When I first began taking shamanic classes, I wanted so badly to develop my intuition. I had a hunch I might have abilities, though they weren’t in evidence yet.
During the first year of learning to journey, I doubted the messages that came through. Years later, I realized at that time my main form of intuition was claircognizance. Claircognizance is intuitive knowing. The insights are just suddenly there. Because I was receiving through my mind, I questioned whether I was imagining it or creating the story in my head. I eventually understood that I was experiencing intuitive knowing. These awarenesses weren’t arrived at through logical or rational thought, they just dropped into my brain.
Over time, we learn to recognize the intuitive information as it comes. In the early days, I ignored nudges to grab my umbrella as I was heading out the door only to get rained on later. I disregarded fleeting thoughts about taking a slightly longer alternative route to work only to get delayed by road construction or traffic accidents. (This happened more than once.) Or I would be “too busy” to stop what I was doing and check on a bill that had popped to mind, only to have to scramble days later to get it paid on time. For whatever reasons, at the time I didn’t connect these nudges with being messages from my guides.
Now I do. At a recent workshop, I was nudged on the last morning to get up early and go for a walk, even though my logical mind said to use that time to pack up my personal items. I listened to my intuition and had a delightful experience hiking in the fresh snow and reading the animal tracks. By heeding the urge to get out in nature, I got to see bobcat tracks.
Ironically, when we’re first growing our gifts, the best way to develop our intuition is to trust the messages we receive. We’re asked to have faith. Acting on the guidance we receive signals to our soul and to Spirit that we sincerely desire to more fully develop our sixth sense. (My next post will be about discernment, which is an important complement to trust.)
In the beginning, it’s a leap of faith. One worth taking.
This work is real, and it matters.
January 4, 2022