24 Seven January 2018

EARTH GUIDES
Has someone touched your life,
inspired, supported and protected you
in a memorable way? When I look back,
naturally there are family members who
come to mind – but there have been
others in not so obvious roles who
contributed to shaping the course of my
life. These special relationships can seem
predestined, or “meant to be” and they
are!
Spirit guides are everywhere, and some
reside in human form.
We hear stories about beautiful special
human connections on the news and read
about them on social media. Some are
dramatic – the heroes who saved lives
and stayed to comfort the injured in Las
Vegas, and some more subtle – nurses and
teachers who form a unique and powerful
bond with someone in their care. The story
of a retired marketing executive who goes
into the ICU to hold and sing to premature
babies moved me to tears
Earth Guides
We often believe that guides are only those
who reside in the spiritual dimensions. This
is far from the truth. Guides can be people
who share your everyday life like friends,
neighbors, relatives, and many times even
strangers.
Earth guides are not consciously aware of
being a guide of yours, but I totally believe
that pacts are made between souls before
physical incarnations to help assist each
other.
Perhaps you had a chance encounter with
someone who caused you to think about
an aspect of yourself that you had never
considered before.
Perhaps someone said something in passing
that assisted you in becoming the person
you are today. Your life would have been
very different if you had never met that
person.
Perhaps you had a childhood friend who
changed your life forever. I was lucky
enough to have such a friend.
When I was eight years old, I was on a
mission through my neighborhood to
sell as many magazine subscriptions as
I could for my school. I was just about
to cross the street to reach the last
house of the day, when suddenly a red
Chevy rumbled up to me and came to a
complete stop.
“Hi there, young man!” The bellowing
voice of the female driver startled me.
As I turned to look, I could see her
eagerly waving for me to come over.
I stepped toward the car and saw a
brunette woman about my mother’s age
whom I didn’t recognize. She motioned
me closer so I could shake her hand.
“My name is Connie Leif. I just moved
here. I have a son who is about the
same age as you. Would you like a new
friend?”
Connie had such a welcoming feeling,
and I knew instantly that I liked her.
Her warmth made me feel safe, and she
treated me like an adult.
“Yes,” I said. “I would like a new friend.”
“His name is Scott. We live around the
corner. This car will be parked in the
driveway. I look forward to seeing you
soon.”
Connie pressed the accelerator and
away she went. I could see her hand
reach up and wave from side to side as
she drove off. Her joy was irresistible.
Her son Scott and I quickly became
constant companions. The odd thing
was that I wanted to be his friend, not
only because of him, but because I
enjoyed being with Connie. I always
felt she genuinely cared about me and
showered me with encouragement. She
was like a second mother to me.
As I grew up, I would spend hours at
her kitchen table discussing people, life,
and the ways of the world. I could talk
to her about anything. Looking back, I
know now that she was definitely a guide
of mine, and without her insights and
support, I would never have believed in
myself. She used to say, “Jamie, reach
for the stars. I will always be there to
catch you if you fall!”
Earth guides come into your life at the
perfect time with the perfect words to
say and make an invaluable impact on
the rest of your life.
Some people use the term synchronicity
or serendipity to describe these chance
encounters that can have such a
profound effect on us.
But I don’t believe in accidents. I think
people and events are placed on your
path in accordance with the blueprint
that you (with the assistance of your
spiritual guides) created for yourself
before you incarnated. The gift is to
be able to recognize who and what has
been placed before you for what they
are: tools from which you learn.
James Van Praagh is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and world-renowned spiritual medium. His new book is, Wisdom from Your
Spirit Guides: A Handbook to Contact Your Soul’s Greatest Teachers. www.vanpraagh.com