You’ve heard of prophets, mystics, and sages. Across spiritual traditions, another term appears quietly, often between the lines: ascended masters.
Their names surface in ancient texts, meditation states, and modern teachings. Some call them guides. Others see them as symbols. Either way, they show up when someone’s ready to evolve.
True, not many people talk about them. But once you notice their common patterns, it’s hard to unsee them.
Who are the ascended masters?
Ascended masters are highly evolved spiritual beings who have walked the Earth, transcended the cycle of reincarnation, cleared their “karmic debt”, and now guide humanity from higher realms.
They are seen as enlightened souls who mastered human lessons (like love, forgiveness, service, and consciousness) and chose to help other humans attain higher levels of consciousness.
The idea of these masters first showed up in the late 1800s with Russian mystic Helena Blavatsky, who introduced the concept of “Mahatmas,” or wise beings guiding humanity from beyond.
A few decades later, Guy and Edna Ballard, founders of the “I AM” Movement, gave them the fresh name “ascended masters.” These weren’t deities to be worshipped but rather, awakened souls who, from “on the other side,” now help the rest of humanity awaken, too.
Then came Elizabeth Clare Prophet, a spiritual teacher who brought the teachings mainstream. Through books, talks, and her company, The Summit Lighthouse, she framed the masters as allies for anyone on a path of spiritual evolution.
Their life’s work points to something simple: awakening is part of human evolution. Just like flowers bloom from plants, we’re meant to grow into deeper awareness.
The science behind how ascended masters empower human potential beyond culture
Religion didn’t arrive in a vacuum; it emerged from culture. And culture is shaped by language—the system we use to name everything, including the sacred.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. In linguistics, there’s a concept called the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis that suggests that the language you speak shapes how you see the world, including the divine. In other words, your words don’t just reflect reality; they help build it.
And here’s why ascended masters feel strangely familiar across belief systems. Their words may differ, often shaped by the first language they were exposed to. But their messages underneath? They’re universal signals that the human spirit already knows.
This idea of awakening beyond differences is something Amin Martin Ebrahimi, a modern mystic and author, further explores in his book The Mystical Übermensch. His work focuses on spiritual evolution, cultural deconditioning, and what he calls “the awakening of the post-linguistic self.”
“To transcend culture is not to reject it,” he wrote on spiritual transcendence and its place in spiritual growth. “It is to see through it, to recognize the invisible hand of the culturescape and release its grip… What lies beyond culture is not chaos but clarity.”
Who are the 12 ascended masters?
Over time, mystics and metaphysical teachers began mapping out the ones who showed up, often across spiritual texts, channelings, meditations, and teachings.
Now, how many ascended masters are there, exactly? Well, here’s the thing: there’s no fixed number. Different traditions recognize dozens, sometimes hundreds, depending on the source.
But across lineages and teachings, a core circle of twelve keeps showing up. And they often appear—usually through spiritual symbols—when you’re ready to receive spiritual guidance.
Here’s the list of the most well-known ascended masters:
- Sanat Kumara: A guardian of Earth’s evolution who holds a stabilizing role in planetary awakening.
- Gautama Buddha: A master of inner stillness who taught the path to freedom through mindfulness, detachment, and compassion.
- Jesus (Yeshua): A teacher and healer remembered for his embodiment of unconditional love, forgiveness, and the direct relationship between humanity and Source.
- El Morya: A spiritual leader associated with divine will, mental discipline, and purposeful action aligned with higher truth.
- Kuthumi: A guide of compassion, wisdom, and heart-centered service who supports the integration of spirit and intellect.
- Paul the Venetian: A patron of creativity and beauty who helps people express the soul through art, color, and culture.
- Serapis Bey: A master of discipline and energetic refinement who oversees the process of spiritual ascension and activation of the light body.
- Hilarion: A scientist-mystic figure who bridges healing, truth, and the sacred science of energy.
- Lady Nada: A soul deeply connected to divine love, emotional intelligence, and the power of selfless service.
- Saint Germain: A master of alchemy, freedom, and transformation, known for the violet flame and teachings on personal sovereignty.
- Djwal Khul: A transmitter of ancient wisdom and esoteric knowledge who guides many behind the scenes through dreams, downloads, and sacred texts.
