Intuition Q & A

I am frequently asked questions about intuition - what it is; how to use it; how intuition can be developed - I post here a variety of common questions and answers from my own experiences to enable you to explore and practice developing your own intuitive capability.

Creating your own reality

Hi Kira. A question. I am surrounded by creating your life "technology". As focus and belief are clearly important...where is the balance point between "Deciding how i want to be" and "surrendering to my limits of what is”? People keep saying "do not allow your circumstances to dictate your vision or thinking or consciousness". I'm afraid if I choose empowerment and vitality that I'm going to ask to be something I'm not or that I’m focusing on being different than I am. But they say we are the results of our thoughts and feelings.

My first impulse is to say –

Please be gentle on yourself! Clarity of seeing what is true is easier if you are more relaxed. Often, the harder you 'try' to see clearly, the more confused you can become. Yes, the concept of 'creating your own reality' is certainly the current 'flavour' in the consciousness circles ... and in my opinion frequently mis-represented. I will attempt to share here how I experience it – literally every thought we have has a consequence, thus creating the reality in which we experience ourselves and the life around us. Is what we create ‘true’ ... given that in a 'moment' we can have such a shift of view it can seem as if the whole environment and circumstance has shifted around us? And ... if we are attempting to 'create' from our mind, this in my view is not creating our reality, but indeed attempting to control our life, and consequently limit what is possible. Our mind truly can only see a very small part of the whole. Think about this for a moment. Can you recall a time when you really wanted something (a situation or a person or an item) and then time passed and your wish for what you wanted changed? This is a mind wish – creating from this 'level’ can occur, but generally it is not fulfilling and is often confusing. When we allow a depth of our own inner knowing, to deeply touch the part within us that simply 'knows,' then there is no such thing as a wanting to create your own reality as you simply know that life is as it is. Whatever presents into your life is exactly what you need and is appropriate to help you develope, grow, and expand further into your own potential. I wish to emphasise the depth of what I mean by this – that what we 'think' is a limit, and this is indeed what we create on that level.Often we have an idea of what we 'should' create – but again, ask yourself is this true? Really true? Is what you 'want to create' in the flow of what is really appropriate and easy for you ... not your idea of you, but the truth of who you are … You ask about being limited by your circumstances and your beliefs – yes, we can indeed be limited if we invest in a limiting belief about our circumstances. If you have a difficult health situation, or are in jail or are living in extreme poverty then yes, if you believe and think this is a terrible and difficult life experience, then indeed this is exactly how you will experience yourself and the circumstance/facts. I know people in each of the above mentioned circumstances who are not limited by their mind's judgment and consider themselves free and unlimited ... it is not the circumstance or facts in which you are living, but your relationship to them. What beliefs do you invest in? Are they true for you? Freedom and limitless experience are possible in all circumstances. It is not about creating the perfect life situation – we can all be free right now, exactly as we are, right now. Often our past life events, our conditioning, our traumas and our learned experiences all help to co-create what we call our 'reality,’ and form the skewed view of these filters. Indeed we do create our reality. If, however, we explore and uncover each of these conditionings, traumas and beliefs, then we discover something much more precious and natural. I would put it more that it is the unconditional acceptance of what is right here, right now, that can allow the depth of seeing in such a way that is beyond the normal constrictions of our mental interpretation of what we 'should have.' If you truly listen to the sages and wise ones over time they all say essentially the same thing: be here now, and all that is, is here now …. Gently, and with love, Kira

What is Intuition?

This is a question I am frequently asked ... there is the short answer and the long answer ...

Short answer –

The label or name for when we simply 'know' the answer to a situation or problem. When we seem to easily understand knowledge with no apparent effort. Our 'gut' feeling that something is right or wrong. That quiet sense of peace when we feel we have taken 'right' action. When we seem to know facts beyond the course of our normal intellect.

