Not too uncommon someone asks me after reading the blog or after listening to a conference I gave on Angels and Demons, regarding so-called spirit guides. If by "spirit guides" one intends what is written in this link, then there is nothing I can say about it except quote what is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2116 and 2117:
All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.In short, in Catholic understanding, these "spirit guides" are demonic in nature, period. They have nothing to do with authentic Catholic teaching on the Holy Guardian Angels and the Angelic Hosts in heaven nor with the Saints. All spirits outside those of the Saints and the Holy Angels are fallen angels and damned souls. These bring nothing ultimately to man except misery and perdition.
