Connecting to Your Intuition

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It can be easy to ignore our intuition because it is gentle. Our intuition is not loud, it does not yell, or repeat itself. It is like a gentle whisper. It’s in the moment. Our intuition sounds like our inner voice, like a thought, yet it’s calm and neutral. There is no emotional charge tied to it. It doesn’t bring about stress or anxiety. It is not forceful. It simply informs, and can often sound like a kind suggestion.  And this is why we can easily ignore it and our intuitive nudges. Because once our intuition speaks, our mind kicks in and tries to analyze the guidance of our intuitive knowing. It tries to rationalize and form pros & cons on the messages that we receive. Our mind does this because it likes concrete, tangible, physical proof yet our intuition is not rooted in the physical world. It comes from a higher plane. It is the bridge that connects us to a higher consciousness that is not seen but felt. It’s a deep inner knowing.

Think of your intuition as a compass that directs you in living in alignment with your truth, your desire’s and your heart. Though we can bypass our intuition, it is always there and it’s purpose is to lead us in the right direction. It’s like an invisible path. Although we can’t see the entire path all at once, it’s already laid out for us. The way that is shows up is by revealing itself to us one step at a time. And our job is to trust that we are being led and guided exactly where we need to go.

Know that we are all naturally intuitive. It’s not something we have to become. We just are. We’ve been conditioned to look outside of ourselves for answers, so as a result, our intuition can become clouded. Connecting to our intuition is a practice that allows us to clear that fog and develop a clear connection to it and the way it speaks to us.

Today’s practice: Take a breath, close your eyes, and tune into your intuition. Focus on your third eye point  (the middle of your forehead) or your heart space.  Feel into it and connect with its pulse. Ask your intuition, “what do you need me to know today?” If you have a specific question in mind, ask it. Be open to receiving the message(s) that comes through. 

The Practice

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There will be many times throughout our life that the ocean we are swimming in (the world) will feel stormy and uneasy. Having a practice or tool that anchors and grounds us is essential particularly during turbulent moments.  These anchors (tools) serve as a way for us to come back to ourselves. They bring us inward to a place where we can begin to settle and ease our body and mind. They grant us peace and comfort, and allow us to access these states whenever we need them most.

The particular tools and anchors we use will vary from person to person, and will also vary day to day, but two tools that are always available to us, and that I consider my foundation, are breath and meditation. Meditation is giving yourself the much needed time and space to be with whatever is coming up for you. It’s a designated time to shut off the noise of the world and go inward. It’s a place within where you can find peace and comfort even if it’s just for a few moments. Meditation allows you to recalibrate, reconnect, re-center and ground yourself into the present moment. It’s like an energetic cleanse. It gets rid of the excess weight you’re carrying and leaves you feeling lighter. 

Today’s Practice: I invite you to try a one to three minute meditation. Set a timer on your phone and play some calming music or sit in silence if you prefer. Before you begin, set an intention for how you want to feel (the energy you desire to be in whether it’s love, peace, joy, etc.) and consciously be in that feeling for the duration of your meditation. Or gently be with whatever emotions and feelings are coming up for you at this time and let them move through you as you hold them with compassion.

Bridging Our Spiritual and Bodily Wisdom

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I believe our spiritual self & human self are equally sacred and that both facets are meant to be honored. One is not above the other. It is by merging both aspects that we can navigate and experience life, and ourselves, with more depth and pleasure.

Ignoring our body’s natural wisdom and intelligence doesn't allow for a sustainable and grounded experience that is rooted in our own unique needs. It’s important that we cater and shape our practices to align with our body’s needs day by day rather than by-passing our body’s intuition, and sticking to a rigid practice (or adopting another’s practice) that doesn’t truly serve our emotional, physical, or mental needs and well-being.

Our practices should empower us and leave us feeling better. It shouldn’t be about moving through a practice simply for the sake of checking it off our to-do list; i.e., morning meditation, breath work, yoga, etc. Our needs will shift as we shift, so it’s important to remeber that as we grow, our practices should grow and evolve with us. We will feel called/drawn to certain practices throughout our journey and it’s essential that we attune to our body so that we become aware of when it’s time to let go of a practice or invite new one into our space. Hyper rigidity and structure does not allow the space for that. And it is not what our body naturally desires.

Our bodies need space to rest, digest, integrate (our external stimulus and internal experience) and flow. And that’s why it’s important to cultivate a connection to our body’s natural rhythm and energy cycles so that we can offer it what it needs rather than giving it what we think it needs. Some days this will look like spaciousness, pleasure and flow, and other days it will look like structure, discipline and consistency. But it should always be about honoring your body’s unique needs in a way that feels good and natural to you.

It’s about merging our spiritual and bodily wisdom. To be spiritually and energetically open to receive while being physically grounded, so that we can anchor in the energy we recieve through our practices — whether it’s the energy of calmness, openness, spaciousness, joy, pleasure or clarity — and remain grounded and embodied/present in that energy in our everyday life.

The Journey of Becoming

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The spiritual journey/inner work/healing journey/personal growth & development journey (whatever you choose to call it. I believe they are one and the same) is about unraveling, shedding and letting go of self-limiting beliefs, thoughts, the masks, layers and narratives that keep us disconnected from the truth of who we are. It’s the journey of meeting our authentic self — our true nature — and operating from this newfound space.

It’s a journey of empowerment and realizing that your true power lies within you, and that you are deeply capable of creating the life you envision. It’s the meeting of your soul — the part of you that holds all of your brilliance and wisdom — and having the utmost trust that you are being guided exactly where you need to go. Your soul’s purpose is to bring you closer to yourself, to awaken you to your truth and purpose, so that you can live your life in the deepest and most authentic expression of who you are.

There is no end point in this journey. We are ever-growing, and constantly evolving, but our soul is our constant. It is our foundation, the essence inside of us that holds our power and light. It is our deepest reminder and illuminator of who we are — the person that we were put on this earth to be. It is through this journey, that we discover how to use our unique talent and gifts — our purpose — to heal and empower ourselves, and then to be of service to others and the world.