Introduction to Developing Your Intuition: Part I
I initially began this blog post a little darker than I usually do. Perhaps it’s the times we are in, maybe I was feeling dramatic that day. Who knows, but after rereading it I realize once again that what I want to put out into the world is light and love. So I am rewriting the introduction to this article on developing your intuition. Why do I feel like this is an important subject? I believe that if we all learn to not only listen to our intuition but to follow it, our lives and our world will shift in deeply powerful ways. It already has as more and more people are waking up to themselves.
There is something that connects us to the vastness that is the known, and unknown, aspects of our lives. What we call this, and how we connect to it, is very personal. God. Universal Intelligence. Great Mystery. Collective Consciousness. The Field. So many names, so many ways to attempt to understand what we all seem to inherently know to be true - there is something that pervades behind all of Creation. What we call it, and how we work with it, is up to us. My belief is that our connection to it resides within. Everything we have ever needed, or wanted to know, about how to move through our lives to a place of wholeness lies in the development of this sacred relationship to the Higher Self. One way to point to this is to call it intuition. Our personal connection to knowing. This article is an attempt to begin to dive into this vast subject of allowing our inherent inner knowing to rise to the surface. The purpose is so we can begin or rather continue to allow it to shape and guide our lives from a place of compassionate surrender and confidence. In my experience, magic lives in this place.
Where to begin?
I ask myself this as I’m writing. There is so much here but my intention is to simplify it so that it really is an introduction. Something that is approachable for anyone that wishes to set the intention to develop the connection to the Self. With that in mind, I will begin with what my intuition is telling me right now. I hope this information is helpful and I’m always open to feedback and questions. To even begin the conversation there are a few prerequisites, or some things to think about as we consider how to connect to and allow our intuition or inner guidance to rise into a place of focus. With these I have included some suggestions for journaling. I encourage you to sit with these ideas and write about them, see what is true for you. A powerful tool for connection with your inner wisdom.
Step 1: Set the Intention and Ask
The first step on any journey is to set the intention. Take a moment to ask yourself why you are feeling called to this information at this time. Share what is coming from your heart and ask your intuition to rise to the surface in ways that you can recognize and process. This sets the foundation for everything else. Depending on how far along you are in your journey you may even want to ask your Ancestors and Spirit Guides to assist you. There is so much support for us that we can’t see but is definitely there if we are open to working with it.
Step 2: Unlearning & Questioning
The most important step I have ever taken in my life was investing in the belief that I carry within me everything that I need to live life to its fullest. I don’t need to explain myself, justify my choices, make excuses for where I’m different or give my power away to anyone, ever. This process was, and continues to be, one of unlearning and liberation. I could go deeply into the unlearning process, but all I will say now is that we all have things that we need to unlearn; things that we agreed to that aren’t actually suitable for our Spirit to thrive. These could be agreements we made with our family, profession, culture, or religion to name a few. We are often unaware of these deeply imbedded agreements. When we begin to give ourselves permission to question them, it’s amazing what can happen. It takes courage to question, so be gentle with yourself. Always. Asking questions about core agreements can unearth a lot. Take your time. Don’t rush. Trust the process. It can shake us to our core but what is discovered on the other side is what I believe life is truly about. Freedom. To be, to do and to express our authentic magnificence.
Journaling Exercise: When you read this what are the first things that come to mind. Don’t sit with this at any length. Put pen to paper and write the very first thing that comes through without question. Don’t be afraid to allow what shows up to come to light. Developing compassionate courage is very important in this process. It’s always the first thing that is the most important. Get it out and on paper. Be with it. How do you feel about it? Where did it come from? How has it shaped your life? How might you do it differently? What is your Spirit asking for?
Step 3: Learning to Trust Yourself During this unlearning process I discovered something powerful. I began to trust myself. Tapping into our intuition isn’t going to help us much if we aren’t willing to trust what comes through, and learning to trust yourself is a huge part of the process. Here are a few suggestions to assist you with developing this very important part of the process.
Emotional Navigation: How we feel matters, a lot. Our body is constantly telling us things about what’s happening in our lives by spreading feelings of wellbeing or lack thereof. What if the anxiety, depression and other emotional imbalances you are feeling are actually there to tell you that something needs to change? Are you willing to consider this? I check in with my emotions on everything and if something isn’t feeling “good” then I make a different choice. I have learned to develop the needed communication with those that are close to me so that they also understand this is how I operate. For example, if I make plans to do something but it comes time to follow through on the plan, if I don’t feel good about it or I’m in a different place I communicate this with those that are involved. Those that are close to me understand that this isn’t personal, nor is it me being flakey. Instead, I have given myself full and complete permission to make a different choice, if needed, in the moment.
