Image: Intuition courtesy of NoiseCollusion

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We are made of 3 selves: Our Conscious self, where rational thinking resides; Our higher self, concerned with spiritual matters; and our basic self, home to our intuitive thinking. With the lastcouple of centuries dominated by scientific and commercial enterprises, we have grown accustomed to the predominant use of our logical abilities. Yet for those of us who have been willing to experiment beyond logical reason, it is evident that working across the entirety of ourselves can lead to a more happy and balanced life.

In this post we will explain why you should rely more on your intuitive self, and we will also teach you some simple yet powerful tools that will allow you to exercise your ‘intuitive muscles’.

Why should we practice intuitive thinking?

Have you ever been at a critical junction in your life, and said to yourself “I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this just doesn’t feel right”?” That was your intuitive self speaking. If our rational thinking resides in our head, intuitive thinking resides in our gut (and spiritual thinking resides in our heart). It is well documented in business books that many of the most successful entrepreneurs make decisions in the absence of sufficient data, and use their gut feel to guide them through the maze of challenges they face along the way.

Using our basic selves more often is not difficult; since the beginning of humanity, we have had oracles, psychics, magicians, and other types that have tapped into what Carl Jung called as the Universal Unconscious. Yet many of us look at intuitive people as charlatans that have no fact-base from which to offer their advise. In many cases, it is this emphasis on facts and our five senses that blinds us to the reality that we all have access to a sixth internal sense that can be as powerful (if not more) than the external ones.

Trust your intuition

In order to tap into your intuition, there are some tips you can easily follow. Next time you face an important challenge in your life, spend some time in solitude, silence and stillness, and ask yourself What would be my decision if I already knew the answer to my problem? Then clear your mind as much as possible, and wait to see what comes into it. The more you resist your natural tendency to logical argument, the better your chances to connect with your basic self and get advise from your inner wisdom. If this technique doesn’t work, you might want to use some well-known tools such as time-lining; oracle cards; or the old and reliable I Ching.

• Time lining. Take a blank piece of paper, and at the top write the first course of action under consideration. Pretend you have followed this course of action, and then ask yourself: Now that I have chosen to do X, how do I feel, look, and be doing one day from today? Allow your imagination to answer, and write it on the piece of paper. Then ask again, but this time ask how would you feel/look/be doing one week after today, instead of one day. Repeat the process for one month, one year, five years, and ten years. Once you’re finished, move on to the second course of action, and repeat the process. Repeat as many times as options available to you. By the end of the exercise, put the piece of paper away and ask yourself So, what is the best course of action? Your subconscious will easily guide you to the right decision
• Oracle cards. There are many sets of cards that you can use to get guidance from your subconscious. Many people believe that those who read oracle cards can predict the future. That is an incorrect interpretation of what oracle cards can do. Since the answer to your questions often is deep within yourself, Oracle cards will guide you to explore and assess some specific areas; areas that when put under scrutiny, will allow you to gain valuable insights in your decision-making. There are many different sets of cards available to us, and each of them has a variety of readings you can do with them. You might want to try a few sets, and by trial and error find the one that gives you clear and accurate guidance more often than the others.
• I Ching. Also called ‘The Book of Changes’, the I Ching is one of the oldest classic Chinese books available. It;s ideas are based on the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change. The predictions are represented by 64 diferent symbols, which are constructed using three coins, thrown six consecutive times. Like oracle cards, you might want to experiment for a while and decide whether this tool works well for you.

These are some of the most commonly known tools available to tap into our intuitive selves. Remember that, in the end, they are training wheels. With practice, your ability to tap into your intuition and trust your instinct will quickly improve, empowering you to make more balanced decisions in your life.