Excerpt from Channel, Introduction:

Introduction

‘It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover.’

 ~ Henri Poincaré (Mathematician, Engineer, Physicist & Philosopher of Science)

Many of us were raised to rely on logic. I don’t remember ever learning at school about the benefits of using our intuition or its potential to effectively guide us through life. We were told how to think rationally, how to test hypotheses, and how to make decisions based on solid reasoning and hard evidence. Although we heard from our school teachers about the different formulas and theories presented by well-known mathematicians and scientists, there was rarely – if ever – any mention of the value that these famous historical figures placed on spirituality and intuition.

Take Pythagoras, for instance, who has been referred to as the first pure mathematician in history and was said to have been the man behind several mathematical discoveries. We heard his name many times in maths classes, but it was only years later after finishing school that I learnt more about Pythagoras himself – that he was believed to have spent a considerable amount of time studying with priests in temples, to have shared his conviction that certain symbols have mystical significance, and to have described the soul as an immortal aspect of ourselves, moving from one body and one life to the next until purified. 

And who could forget Einstein’s laws and formulas that we were taught in Physics, such as ? While there certainly seems to have been a great deal of logic and effort behind his work, Einstein himself was quoted as saying, ‘There is no logical way to the discovery of these elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition …’ He also made the very direct statement that, ‘The only real valuable thing is intuition’.

Our rational mind is, of course, a valuable tool and one that’s necessary in many contexts. I’m grateful that science offers us the procedures by which we can test our theories, not to mention the benefits that come from new inventions and discoveries, as well as the endless opportunities to grow and expand our understanding of the world and of each other.

Opening ourselves up to the importance of our intuition does not mean we have to dismiss all that our brains are capable of. Intuition and rational ability can work well together, and arguably work best together. Logic can help us fulfil whatever it is our intuition guides us to do. There’s no need to reject one in favour of the other.

Pump that Muscle

A lot of people don’t intentionally use their intuition due to the belief that it’s simply not for everyone. There might be an assumption that it’s something we’re either born with or we’re not. We may feel that it’s not strong or predictable enough to depend on. It may come and go or pop up randomly – as a gut feeling, perhaps – without a whole lot of clarity about what it actually means or what to do next.

However, the thing about intuition is that we all have it to some extent. While it’s true that we can’t quite force our intuition to guide us, there are certainly ways to build it up to the point where it can be consistently relied upon and applied in our day-to-day lives.

People who pump iron and build muscular strength tend to find it easier as well as more enjoyable to use their muscles over time, no doubt gaining trust in their ability to lift heavier weights with practice. Our intuition is like a muscle because the more we use it, the stronger it becomes.  

I used to train in a swim squad several times a week. I had no thought of getting fit, winning races, or becoming stronger through this practice. I began training merely because my parents thought it might help with my childhood asthma through building up lung capacity. But one day at school a couple of girls pointed out that they could see my biceps. I found myself winning at arm wrestles with friends after someone suggested doing them just for fun during a lunch break. I began competing in events and had the opportunity to join the school swimming team as well as participate in ocean races after finishing school. My asthma did improve, but that basic practice of training on a regular basis led to so many other advantages I hadn’t anticipated, including much better stamina, the pleasure of being in water, and trust in my ability to go beyond my comfort zone both physically and mentally.

As we become familiar with listening to our intuition and building that intuitive muscle, we can start to enjoy and benefit from that process in ways we might not have initially expected. It also becomes easier over time to trust and take action based on whatever we feel inspired to do. Remember though, that just like a physical muscle, we need to use it or else we lose it. After I stopped training in a swimming squad, it didn’t take long for my fitness level to go downhill and for those visible biceps to fade away! Our intuitive ability improves and is maintained when we work on it consistently.

Excerpt from Channel, Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: Power of Trusting and Preparing for Change

‘True guidance is always loving, supportive, non-judgmental, and truthful. It will not betray your integrity, your honesty, or your honor … learn to keep the channel clear.’

~ Barbara Brennan (‘Light Emerging, the Journey of Personal Healing’, pg. 273).

‘[S]pirit can channel only through a prepared vessel.’

~ Marianne Williamson (‘The Law of Divine Compensation’, p.118).

When we truly trust the intuitive guidance we receive, that guidance tends to flow through more often and more powerfully. However, following such guidance can very often lead us outside our comfort zone and create changes in our lives we may not feel ready for. It’s good to prepare ourselves for this possibility so that we don’t freak out when the time comes to act on what our intuition leads us to do.