- Mother Mary: A spiritual presence recognized for her grace, protection, and embodiment of the divine feminine across both religious and mystical traditions.
Remarkably, none of them belong to any one belief system (e.g., Jesus or Mother Mary being exclusive to Christianity), contrary to preconceived notions.
But the messages they’ve left behind? They’re spiritual post-its of what’s possible when your soul evolves beyond the self.
Female ascended masters
Most prophets recorded in major religions are men. However, in the metaphysical traditions that map ascended masters, the feminine plays a central and equally vital role.
Female ascended masters embody energies like divine love, intuition, compassion, creative power, and inner healing. They don’t just balance the masculine archetypes; they also amplify humanity’s evolution by anchoring the heart in spiritual wisdom.
Besides Lady Nada and Mother Mary, here are some of the most recognized female ascended masters from around the world:
- Kuan Yin: The bodhisattva—the Sanskrit term for one who postpones enlightenment to help others— of compassion in East Asian traditions. She teaches mercy, non-judgment, and the grace of listening deeply.
- Isis: The ancient Egyptian priestess-queen and goddess, revered for her mystical knowledge, regenerative power, and connection to sacred rituals.
- Pallas Athena: A divine guide of inner strength, strategic wisdom, and justice. She supports truth-seekers and spiritual leaders alike.
- Portia: Known as the Lady of Opportunity and Justice, she helps balance karma and open paths aligned with soul growth.
- Green Tara: A Tibetan figure of swift compassion and fearless action. She’s called upon during spiritual transitions and moments of courage.
- Amaryllis: A lesser-known but powerful ascended being associated with nature’s beauty, higher creativity, and soul expression through color and energy.
They all carry different qualities, but one thing they have in common? Their presence meets you exactly where you are.
Whether it’s strength through softness or clarity through compassion, they guide the soul instinctively in ways that it understands, especially in moments when you’re being called back to your divine femininity.
10 ascended masters’ teachings relevant in this day and age
Some universal truths don’t need a timestamp. They’ve been circling the planet long before you showed up in this lifetime. And they’ll still be here when you return.
How come? Well, the ascended masters lived it all, etched it into their mission statements, and left it in the collective unconscious for anyone ready to read the signs.
So, if you’ve been feeling the pull for some soul-searching, this is where it’ll all start to make sense.
1. Buddha on self-mastery over external control
Before he became the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama was a prince surrounded by luxury. But peace didn’t show up in a palace. It came when he sat under a tree, quieted the noise, and watched his mind until it cleared.
That became the path.
His core teaching? Pay attention to your inner self, and life will settle itself.
Why his teaching matters:
Modern life is a dopamine circus. Notifications, algorithms, and endless noise pull at your focus every second. But thankfully, Buddha’s way cuts through all that. His wisdom reminds you that there’s nothing to fix outside, only endless space to reclaim within.
How to apply it in real life:
When the pressure builds—your boss, a deadline, your kid yelling—breathe before you bite. That one second of stillness is the difference between reacting and responding.
2. Kuan Yin on compassion as strength
Kuan Yin shows up in temples, dreams, and hearts as the energy of deep compassion. She didn’t ascend because she escaped suffering; she did it by turning toward it with tenderness. That kind of softness? All wisdom in motion.
Why her teaching matters:
Everyone’s burnt out. The world’s loud. And it’s easy to armor up. But Kuan Yin’s path is different. Her message is to keep your heart open. It heals more than it hurts.
How to apply it in real life:
Listen to someone without needing to fix them. Talk to yourself the way you’d comfort a friend.
3. Saint Germain on transformation through alchemy
Back in 18th-century Europe, he was the talk of royal courts. A mystic, scientist, philosopher, and alchemist wrapped into one, this master knew how to work both matter and energy.
Now, long after his physical life, he’s become a symbol of inner transmutation, which is the practice of turning personal chaos into spiritual clarity.
Why his teaching matters:
Everything shifts. Emotions, identities, seasons of life. Alchemy teaches you to work with the raw material of who you are—mistakes, pain, restlessness—and refine it into something higher. Peel back his teaching on change, and you’ll realize he’s empowering us all to embrace conscious evolution.
