First and foremost, the sanctum of the Goddess is always protected by Bhairava and his hell-hounds. You can either fearfully turn away, rack up the courage to face your demons, or be devoted to the Goddess where she just hands Hari-Kaula the leash holding Cerberus. Such is the borders of all Goddess Yantras, protecting the Goddess' play within her inner sanctum, where her inner mysteries are unveiled to those willing. The mysteries of creation, of samsara, of why consciousness (light) chooses to manifest in the material (matter) realms are unveiled as the energy of Binah (Babalon; Love-Sick) entices Chokmah (Beast; Intuitive Impulse) to play the game. A missing link within the psychological equation of E=mc^2, or the patriarchally inclined religious trinity. 

The origins of the Ten (10) Wisdom Goddesses, known as MahaVidyas based on culture, are syncronized in Goddess Sati-Parvati, the Mother of All That Is, and consort of the Lord of the Lords/Beasts/Poison. Nonetheless, the names in themselves hint towards different roots, where Goddess Chinnamasta simply means "from China", and is the  inner Goddess of Lord Padmasambhava of Tibetan Buddhism. Nonetheless, these Goddesses in sync with Parvati are showing that they are of a specific current articulated separately based on the archetype. In other words, the collaboration thereof is ripe, where the original cult most likely attempted to collect the ten most powerful Tantrik Goddesses they could find from all traditions to create one powerful magickal system. In original roles, such Goddesses were kept secret, as villages did not want "competitors" obtaining the ability to harness such energy, as still found today through secretive shrines. 

Nonetheless, the system of the Mahavidyas is an incredible system where ancient yogis looked for, not just the most powerful aspects of Shakti, but the most diversified. In the West, we may have the Enochian Magickal system (Angel Magick), but such is still an attempt to synchronize the split-dual harmony of Angel/Demon into Daemon within the human vessel, and has thereafter brought adepts to the Goddess. The West is overtly convoluted with Angel versus Demon, God versus Devil, Dark versus Light, where Angel "channeled" readings often look quite Santa Clause with adepts stating "I only work with the highest beings of the light". Such readers often use tarot cards or other occult systems, and then forget who provided such to humanity. With the Goddess, there is no more hiding, particularly since the adept needs to be initiated (diksha-darsan) and thereafter guided by the inner Goddess through the depths (subconscious) and heights (conscious) of all (turiya) of her Glory. Hence, through all of my spiritual practices, I do not state "love and light", as such are meditative states found when ego-identity is dropped, not a logical statement to express a human monkey-mind sentiment to interpret the context of one's position. (For actual experience, see Bentinho). In my rituals, I ask for my "highest and best guides", in other words, whoever is at the "top of the food chain" in getting the job done for my own Self-Realization as best and quickly as possible, regardless of the vibrational aspects (gunas) where adepts need to remember that Ram had Laksman study Ravana before his passing in the Ramayan. (See Ravan, Kala Maha Indrajaal). Hence, Solomon's Ring given to him by Archangel Michael to harness the usage of Demons. Further, Siddharta meeting Maya or Jesus meeting temptations of worldy Samsara distracting him from the Kether within. In terms of tantra (Saiva), these masters taught that it is after the yoking with the divine within (yoga), that we have enjoyment (bhoga). Enjoyment being Siva (consciousness) enjoying Shakti (energy) to the fullest (matter; yin/yang).

