Journal Practices for Listening to Your Intuition
In last week’s open workshop, our special guest Tia Norman, shared wisdom with us about listening and trusting our intuition. This discussion was too rich not to share some highlights here as well! As a woman who followed her intuition’s nudges to leave a background in corporate advertising and explore becoming a pastor, she has a unique perspective on being curios and taking risks. Tia is now a yoga nidra instructor, contemplative guide, and pastor of Awakenings Movement.
Am I hearing my Ego or Intuition?
I asked Tia how we can discern the difference between our ego and intuition when we hear from our inner voices. She shared that neither is good or bad, but instead two different languages, or ways of speaking to ourselves. The language of ego is typically rooted in the beliefs of “we are what we have”, “we are what we do”, and “we are what other think, say, or feel about us”. Ego is typically louder in intensity and concerned with basic needs of survival. Intuition, on the other hand, is often more quiet, almost a whisper. She shared that it shows up for everyone differently and encouraged us to be open for how it shows up in each of us.
Practices for Listening to our Intuition
Where have you been today? In order to get present with ourselves and our intuition, Tia suggests asking yourself these these questions and writing out your responses in your journal:
Where has my mind been today?
Where has my heart been today?
Where has my body been today?
Breath Questions
Next, get quiet and still. Take some breaths as way to calm and center yourself.
Now ask yourself, “what is on my mind right now?” Write down your answer, and note the tone in which your mind is speaking to you.
Take a few more slow breaths, place your hands on your chest and listen as you ask your heart, “what is in my heart right now?” Sit and listen. When you feel guided to write, write down what you heard, again noting the tone of the voice.
Return to taking a few more slow breaths. Ask your body, “What do you want me to know right now?” When you are ready, write down the information you learned from your body. Then note the tone of that message.
Doodle and Listen
An additional practice Tia shared is to doodle over and over in one pattern, then as a practice in listening and sensing, only change the style of the doodle when you sense it’s time from your inner voice. Change the direction or shape of the doodle based on your intuitive sensing.
Curiosity Questions
Tia encourages us to be curious about our intuitive nudges. As Gary Zukav says, “Nonsense is that which does not fit into the prearranged patterns which we have superimposed on reality...Nonsense is nonsense only when we have not yet found that point of view from which it makes sense.” Therefore, instead of immediately discounting a whisper or nudge because we don’t see how it makes sense, be curious about it and how it may make sense later. Embracing this curious posture, Tia recommends that the next time an idea or nudge whispers to you, listen and then think of some questions to ask about it. Almost as if you’d like to get to know it better. For example, if you are sensing it may be time to leave your current job, a question you could ask is “who do I need to talk to?”. Another may be “What do I need to prepare?” Practice this by bringing to mind a recent nudge of your intuition and write down some questions to ask out of curiosity.
Interested in more Vision Journaling practices? Be sure to catch our next open Vision Journaling workshop!
To view how I made the Vision Journal page pictured at the top of the post, click the video below.