Many articles on this site reference “spirit guides,” which are used by psychics, astrologers, mediums, energy healers, those who contact angels, most if not all in the New Age, and others. So what is a spirit guide?
A spirit guide is believed by those who use them to be a disembodied being who is their personal guide for those “ready” for such guidance. A spirit guide may be referred to as any of these:
- A guide
- An angel
- A guardian angel
- An alien
- A dead person or persons
- “Spirit”
- A “spiritual master”
- An “ascended master”
- A spirit with a proper name, like Benjamin, Seth, Abraham, Philemon (guide for Carl Jung), Ramtha (all actual names of “guides” used by various people)
“Spirit” is a term used mostly by mediums, and by some psychics and New Agers to refer to their alleged source of information.
The writer read and was influenced by a book, Seth Speaks, when she was in the New Age. Seth was a spirit entity who called himself an “Oversoul.” He was channeled by Jane Roberts who first was contacted by him through a Ouija Board, but later was channeled by her directly while in trance. Her husband recorded the messages and took notes. These messages were written up in a series referred to as “The Seth Material.”
So Who Are Spirit Guides?
Spirit guides are fallen angels, also known as unclean spirits, evil spirits, or demons. Jesus referred to these spirits quite frequently and showed his power as the prophesied Messiah by casting them out of those possessed by them.
Spirit guides can be introduced via Eastern/New Age meditations and guided visualizations, either deliberately or accidentally. Many who do these meditations and visualizations do not know or expect a spirit guide will show up, but it happens often. Any non-Christian involved in occult practices, energy healing, and/or New Age practices will eventually have spirit guides. I was introduced to a spirit guide (deliberately) via a guided visualization in a course called Inner Light Consciousness.
The Appearance of Guides
The guides initially seem benevolent and helpful. However, people can have bad or scary experiences with them later, but not necessarily.
Since the guides are fallen angels, they hate Christ with a passion, and will do whatever they can to keep the person from knowing Christ. Although many who have guides see the guides as their friends, in reality, the guides hate the person whom they are “guiding,” since Satan and his angels are opposed to humans, who are made in the image of God and can be redeemed through faith in Christ. Angels are not made in the image of God. Additionally, fallen angels cannot be redeemed, since Christ became man to die for men only, and this likely increases the fallen angels’ hatred of men. As we are told in the book of Hebrews:
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:14-17
Fallen angels serve Satan (a title, not a proper name, meaning “Adversary”). Jesus referred to Satan many times as a real, personal being.
Spirit guides can behave or even appear as a beautiful angel, a dead person, a well-known religious personage (those involved in Eastern-based spiritual groups often are visited in dreams by a figure appearing as their guru, before and/or after the guru’s death), or any type of creature, usually attractive and appealing. There are also spirits that appear as different animals as the person’s guide; these may sometimes be called “spirit animals” or “totem animals.”
Some guides may even appear as what people think is Jesus, matching the way many imagine Jesus to have looked (of course, we don’t know what Jesus looked like since the Bible only tells us that he had no special appearance, Isaiah 53:2). My main guide appeared as a bald Middle Eastern man in his 50s, with a wise and benevolent demeanor. (I had other guides according to many psychics, but I never saw them).
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
Channeled Material
Not all guides appear visually; some may only be psychically heard, or channeled via automatic writing or a tool such as the Ouija Board. Those who claim to “channel” books are getting messages from these guides, no matter what sources are claimed. Many have asserted that they are getting communications from angels, aliens, various deceased saints, ascended masters, dead spiritual leaders, Jesus (as in A Course in Miracles), and others.
The messages will often sound comforting and very spiritual. Embellished religious language, biblical references, and Bible quotations are often used (or misused) in order to enhance the deception and make it seem more spiritual. Satan can quote Scripture; he did so when tempting Jesus. All channeled books are inspired by Satan or his angels, are full of spiritual poison, and are not from God.
Doctrines of Demons
False teachings often come from fallen angels. Several religions have started when people claimed to have received guidance and information from angels or spiritual beings, sometimes even from Jesus (Islam, Mormonism, Swedenborg’s “New Church,” many New Age cults, the Black Hebrew Israelites, and others).
These false teachings are described by God as “doctrines of demons:”
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…” 1 Timothy 4:1
“Deceitful spirits” clearly refer to fallen angels, as do “demons.” Therefore, we know that there are false teachings coming from fallen angels via deceived humans.
What is the Truth?
God has addressed communication with spirits in the Scriptures. There are many passages that condemn spiritism, which is contact with spirits (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6; Deuteronomy18:9-11; 2 Kings 21:6, 23:24, 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19). This practice was part of the pagan religions of the Canaanites who did it to receive guidance or ommunication from their gods, and we are told in several places that these gods when are demons (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 18:19, 32:17; Psalm 106:37, 38; 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21; Revelation 9:20).
There is no justification for any contact with spirits, even if one is attempting to contact “good” angels or “guardian” angels. Only fallen angels respond to such contact because the holy angels serve God. and respond only to his command. The advice, answers, or information from contacted spirits may appear to be helpful (such advice is often given for supposed healing purposes) but that is exactly why it is so deceptive. Even if the advice or information “works,” God has warned:
If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’ do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:1-3
The End for Satan and the Guides
What justice is there in God allowing these fallen angels to roam and deceive? God allows events for his own purposes. No one is deceived unless they desire it, either by rejecting the true God and/or God’s word, or through their own willingness to seek answers outside of God, and/or from a belief that bolsters their sense of self and allegedly frees them from judgment from a righteous God (see addendum). Then they get what they want from the deception; God does not force anyone to choose deception.
But this state of deception will not last forever. Satan and his fallen angels (including the spirit guides) will have an end to their activities. In God’s own timing, after Jesus returns, Satan will ultimately be thrown into the lake of fire “which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (said by Jesus in Matthew 25:41).
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
Justice will be accomplished and evil will end. Meanwhile, be aware of the number of ways these guides influence people via psychics, astrologers, mediums, card readers, false teachings, “spiritual advisers,” channeled materials, the Ouija Board, energy healers, and many alternative therapists.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Addendum
What does “righteous God” mean? “Righteous” meaning perfectly good is not a word heard much in our posttruth culture ruled by relativism and subjectivism. God is not only good; he is the objective absolute standard for good. There is no greater good than the true living God. Therefore, God cannot tolerate or allow deviation from that goodness. Our acts and character are measured against that standard, a standard we can never reach.
So God sent his son, Jesus, who willingly added humanity to his deity to become man and to die for men on the cross, paying the penalty for sins. All who place their trust in Jesus are forgiven of sins, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to those who believe; that is, God sees Christ’s righteousness in those who believe. This action of salvation through faith brings forgiveness of sins, and yields eternal life for the believer that begins at the moment of faith.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
“…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. John 3:35