guides. Spiritualist author and medium E.W. Wallis, writing in A Guide to Mediumship and Psychic Unfoldment, expressed the opinion that the notion of spirit guides is disempowering and disrespectful to both spirits and living people. Although he does not deny that seeking people may be helped by spirits here and there, he decries the idea that said spirits are appointed or assigned to do nothing but help the living. He advises would-be mediums to steer clear of the notion that they are being "guided" unless they have demonstrable proof that such is the case.[4]
Firsthand accounts
Theresa Caputo, the Long Island-based, Pigasus Award-winning "medium" of the reality TV series Long Island Medium, simply calls her guide "Spirit", claiming that it is an entity that she has been able to sense since she was four years old.[5]
American Spiritualists of the 19th and 20th centuries often described their guides as resembling Native Americans. One popular spirit guide of this type, encountered by many Anglo-American Spiritualists, was named White Hawk. Among African-American Spiritualists, especially those in churches that were founded by or influenced by Mother Leafy Anderson, the Native American guide was named Black Hawk, and was presumed to be the spirit of the Sac tribe warrior of the same name.[6]
^Mokgobi, M. Understanding traditional African healing. Originally published 2014. Ibadan, Nigeria : LAP Publications, 1995- Ibadan, Nigeria : LAP Publications. 1995. p.1-2.
^Van Dyk, AC., Traditional African beliefs and customs: Implications for AIDS education and prevention in Africa, South African Journal of Psychology. 2001;31(2):60-66.
^Berg, A., Transcult Psychiatry,2003 Jun; 40(2):p.194-207
^Wallis, E.W. and M.H., A Guide to Mediumship and Psychic Unfoldment. Originally published 1901. Reprint edition by Health Research 1996, p. 162-3, 193.
^Gilbert, Ryan (June 26, 2012). "Theresa Caputo Says Life As 'Long Island Medium' Is 'Bananas'". Hartford Courant.
spirit, guide, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books,. For other uses see Spirit guide disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Spirit guide news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message A spirit guide in Western spiritualism is an entity that remains as a discarnate spirit to act as a guide or protector to a living incarnated individual Contents 1 Description 2 Firsthand accounts 3 See also 4 ReferencesDescription EditIn traditional African belief systems which well before the spread of Christianity and Islam Africans believed and continue to believe in the eternal and ubiquitous spirit of the ancestors and the Almighty God 1 The ancestors are thought of as the living dead who continue to show a compassionate interest in the daily lives of their living descendants 2 Ancestor spirit guides are superior to the living and may include deceased parents grandparents great grandparents uncles or aunts It is believed that because they have crossed over to the other side of life the spirit guides act as mediators between the living and the Almighty God This way of life is regarded as ancestor reverence communication or remembering and not as ancestor worship per se 3 According to Western theosophical doctrine spirit guides are not always of human descent Some spirit guides live as energy in the cosmic realm or as light beings which are very high level spirit guides Some spirit guides are persons who have lived many former lifetimes paid their karmic debts and advanced beyond a need to reincarnate Many devotees believe that spirit guides are chosen on the other side by those who are about to incarnate and wish assistance Some early modern Spiritualists did not favor the idea of spirit guides Spiritualist author and medium E W Wallis writing in A Guide to Mediumship and Psychic Unfoldment expressed the opinion that the notion of spirit guides is disempowering and disrespectful to both spirits and living people Although he does not deny that seeking people may be helped by spirits here and there he decries the idea that said spirits are appointed or assigned to do nothing but help the living He advises would be mediums to steer clear of the notion that they are being guided unless they have demonstrable proof that such is the case 4 Firsthand accounts EditTheresa Caputo the Long Island based Pigasus Award winning medium of the reality TV series Long Island Medium simply calls her guide Spirit claiming that it is an entity that she has been able to sense since she was four years old 5 American Spiritualists of the 19th and 20th centuries often described their guides as resembling Native Americans One popular spirit guide of this type encountered by many Anglo American Spiritualists was named White Hawk Among African American Spiritualists especially those in churches that were founded by or influenced by Mother Leafy Anderson the Native American guide was named Black Hawk and was presumed to be the spirit of the Sac tribe warrior of the same name 6 See also EditChanneler Dream guide Traditional African religions SpiritualismReferences Edit Mokgobi M Understanding traditional African healing Originally published 2014 Ibadan Nigeria LAP Publications 1995 Ibadan Nigeria LAP Publications 1995 p 1 2 Van Dyk AC Traditional African beliefs and customs Implications for AIDS education and prevention in Africa South African Journal of Psychology 2001 31 2 60 66 Berg A Transcult Psychiatry 2003 Jun 40 2 p 194 207 Wallis E W and M H A Guide to Mediumship and Psychic Unfoldment Originally published 1901 Reprint edition by Health Research 1996 p 162 3 193 Gilbert Ryan June 26 2012 Theresa Caputo Says Life As Long Island Medium Is Bananas Hartford Courant Berry Jason November 1 1995 The Spirit of Blackhawk A Mystery of Africans and Indians University Press of Mississippi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spirit guide amp oldid 1152009727, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
