“You have a very strong intuition, don’t you?” my college advisor observed. While the world of subtle abilities and all things psychic was a secret passion of mine, it caught me off guard to have it called out in everyday life. How had I given myself away?
“What do you mean?” I asked. We’d been discussing a switch in my undergraduate focus. I’d originally enrolled with a major in elementary education, something many of my friends had done. Since I hadn’t known what else was fitting for me, I’d followed their lead. At the time, a quiet feeling told me it wasn’t the right direction, but logically it seemed like a smart choice. Still, the more I resisted, the louder the feeling got, until it manifested in very uncomfortable ways.
After weeks of going to bed with racing anxiety and horrible stomachaches, I finally switched to a double major in English and Art. My mind told me it was too risky, but I’d immediately felt back in alignment after making the switch. After a year of college, I was once again sensing that same nudging feeling, this time about changing my minor. I was listening to it with less resistance this second time around.
“You feel when something isn’t quite right for you and you follow that message,” my advisor replied. It was as though she’d shattered the glass. I could finally see that I had been making use of my intuition. Unknowingly, I had been tapping into it to reach my goals, even though at that point those goals were still hard to clarify. Intuition was guiding me to some unknown destination. If I was willing to listen, who knew where it could take me?
The Everyday Intuitive
The fact is you are psychic. I know this because everyone has these subtle abilities. They show up in various forms and are stronger or weaker in some ways from one person to another, but no matter how they show up, they are always there. You might get hit with a sense of “knowing,” where suddenly you have the answer to a question, even though you may not know how it came to you. You might receive useful knowledge in dreams, get flashes of insight as images in your mind, or hear messages that you’re likely to assume are just your own thoughts. In my case, I very often feel. I process subtle information through emotion and body sensation.
This ability has always been such an ingrained skill to me that I wasn’t aware of it until someone else called it out. Perhaps this is also the case for you. If so, I hope I’ve just shattered the glass. On the other hand, if you feel like psychic abilities don’t apply to you, know that for some it takes more effort to tap into than it does for others. Here are a couple of tools you can practice in order to make use of intuition to reach your own goals:
Tuning In
A great starting point is learning to tune in to your own energy and inner guidance. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to find this stillness within yourself even in the middle of a busy external environment. Breathing is your first step. If you ever feel lost thinking of how to go about tuning in, look to your breath.
STEP 1: Settle in and Find Stillness
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and let it out. On your next breath, feel it go all the way down to your belly before you let it out. Repeat this deep breathing until you feel your body and mind really settle into relaxation mode.
Once you feel that stillness, tune in to your energy. Pay attention to whether it feels as though it’s reaching out externally. For example, while you’re trying to relax, you might notice that you’re also anticipating someone needing your attention. Or maybe a part of you is trying to time your practice so that you can move on to your next task. If you find these types of reaching-out energies, notice them and see yourself bringing that energy back into yourself. Like an octopus with all its outstretched limbs, pull each arm back in one by one until all your energy is centered.
Sit in this stillness and continue deep breathing until you feel ready to move on to the next step.
STEP 2: Yes or No
I think of this step as something akin to muscle testing. A practitioner might first have you state something true, like “My name is (your name).” With your arm outstretched, the practitioner presses against it while you hold your arm strong to keep it in place. With a true statement, you’ll notice that you’re stronger, while with a false statement, when resistance is applied it’s much easier for your arm to be moved. The same is true for things that are beneficial or not beneficial for you.
There are versions of this practice that you can do without a practitioner. In one version, I would lean forwardif something was yes/beneficial, and I would feel a sense of being pushed backward if something was no/notbeneficial. I eventually discovered that it was easier for me to do this practice internally, which also makes itmuch more discreet.
In my version, I take a deep breath, let it out, and settle my energy. This means that I’m not reaching out tolisten to the music or observe other shoppers or noticing whatever else is going on around me. I’m tuned in to my own energy and inner world. Once settled, I silently ask a yes/no question. In my mind I see a lotus flower. If the answer to my question is yes, I see a closed lotus flower that opens its petals wide. If the answer is no, I see an open lotus that closes its petals tightly back up. Open means yes and closed means no. In your version you might just see the word yes or no like a sign that is being held up for you, or maybe you won’t seeanything, but instead you’ll hear the words or feel certain sensations.
Try it now. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Settle in and find stillness. Now ask, “What is my intuitive sign for yes?” Once you understand that, ask, “What is my intuitive sign for no?” Now to confirmthem, say, “My name is ” and say your correct name. Tune in and see which sign pops up. Repeat again, but this time use a name that isn’t actually your name. See what sign pops up. Once you have those signs, jot them down to help cement them in your mind.
This technique can be used as a way to connect with your energy and listen for the message of your inner guidance in many different situations, such as in the pursuit of various goals. Maybe you want to see a clear yesor no response on whether you should make plans on a certain day, which job to consider, whether a certain relationship is something to continue putting your energy into, and more. The possibilities are endless.
Download Your Intuitive Voicemails
Part of tapping into your intuition for achieving goals means intentionally listening to the messages that intuition has for you. This is a simple and fun practice. Have paper and pen available. Get comfortable andtake some deep breaths. Progressively relax all areas of your body and deepen your breathing. When you feelsettled in, tune in and ask your intuition to reveal any messages it’s holding for you.
Don’t force it or try to engage. Just allow the details to naturally rise into your awareness. If you have additional questions that you want to ask, wait to ask them until you’ve first downloaded the messages that your intuition has for you without any additional prompting on your part. As you would when taking a phone message, jotdown the key details that are shared with you.
After you receive your messages, you can end the meditation. Or, if you want, you can now ask any questions you have and end when you feel the responses winding down. To end the practice, write down this statement: “I will only intuitively receive information that is in my highest good.” Include this as a closing every time you dothis practice.
Following the lead of our subtle abilities is such a gift when we learn how to tap into it. These practices can help train your intuition to provide insight at appropriate times and empower you to consciously access subtle information that is waiting to be acknowledged. With these newfound tools, I hope you’re soon reaching your goals and realizing your wildest dreams!
Author: Angela Wix
Angela is an acquiring editor for body-mind-spirit titles at Llewellyn Worldwide and is the author of The Secret Psychic and Llewellyn’s Little Book of Unicorns. She is a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Certified Medical Reiki Master (CMRM), and lifelong intuitive medium-in-training. She continues to be a passionate student of holistic practices and her artwork has appeared in hospitals and healing clinics as part of the Phipps Center for the Arts healing arts program. Visit her social media @AngelaAWix or website:
Website: www.angelaann.wix.com/arts
