How do you learn not to resist your intuition?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Taurus1979	26 Mar 2004
I'm having a problem with my intuition.Everytime I hear it I ignore it, because I tend to think that I'm being paranoid and what I'm trying to accomplish want happen . That's usually the time that I hear it but when it tells me something to make the task easier, I do what I wan't instead of what my intuition told me, and my plans get screwed up because I don't know how to listen to my intuition.The problem that I'm having is learning how to listen to it and learning how to trust it.I wanted to know how did everybody learn how to do this.

firemaiden	26 Mar 2004
Good question :) I don't have the answer. I'll think about it for a while. I think it has to do with practicing "listening".

Osher	26 Mar 2004
With difficulty, and the realisation through experience that it was often right. For me, the real problem is differentiating between intuition and, er, that strange little voice that offers you non-viable alternatives. What I mean is, we have logic, we have intuition, and between the two we have 'clutter' or 'noise'. As we develop our psychic side, through, for example, reading Tarot, we tune in better to intiuition. It's like a radio. At first hard to tune in, but over time we get better. One thing to look out for is for accidently tuning into someone else.

Star Spirit	26 Mar 2004
Well, there's nothing you can really do. It just comes naturally with time. One thing you can do is practice reading for other people more, and MAKE YOURSELF trust your intuition. Just stop fearing. Once you realize how good you are, it gets a lot easier. Sometimes you just have to smack yourself over the head and say "focus!". ;)

Osher	26 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star Well, there's nothing you can really do. It just comes naturally with time. One thing you can do is practice reading for other people more, and MAKE YOURSELF trust your intuition. Just stop fearing. Once you realize how good you are, it gets a lot easier. Sometimes you just have to smack yourself over the head and say "focus!". ;) Er, yep, that's what I meant to say!

Mojo	26 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Taurus1979 How do you learn not to resist your intuition? You grow older.

Umbrae	26 Mar 2004
Journaling

zorya	26 Mar 2004
if you're anything like me, you have a lot of voices in your head, clamouring for attention. the one to listen to and trust, is the quiet calm one, the one that doesn't shout, the one that does not feel angry or afraid.

Phoenyx*	26 Mar 2004
But how do you know what to journal and what not to journal? For instance, I had this premonition about my SO and I yesterday. Do I journal it? or do I dismiss it as a daydreaming female who is full of dreams?

contrascarpe	26 Mar 2004
I have been working really hard to trust my intuition. One of the problems I have reading here online is that I feel more people "know" Tarot more than me and when I get feedback, I often feel they are judging me on what they feel the "book" meanings of the cards are and ignoring my intuitive skills. In the long run, I feel my intuition is going to win out. I trust it more and more everyday. I have taken many different directions in my life and I am hoping all this worldly knowledge will allow me to see things clearly. I never expect to be completely correct in my feelings, but I am learning that I am not always wrong. I am starting to like my intuition :) Dan

contrascarpe	26 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by zorya if you're anything like me, you have a lot of voices in your head, clamouring for attention. the one to listen to and trust, is the quiet calm one, the one that doesn't shout, the one that does not feel angry or afraid. zorya - That is the most beautiful thing I have read in awhile. I was thinking about this tonight. With the weather being so beautiful, I had my window open. Across the street I heard a woman screaming at someone at the top of her lungs. I was used to this last summer - she was always screaming about someone. This is the first time my windows have been open since I started getting serious about Tarot and Spirituality. Keeping in mind that my SO and I have NEVER had a screaming match (unlike my first marriage which was shriek central), I realized hearing her how much I have grown over the past six months. I have always considered myself to be a calm, intelligent man, and I now realize what extent I have grown. Your words summed up how I felt earlier this evening - thank you! Dan

firemaiden	26 Mar 2004
Taurus, if you want a laugh, here's a story about what happened to me when I didn't listen "The Ironies of Life", or..."the Trip from Hell", or....

MeeWah	26 Mar 2004
Live in the moment. Know that the here&now is all there is & nothing else matters. When the focus is on "the present", it tends to better eliminate the distractions; the myriad of thoughts that battle for supremacy & prevent the inner listening. Meditation &/or journaling can promote such awareness as those activities tend to promote awareness in general; also the self-awareness. Edited to add: I like both Mojo's & Zorya's comments.

