I see intuition as your connection to your soul, your higher self. It's something that everyone has - how could they not? The problem is that we're talked out of our intuition as we grow up, and we're taught to look for guidance outside of ourselves. If you're ready to find that intuitive part of yourself again, read on, as I give you 10 simple steps to connect with your intuition.
I call them steps but not all of them have to be done in this order. The point is really to make working with your intuition a regular activity. Intuition is a muscle that has to be worked, like any other. Commit to it and you'll soon see the rewards of living in a more intuitive way.
Now without further ado, here we go: how to connect with your intuition in 10 simple steps.
Step 1: Get clear on why you're disconnected from your intuition right now
Intuition is your inner knowing, it’s your compass. What happened to break the compass?
You were definitely in touch with your intuition when you were a child (we’ll be talking about your inner child later on). So what happened? When did you stop trusting your instincts?
Was it when you were a young child and weren’t allowed to ever follow your judgment because every decision was made for you
Was it when you were a teenager or in your twenties and you made some dumb decisions and decided that trusting yourself isn’t a great idea?
Was it later on in your life, when your intuition was trying to lead you in a direction that went against what you were taught and what society expected, so you ignored it?
ACTION: Take the time today to connect with your younger self, who listened to their intuition and trusted their own judgment. Look at photos or take a trip down memory lane. Try to identify at least one time in your life when you followed your gut feeling. Journal about what comes up, any thoughts, feelings, impressions, fears or questions.
Step 2: Figure out why you want to connect with you intuition in the first place
If it’s because you think that it’s something you SHOULD do, then it won’t happen. If you think that it will help you know which lottery numbers to pick, it won’t happen. Why? Because those reasons aren’t coming from your higher self, so they won’t help you reach your higher self.
Dig deep and answer some of these questions:
What is it that you want to do in your life?
Do you feel that you’re on the wrong path and wish you had some guidance on where to go next?
Are you on the right path but lose precious time because you keep second-guessing your decisions?
Do you find it hard to meet a partner who is right for you, and wish you could be more honest with yourself and trust your judgment?
Or is it for something else?
ACTION: Consider what attracted you to reading this blog post, why you're craving a more connected way of life. What are you hoping to accomplish? It’s ok if you’re unclear on the details of your goals, but see if you can identify what you think would change if you were more connected to your intuition. Use the questions above if you like, and journal about whatever comes up for you.
Step 3: Practice stating goals or desires and pay attention to what you're attracting
This is so you know what answers to look for, otherwise you’ll find it difficult to make sense of all the information you’ll be sensing. Articulating your desires or goals, clearing stating what you want to experience, directs your focus. For example, if I'm running late in the morning I say 'I have all the time in the world'. When I start a workshop, either as a host or a participant, I always set the intention that I and the participants will get exactly what we need at this point in time. Before I channel guidance from my guides I always set the intention that the guidance that comes through me is clear, precise and in exactly the right language for my client to understand. Once you're clear on what you want to see happen, it'll be easy to see whether it's happening as you wish or not.
ACTION: Set an intention for your day every morning for a few days. A good one for when you have a lot on is “Everything will happen at exactly the right time”. Choose one that feels right to you and repeat it to yourself at least three times each morning. Observe what the day brings and journal about anything that comes up.
ANOTHER ACTION: Try automatic writing. Set the intention that your writing will give you guidance on whatever you need right now, ask a question, and just write. Write without thinking or judgment, don’t let your pen leave the paper or your hands come off the keyboard. Write ‘I don’t know what to write’ until something else comes through. It might take a few tries to really do this without thinking, and that’s ok!
Step 4: Go for a soul walk
A soul walk builds on the idea of setting intentions. It is just what it sounds like – a walk during which you connect with your soul. Anything that quiets the mind and gives you space to be in the moment connects you with your soul, and walking is perfect for this.
ACTION: Go for a walk, but with an intention in mind. This intention can be anything, like “I will get more clarity on which job to choose” or “I will get a new creative idea” or “Walking will clear my head and I will be open to listening to whatever my intuition wants to tell me”.
Then, just walk. You don’t have to think about your intention, just clear your head and stay in the moment. This is not the time to listen to a podcast 😉
Pay attention to anything you see, including people and animals, and how they affect you. For example, you may feel that they are invading your personal space. Is this true in other areas of your life? A lot about how you deal with life can show up in your process.
When you come back, journal about what came through or any feelings that came up.
