Have you ever had a feeling that something is off with a person, place or situation? Have you ever had an inexplainable but compelling feeling that you should act in a certain way? Have you ever had a dream that showed you an answer to a problem, that warned you about something or offered a beautiful and creative idea that you were looking for? That was your intuition talking to you.
Intuition is an incredible resource and gift that we all have and that has been given to us so that we can live to our highest potential. So that at any moment we can be truly aligned with who we are, avoid danger, pay attention to certain things and make the best choices.
The word ‘intuition’ comes from the Latin word ‘intueri’ which is usually translated as ‘to look inside’ ‘to consider’. When you listen to your intuition and follow it, you are listening to that part of you that is timeless, to the part that the ancients used to call your higher self, your holy guardian angel, to your divinity. (Divinity is inside of us but also outside of us.)
Your inner voice is unique to you because it is tinctured by your soul, it is tinctured by your mission and by your deepest desires. It speaks to you in words, in imagery, dreams or in deep inner knowingness. It can be very subtle inkling or passing feeling, quiet thought or hunch, strong gut feeling, intuitive message, it may happen that you will hear an actual message or it will come to you in a form of a vivid dream that you cannot forget. Become familiar with how your inner self communicates with you.
So how do we tap into our intuition?
Find time to be silent and still every day. The outer world is all about noise; pair that with mental clutter and your inner chatter and you are sure to cloud your inner voice. If you want to hear, you need to listen, but often we are too busy to notice the warnings or encouragements that our higher self is sending us all the time.
Calm your mind with meditation whatever of its forms you might choose. Release your obsession to think, analyze and know everything. Let your mind wander and be open to what comes to you – feelings, thoughts or words. You can also use mindfulness and be fully submerged in experiences of the present moment.
Be open. Open to the gift of intuition and accept what it has to tell you. It will not always seem logic, reasonable or even explainable. In fact, oftentimes it will seem counterintuitive. That is because our ego thinks that it has it “all figured out” or because the message that you are receiving will go against all the logic. And yet so many people saved their lives because they have listened to their hunches, so many people were able to take life changing decisions, win lotteries, close amazing deals and etc. just because they listened to their intuition. So can you!
Cultivate your creativity. Creativity can enhance your life in so many ways. Opening up to it and making time for it is a game changer. There are countless ways to be creative whether it is painting, writing, dancing, designing an object, cooking, knitting etc. When you create, you are fully present in activity that you enjoy, and that activity helps to get you into the “flow” where time seems to fly and your work, your inspiration is leading you. When allow that “something greater than us” lead us, that is how we practice tuning in to our intuition. And like with everything else – the more you practice, the better you get at it.
Allow yourself to feel what your intuition is telling you. Your mind is intelligent, but so is your body. If you combine the two, you will be able to unlock the magic of your intuition. In a situation where you seem to be stuck explore 2-3 different options or solutions and focus on how each of them makes you feel: does your heart start racing or skips a beat? Do you start breathing more quickly or maybe you even hold your breath for a second? Do you close your eyes (often indicates fear, trying to protect yourself from this scenario unfolding in your life) or maybe you start smiling? Maybe you feel goose bumps under your skin? Is there a shiver going down your spine? When it comes to your mind do you feel fear, or do you feel love? Do you feel expanded or restricted by a certain decision? Does it feel light or does it feel heavy on your heart? Your feelings about a certain situation will tell you everything you need to know.
Journal regularly. When you write, you tap into thoughts, feelings and ideas that you are not consciously aware of. So write even if first you might feel that you have very little to say. Do it anyway because it helps to open up your nonconscious mind. When you have practiced enough, you will be able to ask yourself questions. And listen to what your intuition has to tell you. There might be words and phrases that don’t make sense first, but it might lead to something more coherent and astonishingly true in the end.
When you write do turn your inner critic off. No judgement is allowed. This way you will be able to tune into your intuition and allow the inner truth to come forth.
Use your dream time to tap into your intuition. When you sleep your analytical and your conscious minds are off. That is when the gate to your subconscious mind and your intuition is wide open. Dreams can provide you with information that we may not have access to when we are awake. They can be used as a tool to download information from your higher self, your divine part, from the Universe. So before you fall asleep, focus on any unresolved issue or problem that you have and ask your higher self to give the best solution for you. Close your eyes and fall asleep with a profound belief that the answer has been given to you and it will be.
Your intuition whatever form it takes, always comes from a higher intelligence. It can never be forced, it can only be allowed and invited. And when you do invite it, be mindful and present and listen to it. And I can promise you one thing – when you decide to turn down the clamor of the world, advices from your family, friends and not so friends and you decide to quiet your inner spirit and listen to your inner voice and live your life using your intuition, then you will discover and manifest a truly blissful and abundant life.