How to apply it in real life:
Got a trigger? A pattern you’re done repeating? Write it down. Then flip it. What’s it here to teach you? That’s the start of alchemy.
4. Paul the Venetian on creativity as a divine expression
Paul’s gift wasn’t just painting or music; it ultimately channeled the soul through beauty. He taught that creativity isn’t “extra.” It’s how the divine breathes through you.
Why his teaching matters:
We’re more overstimulated than ever, yet under-inspired beyond belief. We’re all creators, but too many people disconnect from that part of themselves. Thankfully, Paul reminds you that expression is the path back to your soul.
How to apply it in real life:
Make something daily. It can be as simple as a voice note, a sketch, or a Spotify playlist. And it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, just real.
5. Jesus on unconditional love
Jesus of Nazareth, as he’s known during his human life, lived, taught, and healed with caritas infinita, or love without limits or conditions. His words, now woven through the Bible and echoed across centuries, asked for one thing: love your neighbor, your enemy, the stranger, the forgotten… without tally or expectation.
His core tenet? Love, when lived, not just preached, restores everything.
Why his teaching matters:
Though known as the central figure of Christianity and a prophet in Islam, Jesus’s message wasn’t exclusive to only these religions. Nope, it’s universal. And in a world still fractured by beliefs and borders, his radical, heart-first way remains one of the most transformative lessons in the Bible.
How to apply it in real life:
Practice empathy in daily interactions. Offer kindness without expecting anything in return. Choose understanding over judgment.
6. Serapis Bey on discipline as a spiritual technology
Serapis Bey is linked to the ancient temples of Luxor and is known for being the ascension master. His teaching was simple but firm: discipline is, above all, about alignment, not about control. And it’s how you strengthen your channel to higher guidance.
Why his teaching matters:
In a world that’s addicted to instant everything, structure helps you stay connected. The sacred doesn’t always arrive when you’re still enough to hear it, so being prepared for diving timing, through regimented peace, matters.
How to apply it in real life:
Build spiritual habits like you would a fitness routine. Show up. Sit. Move energy. Light a candle before you journal. Anchor your presence with ritual. Anything that tells you that you’re important.
7. Lady Nada on love through service
Lady Nada’s energy is all heart. She guides those who lead with quiet strength: the healers, the teachers, the ones who pour into others without needing the spotlight. Her presence reminds you that love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice to show up.
Why her teaching matters:
There’s a kind of fatigue that doesn’t come from doing too much but from giving without meaning. Nada’s message? Serve from overflow, not obligation, because you can’t give your best on an empty tank.
How to apply it in real life:
Find one person today to support without being asked. Cook for someone. Help a stranger. Say thank you with your heart on your sleeve.
8. Hilarion on truth as the healing salve you need
Hilarion once walked the earth as a healer and mystic. Today, his energy supports those unraveling confusion, especially when it comes to health, intuition, and knowing what’s real. He teaches that truth is medicine… but only when you’re willing to face it.
Why his teaching matters:
In a world full of distractions and illusions, clarity feels like rebellion. Whether it’s your body, your beliefs, or your path, you heal the moment you tell the truth.
How to apply it in real life:
Gather your valor in monk mode, then say the thing you’ve been avoiding. Be honest in your journal. Track what makes your body feel better, not worse.
9. El Morya on divine will and mental focus
El Morya is associated with leadership, logic, and the higher mind. His frequency helps you align your thoughts with divine will, meaning your decisions start coming from clarity, not chaos.
Why his teaching matters:
Most people are exhausted from multitasking in this day and age. El Morya’s lesson reminds you to focus like it’s a sacred act, because it is.
How to apply it in real life:
Start simple: clean up your workspace. Meditate before making big calls. Check if your present actions align with the future you see for yourself.
10. Mother Mary on the sacred feminine and inner grace
You probably know her from the Bible, but Mother Mary’s presence goes way beyond one book or one religion. Across cultures and centuries, she’s shown up as a symbol of divine motherhood, protection, and unconditional love.
Think of her as the sacred feminine in human form: soft, strong, and deeply steady.
Why her teaching matters:
Today, more women are turning to inner work, healing, and mindfulness than ever before, with 10.3% in the U.S. engaging in meditation practices compared to 5.2% of men. This surge reflects a broader awakening to feminine spiritual energy.
