Developing Intuition ~ A Practical Approach To A Powerful Gift?

Women aren't the only ones who have it. We all have it. It's as natural as the blood that runs through our veins. Intuition is a sense, not some elusive thing that only “some” people get to have. Problem is, most of us either have it undermined by our caretakers in early years or, as “grown-ups” we decide that it's too unreliable to fuss with. It's not logical. Nor practical. Nor is it provable. And since we're so smart, we don't need it anyway. Such is the course we take as we grow into our later years. Not necessarily the best of choices.

This being the case, it occurs to me that perhaps there might be a calling for a little reminder. Developing intuition, or more accurately, re-developing intuition is merely a matter of being aware that it's there. In other words, you don't really have to “get some”, you only have to acknowledge it. You don't need to take a class or have a guru or go on a Spiritual Quest. Intuition is as readily available as salt in the ocean. Question is, do you know this?

Rather than go on a long discourse about the "how to" stuff, I thought it might be more fun to tell a story. I'm big on stories, as they tend to “stick” in my brain better than “text material”. But that's me. Either way, stories are more fun to tell than delivering a bunch of data. Besides, if you want that kind of information, you can certainly find plenty elsewhere...

So then...

Once upon a time (just kidding...got ya for a minute, didn't I?), a woman found herself spiraling into a place called Fear. She was in the midst of great change, her world turned upside-down by every imaginable contrast. Where she'd once been flush in money and comforts, she was suddenly on the brink of homelessness. Where she'd once been the picture of strength and vitality, she found herself weak and filled with physical pain. Most of her closest friends had long since moved away, going to places that were less hectic and more opportune. Worst of all, the woman's cherished companion of 13 years had passed away, leaving her with a vast emptiness that consumed her. All she had left were her cat and her fears. She was deeply sad...and utterly terrified.

The woman had always been a most optimistic soul. She was the person folks called when they were in need of an attitude adjustment. Or gentle guidance. Or a big, deep belly laugh. This trait was a large part of her being, and she'd always counted herself blessed for having it. She shared this optimism joyfully, always encouraging people to lighten up and get on with it. This was her credo. This was her mantra. This was her Life.

She had little experience with such deep fear, even though she'd been through some pretty horrific experiences in her life. Throughout them all, she'd maintained a balance that kept her from falling into the great abyss of despair. She was good at side-stepping. She was also very good at hiding until she found the courage that sometimes hid from her in dank cellars or stifling, dusty attics. When she'd find it again, she always welcomed it back and then got on with whatever task awaited. Such was the manner in which she'd lived her life to this point.

So when the woman found herself in such unfamiliar territory, she was as astonished as she was afraid. She was shocked by how easily she'd fallen into this well of Fear, and she felt the whole of her Being shutting down, as if paralyzed by some deadly spider's venom. Unable to move. Unable to think. Unable to save herself from this immobilizing poison.

One day, after what seemed an eternity, she got a message from a friend. This friend was someone who knew, all too well, the place called Fear. She'd somehow sensed that her friend was in trouble. So she sent this message to say, “Look down at your hands. What are they holding? Are you walking with Fear or Gratitude? Can you see blue sky?”

The words seemed to scream at the woman, grabbing hold of her like a giant pair of hands. LISTEN! LISTEN! CAN YOU HEAR ME? The woman felt the tears flood her eyes. She had an overwhelming desire to call her mother. She wanted to run out of the house and find the nearest cliff off of which to leap. She could feel a mountain of emotions begin to crumble on top of her. She did not resist.

Minutes after she read the message, she jumped up from her office chair and made her way to the back yard. She needed to ground herself. She needed her hands to be in the earth. She needed to feel the sun on her skin. She felt that if she didn't she would surely burst into flames and burn to ashes, right there in her office. As quickly as her pained body would carry her, she went to her garden and started pulling weeds. She grabbed the hose and watered her roses. She snipped dead blossoms from their stems. She listened to the hum of honey bees feasting on a nearby bush. A very feisty Blue Jay alit on the fence some 2 feet from where she stood. The Jay was holding a bug in its mouth, and making raucous sounds as if to say, “Hey! Look! It's easy. Even I can do it. Relax. You're safe.”

The woman knew this was no accident. The bird followed her wherever she went in her garden, all the while hollering for her to listen. All the while holding that bug in its mouth. All the while assuring the woman that she simply needed to BE.

By the time the woman went back inside, she'd remembered all those things she had once lived. She remembered that her only 'job' was to allow and trust. Allow and trust. All the rest is just noise. Quiet those pesky little monkeys that chatter incessantly and listen to your heart. The monkeys are ego. The heart is truth. Your life is full of treasure and joy. You are love and love is God. Let go of that twig you're hanging on to...and let yourself fly. You're not going to crash! You have wings. Use them.

And so, the woman found the voice of Truth by listening to the whispers of her intuition. She found her way back to Grace, leaving Fear behind in the terrible black abyss. No longer would she doubt the power of her intuition. Forever more, she would remember: it is my gift and I shall use it whenever I wish.

The End