However, external coupling is not required for divine union and can be a samsaric distraction, as "relationships" are simply limited mental contractual-agreements based on past-memory used to assess and dictate momentary conduct and relation, also based on cultural-biological agreements, as opposed to being fully anchored in what the present moment is offering and the unpredictability of the human potential. As an example, do you perceive others by and through an interpretive monkey-mind, with filters of gender, politics, past-conduct, etc., blocking your ability to heighten your senses and perceive from a wider playing field? Or, is the adept fully anchored in the inner Self, allowing samsara to ebb-and-flow, and adjusting one's samsaric self in harmony thereafter aware to a wider array of expressions. It could be gently calming an aggressive behavior, or, it could be flaring the worst of all rudra-tantrums such as in throwing the charlatan tax-collectors out of the House of the Lord, fully expressing the plethora that is human vibrations irrespective of memory-based plot-line "characters". Internally, the adept is karma free as the ebb-and-flow remains oscillating in front of consciousness, as higher consciousness takes the wheel and drives, without a monkey-brained analytical thought directing the vessel. To let go, be, and ride the energy, is to tame the beast, a Goddess riding on a Lion.  For those looking for divine coupling, Jesus, Siddhartha, Mohammed, etc., typically didn't take their girlfriends out to the fringes of society to practice sadhana. Like being in a "sensory deprivation tank", the mind itself will unfold as it looks for concepts and transient existences to grasp onto, as opposed to anchoring in the depths of the spaciousness within oneself. (See Also, History Channel's Alone). Such needs to be articulated, as tantra has been significantly egoic-ally misinterpreted, where according to such texts, to approach Kali without Self-Realization as goal is to use her energy for sinful purposes, or further delusions in samsara. 

As such, while others choose dualist representations and philosophical systems providing a heaven and hell oscillating agenda disguised as "oneness" or a one-deity monarch, the Mahavidya's provide a Universal schematic showing the universal expressions of energy. Such includes unconditional love of Goddess Tara, found through egoic letting go and letting God, as well as the love-sick Babalonian Helen-of-Troy type love of Binah as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari (Semitic Ashera), which excites consciousness of Chokmah to play the game in the first place. The height of heaven is not just the material domains of the Yasksini Lakshmi, but it is the ability to be the most beautiful in all three (3) worlds as Goddess Sodashi, or the pinnacle of Mt. Meru. In synchronization with Lakshmi, the Goddess Kamala is present to assist in the material realms, by having an additional cleansing "wrathful" aspect to prune the adept as "wrath" is the best vibration to flush lower denser energies. The depth of hells would not be some punitive damage arena as consistently fantasied within the West, but would be the misery of Shakti (energy) without her Shiva (consciousness) falling further into the density of the material realms (matter). Such is expressed by the smoky remnants of the great apocalypse ("MahaPralaya"), found fuming from the ashes of the universe (Sati) as Goddess Dhumavati, the Lilith Old Hag archetype cast-away from A(B)rahma. Like Rama's consort Sita, Sati provides an evolutionary obstacle for consciousness not just for (A)Brahma, but his adversary as well, Shiva. As Goddess Dhumavati would teach, true hell is not punitive damages, but the misery experienced from a loss of love, and the societal degradation of such females in patriarchal lineages as they appear to be cursed. She becomes an energy to assist adepts walking through their abyss, a companion whose not going to preach to you, "love and light", but is willing to walk with you in your own psychotic mess in understanding "know thyself", not run from it, but raise it to the awareness of "divine presence" to discern the Truth thereof and henceforth actually experience the Taoist alchemy of "love and all shades of light".

Therefore, the Mahavidya system is quite impressive in its stretch to assist adepts in harnessing many different aspects of Universal energy. The most powerful weapon in Vedic scriptures, the Brahmastra, is secretly none other than the energy of Goddess Bagalamukhi who stills the moment by grabbing the face realigning the adept. Through Goddess Matangi, you have a non-judgmental Goddess Saraswati, where cultural pioneers are typically found on the streets, not in the systems. Lastly, you have Goddess Bhairavi, who is none other than the tantrik adept who has reached that Inner Black Flame via the Serpent (Draconian), and has purged until she can handle sitting on the Black/Golden Lion (Lyra). Such Black Flame is represented by the Yoni-Temple of the Shakti-Pitha of Goddess Kamakhya, whose location is named after Goddess Kubjika, the tradition which provided us with a system of cleansing the chakras, and is the only temple particularly for the Mahavidyas. The location of which, is further rooted in ancient practices of the Assam people, which may hold commonality with ancient Tibetan Bon practices, Spirits which became protectors of the Dharma under Lord Padmasambhava. Such further indicates towards a deeper goal in working with the Goddess, to realize one's true nature, one's true essence outside of monkey-mind conditioning. In addition, the Yoni, as found through working with Goddess Guhya Kali, is a meditative gateway to return the adept before time-space and incarnation into samsara, consciousness before falling down the Qabalist tree of life post Binah. Hence, Goddess Kamakhya, the grounds for Indian Black Magick, is way to flush harsher energies from the human vessel through her "wrath", in addition to digging  deeper within the subconscious for "know thyself", or what is more commonly seen, a way to find love.   

