I suppose everyone has some sort of experience when it comes to working with spirits. They exist all around us, and we sometimes find ourselves in contact with them even when we don't want the attention. Honoring the dead is the first step to working with spirits, be it random spirits, deceased family, or spirit guides that take a liking to us we should honor them. Since all spirits are different its safe to say your going to be dealing with a variety of spirits so you should have a variety of offerings until you get the right combination that please them its okay to shuffle. Personally i use wine and food a lot, mainly because i know what spirits i work with on the daily and what it is they like as offerings.
When your asking for spiritual guidance and help it should never be demanded of them, unless your asking spirits to leave which is a whole other topic. Mannerism is important on two levels, your more than likely working with older spirits so they require proper use of language so like saying "Hey dog imma need you to raise up and do this magick." is probally not going to work. The second is they are spirits your welcoming to your practice and they are not required to do anything, at least in this particular topic they aren't. If you decide to work with spirits, offerings should be consistent, and if you work with your ancestors spirits place photo's of them on your altar to honor them.
If your familiar with astral projection then you know there are many types of spirits and they reside on all types of planes. I don't like getting into to much detail with that because the experience in these places is very personal to the witch and certain things are better left unsaid. The different astral planes produce places where spirits are more at home and so you have to go to them sometimes to get help. The reason i brought this up is you can use the same method to find places where their are more accessible spirits to work with on our plane. In the woods you can find places of power by beating a drum and vibrating with your voice to determine spots where spirits may reside, the light shows us these places in rays and shows among the tree's. Spirits can be found just about anywhere, the woods is just where i like to go to communicate and meditate with them.
Spirit work can be tedious and extensive at times and is not for the faint of heart. The benefits certainly outweigh the thought of being visited by dead people or in some cases not people at all. Not all spirits were once human so you have to put in consideration your dealing with energies older than the sun. Spirits help guide us on our path, during astral travels i have come to require the help of spirits during difficult times in my life and they have proven over and again that i know absolutely nothing of magick but are never reluctant in helping . Being connected on that level gives you insight to the world on another perspective of life, one that only requires respect and patience from your teachers. Thats all on that for now, as always feel free to drop a comment below i certainly enjoy reading the feedback and comments!