Where Is Spirit? Understanding Spiritual Energy, Guidance, and Connection

After walking the Medicine Wheel, I learned that my soul path is to become a spiritual teacher and healer. This came as a great surprise to me, but teaching has become a source of both joy and enlightenment. I particularly appreciate reading my students’ class evaluations because they help me continue improving what I teach and how I teach it.

One recent evaluation encouraged me to explore Spirit more deeply, particularly a question that seems simple but is actually quite profound: Where does Spirit reside?

Spirit is often defined as the non-physical force or essence that gives life, energy, and character to living things. For me, the most important word in that definition is energy.

All life is composed of energy. Our souls are energy, and I believe Spirit is energy as well. If we begin there, the idea of Spirit becomes less about identifying a single place where it exists and more about understanding how it surrounds us, moves through us, and connects us to the spiritual realm.

Connecting With Spirit

I regularly call upon Spirit in my own spiritual work. When I guide students through a shamanic journey, I ask Spirit to protect them and support the intention of the journey, which may be to meet a guide or receive a message. When I enter the Akashic Records, I ask Spirit to help me access the Records and receive the guidance my client needs.

We can also call upon Spirit when we are seeking change or healing in our lives. I believe that the greater the transformation, the more spiritual energy may be needed. This is one reason we may ask our guides, ancestors, angels, or others in our spiritual community to join us in prayer and intention.

Spirit itself should not be confused with the vibrations we use to journey between spiritual realms. I think of vibration more like the pathway that allows us to move through the different worlds. Reaching the upper world requires us to significantly raise our vibration, while reaching the lower world requires less. This is why I typically begin teaching shamanic journeying through the lower world.

Spirit, however, is not confined to one of these realms. I believe Spirit can be found throughout the universe, gathering and directing energy where it is needed and then allowing that energy to return to the greater whole.

Learning to Feel Spiritual Energy

Spirit does not always need to be seen to be recognized. Sometimes we experience it as a feeling. It may surround us like a warm blanket or move past us like a breeze.

When I was first learning about spirituality, we lived in a home where our bedroom windows faced west with very little blocking the elements. When the wind blew through those windows, I began sensing different types of spiritual energy moving with it. Those experiences taught me the importance of learning how to protect my own energy and clear the space around me.

As we become more spiritually aware, discernment becomes important. Opening ourselves to spiritual energy also means learning how to create boundaries, protect ourselves, and recognize what feels supportive and positive.

Spirituality and the Metaphysical

For those beginning this path, I also think it is helpful to understand the difference between the terms spiritual and metaphysical.

Metaphysics is traditionally a branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and existence, including what may exist beyond what we can observe through our physical senses. The term metaphysical is now commonly used to describe practices such as Tarot, astrology, Akashic Record readings, and shamanism.

While I sometimes use the term, particularly when participating in metaphysical fairs, I personally prefer spirituality when describing this work. To me, practices such as shamanism, Akashic Record readings, Tarot, and astrology are different spiritual modalities, but they share an important connection: each offers a way to work with Spirit and explore what exists beyond our everyday physical experience.

So, where is Spirit?

I believe Spirit is all around us. It exists throughout the universe and is available whenever we consciously reach out and ask for guidance, protection, healing, or support.

As you continue exploring your own spiritual path, practice reaching out to Spirit. Learn to protect your energy, clear your space, and become aware of what you feel. The more you practice, the more you may begin to recognize the many ways Spirit is already present in your life.