Have you ever walked into a room after an argument and felt the tension so strongly you could almost touch it? Have you ever thought of someone you hadn’t seen in a long time, only to receive a text Message from them out of the blue? These are examples of your Intuition reminding you that it’s there. Intuition is the ability to know things without conscious reasoning, as if you were in-tuned to something infinitely wise. Everyone has access to this knowing; some are more in-tuned than others. Your intuition is a priceless gift that can improve your life if you choose to develop it.

My intuition helped me make the momentous decision to move across the country. I just finished college and was trying to figure out where to go in life. I debated between staying in my college town, or venturing to a new state. I scoured the Internet for jobs in the helping-profession, and I happened upon one in my dream city. I knew it was a long shot because I didn’t have much work history. Regardless, I sent a cover letter and resume to the the hiring manager. I remember very clearly the moment I hit “Send.” I was sitting in a beautiful Tuscan cafe with walls the color of burnt sierra. I felt lit up inside, like my heart was lighter and everything around me was sparkling. I knew in that moment that if I got the job, I had to take it. Sure enough, I got a call from the hiring manager a few days later. After a phone interview, she hired me on the spot. I accepted it and moved across the country. Now it’s been three years, and I can’t imagine a better place to work at this time in my life. I truly feel like I’m making a positive impact in this world.

The best advice I could offer anyone is to always Listen to your intuition. When I think of how I made decisions before I learned to listen to my intuition, to how I make decisions now, I can’t imagine going back. It has only improved my life.

Here is how listening to your intuition will improve your life:

• You will know not to pursue dead-end projects. Should you apply for this job? No, it wouldn’t be worth your time. Should you move to this city? Yes, you’ll love it there. Should you go back to school? Yes, but not yet.
• You will know not to put yourself in situations that are potentially dangerous.
• You will be far better at reading people and picking up on subtle nuances.
• You will know which battles are worth fighting, and which conflicts would be better left to rest.
• You will be able to tell who has good intentions towards you, and who doesn’t.
• You will be able to recognize and pursue your life’s purpose.
• You will grow tremendously on a spiritual level.
• Finally, I truly believe you will have improved relationships.

How I Learned About My Intuition

When I was a kid, I knew I had gifts. I knew there were entities on the other side living among us, but I didn’t know what to do about it. I would often have dreams either predicting the future or shedding light on the present, but that was the extent of my abilities.

As time went on, I realized that whenever I was about to make a decision that would result in very negative consequences for myself, I would feel a sense of fear and apprehension in my chest. Alternatively, whenever I would feel inspired to pursue a particular interest, like auditioning for a musical or applying for a job, I would feel a sense of excitement and encouragement. All of these pursuits would result in wonderful outcomes. I quickly realized these feelings weren’t just coincidences; they were foreshadowing my potential future.

How to Listen to Your Intuition

Believe it or not, just saying your intentions out loud sparks changes in the spiritual world. The first step is to say something like:

“I am open to hearing intuitive guidance.”

There you go. It’s that simple.

The second step is to make sure you are healthy, both physically and emotionally. If you’re sick, it’s nearly impossible to get a clear read. Save that energy for healing so you don’t confuse yourself.

I mentioned in a previous entry, “How to Amplify Your Intuition,” tips to prepare yourself for hearing intuitive messages.

Let’s recap:

• Eating healthy, whole foods
• Being rested, calm, and grounded
• Breathing mindfully

I’d like to add one more thing to that list: drinking juiced greens or green smoothies. I noticed when I consume these beverages, especially those containing kale, spinach, and ginger, my intuition reaches a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. There is less static; I can feel and hear everything clearly. When conducting psychic readings for my friends, they confirmed that I am especially spot-on during those times. [1]

In fact, most psychics prefer to eat a plant-based diet with little to no meat, because they find that it raises their vibration and clears any blocks to their intuition. I can offer testament to the importance of diet. One morning, I had just consumed a green smoothie and was feeling like sunshine. Around lunchtime, we had a pizza delivered to work. Even though it was gluten-free, it was still filled with complex carbs, starch, and cheese (not the healthiest of food options). I ate a couple slices, and witnessed as my energy diminished several notches. I noticed that for hours afterward, I couldn’t tune-in to my intuition. From that experience, I learned how much our intuition is dependent on our diets.

The next step is to be emotionally healthy. When I say that, I mean to not let your emotions get in the way of how you perceive your responses. If you’re asking a question about something that is very important to you, and you don’t want to skew the results, you have to take every step to detach yourself. Imagine that you don’t care what the answer is. Imagine that you’re asking out of curiosity for someone else, and that the results will have no bearing on your life. If you’re feeling highly-emotional, it’s best to wait until you’re calm.

The location of where you tune in has an effect on the answer as well. I never have any trouble connecting to my intuition when I’m in nature. I’m fortunate to live next to a beautiful park with steep hiking trails and a view of the city. By the time I get to the top, my mind is clear, and I can hear my intuition like it’s coming from a megaphone. For now, you might want to start in your own home or somewhere outside in a private place.

The position in which you sit actually makes a difference. I find that sitting up, for some reason, opens up my heart and my head to better tune-in. If you’re wearing a hat, go ahead and take it off. Sometimes it can block you from receiving messages.