Longer answer –

In all truth we truly don't know exactly 'what' intuition is. In some fields of science, including neuroscience, there is investigative studies underway. (link to come soon for current studies) In time it may be seen that we have parts of our brain involved in intuition that we at present do not fully understand or appreciate. Or indeed we may comprehend the depth of what the sages of old have stated, that we are all 'one' and in this oneness all knowledge, all future and past is present, is available now. One point I am clear about – we all have intuition, we are born with it. It is a natural part of who we are as a human being. We each may have different levels of access or using of our intuition, but we all actually have it – intuition is our natural birthright. I prefer to not put too many labels or theories into discussion, nor do I like to say intuition definitively is xyz. Instead, I prefer to share here my personal experience of how I experience intuition, in my daily life and in my working with people. Perhaps you might resonate with some of my sentences and be encouraged! For me intuition is that small quiet voice that often 'reminds' me, 'you forgot your keys'; 'don't take that train'; 'call xyz person'; 'take care of this bill/situation'; 'xyz is going to happen' – or not happen; ' person xyz is going to be in contact'. Sometimes it is a 'voice' sometimes it is a picture, sometimes like a short movie, sometimes a sensory feeling. Sometimes it is a combination of these different forms. Occasionally I have dreams, different from what I call 'normal' dreams. The common 'theme' is that what is shown to me proves true in my life. I have frequently found myself 'knowing' information about a person, their family, their life situation without having any actual input from the person. On some occasions 'seeing' what will happen in the future in a particular location or situation. It is as if I gain glimpses or fragments of what is to come or sometimes what has past. These insights arise in daily life as I go about my life, and they are more detailed if I take time to tune in more directly on a person or situation. On many, many occasions I have had experiences of knowing 'things' that I have no rational explanation to understand 'how' I know this information. I learned over the years to simply allow this 'knowledge' to simply be, to name 'it' and to speak out what I have seen and consequently allow this to be a support for myself and other people. I experience intuition as very ordinary, not a 'special gift'. As I have become more aware that intuition is a real part of my perceptive reality and acknowledged this 'extra sense' it has become stronger and more developed within me and active in my daily life. In decision making I include my intellectual knowledge and life experiences, and I pause for a moment to allow what else might arise to inform me. In all honesty I simply 'know' I have intuition, as does everyone else. I do not doubt this truth. I am continuing to discover what that means in my own life and in others. It is both fun and deeply rewarding.Through additional questions in this forum you might gain further understanding ... happy reading – and practicing!

How do I know it is my Intuition?

Simply as it has a quiet, peaceful, nonjudgmental feel. It is neither 'good/right' nor 'bad/wrong'. And these intuitive glimpses consistently have proved 'true', whether I have taken notice and acted or not! A recent simple example was that I was looking for my other sim cards as I was packing to leave for Nepal. I was certain I had them in a safe and easily accessible place. But I couldn't find them! That quiet voice said' they are under the filing cabinet'. Yet I 'reasoned' that they simply could not be there as I had cleaned under there two days before and they were not there. So for a good hour I turned out every other place, drawers, boxes, bags with no sign! Finally, as a last resort I took heed of the voice and moved the filing cabinet – and what did I find?! Yes my sim cards were exactly there! And yes, I too continue to be reminded to use this 'extra' sense of intuition.

How do I know if I am right?

I don't! All I can do is take note of what I have experienced via my intuition. Personally I choose to use it as guidance and consequently these glimpses inform my decision making and life choices. When I first began to practice using and living by intuition I put a lot of pressure on myself to be 'right'. Over time I realised that this prevented me from actually seeing/hearing my messages clearly. So I began to experiment with simply not knowing if it is right or not, and seeing what actually happens if I take it as a possibility it might be true. That helped me to realise that often these glimpses are simply that, glimpses, and if I try to conclude too far from where I am now in this moment then I cannot see the whole picture because often I don't have the references to see what will actually happen. The glimpses often prepare and support me like guideposts along the pathway. As if I am travelling along to an unknown destination and as I see landmarks and signs that I have 'seen' then it gives me comfort that I am on the right path, or as reminders to look again at a crossroads as to which choice will be the easiest path.

How can I trust my Intuition?

The short answer to this is 'practice'! The longer answer is an expansion of that practice principle. Throughout the answers here you will see reference to practice regularly. Primarily as it has been through practicing and having the courage to listen/see and act upon my intuition that I have personally developed trust. I cant imagine how you can develop truth from simply thinking about it!

Why should I develop my Intuition?

My first response to this query is simply ‘why not?'. It can be a great support in making balanced choices, and consequently leading to a happier life. Additionally it can lead to a healthier and stress-free life. The adventure of uncovering more of 'you' can be truly freeing, relieving and inspiring. It can help to understand and live your own true potential. I am living a really amazing full and rich life as a consequence of having the courage to follow my intuitive inner guidance. The glimpses have encouraged me to take choices with more confidence, at times against the ideas of friends and family. These choices have delivered me into life experiences that have matured my outlook on life, given me a wide variety of input and skills – which my friends and family now respect. Some of these choices have been way outside my known experiences and outside my conditioned view of life and consequently helped me to experience and live more of my potential as a human being. Not only has this personally benefited myself but it also meant that I have been able to be a support to many more people in my life.