Moreover, to truly ride the lion, the Mahavidyas would be further aspects as found through the larger group of Sixty-Four (64) Yogini. Quite possibly one of the most feared traditions as can be gathered from the visual depictions of such temples with Goddesses garnished with fierce animal faces, statues found within circular structures with open roofs to allow the Goddesses to fly into the temple, as opposed to the Brahmin designed human-vessel shaped temples. As a Bhairavi can properly mount the Lion, where the animal vessel is under harmonious-control, the powerful creative sexual component of the Sixty-Four (64) Yogini can be utilized within stillness, as the Yogini will assist the adept in allowing such sexual sensations to flow up the pranic tube and out of the crown chakra for a delicious and quite cleansing/healing experience, leaving the central nervous system at ease to accept gnosis thereof. The Sixty-Four (64) yogini experience is one of the calm and spaciousness of Self-Realization meeting the ecstatic heights of Self-Actualization, or bringing higher consciousness down into the nervous system. 

The Goddess is path to understand and harness the human potential via the subconscious. Though it is the masculine will that governs, controls, dictates, it is the feminine that en-souls, manifests, and dances the play of samsara for consciousness' evolution (yoga; know thyself) and enjoyment (bhoga). The Wisdom Goddesses' assist the adept in walking through all aspects of their journey, and with Goddess Sodashi, a silver-lining is always found as shown through how Sri Krishna danced among what could be considered obstacles. "As within, so without", use your own consciousness (will) to master your own energy (vibration-energy) using nondual Universal Wisdom to manifest the adepts own divine play, where such Goddesses deserve the capital letter "G" for God, as they have a proven record of saving and returning adepts home to Truth.     

The Mahavidyas are my main team of guides with Goddess Kali as my initiator, and my main intent is to share the blessings that they have brought me, for others. Moreover, I'm really pushed to assist others put power back into their own hands, particularly those who have been dis-empowered, where adepts can truly enjoy their expression outside of psychological conditioning and limitations in their strive to "know thyself". Moreover, I'm hoping that the time of the veiled feminine is done. Some of us prefer Her naked riding a Beast.  

When I was a child, I had a very active imagination. Though my bedtime was around 8:30pm, I wouldn't fall asleep until around 11:00pm, as I would be engaging my imagination living out all of my "Jungle Book" like adventure-fantasies. I guess that's why I chose the form Shiva as my main male archetype guide, as I wasn't interested in Krishna's golden crown (though now I under it as Kether or the peacock third-eye), and though Jesus was a fantastic character and a continuing guide, I just could not relate to other Christians. Nonetheless, this use of imagination would be a key to astral projection, channeling, etc., but is only a stepping stone as the adept moves through numerous higher aspects of themselves, known as higher selves, until they have reached the unity of Self, and thereafter realized the delusion of Self as one moves their consciousness to further investigate the formless Shiva (aspects above Kether).  

Another simple game I would play as a child, was that I would close my eyes and relax as much as possible by moving my breath around my body to wherever it was required. I would relax so much, and as a child most likely on a bored summer day with nothing better to do, I would have nothing to think about and be quite clear-headed. Children under summer vacation don't have to worry about what they are going to do the following day, they don't have to plan their life, and their probably just looking for the most exciting thing to do in the moment. The same applies to romantic interests, though I see this as easily programmable in children, but I don't think children grown up thinking about engaging romantic interests and formalities. In other words, all theses worries, belief-systems, emotional crap we throw to the back of the mind (subconscious) when we choose to not self-reflect (Self-inquiry, bring light to subconscious, enlightenment) and fully en/lighten up our psychological baggage for the brilliance of the virginal moment, hold each individual back from truly living their true signature. Nonetheless, the unprogrammed child has the ability to clear his head rather quickly, easily, and effortlessly. In addition, it is said by the Taoists that breath-work is simply breathing techniques to help the adept return to normal breathing patterns which we experienced around birth (to be able to breath fully down to the lower dantien).  

