"When you start experimenting with the ecstatic postures, one of the first things to do is to find a spirit guide that in some way leads you to some new discovery about yourself. This makes sense in that the hunters and gatherers, both ancient and contemporary, see the world as being full of spirits — the spirits of specific animals, plants, or other substances of the Earth. In tribal societies, a clan name is generally that of an animal who is considered an ancestor of the members of the clan. This animal is protected by the clan and is considered a spirit guide in its life. The clan members are sometimes extended family members, but people are also assigned to a clan by various other methods, for example, as the result of a vision quest, by some specific rite of passage in the person's life, or by the person's role in the community. As well, a person may have more than one spirit guide. Spirit guides are central in the rituals, celebrations, and dances of the tribe, and honoring them is a way of showing them respect. The costumes and masks worn by tribe members during these rituals are generally of their spirit guides and are worn to call these spirits to join them in the rituals.

"Spirit guides have specific personalities that have something to teach a person. Take the coyote: a commonly accepted personality trait of the animal is that of the playful trickster. The personality of the bear is that of nurturer and healer. Trees are often experienced as the axis of life, and rivers are a guide to our flow of life. Paths across the Earth can also be spirit guides."