Step 5: Create a collage
All art is a way of connecting with your intuition because it bypasses your thinking self, your ego, and connects you to your soul. A collage is so easy and accessible that it’s the best way to start connecting with your creative self.
ACTION: Sit down and focus inward. Set the intention of connecting to your soul. Then think about a question or issue you’re struggling with and decide that the collage process will give you guidance. Get a stack of magazines and tear out any words or pictures that speak to you and then glue them onto a blank page. Look at your collage when you’re done – what message did your soul send you through what you chose? How did the process you went through reflect how you view your situation or question?
--> if you need or want more of a structured approach to intuitive collage, check out my Visioning Quest course
Step 6: Connect with your inner child
Connecting with your inner child invites wonder, curiosity, magic and fun. It reminds you that your child-self is still inside you, somewhere. When you connect with them, you connect with a part of you that was more naturally intuitive, before you were taught to follow external guidance instead of your own. It brings you back to center.
ACTION: Finger-painting! Yes, it can be messy, but it will introduce an element of freedom that in most likelihood is missing from your life. Take some paper, take some paint, and go crazy.
If you want to combine this with what you learned about setting intentions, do so. Set an intention before you start, or ask for guidance on something specific, and see what comes through. Don’t forget to keep some paper nearby so you can write down any thoughts or ideas that pop up into your mind!
Step 7: Ask to receive answers while you sleep
Dreams are a great way of receiving intuitive guidance! You are definitely not using your thinking self while you sleep, so it's a good time for your higher self and your guides to pass messages. Whether you get them or not is up to you. I have had my guides show me loads of things in my dreams, from past lives to answers. Sometimes the dreams bring up more questions than answers, and that’s ok. Explore whatever comes through and ask again the next night if you need clarification.
ACTION: Before you fall asleep, ask your guides and angels to send guidance on a specific question. Keep a notebook by your bed so that when you wake up you can jot down any dreams you remember having and any thoughts that you wake up with – they will be part of your answer.
Step 8: Draw (or color in) a mandala
Mandalas are incredibly powerful, as they create a sacred space for communicating with your soul. ‘Mandala’ means ‘circle’ in Sanskrit, and the circle shape is a symbol of the Universe, of wholeness, of our soul journey. Mandalas have been used in all kinds of interesting work, from Buddhist meditation to Jungian therapy. They help you access what cannot be expressed in words.
ACTION: Set an intention for what you'd like guidance on, and either draw a mandala or color one in (there are plenty of mandala coloring books available these days!). Pay attention to anything that comes to your mind as you draw or color - jot it down and put it all together into an answer or message when you're done.
Step 9: Follow your enthusiasm
Your intuition has been trying to lead you places your entire life. You can tell it’s your intuition leading you by how enthusiastic you feel about doing something. Follow whatever feels like your highest excitement, those feelings are your soul's way of showing you that you're on the right track.
ACTION: Make a list of activities and topics that you have been enthusiastic about over the years. Start when you were a young child and work from there. Add whatever ideas came up for you while you were doing the other exercises in this course. Then look through it and see what you feel drawn to now. That’s what you should explore next!
Step 10: Practice makes perfect
Intuition is like everything else, it requires practice. Make an effort to practice being in the moment and connecting with your soul, your higher self. All of the exercises in this course were getting you to do just that, so if you enjoyed any of them then do them again. Regularly. 🙂
ACTION: Don’t forget to try other things you come across and see what works best for you. Start meditating, get some oracle cards and get comfortable using them, buy some books on psychic ability and channeling. Or re-do any of the creative exercises but use different materials – charcoal, paint, feathers, anything. Whatever you feel drawn to, try!
Phew, you ,made it through all 10 steps! Yay! You probably haven't actually done them yet though - but looking through what's involved in connecting with your intuition is a great start 🙂
Which idea appeals to you most? Tell me in the comments, I'd love to know.
Love,
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Joanna, what a superb post! I’m a holistic coach and energy healer, so I have recommended some of these techniques to my clients over the years. I had not heard the term “soul walk” before, but I love it. Also “soulsmart” is a brilliant term. Thanks for a wonderful article.
Thanks Kebba! 🙂 I’m glad the term soulsmart resonates with you, when it came to me so many years ago now it felt perfect to me, and it still does!
Thank you for your post. I think I would try to make a collage and/or mandala.
Those are 2 of my favorite intuitive tools! Let me know if you’d like any resources to help you.