In doing this simple relaxing game as a child, bringing me to a blank slate consciousness, I would return with eyes-open with such pristine clarity and calm. I would raise my hands to my eyes and watch how I, as simply awareness, held the ability to consciously move the digits of my fingers. The inner feeling that would develop is akin to the character in James Cameron's "Avatar", who switched his awareness from the human-vessel to the avatar-vessel. After the switch, there was that initial reaction of "cool, look what I can do", but then there was also that adjustment period, where Spirit (Psyche) aka Atma (Consciousness) must mold itself with the animal vessel and its numerous senses. Not only must the Spirit engage the animal-vessels interests such as security, sustenance, carnal, etc., but like in "Avatar", the thought-patterns and emotional-energies that complement such belief-systems held by the character are also transferred from one vessel to the other showing karma. Again like in "Avatar", the character was then forced to begin psychological de-conditioning in order to regain unity-consciousness. As an adult practicing Advaita, yes, Oneness is a legitimate experience as the Avatar is the human multidimensional, and beyond all-dimensions, Self. Simply put, as Shiva has taught, the Avatar is the ability to yoke the animal vessel with the higher consciousness, Yoga.  

Hence, true-spirituality, are those moments that we are able to let go and be (sat) psychologically in the pristine virginal moment. A few years back, a buddy of mine took me to the shooting range with a 12gauge and 9mm. It was my first time shooting, so I was hoping my buddy would be give me better instruction, nonetheless, what poured out of his mouth was so much more important than properly instructing me on how to hold a gun. As I held that 12gauge shooting these clay discs, essentially my buddy stated, "isn't this  great, like time stands still, there's nothing else but you, that gun, the target, like nothing else matters". My buddies words were reminiscent of Rollin's "Harley Davidson and Philosophy". Though I have yet to be on a bike, a childhood dream, my imagination and what I can gather from riding a non-motor bicycle, is that feeling that there is no separation between the spirit-human vessel and the surrounding flowing environment. There are many opportunities for moments as such to arise, but they usually arise when we are fulfilling something that deeply touches the adept. 

The practice of stillness, is like bringing a magnifying glass to the moment, and being able to perceive with heightened clarity. Particularly when the adept has done significant deconstruction of limiting-beliefs freeing up the emotional body as felt through the central-nervous system, the moment glows with beauty, where the slightest enjoyments will release the most pleasing hormonal cocktails felt within sensory animal-vessel, leading the adept to realize that not much is required to experience ananda (bliss), and further as such, all is actually sourced from within as the adept gives these moments to themselves, "as within, so without". 

That stillness that brings us to presence is the true-art of spirituality, in each and ever pristine virginal moment. The presence brings Spirit to properly align (law of attraction) with the human-vessel, where the human is no longer a product of the monkey-mind dualistic interpreter mechanism (ego), creating divine presence or "as above, so below".

Stillness brings us to, The Avatar Self.  

From my research, the first step in the Western occult practices is communication with what is known as the Holy Guardian Angel ("HGA").  Communion with such will allow the fruition of one's divine will, or soul purpose, pushing the motto propagated by Aleister Crowley, "do what thou wilt". Texts such as the The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, stress the need to bypass working out of ignorance. Such includes studying with individuals working with astral beings that may not necessarily have the highest intent, where such practices are designed more so for material (egoic/samsaric) purposes.

From further researching Western occultists on this path, it appears the modern technique is quite similar to the Eastern Advaita Vedanta. Advaita is simply the technique to remove all images from the monkey-mind, bringing the adept to a psychologically clean blissful state. The technique is self-inquiry where the adept analyzes all that arises before the mind as either transient, or non-transient. As all, but awareness, is ever-changing and thusly transient, the technique is called Neti, Neti, where the adept ends-up telling himself, Not This (It Is Transient, It Is Not Real), Not This (It Is Transient, It Is Not Real), until one has removed himself from the monkey-mind for the momentary state of "presence" found by simply being the "observer" and not emotionally-vibrationally tied down by "persona" and its baggage. The persona and attached baggage, or the personalization of consciousness with the character being played within the matrix, is karma. One may understand bad karma as handcuffs to bad habits, but one may not realize good karma as golden-handcuffs often mistaken as jewelry. Both, good or bad karma, are the product of the monkey-mind attaching one to samsaric-maya-creation, where the adepts goal is to flow with one's higher consciousness out of the monkey-mind. 

