Contacting an animal spirit guide- tips for those who have never tried before who those who are having problems
There are of course many different types of shamanism. There is not one correct way to contact an animal spirit guide. However, for those new to this practice and feeling a little lost this is a simple ritual that will help to pave the way for you. Don't be afraid to adapt the ritual in simple ways to suit your own way of doing things and your own culture and beliefs.
First of all, I would like to answer some of the most commonly asked questions:-
Q) Is a shamanic journey like meditatory visualisation or dreamweaving? What if you don't have a good imagination?
A) No. A shamanic journey is a real physical journey of the spirit/soul (whatever you call it) into another plane. The 'places' that you visit on a shamanic journey are real but exist on a different level. It's a bit like a rainbow - this mortal plane we are on 90% of the time is one colour band; in our sleep and on journies we can travel across the bands to other 'colours'. Because you are going on a real journey you don't need to worry too much about imagination.
Q) What if I don't like what I see? Can anything on another plane harm me? How much will I remain in control?
A) If you see something you don't like, simply tell it to leave - it will. You are in complete control. You cannot meet with anything which is not already a part of you in some way - you are journeying to another part of your own existence.
Q) Will my spirit guide always be an animal?
A) Not necessarily always, but most of the time yes. Spirits of all types find it easiest to appear in animal form than any other.
Q) Will the spirit guide I meet remain with me for life?
A) Not necessarily. We have different spirit guides at different times in our lives. Some will stay with us for life, others will come and go as we need them. Some may stay a long while, others will visit briefly.
Q) What if it doesn't work for me?
A) Keep at it! Like anything worth achieving in life, you need to work at it. Journeying often does not work the first time for a beginner. You may simply be aware of a 'presence' or of an 'out of body' experience or similar feeling. You may see a place but not actually be able to reach it - it will stay at a distance. Don't despair, simply practice. With time and experience you will reach those planes and make those connections!
PREPARATIONS
Choose your time carefully. You will already know about magik hours and such from your general spellworking etc. so choose the time that suits you best. Make sure you will not be interupted. Switch on the answerphone etc. so you know that nothing will disturb you. Spend a while unwiding before hand. Take a relaxing bath or spend a period in meditation. Make sure that all negativity has been dispelled by whatever is your usual means. A good way to prepare the room/chosen space is to use a white sage smudge. Fan it with feathers.
Light candles and burn incense. You need to choose these carefully. If you have felt strangely drawn to a particular animal or have an affinity with some creature already, then choose the colour and scent that represents that animal. This can be found out from any good table of correspondences (see the page on this site if you do not already know what colour & scent represents the different species). If you have not felt drawn to any one creature at all (which is unlikely) then choose the colour and scent that relates closest to your personal deity.
You will want a recording of rhythmic drumming, not unlike a heart beat that is gradually beating faster and faster and then fades away. You will want to listen to this as you prepare and begin your journey. You will also need to set up a 'recall'. This is important. Some people are so receptive to journeying and so in tune with another plane that they have trouble coming back to awareness without a recall. Choose a sound (a drum beat or bell is usually best but it is certainly not exclusive, I have a friend who uses birdsong. I used to use dolphin sound but now journey without a recall) and record it onto your tape about 20 minutes forward after the drumming ends ( you do not want to journey for more than 20 minutes at your first attempt). You can now journey with the confidence of knowing that in 20 minutes you will hear a sound that will prompt your spirit to journey back into conscious
Having lit your candles and incense and having switched on your tape you are ready to begin your journey. Make yourself very comfortable, the position really doesn't matter as long as you feel relaxed and as long as part on your body in touching the ground. Sitting or laying comfortably, breathing in the incence and listening the heartbeat of the drumming you will certainly feel ready. You will be very familiar with the feeling you are now experiencing from your meditation and spellworking. Now concentrate on just your heart beat, your breating and the drum. Shut out anything else. Empty your mind (not too difficult for me - I'm always pretty empty headed anyway!). Imagine that you are growing roots. Roots are extending from your body deep into the ground, you are connecting as one with the earth, a part of her as much as anything which grows from her soil. Imagine the journey deep through the layers - the top soil, the deep soil, the bedrock, deep into the earths core. This visualisation will bond you with the earth and prepare you for the real journey. Now imagine some way of journeying downwards - a rabbit hole, a pot hole, a pond or pool you can dive down into - just some method of travelling downwards. Now let your spirit go through that gateway and downwards into your inner being and beyond, into the depths that open to other planes. You will emerge through your rabbit hole or cave or out of your pond in a strange new wonderful place. I cannot tell you what that place will be or how it will appear to you. It is different for everybody and it will not always be the same place. It may be a woodland, or a mountainous place, or a wide grassy plain......it could be anywhere, all I can tell you is that it will be a real place on another plane to where the spirits or creatures of that place have drawn you. Step out and venture forth. Don't be afraid. Take in the sights and sounds around you. What is the landscape like? What colours do you see? What sounds do you hear? Can you see any people or creatures about? Are they aware of you or do they seem to ignore you? You will see a place that you will know at once is where you are to meet with your spirit guide, a landmark which stands out to you and draws you to it. Again, it could be anything - a standing stone, a tree, a statue, a folly.........its anybody's guess what place it will be, but you will know it when you see it. Go to that place and wait. You will be approached by some animal or creature that will have chosen you. It is likely to be a creature with which you already have some affinity. Here on this plane you will be able to communicate with this animal as easily as you do with any one of your family or friends on the mortal plane. Ask the creature if he has a name (they will not always tell you this). Ask if there is a message for you. If confident enough, then politely ask if this creature would be willing to travel back with you to your own plane. You can never force a creature from another plane to come back here by any means - if anyone tells you that you can bind these creatures to you with spellcasting then please DO NOT listen to them, they are foolish and dangerous. We cannot control creatures like this at all, but as much as we cannot control them neither can they harm us. It must be a willing, mutual and respectful harmony between you or you will simply scare them away and they will be unwilling to guide you in any way in life. Hopefully, and usually, the creature is more than willing to journey back with you - this is, after all, why they drew you to them. Remain happily at this place, conversing or exploring, until you become aware of a new sound around you. It will not seem sudden or alien to the surroundings but will draw your attention. It will be your recall. This is time to journey home. You will journey back the way you came. Don't worry about finding the same spot where you left that rabbit hole or pond (or plug hole!) - it will be close by you as soon as the recall sounds. Remember that the journey back will be faster than the journey there. If your spirit guide is travelling back with you, you will be aware of his/her physical presence on the journey and then of a sort of 'melting' into you. When you are back in you body, rest a while before standing up. Take time to soak up what has happened and regain your full awareness. You will now have enriched your life in so many ways. You will always be aware of your spirit guide with you. You will see it in many things and many ways. When the feeling of the presence changes ( you will know what I mean when it happens, its not possible to describe in words) then it is likely that you have a new animal spirit guide. Journey and meet him/her! Greet him/her joyously into your life. Listen to his advice. Follow his guide.
