Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Intuition


The power of intuition is a very special to me. Is it to you as well? In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, intuition is defined as “the power or faculty of attaining direct knowledge or cognition without rational thought and inference”. In everyday lingo it is also known as the “sixth sense”.

Intuition is a gift that is often honored by women. As a woman, I discovered intuition at a very early age. I’d like to think that it was passed down from my mom who is the grand-dame of this often magical knowing. She has the ability to perceive what is below the surface and identify what is not seen with the human eye. Intuition allows us to notice what is underground, hear what is not said, and feel what we know to be true without explanation or cognitive processes. It is more than just a passing feeling or thought. The emotions and mind are not in charge here. It is our senses, our animal instinct, our inner knowing. Watch an animal as it responds to intuition. There is no thinking or analyzing. It is simply the most deepest and natural of responses.

Intuition can feel like an energy pulsating through the body. When I listen to what my intuition has to say, my body, mind, and spirit are in unison. On the inside, it may sound like the deepest part of myself that sometimes screams to be heard or whispers to reassure. On the outside, intuition has the ability to pick up signals from people, places, and things and offers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of what is not seen with the natural eye. I rely on my intuition to guide me when the ‘facts’ aren’t enough. It is my north star. During those times when I choose not to listen to what my intuition/inner voice is saying, the results are quite obvious.

The good news is that the power of intuition can develop with a little bit of practice. Listening is honed in order to better comprehend what it is our intuition is telling us. Here are a few ideas that have been helpful to me:

Keep a journal – Start by writing first thing in the morning. Write freely and about anything that comes to mind. No self- censoring is involved. Julia Cameron, who wrote The Artist’s Way highly recommends this practice. It is a time of day when your spirit is most free to communicate with you. The world has not yet begun to interrupt your inner voice. Get up a few minutes before anyone else and write. Notice your words. What are they saying?

Meditate- Begin by being still in a quiet room. You can begin with 5 minute sitting practice. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes softly, and begin to deepen your breath. If you have never meditated before, give this a chance. You may be surprised at what cobwebs can be cleared out in order for the inner voice to come through more audibly.

Conduct a body scan- Sit quietly and notice how your body is feeling. Start at your toes and move up the front of your body (inside and out) and down the back. Is there any tension or tightness? When we don’t listen to our intuition, the body responds. Bellyaches, headaches, and other ailments can be signals that our body, mind, and spirit are not in unison. Is your body speaking up and saying something? What are you ignoring?

Your intuition is a divine gift. Acknowledging its presence empowers the deepest part of you to shine through. Trust its insight.
Peace, Linda
photo credit: matrifocus.com

2 comments:

  1. For the person who commented on my blog today. Thank you for your kind words! I accidently deleted your comment from posting here. Still experimenting!
    X0X0 Linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for your comment Susan!

    X0X0 Linda

    ReplyDelete