The first approach is to ask a question, close your eyes, silence your mind, and wait for the answer. It can take a couple minutes. The message may appear in different forms, such as a feeling, or a vision, or a smell, or a thought. Once, a friend of mine interviewed for a job and asked me to tune-in to see if she would get hired. I closed my eyes and asked the question. After a minute, I felt sadness swell in my heart. It was hard, but I told her the message I received. She later informed me that she didn’t get the job.

The second approach is to ask your body. Say, “Show me yes.” Stay very calm and gentle as you listen to your body communicate. Typically, you will feel some sort of physical response. It could be a feeling of openness in your chest. It could be an expansiveness in your throat. It could be a sense of grounding and calming.

Now, say, “Show me no.” Listen to how your body communicates. It could be a sinking in your chest. It could be a constriction in your throat. It could be a feeling at the pit of your stomach. Recognize the difference between the two responses.

Now, when you’re ready, ask a question. For instance, you could ask, “Am I in the right relationship?” Listen to how your body responds.

It’s important to note that most questions in life don’t have strictly yes or no answers. In fact, there are many shades of gray. Oftentimes I ask a yes or no question, and I receive an answer of both. That means there are some pros and cons to that particular situation. For instance, one time I asked, “Should I take this watercolor class?” I received a kinda-yes, kinda-no response. I signed up for the class anyway, and then learned the reason behind the mixed-answer. It was after work; I was always late and tired; I had to buy the materials which cost a lot of money, and I ended up not enjoying it 100%. On another occasion, I asked if I should take a cooking class, and I received a strong yes in response. After I took the class, I knew why. I ended up having a great time. I learned cooking skills that I’ve used ever since.

After you’ve practiced yes or no questions for a while, you will be able to pick up on more nuanced responses. For instance, you can ask, “How does Jenny feel about me?” For these questions, you’ve got to detach yourself as to not let your ego get in the way. Once you ask the question, gently listen. Let any messages flood into your heart and pay attention to any nuanced feelings your perceive. After a while, you will be able to feel more complex responses than just yes or no.

You can also tune-in to another person to see how they are feeling. Amazingly, when I do so, I actually take on their mannerisms. For instance, I knew someone who always smiled on one side of their mouth. When I tuned-in, I found myself mimicking their smile. I notice that mediums also take on the mannerisms of the spirits with whom they communicate. If you find yourself doing that, it’s a sign that you’re onto something.

As you continue to practice, you will start to hear your answers in the form of words. They tend to be very short, but they have a knack of summarizing a complex situation into a couple words. For instance, I might ask, “Should I move to a new apartment?” I might get the answer, “Not yet.” I might not hear all the details, but I’ll at least get the main message.

If you’re ever at crossroads in life and you’re stuck between two choices, there is a simple way to determine the right answer. Imagine yourself choosing each option, and observe which option provokes a feeling of panic, and which option provokes a feeling of calm. The calm feeling will always point to the right option.

How Do You Know it’s Your Intuition and Not All in Your Head?

Sometimes, if you’re having a lot of anxiety or panic, it will skew your results. In these times, practice the four-square breathing I mentioned. Breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts, and repeat. Once you’ve done that a few times, take a moment, and ask your question again. When in doubt, take a break and come back later.

Also, at the risk of sounding repetitive, don’t let your own preferences or emotions get in the way of what you’re asking. If you’re too attached, take a break.

Now, the hardest part is telling the difference between your intuition and your head. Here are some helpful tips:

• Every time you ask a question regarding a person or topic, you will get the same answer (unless the answer changes over time).
• When you get the answer, you feel a sense of acceptance and peace.
• The inverse is also true. If you get an answer that doesn’t feel right, you will feel unsettled.
• When you practice with a friend, you both get the same feeling for the same question.

You’re Not Supposed to Know Everything

If you already knew everything, you wouldn’t have reincarnated on this planet. The point of our lives is to learn lessons and have relationships and grow on the physical realm, and part of that is learning as you go. If you’re asking questions about the future, sometimes it’s too soon to know the answers. Sometimes, knowing the future will change it, and it takes away from living in the present. You’re always on your spiritual path, whether you can see it in front of you or not.

I should mention that some people put up spiritual barriers to prevent others from tuning in to them. I’ve only met one person who put up these walls. She wasn’t even conscious of it. If someone really wants to remain private, even subconsciously, they can.

That being said, if you’re trying relentlessly to ask a question and you’re not getting a clear answer, it’s most likely because you’re not supposed to know. In those situations, it’s probably in your best interest to not know anyway.

What to Do if You’re Blocked

If you’re not getting a clear message, you’re probably blocked. One solution is sit under the full moon. My friend who sees auras shared that a person’s aura might have black blotches preventing them from tuning in to their intuition. It has nothing to do with that person’s health or spirituality or morals or anything. It’s just something that happens every once in a while, like when dust settles on the carpet and you have to clean it with a vacuum. If you have the means to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours under the full moon, you will clean out your aura and make it easier to tune in to your intuition.

Finally, if you’re still blocked, don’t give up! Practice, practice, practice, every day; don’t let it go to waste. The more your practice, the more your skills will evolve. You will grow closer to the source from which you came. Your intuition is a very powerful gift; it is your right as a human being to tune in.

[1] I can’t rave enough about how amazing juiced greens and green smoothies have been for my spirituality, my mood, and my health (I promise, I’m not getting paid to say that!!!!). I could go on and on about how great they are, but I’m digressing from the topic, so perhaps I’ll save it for another day. Back