When you hear the word intuition, what’s the first association that comes to mind? Don’t over-think (which incidentally is the opposite of using your intuition). Quickly. What’s the first image, sound, word or feeling you get?
Some might say intuition is a gut response, as in, “I had a feeling in my gut about it.” A knowing that triggers a physical response in the abdominal region. Others associate intuition as a “woman’s thing, ” having a sixth sense, or invisible radar, that somehow men don’t possess (which of course is not true!) Still, others directly connect the word intuition with the word psychic. Being able to forsee future events, or an uncanny ability to read someones thoughts. What about images of crystal balls, tarot cards or runes? Did some of you picture those?
I get a visual of a heart. Not the pulsating red organ, replete with aorta, arteries and veins. But the lover’s heart. A symbolic representation of that sweet, sacred place within us that houses deep feeling, wisdom and sacred connection. Wordreference.com defines intuition as instinctive knowing, without the use of rational processes. I rather like that definition because it says, you can’t use your head to get at your instinct.
At a recent party, I shared that I had written a children’s picture book called Genevieve’s Gift, which tells the story of a little girl who learns to connect with and follow her intuitive heart, and that I’d developed and teach a children’s workshop called Kids-R-Intuitive, based on the book. A woman listening in asked, if I considered myself a witch, and If i practiced Wicca. “How else could you teach childlren about intuiton?” she wondered. I politley said no, that I wasn’t, and told her that even she was very intuitive, she just didn’t exercise that muscle enough to be aware of it.
Here’s the real deal–
Everyone, especially children, is connected to a deep, inner, intuitive place, which is readily accessible if you make the time to do it, and if you make the effort to really pay attention to the signals coming from your body, emotions, and environment. Being able to connect with that knowing space does not make a person psychic, witchy, or even “special,” as in the crystal and indigo children. We all have the capacity to learn how to connect with that inner feeling, if we become still enough to listen, and most importantly, to trust it.