Flashes of insight.
Dreams that come true.
Knowing who is calling as the phone rings.
These are some of the signs of intuition at work, our human ability to know without direct communication through the five main senses.
We all have intuitive abilities. We share the same energetic/chakra system that processes subtle information, giving us the ability to see mental pictures, hear words or phrases telepathically, and certainly to feel emotional energy emanating from those around us, even when we don’t know them.
While most people will agree with me that intuition is common, fewer are willing to step up a notch and claim to be psychic. Somehow that seems more special, accurate, even amazing. But I see psychic ability as simply a step forward, developed through practice and trust in one’s intuitive nature.
The practice begins with meditation to clear the mind. Learning to breathe and quiet an overactive mind allows you to receive messages as they come in. If your thoughts are endlessly churning, it’s like an overflowing inbox. The intuitive messages get buried in mental chatter. By the time you read them, they may be out of date or confused with a dozen alternative thoughts.
An energetic visual meditation practice can also help clear chakra blockages and create stronger boundaries. Learning to run energy from the cosmos and the earth, and creating stronger energetic boundaries, can help you remain centered so you don’t feel drained around other people.
Practicing different types of intuitive reading skills helps you understand how you receive information. Being validated when you’re right builds confidence. Confidence supports clarity, and clarity makes it easier to recognize and trust what you receive.
Having a practice structure is beneficial. You can practice with a friend, although it can actually be harder to receive clear information when you already know details about someone or have opinions about their life.
In fact, I’ve found that getting clear information about someone is often easiest when they are a complete stranger, a little harder with a friend, and most challenging when you are trying to receive information for yourself. Then you have the additional challenge of trusting it!
I’ve been teaching intuitive skills for almost forty years, nearly as long as I’ve been seeing people professionally. These days I alternate between Intuitive Life, a class for all skill levels designed to help us receive clearer information as we navigate the challenges of life, and Intuitive Skills for Astrologers.
The skills, teaching, and practice are virtually the same in the two offerings. The main difference is that in the class for astrologers (and astrology enthusiasts), we sometimes work intuitively with a particular planet or discuss intuition while considering the influences of the current cosmic sky. Professional and senior student astrologers also practice reading a chart analytically and then connecting intuitively with the same question.
Initially, it can be challenging to move between the analytical and intuitive mind. I remember when I first began doing this, feeling as if my brain cells were popping from the effort! Over time, it became easier and much more fluid. Learning to move gracefully between analysis and intuition is a useful skill for all of us, not just intuitive astrologers.
To develop your intuitive skills:
Meditate regularly. Breathing practices, Zen, Vipassana, or similar styles can help clear the mind of clutter.
Practice visual meditation. Run energy from the cosmos and earth, clear the chakras, and strengthen your energetic boundaries.
Practice, practice, practice. If you don’t have a friend to work with, automatic writing can be a wonderful way to receive messages for yourself.
Take care of your body. Your body is your earth vehicle. When you exercise, eat in a way that supports your personal system, and rest well, you are likely to feel clearer. Don’t push intuitive practice when you are ill, emotionally overwhelmed, or excessively tired. Restorative yoga or Yoga Nidra may be more supportive when you are exhausted.
Develop a connection with a Spirit guide of the Light. I believe we all have many guides. Learning to connect consciously with spiritual guidance can support an empowered and meaningful life.
We just experienced a New Moon in Virgo, suggesting a fresh start for cleansing practices and a time to become more devoted and organized. Although the opposite sign of Pisces is more commonly associated with psychic sensitivity, Virgo has its own kind of subtle perception. There are many Virgo placements in the charts of well-known psychics and mediums.
I also know from decades of teaching that softening the inner critic is essential to developing intuition. Most of us have one, but Virgo energy can be especially prone to questioning, analyzing, and trying to get it exactly right. Intuition needs discernment, but it also needs enough inner spaciousness for a subtle message to arrive before the mind explains it away.
As we move toward autumn, I invite you to commit, or recommit, to a meditative, healing, cleansing, or organizing practice. This season of balance and deepening is a beautiful time to become quieter inside and listen more closely to what you already know.
If you’d like support in this fascinating exploration, Intuitive Skills for Astrologers begins September 20 for six weeks. Intuitive Life will be scheduled soon.