You don’t need to know why: We often are concerned with wanting to know why we feel a certain way about something. Turning it over and over again in our minds trying to figure it out. I invite you to let that go. If you need to make a different choice about something or make a choice you didn’t expect and this makes you uncomfortable, why is that? What agreements have you made that perhaps need to be reconsidered? Unlearned? Renegotiated to better support your authenticity and willingness to trust yourself.
Allow All forms of information: I invite you to allow your imagination, your inner child and whatever else wants to show up, to be a part of this process. How we receive information from our intuition is different for everyone. Some hear things, some know things, some see things and some feel things. Our ability to discount this valuable information is part of how we as a society have gotten where we are today. We, as children, were often taught to discount our inner knowing because it didn’t align with the cultural, familial or religious agreements we had been asked to make. Learning to allow the subtle information to flow and to listen to it is an important part of trusting ourselves.
Journaling Exercise: Where are you afraid to trust yourself? Where do you rely on what you have been taught or told to be true, afraid to dig into it for yourself? Perhaps there is a fear that what you find will be too much. Again, I encourage you to write down the very first thing that comes to mind without question. You don’t need to know why. Let your journaling reveal to you what is lying beneath the surface. Trust yourself! You can handle anything that comes to light, it might just be the thing that liberates you.
Step 4: Pay Attention
This world is a mirror, a reflection and a creation of our own making. This is a whole subject unto itself but I mention it here because as you set your intention to receive communication and guidance from your inmost self it will come from everywhere and anywhere. Here are a few things to pay attention that may very well be your intuition or inner guidance coming through.
Nature as our Guide: Animals, plants, clouds, and any other aspect of nature is here to teach us, to show us we are all connected. Pay attention when the crows come into your yard. Listen to your garden, what is it sharing with you? Or the squirrel that sat and stared at you for what seemed like a strangely long time. Listen. Not with your ears but with your heart. Everything in nature is communicating with us and will show us how to listen to the subtle messages meant to assist us on this path of liberation and wholeness, if we are willing to listen.
Synchronicity: When we are in alignment things to fall into place effortlessly. Pay attention to this. To me it is a signal that I’m on the right track. In all honesty, you can’t be anywhere else but synchronicity is a message that tells us we are on point in the moment and to keep going. Give gratitude in that moment for validation from Creation that you are in the flow and this is a powerful place to be. Allow it to be so.
Dreams: This would be a wonderful time to begin keeping a dream journal. Keep it next to your bed and when you wake up after a dream jot down anything that you remember. This is a powerful practice of taking notice of what is unfolding in your subconscious. By doing this you begin to learn the symbolic and archetypal language that is spoken to you by your unconscious and subconscious mind. We are also often visited by ancestor spirits and guides in our dreams. It’s a wonderful way to open ourselves to these relationships.
Journaling Exercise: Think back to a time when you felt you were in the flow. How did it feel in your body, mind and spirit. What led up to that feeling? Were you making a big decision or lIfe change of some kind? Write down what comes to mind. Write down any memories you have had when you felt connected to and supported by nature. What was happening? What do you remember. And finally, have you ever had a dream so powerful that it influenced your life in some way? What was the dream and how did it change your life?
Final Thoughts: Doubt the doubt. When it comes, and it does, watch out for the doubt. Watch out for the feeling you are making it all up or that you have an over active imagination. The agreements we have made, known and unknown, to us have largely been in an attempt to control our power. The more you dive into them you will discover the nature of these agreements for yourself. Along with these agreements come doubting anything that contradicts them. It’s natural and the more you practice these things the less it will arise. But in the meantime, just notice.
You are on the path to liberation and what that means for you! Not based on anyone else’s beliefs. Instead developing such a strong connection to your own inner guidance that it will act as a protection, a teacher and a healer of all the things that have kept us separate from our true nature.
I hope this information was helpful and gives you a place to begin. You really aren’t beginning at all actually, you’ve been on your perfect path all along. This information is meant to support you as you continue to navigate home to the Self and the wisdom that is held there. Thank you for reading this and considering it’s value.
I plan to expand on this post in future posts to support you on this journey. If you have questions, comments or feedback please reach out to me. I want to hear from you. Any as always, anything here that doesn’t resonate with you, chuck it! This is all about you finding your authentic path. I am merely offering suggestions along the way.
You can reach me at audreymsheldon@gmail.com. I offer private shamanic reiki healing sessions and spiritual mentoring. I’d love to work with you! Please reach out if you feel the call. If you found this information to be helpful consider making a donation. You can find me on Venmo @SuryaOm and PayPal at the above email address. Your support is deeply appreciated.
In Love & Light,
Audrey
**Photos are taken by me on a recent trip to California.