In further correlation to the Western traditions, my work with Enochian Magick, particularly the Call of The 30 Aethyrs (as worked backwards, 30th to 1st), holds the sensation of drastically clearing the chakra system, realigning the spinal cord, and bringing the adept to a significantly noticeable calm. In addition, my HGA made an appearance during the Call of The 4th Aethyr, an angelic being with "Western" features, which only further pushed me into "presence" beyond imagery, or what I would label "void". I have further taken note regarding this particularly session, where monkey-mind sought numerous distractions. Hence, the adept is warned for the necessity of spiritual hygiene, including banishing practices. (See the works of Jason Louv). For banishing, I typically use the four (4) archangels used in most banishing settings, as well as Goddess Durga. The quick Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is quite effective in aura cleansing leaving the emotional body in a noticeably deeper calm, though I am personally not one for crafty external rituals.

Nonetheless, the sole purpose of the Guru is to move the adept into "presence" beyond the "monkey-mind" which is glued to samsara through "personhood-personalization-ego". The need for Guru arises as the adept oscillates between "presence" where one's inner cranium is essentially void of baggage leaving an "emptiness" feeling with sensory heightening of the current moment, versus the monkey-mind immersed in the clatters of personalizing one's egoic-story and in constant analysis regarding one's environmental circumstances. Essentially, the goal is to drop your baggage to fully show up for the moment. The clarity of the moment is what allows the adept senses to heighten pushing way for the magick to begin. It allows the ego-personhood to step aside, for gnosis. 

a. Vaisnava

The vast majority of Hinduism falls under Vaishnava, including simple understandings of Shiva. Hindus have provided the G.O.D. model by and through (a)Brahma-Generator, Visnu-Operator, and Shiva-Destroyer. Nonetheless, in this model, Shiva destroys to return to Brahma. Brahma is the creator of traditions, culture, and religion. In other words, he would be the egos attempt to bring heaven on earth, as he is constantly chasing perfection (Saraswati). Nonetheless, the G.O.D. model becomes cyclical, a rat wheel if you will, or the wheel of samsara.

b. Saiva and Buddhist Tantras

The Saiva texts push the G.O.D. model further, with Maheshwara and Sadashiva coming after Shiva. The Tibetan teachers have stated to be in opposition to Maheshwara, as Maheshwara traps atma-consciousness-spirit in the rat wheel. The adept should view such as understanding psychological archetypes, as opposed to a superhero-villain dynamic, where Maheshwara (All That Is) is simply dreaming (maya) his play (lila). 

Nonetheless, as Lord Padmasambhava states to Lady Tsogyal, if you want higher truths, you can no longer take refuge in mundane deities, "Mahadeva, Vishnu, Maheshwara". Padmasambhava, Dakini Teachings. Shiva himself evens discuses the transiency of deities, "Gods like Brahma, Visnu, Mahesa and the various Elemental Beings are also perishable". Kularnava Tantra (Prachya Prakashan). It is important to note that these are teachers of truth, who have provided humanity with steps to use the form to find the formless. 

Though much of Hinduism is predicated on the traditions of Brahma, propagated through his children, it is important to understand that Sati (Brahma's Granddaughter)-Parvati did not achieve "enlightenment" by and through the traditions-culture of Brahma (though such may be prep work), but when she trained with her father's opponent (Satan=Opponent) known as Shiva. Shiva is known for "strange" or anti-brahmanic practices. Such practices may be rapid psychological de-conditioning in order to remove chakra blockages from the emotional body for one's true-self to flow through. (See the works of Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D).  Further, it is important to understand that the word GuRu itself means "ignorance-destroy" where in form, it would be Gu-Rudra, again the opponent to the creator who brings us apokalypsis-revelation. Such revelation is found when one pierces beyond transient existence. Some want to create heaven on earth, while some want to wake up from the smoke-screen movie and truly realize the one who is perceiving the movie. 