MeeWah	26 Mar 2004
Triquetra: By all means, journal about "premonitions" or any impressions that strike ye, especially those that come unbidden, as if out of nowhere. Those are oft of the inner voice speaking. As one cultivates awareness, one gets to know the origin of the promptings. Sometimes, it may be a matter of "picking up" someone else's thoughts or feelings. Discerning what issues from Self & what from without is a part of the process.

Nevada	26 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by zorya the one to listen to and trust, is the quiet calm one, the one that doesn't shout, the one that does not feel angry or afraid. Yes! Listen to Zorya. The intuition is the little voice that is so often drowned out by the Drama Queens - fear, worry, self-criticism and their cousins. If what you're saying is that you already hear your intuition and recognize it, but you find yourself ignoring it, that's another problem. Is that the problem? Then you have to ask yourself what it is you're afraid will happen if you succeed, if you give the right answer, if you accomplish what it is you're trying to accomplish. Maybe you're projecting too far ahead. Read MeeWah's post! :D Nevada

Imagemaker	26 Mar 2004
If you ignore an intuitive prompting and something bad happens, one hopes that next time you'll not make the same mistake. I find that my intuition speaks most clearly when I'm in an emotional or physical crisis. I've learned to follow its suggestions or, unfortunately, I suffer more. I'm reading a book by Rupert Sheldrake called "The Sense of Being Stared At"--he's a biologist who is studying telepathy, premonitions, and all sorts of "extended mind" phenomena. He points out how common these experiences are and how little understood. Lots of interesting stats and case studies.

jlbvt	26 Mar 2004
Yep, Zorya nailed that one. I could kick myself for all the times I failed to pay attention to that voice, and in every situation, when I look back on it, I knew what was the right thing to do, I just ignored it...

Umbrae	27 Mar 2004
Journaling

kerri28	27 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Journaling My sentiments exactly. This is how I recognise my intuition/higher self. After doing this for awhile you will be able to recognise the difference from your ego (brain) and your intuition (higher self). I acutally experience my ego and higher self as two different streams of thought that co-exist at the same time. Light and Love Kerrie

Phoenyx*	27 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Journaling *laughs* Umbrae, such a simple answer...my SO always tells me I overcomplicate matters..."Keep It Simple Silly" is his little motto to me. :) I should remember that sometimes.

diane drizzy	27 Mar 2004
Hi Taurus, I second Mojo. I agree that age helps. being twice your age I can attest to that! And yes we do doubt ourselves which is so unfortunate. I like to think of it like a muscle that you need to exercise.

Star Spirit	27 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Journaling Definitely a good idea :) Quote: Originally posted by zorya if you're anything like me, you have a lot of voices in your head, clamouring for attention. the one to listen to and trust, is the quiet calm one, the one that doesn't shout, the one that does not feel angry or afraid. Good advice :) My mind never shuts up. It's why I can't sleep.

Umbrae	27 Mar 2004
Journaling allows you to differentiate between the voices (The Committee). It allows you to go back and see “where you were” in a particular time. Journaling is NOT blogging btw. And if you don’t do it…

MuffinTops	27 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Taurus1979 I'm having a problem with my intuition.Everytime I hear it I ignore it, because I tend to think that I'm being paranoid and what I'm trying to accomplish want happen . That's usually the time that I hear it but when it tells me something to make the task easier, I do what I wan't instead of what my intuition told me, and my plans get screwed up because I don't know how to listen to my intuition.The problem that I'm having is learning how to listen to it and learning how to trust it.I wanted to know how did everybody learn how to do this. By not following my intuition, I've gotten kicked in the butt, figuratively, too many times. Now I listen. Oh yea, as someone else mentioned...age!