Not So Hot On Why

There’s a line from one of the songs in the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar (music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics written by Tim Rice) in which Jesus accuses God of providing guidance without reason: “You’re far too keen on where and how, but not so hot on why.”

When it comes to being guided, it seems that we often find ourselves knowing what to do and even how to do it, but the ‘why’ isn’t always clear. Generally, time will tell why we’ve been guided to do something, and we may even be able to justify it logically when looking back in hindsight. At the time though, that guidance will often make no sense at all.

Part of the trusting process is letting go of the need to know why, and to just take action based on our intuition. When we intuitively receive what may feel like instructions (or ‘marching orders’, as described by Julia Cameron in The Artists’ Way), the question to ask isn’t so much ‘why?’, but rather, ‘Ok, so what’s next? What step do I need to take now?’.

Once we agree to what we need to do, then the how tends to become clear, only to be followed by why later on. After a while, it can be reassuring to receive those ‘instructions’, trusting that the outcome of following them will turn out alright even if we have no idea how things will turn out.

 ‘What if My Intuition is Wrong?’

Concern about following our intuition may arise due to past experiences in which things seemed to turn out badly after following it. In these cases, it’s often worth investigating a little deeper. Looking back, we can ask clarifying question such as:

-          ‘What went wrong, exactly?’

-          ‘Did anything go right?’

-          ‘Is it possible that I misinterpreted the sign or intuitive guidance I received?’

-          ‘If I could go back in time, would I choose to ignore my intuition instead? If so, am I certain that it was purely intuition I was listening to?’

-          ‘Was there anything that felt vague or ‘off’ about what I was guided to do?’

-          ‘Was there more than one clair/intuitive ability that led me to do what I did, or was I relying on just one?’

-          ‘Could I have confused my own intuition with the advice or opinions of another person, who may have convinced me that I felt a certain way (e.g. an authority figure, spiritual teacher, or any other outside influence)?’

If we ever believe that we’ve been guided to do the wrong thing, chances are high that it was either not a clear, unambiguous intuitive message that we were following, or that it was not followed straight away. If it was the latter scenario, it’s good to remember that delaying action can lead to a different result than if we had acted exactly when our intuition told us to. Patience, timing, and willingness to act quickly (if need be) are all important factors when it comes to trusting our intuition.

‘What if *I’m* Wrong?’

Even if we are willing to follow our intuition and choose not to get carried away with concerns about the potential for things to go wrong, we may still have doubts as to whether we’ve heard it correctly. In other words, we may fear that ‘I am wrong’ about how we understand our intuition, rather than ‘my intuition is wrong’.

If we’re unsure about the guidance we’ve received, then it’s true we could make a wrong move based on misinterpreting an intuitive message or confusing mere mental chatter for true intuition. For this reason, it can certainly be wise to take a step back, get centred, and wait until we have clarity on this issue. After all, we don’t want to be careless and make the mistake of confusing our thoughts, emotional kneejerk reactions, or other non-intuitive experiences as intuition.

However, once we’re confident enough that we have indeed heard our intuition properly and it’s a clear intuitive signal, it makes sense to follow it. As soon as we know what we’re guided to do, then there’s no need for any more questioning about how everything will turn out. If it’s there, trust it. We can make choices so much more quickly that way.

Again, we can double-check to make sure that we’ve heard our intuition right. But at a certain point on our intuitive journey, we won’t want to second guess our intuition if it’s clear. That wastes time. Once we’ve confirmed it is really our intuition talking, then we need to try trusting it. If we receive guidance about the timing of when to do something too, it’s even more important to act when we’re guided to – strike while the iron’s hot! 

My Story

In my own life, I’ve struggled a lot with trusting my intuition while also resisting any change that I’ve felt guided to make. While I can’t say that I’ve yet mastered the ability to trust and follow my intuitive guidance, I am sharing my experience with this journey of learning to trust more over time, and to become increasingly more willing to step outside my comfort zone. While I know how scary (and inconvenient!) it can be when I feel guided to change anything in my life, I’ve also seen the power that comes from trusting my intuition and the wonderful experiences I’ve enjoyed as a result of following it.

I’ve found that the best way to prepare for intuitively-guided change is to practice trusting my intuition, bit by bit, step by step, one path at a time. Acting on my intuition for little things helped to build up my trusting muscle so that eventually, I had more courage to follow it for pretty significant issues as well …

• Update #1 - Publishizer campaign completed - THANK YOU! Aug. 30, 2018

  Hi!

  Today was the final day of my Publishizer campaign, and I want to thank you again for pre-ordering a copy of the book, "Channel: …

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