Hence, "enlightenment" is more of a tantrik concept, where the Hindu Puranas (especially Garuda) are boastful of astral-planetary travel including lower realms giving us heaven and hell dynamics, which are simply more transient existences. It's just another play (Jiva = Mass) dancing (Energy = Shakti) before consciousness (Light = Shiva/Prakasa), or as Albert Einstein would say, "E=mc^2". Enlightenment as defined by the Saiva texts begins with "Turiya", or to be awake within the three (3) states of consciousness: 1. waking; 2. Dreaming; 3. Dreamless Sleep. (Recommendation: Panache Desai). The Shakta tradition takes "awakening" one step forward, where one is not just awake or Self-Realized, but becomes the most beautiful or Self-Actualized. 

Therefore, Sadashiva (5 headed) provides us with the archetype of the four (4) corners facing upwards, where his mantras (mantras directly to Sadashiva found through research) create the impressions of extreme cranial pressure forcing the adept to let psychological baggage go, feeling fresh and clean lingering in the moment. Sadashiva feels like the Mahavakya mantra, Prajnanam Brahma, which has an expansive stilling effect but not without a purge feeling. Therefore, I have found that Sadashiva fits the perfect archetype for Gu-Rudra, with his consort, "Sri" Tripura Sundari representing the height of heaven (pinnacle of Mt. Meru) being the most beautiful within the three (3) states of consciousness. Essentially, be Still (Sadashiva) and manifest your heaven (Tripura Sundari). Self Realization becomes Self Actualization. 

In spirit keeping, having mostly worked with wrathful Shakti energy, I have found that effort was initially required to tap into these energies, as these beings worked on my subtle bodies to further connect with them. Nonetheless, I am currently of the belief based on my own scientific inquiry, that it may initially be easier to "feel" beings closer to the elemental realms, such as the Nagas or Orishas, when one begins opening their abilities. Though I do not recommend beginning with either (unless intuitively attracted), as such beings hold human-like temperaments. Shakti will understand you and see the big picture, where you do not want to piss-off the Nagas or Orishas. Many may be attracted to such traditions as they are reflections of one's past lives, where one's current lifetime may be pulling on information from prior lifetime developments. 

A perfect flowering of the Self-Realization meets Self-Actualization archetype would be a return to the Vaisnava tradition with "Sri" Krishna. Krishna would be an elemental incarnation who would be a clear channel for his higher self, by and through the celestial (e.t.) form of Visnu. Hence, Krishna would be an amazing archetype to work with as a spirit keeper. Nonetheless, Krishna is quite expansive and feels closer to Shakti, or rather Shiva (Formless beyond all Forms). Therefore, personally Krishna has not felt as grounded and can be elusive for the beginner, where Krishna typically appears on his own as I am more intrigued with the Saiva tantras.    

In terms of looking for a spirit being (being not in body, including angels, etc.) to assist with the Guru aspect of anchoring "presence" where the "monkey-mind" has been essentially thrown into the "Tao" for re-harmonization, I would recommend Lord Padmasambhava. With vows to serve Buddha (Enlightenment teachings-transmissions), Sangha (Community of Adepts), and Dharma (Truth of Awakening; Walking the Tao), Padmasambhava becomes an excellent energy to assist the adept in forging the "monkey-mind" for the height of Yoga as defined by both Hindus and Buddhists as Samadhi, or no-mind. (See Vivekananda's Raja Yoga and Richard Shankman's The Experience of Samadhi). 

