Introduction:
The June New Moon Woman’s Circle was a beautiful exploration of intuition. Alongside my co-host, Gina Galvez, PA, fellow Nutritional Health Coach, Aromatherapy Consultant, and Chakra Energy Healer, we guided participants through a powerful chakra alignment energy healing. We released emotional blocks and initiated a new chapter under the Cancer New Moon.
Strengthening Intuition
“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” – Rumi
Under this Cancer New Moon, we focused on reconnecting with our intuition—a practice many of us have lost touch with. We aimed to reacquaint ourselves with our inner dimension, reestablish trust in our senses and gut feelings, and listen to the whispers of our inner knowing.
Evoking this inner guidance is crucial now more than ever, as we need to correct the imbalance created by our over-reliance on the rational mind. We’ve placed too heavy an emphasis on operating, decision-making, relating, interacting, etc., from a place of mind while severely underutilizing our primary function of instinct.
As Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” Over a century later, this philosophy still holds.
The Importance of Balance
Cultivating self-centering tools and practices to tap into intuition, quiet external stimuli, slow down, and reconnect with ourselves creates space for deeper, aligned guidance. Overemphasizing the rational mind can lead to burnout, strained relationships, and a disconnection from our true selves.
Critics might dismiss intuition as insubstantial, but placing primary trust back into our intuition to inform decisions is essential for practical functionality in this world and healthy relationships.
Shakti Gawain, a personal development author, emphasizes the need for balance: “Mind and intuition are at opposite ends of the same continuum, and our goal is to strike a healthy balance between the two.”
The Impact of Technology & External Stimuli
Our reliance on the rational mind and technology has led to unconscious overconsumption and engagement with external noise—mental stimuli, opinions, news, social media, etc. While technology offers many benefits, it has stifled our ability to trust ourselves, rely on our senses, and connect with the natural world.
Personal experience shows that overwhelming external stimuli can drown out our inner voice, leading us to rely more on the rational mind for decision-making. When I get swept up in all the stimulation, it deeply stifles my sense of center, inner knowing, and aligned discernment. I feel my intuition drowned out and muffled.
I end up in a “should-state,” feeling like I need to capture everything. And when I’m not able to (because who can?), I feel like I’ve missed something. This causes me to lose sight and feel of what serves me and what doesn’t, and what I need versus what I don’t. Ultimately, I rely more heavily on my rational mind to inform decisions than what should otherwise be left to intuition.
This imbalance of over-engagement in stimulation and lack of connection to the natural world and intuition results in stress, sickness, depression, addiction to quick fixes (food, alcohol, sex, drugs, consumerism, etc.), unhealthy relationships, unfulfilled work, imbalanced in our bodies, lacking presence and stillness, and in a desperate search for joy and peace.
Reconnection with Nature
To counteract this imbalance, we must spend more time in nature and less time with technology.
My overconsumption of technology and social media results in less time for solitude, self-reflection, meditation, time in nature, and connection to myself. My deep craving for nature, the sun, putting my feet in the grass, and feeling the sun neutralizes this imbalance.
Malidoma Patrice Somé, a West African spiritual teacher, beautifully states, “Nature is the silent witness of intuition.”
Strengthening Intuition: Practical Tips
We are instinctive beings with innate wiring for deep connection to our inner knowing. Yet, many people feel unsure and untrusting of their intuitive abilities. Somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten how to tap in, regain trust in ourselves, and listen to the signals of our multidimensional being. The good news is that we can restore harmony.
First, we must set our brains on the shelf for a moment, lean into trust, look to our senses, listen to our feelings, and, with intentionality, seek guidance from within. You can approach this process in many different ways. Find what works for you.
Here are some practices to strengthen your intuition:
1. “Dust off an Intuition Cultivator”
Chris Maddox of The Wild Woman Project suggests engaging in activities that help develop your intuition, like reading inspiring passages, listening to spiritual podcasts, walking in nature, watching the Full Moon, rising with the sun, or meditating for 20 minutes each morning. You can start with something that feels the right fit for you, apply it for a week, and see what happens.
2. Feel into Your Body
Intuition is mainly feeling in your body. It manifests as physical sensations or a deep knowing. Pay attention to how your body reacts in different situations and with different people. For example, have you ever met someone and instantly felt connected to them, getting a “good vibe”?
Alternatively, you may have experienced other situations where you felt something was “off.” This is your intuition speaking to you. Tune in, turn the inner dial-up, and listen more closely. Notice when you feel shifts in your body as you go about your day, interact with different people, and make decisions.
3. Expansive vs. Contracted Inner Meter
This is another powerful aid in the intuitive decision-making process, as suggested by Chris Maddox. Center yourself and drop your awareness into your inner being. Ask yourself an either-or question and notice if your body feels expansive or contracted with each option. Envision each option, feel into it, visualize it in your mind, and see what it feels like. This will give you a good indication of your intuitive guidance. Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically.
4. Get in Nature
Spend time in nature to reconnect with your inner voice and quiet the external noise. Malidoma Patrice Somé, a West African spiritual teacher, beautifully illustrates, “Nature is the silent witness of intuition.” Something profound happens when we sit silently in nature, an experience that language can often never capture.
5. Watch InnSaei: The Power of Intuition
This Netflix documentary explores the power of intuition. See the trailer here, or read this blog post, which captures the essence conclusively.
6. Morning Meditation
Try this simple, self-reflective, inner inquiry exercise first thing in the morning, in the quiet, while everyone is still asleep. Center into your stillness, and drop this question into your meditation: “How does my intuition make itself known to me?” Pay attention to the subtleties in your energetic, emotional, and physical body. Notice what emerges.
Consistency is key. Strengthening your intuition takes practice, but the more you do it, the greater the impact of intuitive guidance you’ll feel in your everyday life.
Conclusion:
Florence Scovel Shinn, a spiritual teacher, wisely said, “Intuition is a spiritual faculty that does not explain but simply points the way.” Strengthening your relationship with intuition is a journey worth taking.
I’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from this post? Share in the comments below.
Want personalized on-on-one support strengthening your intuition? Click here to schedule your complimentary Discovery Coaching Call.