As unfavorable as it sounds, if one has to ask others if an experience he or she had was indeed a an initial contact with a spirit guide or helper, that person asking was not fully prepared for such a contact or else such an encounter never occurred. Perhaps a case of mistaken identity.
However if such an initial encounter does occur, a prepared person knows this is his or her spirit guide or protector. At best those not involved can only offer advice. This is an individuals personal encounter with a spirit guide, thus no one else can say yes or no. Only the individual involved knows his or her spirit helper.
In North America, Indians of many tribes still acquire and retain spirit helpers. These helpers assist in an individuals hunting, fishing, gambling, travels, community life, healing, protection, battles and other such humanly pursuits.
It was/is the common practice of many tribes to send boys approaching puberty, naked into the wilds where they fasted, had visions and humbled themselves for an initial contact with their spirit helpers. It was the practice of some tribes, for young men to cut off a finger joint or mutilate their bodies in other ways as to attract a sympathetic spirit. Often these helpers appear as animals, both familiar with the tribe or else of an unknown species, sometimes unique and seemingly not of this world. They have been known to shift shapes from animals to humanlike and vise versa, or can fade into nothing. They can be as big as a moose, or as small as a gnat. Size and shape does not bespeak of their power.
Girls approaching womanhood are isolated in special lodgings where they go through their first menses, spiritually journey and acquire their own spirit helpers. Sometimes they will appear as a child, a bird, a frog or else may be something totally unrecognizable. At times its only a feeling. They aid women in courtship, marriage, family rearing, community life, agriculture, gathering, crafts, healing, lodging and in some cases such as with the Haudenosaunee, women choosing tribal leaders.
These spirit guides or helpers teach songs to humans who are expected to learn them, they also protect and instruct.. The personal power attained by such a relationship was not applied that much until an individual aged a bit from young adulthood and was utilized more in middle life into old age.
If the spirit helper chooses an unprepared young child this is a significant event and a very good chance that child will be bound for greatness. If a person has not acquired a spirit helper, especially by middle age, it is because he or she neglected their opportunity usually due to being too engrossed with some non spiritual humanly pursuit driven by greed, lust or malice thus raising questions pertaining to the possibility of that individual being infected with or under the sway of predatory evil spirits. If healing does not cure or is outright refused, that individual was exiled or else mercifully killed, depending upon the power of the evil spirit. A dangerous endeavor as the evil spirit could leap out of the body at death and trouble someone else.
Spirit animals cannot be chosen by a person because of a personal admiration for a particular animal such as an eagle, hawk, songbird, waterfowl, turtle, puma, bear, buffalo or wolf. Reading a book, watching a video, attending a weekend workshop, or by answering a series of questions on the internet cannot choose one's spirit animal either.
Natural animals of course are often curious and will at times interact with humans. They have their own souls, guardians and guides. Just because a luna moth lands on ones hand or a bird hovers over ones head does not always mean they are spirit guides. Dreaming of animals doesn't always mean they are spirit animals.
Wherever one may live, be careful while attempting to acquire a spirit helper as sometimes one can encounter and be pulled into something both scary and very dangerous.
