Your first question depends on perception alone. If you look at the world as a whole, and you being part of that whole, then an angel is just part of that whole, as you are. (See "The Soul" on the homepage.) So, in a way, when an angel helps you or communicates with you, you're just talking to yourself. However, if you believe in a "seperation" between things, then an angel is NOT your inner-self, it's a being outside of yourself and all you're doing is communicating with it. My view is a blend of both. I believe that due to living in this world, a seperation belief is "blended" in to my consciousness, even though I KNOW that I'm completely one with every part of existence; so I must maintain a balance of both beliefs in order to operate in this world.
I have many methods of communicating with my higher self. I can do it any time I want and some of my preferred methods include: meditation, meditation while submerged in water, prayer, group prayer, and I also use "angel mail", the method I outline in Letter #35.
I think the best method of figuring out the level of your consciousness is to judge, on average, how happy you are. The more you understand about existence, the more you realize that there's nothing to worry about. All of your fears are illusions and the only thing worth experiencing is Love, in its many forms.
Your questions were very insightful, thank you for your submission!
Love and Prayers, Shay
