“One of the meanings of ‘to pray’ is ‘to request’, requesting that someone petition God for/with you is quite normative for Christians.”
Normative when making our requests TO God.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
There is no command or tradition in the Bible of making requests by spirit to anyone other than God Himself. This tradition is nothing more than adopting pagan practices into Christendom.
Do you ask your friends to pray for you? Intercessory prayer is asking your friends known to be in heaven (i.e., saints) to pray for you.
There is a long tradition in the bible of asking others to pray for you.
Roman 15:30 — I beseech you therefore brethren by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God.