How to apply it in real life:
Start by slowing down. Make room in your day for stillness. Light a candle. Say a quiet prayer. Or just breathe with your hand on your heart. Whether you’re supporting others or tending to your own healing, do it like Mary would: with presence, patience, and unconditional love.
How to connect with ascended masters in the modern world
You don’t need to climb a mountain or shave your head to connect with these symbolic figures. Real connection comes from inner clarity.
The more grounded you are, the sharper your awareness becomes. And that’s when synchronicities and inner insights start rolling in.
Explore the steps below to start seeing the signs that have been knocking on your door:
1. Be more present
Before you can sense higher-level guidance, you’ve got to first stop feeding the mental static.
According to Michael Bernard Beckwith, a spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center and the trainer of Mindvalley’s Life Visioning Mastery program, this process is essentially a shift from mentation to real thinking. Mentation, he explains, “is the same old thoughts happening over and over every day. It’s not real thinking.”
The thing is, most people live in that cycle: regurgitating thoughts, reacting to the past, and spiraling into fear. Day in, day out.
Thankfully, presence breaks that loop, at least according to Sadhguru.
“You don’t have to do anything,” the yogi explains on grounding yourself in the now. “You just have to become conscious.” It’s here that ascended guidance is heard.
Try these easy steps to drop into the now:
- Pause before reacting. Just one second of silence before you respond changes everything.
- Observe your breath. You don’t have to “breathe better”—you just have to notice your rhythm. Of course, there are great mindful breathing techniques to try if you want to take things to the next level.
- Feel what’s in the body. Not analyze. Just feel.
- Go tech-free for 10 minutes. No scrolling, no input. Let your nervous system reset.
- Notice recurring thoughts. If it’s looping and it doesn’t make you feel good, it’s not “guidance. It’s good ol’ mentation.
- Name what’s happening. “Thinking.” “Judging.” “Planning.” Label it, then let the behavior go.
- Practice meditation daily. It can be as short as 10 minutes a day, and you can rotate through different meditation techniques to keep things interesting.
Clarity deepens when presence becomes muscle memory. And the simplest way to get there is through habit-stacking these small practices to bring you back to the now.
2. Track recurring symbols that appear in your life
“Everything that ever happened to you, you can make it useful for your wellbeing,” says Sadhguru. This includes symbols, the language spoken by both the ascended masters and your subconscious mind.
And it’s not as “woo-woo” as you think. What most people miss is the fact that pattern recognition is a sign of the evolved human brain. And it’s how your nervous system decides what’s safe, what’s relevant, and what to focus on.
Interestingly, that same developed instinct can turn symbolic moments into something more: a personal dialogue with the sacred. So when a certain number keeps showing up or a phrase hits you in the gut, don’t brush it off.
It’s your signal that the higher-ups are “communicating” with you. To start tuning in:
- Keep a “symbol log” in your journal. Note the date, what showed up, and how it made you feel.
- Don’t overthink it. Record first, reflect later.
- Tag your own meaning to each one that appears to you. Google might give you a surface definition, but your truth runs deeper.
- Explore their meanings further. Ask yourself, “Does this symbol shift something in me?” If yes, it’s worth expanding on it. Not every symbol needs to be decoded.
- Use tools to build your intuitive language. Think affirmation cards, colors, mantras—anything that speaks in symbols instead of logic. Mindvalley’s free soul-searching tools, for instance, can get you started on this practice.
Think of symbol tracking like learning a second language. The more fluent you become, the easier it is to catch the whispers in between the noise.
3. Use creative visualization to lock into higher guidance
You don’t need to see the future; you just need to see the right now more clearly. And creative visualization is how you train your mind to do exactly that.
To Michael, it’s part and parcel of the “manifestor stage,” where you stop imagining worst-case scenarios and start picturing a version of your life that makes you feel good.
“Take back your imagination,” he asserts. “Just try on the vibration of the best-case scenario and then watch what happens.”
And here’s a Michael-approved pro-tip: pair visualization with intentional declaration. The clearer your internal image, the stronger the signal you’re sending.