As Siddhartha Gautama brought the world the teachings of Buddhism, Padmasambhava is often portrayed as the Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Tibet. In actuality, Padmasambhava was another enlightened being who brought his methods of enlightenment to Tibet, as an evolution of Siddhartha's teachings, where Siddhartha taught individuals based on the caliber of the adept leaving only a few to Siddhartha's higher teachings. As an evolutionary aspect, in addition to "stillness" of enlightenment, Padmasambhava is known to shift the animistic spirits of the ancient Bon religion of Tibet, which may have been used for ignorant purposes, to become the protectors of the Dharma. As the Western tradition has extreme forms of dualism, light verus dark, the Eastern tradition has harmony, yin and yang. As Shiva is beloved by both the Devas and Asuras, Padmasambhava seems to hold the same alchemy. Mastery of both White and Black (Chaos-Potential) magick. As many who observe the yin-yang symbol can recognize what the dark yin revolves around, many fail to grasp where yang receives wisdom. 

Padmasmabhava, like Siddhartha Gautama, held physical form as evidence by historical records. As grounded in the elemental realms (having a physical vessel), Padmasambhava's presence can feel more solidified as opposed to Sadashiva, like that of the Nagas, and Orishas. Such is valuable when energies are used to work on the subtle bodies, where Goddesses such as Kali will use "attendants" as found through her yantras, to bring an adept closer to the chosen deity. Therefore, grounded energy for the physical body to acclimate higher consciousness makes Padmasambhava ideal to work with. In addition to physical Guru, is the Yidam deity, or meditation deity, where Padmasambhava's Vajrayogini was, I believe based on mantra comparison and further research,  the Mahavidya Chinnamasta tying back to the Saiva tradition, and relating to inner completion. 

In terms of spirit keeping, Padmasambhava would be an excellent energy to work with in guiding the adept to the stillness of the moment, or "blissful-presence", which also naturally re-aligns the adept to be "in the vortex", as Abraham Hicks would state.  In addition, "stillness" provides the adept with some buffer from transient existence, or protection, where should "personhood" face issues, one can return to "presence" to be removed from harsh energy, which further, may also present inner guidance. 

With psychic teachers now flooding the internet providing not just techniques and tips in connecting with spirit guides, as well as shops which provide spirit bindings, it becomes important that individuals properly use such energies, where it is recommended that such be used for Self-Realization aka looking for that "kingdom of heaven within".  For those still critiquing psychics, take note that anyone can fake a general reading, but to go to a psychic to become psychic cannot easily be faked. 

Spirits are phenomenal tools, where I recommend only working with beings who are more than happy to help with Self-Realization, and without the need for sacrifice or contractual vow-oath bindings. For an adept reaching closer to "stillness", much ritual and sacrifice will be unnecessary, though beings that require blood will remove "vital essence" from the adept, creating noticeable exhaustion. Simply, fuel for manifestation. Currently, it is better to be safe than sorry as we forge on in this field.

Guru is necessary to remove the adept from the "monkey-mind" to "presence", where the "stillness" of the moment is like a still pond where one small pebble can ripple the mirage over the water. A necessary blank-slate, which makes mantra work significantly more vibrant, allowing the adept to bypass psychological-conditioning attached to "personhood" to see the "truth" of the moment.  Though I do not believe that spirit-energy would be a proper replacement of a physical Guru, who shares the same job of moving adepts from "monkey-mind" to "presence", I feel such invocations have allowed my practice to expand holistically. Physical Guru is still necessary, where such teachings of the Upanisads and that of Adi Shankara and his lineage are telepathic transmissions as opposed to simply "oral traditions", where the adept before a physical Guru is forced to purge "personhood", which will occur even without the adepts immediate conscious awareness. 

Therefore, you need to anchor in the "I Am-Presence" for this work. As I've recently found, Guru is a must as the "monkey-mind" will throw fits and distractions meant to make the adept believe they have finished the job. If you have not taken ownership that all before your awareness, is simply a reflection of something within you, like a mirror to consciousness, or rather "as within so without", you need Guru. In addition, psychics, channelers, healers, etc., who have not anchored in "I Am-Presence", run the risk of their own personhood being projected where it becomes necessary to become a "clear-channel". 

The first step of spirituality is inquiry to discover one's true self. The last step is of spirituality is becoming one's true self. Spirit work can be an excellent route for this process, but dangerous as one's psychology is being flushed from the emotional body during moments known as the "dark night of the soul". It's best that the adept properly prepare and understand what they are getting themselves into, as opposed to treating spirit work as if it is a simple Quija board reading.  

Be safe.