Spirits are like us & very much not like us. They have likes, dislikes, preferences and biases same as we do, but they do not function in quite the same way. Where we have physical bodies which define us, they do not, and thus their manifestations are rather more subtle by comparison.
Spirits are made up of substance which interfaces with us through our perceptive faculties. In essence, we perceive them according to how their essence meshes with our own ability to perceive them. If a spirit is made of energy that is akin to electricity, we will often sense them as being electrifying in presence - they bring with them spark-like energies which cascade down the spine like liquid lightning, and so their presence can be felt bodily. A spirit with a greater affinity for water might feel as though it has depth and the capacity to fill a space with itself, and it can sometimes feel like we're trying to breathe through a straw. Their presence seems to ripple, often evoking cool chills that we feel bodily, like water pouring down our heads, faces, backs, and chests. Fire spirits manifest heat and excitement, while Earth-oriented spirits are often dense, heavy, and solid, creating a sensation of being well-rooted to the Earth beneath us.
Each of these are manifestations of the Divine in a manner of speaking. Each of these sensations are an extrapolation of spirit substance interacting with us, and they direct our understanding of what we are connecting with.
These are not the only ways in which spirits communicate, however, and it is not all that they are. Not all spirits have a physicality to them, be it in their ability to create an experience of sensation or physical changes. Some are rather more etherial in manifestation, and are made up of what we would interpret as being thought or emotion, and so their whole existence can be communicated to us solely through how they cause us to think and feel.
Thought and emotional patterns that are not the norm for us are how beings of the less physically manifest variety communicate and interface with us, and so it can become increasingly important to pay careful attention to what we think, feel, and do in response to what we think & feel. More importantly, it is worthwhile to be cognizant that such spirits do exist so that we do not simply steamroll over them when we ask for their help.
Otherwise, we might be given the impression that this spirit does not exist or does not wish to help us, when in fact it is our willingness or lack to connect with them on their terms which can render us successful or unsuccessful in our ventures. My advice to you would be to take careful notes of the ways in which spirits appear to you. Consider what you feel, how you feel, and how those feelings change as a result of the spirit being present. Consider how your thoughts are altered when the mind stops racing, as there are times where the only indication of Presence you'll ever receive is a loud voice in your mind - one that you might cast aside as imagination if not for it being so incredibly different from your own self-talk.
Something to consider. ;)
Many blessings & thank you for reading,
-Chris