Try this:
- Pick a moment in your day when you feel scattered or unsure. Pause. Visualize a better outcome—not in vague terms, but something specific.
- Use all your senses. What does the space feel like? What’s your body doing? Who’s with you? Get detailed.
- Pair it with positive affirmations. Words create your reality, so you might as well decorate your experience with optimism. Not sure what to say? Start with “I receive guidance in peace,” “I am connected to a higher power,” or “This moment is opening me up for new realizations.”
- Write it all down. Knowing how to journal envisions your goals into words, which helps your brain recognize it as a path worth walking.
The purpose of your imagination: to anchor in the reality your soul already knows is possible. So make the most of it.
4. Check for emotional contagion
Not every emotion you feel is yours. Some are picked from someone else’s energy field.
Michael calls this “emotional contagion”—the subtle, often invisible influence of society’s fear, judgment, and inherited beliefs.
You know the feeling when you walk into a room and suddenly feel heavy. Or when you scroll for five minutes on Instagram and get anxious for no reason. That’s the energy transfer, from your environment to you, happening.
Now, here’s the kicker: the ascended masters dealt with that same issue. But they learned to navigate it, clear it, and rise above it, lifetime after lifetime. Overcoming this, in the end, was part of their path to ascension.
If they can do it, so can you. And here’s how you start clearing the “static”:
- Always check in with yourself. Anytime you feel a sudden emotional shift, ask yourself, “Is this mine?”
- Learn to pause. Before saying something or responding to others, especially during heavy conversations. If an interaction drains you, step away.
- Move your body. Put on some music, or sit in silence to rest your frequency.
- Choose your company wisely. Surround yourself with humans who self-regulate and bring peace to your life. You know, the ones you can go to spiritual classes with, who inspire you to master how to become a mystic while navigating day-to-day chaos. They should, in essence, mirror the frequencies embodied by the masters.
- Keep your field clean with regular energy healing and shadow work. If you won’t live in a physically messy space, why would you leave your mind and soul “cluttered”?
“Whatever the experience of life is, whether it is fear, anger, love, joy, or misery—these are [just] different flavors of the mind,” Sadhguru points out. “You must learn to taste them consciously.”
Your spiritual clarity, he emphasizes, ultimately depends on how clear you feel inside.
5. “Try on” the right frequency before you embody it
“You don’t get what you want,” says Michael. “You get what you’re interested in.”
So get interested in peace. In clarity. In the version of you that’s already tuned to the energy these masters held.
Think of this as an energetic dress rehearsal that gets you stepping into resonance with what you want to feel. Forget waiting for signs to come (they’ll arrive when you shift).
Here’s how that looks in daily life:
- Grace: Speak kindly to the tired cashier ringing up your groceries. Treat the moment like sacred ground.
- Patience: When traffic locks up, soften your grip and stay with your breath instead of the horn.
- Equanimity: If your boss drops a blunt message, take a walk before you respond. Let calm be the filter.
- Reverence: Fold laundry or clean your space while playing music that soothes. Let your presence bless the mundane.
The more often you show up in the energy you admire, the more familiar it becomes—until one day, it stops feeling like a stretch and starts feeling like home.
Find your spiritual superpower
“If you want inspiration, read a book. But if you really want to walk the spiritual path, the only way is to turn inward,” says Sadhguru.
That hits differently when you remember what the ascended masters lived by. They’re not here to hand out spiritual commandments. No, they’re more like signposts that point you to the right way to the light: inwards.
If that kind of awareness is calling you, Sadhguru’s free Mindvalley masterclass, A Yogi’s Guide to Living in Bliss, can help you:
- Break free from old karmic loops,
- Quiet mental noise before it hijacks your day,
- Shift from force to flow,
- Stop chasing joy and start appreciating it instead, and
- So much more.
For German entrepreneur Siegmar Weegen, the program flipped the switch for him. He shares:
I reflected on many past situations, and I became able to open myself to a much wider reality.
And all this, just from the call to connect with his inner wisdom.
That’s what inner work does. It rewires how you meet your own life. And when you’re ready to scale up spiritually, Mindvalley’s here to walk beside you. Step by step, breath by breath, and milestone after milestone.
All you need to do is take that first step towards owning your inherent greatness.
Welcome in.