Why do some people seem to have intuition and some of us don't?

I am truly certain that we ALL have intuition! We are born with intuition, it is our natural birthright. I have now met and talked with thousands of people, including many skeptics, and each one has been able to acknowledge they have intuitive experiences. Most of us as children have been conditioned out of our natural access to intuition. As you were growing up you might have been told, "don't do that, don't think that, don't say that" – consequently you may have lost the trust, the confidence and the clarity with that naturally intuitive part. Children, really little ones, can often speak out truth that you can't believe they know. And that's often because it hasn't been conditioned out yet. They haven't learnt the society rules of what is appropriate and not appropriate to say. To re-connect with our intuition we have to get back to something that is already here but we have lost connection with. One good hint for helping reconnect is playfulness. Take it as a 'playful' exercise to practice and see how you can find your intuition. To feel confident and clear that you are in touch with your intuition it definitely needs practice. Without practice you don’t get exercised. You can't just theorise about intuition, you need to experience it. As you have more direct experiences and it works, it gives you more confidence and more trust. An analogy I like to use is going to the gym and exercising your body – as you exercise more you find out more distinction and flexibility in your body, which makes it easier to exercise, which makes it easier to see your bodies potential. It is the same for intuition, the more you exercise, the more you understand how it works, the more you are willing to exercise. For each person intuition will feel differently inside of you. It can be really helpful to remember how your intuition expresses itself is unique. Just as we all have a different way that we look out at the world with our normal vision and we each have a different voice, thus so is our intuition unique to us. Finding your own intuition, how it expresses within you, is what makes it accessible and useable in you’re everyday life. Additionally, we each have had layers of conditioning – from our parents, school, society, religions – all of which restricts our access to intuition. If you have a strong conditioned belief that is it ‘wrong and very bad' to hear or see the future then you wont see the future. If instead you realise that this is a conditioned belief and begin to experiment then you might find you start to easily have glimpses. In essence, the more self aware you become, the more understanding you have of your own limiting beliefs and attitudes, the easier it can be to access your intuition. Thus self enquiry is an important tool in uncovering your intuition and in general to discover your own potential. To know yourself, is to know yourself!

Acceptance - what does this truly mean?

This is a question that I am often asked – and something I have had to explore for myself - again and again! Acceptance in my view is simply experiencing what is, simply as it is. Or in other words – seeing/experiencing yourself at point 'A', where you are. This may not be where you want to be, it may not be what you like! But it is where you are. By accepting 'this is it' - this is what is right now – then you might have insightful clarity about your situation or experience. For example, if you are in a conflict or in a circumstance that you are finding unpleasant, it might be that you realise this is really not what you want and you see how you have helped to co-create this situation. It might have been your actions (or sometimes non-action) or beliefs (conscious or unconscious) that led you to this very moment. The simple acceptance to see yourself and the situation can give natural space to have a depth of understanding and insight and perhaps to see for yourself what next step might be appropriate – which may not be what you 'think’. One example that I have from my own life was in a relationship situation where I was experiencing emotions and the circumstances as unpleasant. I did not want to have this unpleasantness any more! But attempting to 'think' my way out, or to make the circumstances or other people different did not work (I did try!!). By reminding myself ‘ok this is it', and by supporting my mind to stop fighting and trying to 'find a solution' or 'blame', I was able to find a depth of my own truth. I was able to see clearly that my wanting of love from this person had meant I had compromised, not been honest, and was a big contributing factor to the current situation. Instead of being honest with myself I had overridden my own truths, often small ones, and this had built up into a situation that was now 'unpleasant’. In this experience of acceptance I was able to see another level of my truth – here now – and allow my life to start again. And make different choices. The unpleasant experience now is in the past and my experience of the entire circumstances changed simply with my seeing myself more clearly. Acceptance does not mean you have to 'put up with' the situation. It simply means to see/experience the situation as it is. From this 'seeing' you can have clarity on the next choice points in your life. Wishing you insightful acceptances! With love, Kira