Nevada	27 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Journaling allows you to differentiate between the voices (The Committee). It allows you to go back and see “where you were” in a particular time. Journaling is NOT blogging btw. And if you don’t do it… I've gone back years later to read what I wrote in my journals and found treasures. Bits of information I'd forgotten, cherished memories, and even evidence of prescient dreams. (According to Edgar Cayce everyone has them.) Even the garbage that made me blush to read it at least helped me to see how far I've come. I agree, blogging is not journaling. Nevada

VGimlet	27 Mar 2004
I was taught from a very young age to trust my intuition. My parents might not have realized that was what they were teaching me, but they were. A little later, when I was in elementary school, my brother became a cop, one of the things he was taught was to trust his intuition - that the subconcious picks up cues that the concious mind might ignore. I always listen to my brother. So that only re-inforced the "trust your intuition" thing. The older I get, the more I trust it. And I agree with journaling - I've been journaling since I was a kid, and when I go back sometimes and read over my entries, it's interesting to see how much my core personality is the same - but my reactions have matured. And how many times my intuition has been good.

mysticalowl	27 Mar 2004
You have to learn to trust yourself and the only way to do that is not to second guess what your heart tells you. That is easier said..but if you can find a way to tape record or write down what your initial thoughts are you might be able to hold on to your original intuition. When we give ourselves time to escape from those initial reactions, we back step and start to wonder if we were right or wrong. Hope that helps.

MyTquinn	29 Mar 2004
I began listening to my intuition in November 2002 when I was haunted by this heavy scarry forboding feeling the entire day. Something wasn't right or something was going to go wrong. I was supposed to go to a friends house for my first night away since the birth of my second child (Two years!) A night with the girls!!! I didn't want to go, I had looked forward to it for WEEKS! I even called her at the last minute to cancel and she pleaded with not too!! My husband said "Go Have fun you're just being silly!" Once in the car the feeling grew to the point I was almost physically sick. I wasn't paying attention at the traffice light and almost rear ended someone -- out loud to myself I said Pay Attention or this could be bad news ... not more than three blocks down the road -- I was paying very close attention but that wasn't enough to prevent me from slamming my car into a 12year old boy who darted out in the street in front of me. NEVER again from that day to this -- no matter the reason or previous plans, if I have "That" feeling I do NOT under any circumstances ignore it!!!! Just my experience - -I don't feel like I am paranoid, I don't get those feelings very often but I always let my intuition guide me. My question is how do you ignore the logical analytical side that makes feel foolish for feeling the things you can't explain?

Imagemaker	29 Mar 2004
((((MyTQuinn)))))) Your experience is what makes me wonder about destiny. If you had obeyed your sick feeling, that "accident" might not have happened, but what learning came out of it? (Besides your new determination to obey your intuitive knowing.) And what happened to the boy? What relationships changed as a result? (You don't have to answer.) Experiences like this make me wonder if it was all meant to happen just like it did.

Khatruman	29 Mar 2004
I like using the "voice" metaphor for the thoughts in one's head, and the different personalities that speak within you. To me, the intuitive voice is the one that doesn't shout or scold at you. It is the one that puts ideas out there simply, like saying, "Here it is. Here is an idea. You may listen to it. You may not listen to it. It is YOUR decision." I think we are all born with a highly intuitive sense. What happens is, as you have said, we second guess it. When we second guess intuition, it simply says ok, and gets softer. Do this over time and intuition becomes indeed a soft, if not totally inaudible, voice. Two pieces of advice, then, fit with this: Grow old, as Mojo says. Not just grow old, but grow older by listening to that voice more and more. It will be soft, and you will recognize it by the tone of simple statement. It never tells you what you should or shouldn't do. Listen to what it says. The more you do that, the stronger it will get. I shouldn't say stronger as far as being aggressive, just simply louder. The other fine piece of advice is to journal. By journaling, the voice goes from being totally insubstantial to being put into actual words on a page. It gives it substance and lets you see it. Time and Writing.

Taurus1979	29 Apr 2004
Thank you all kind souls who gave me words of wisdom.It really helped.

WalesWoman	30 Apr 2004
Having it kick me from behind when I do resist it. Always grabs my complete attention that way, I've been kicked too many times to ignore it.

The How do you learn not to resist your intuition? thread was originally posted on 26 Mar 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.