Learning to trust intuition as a source of wisdom is a journey. I’m launching #IntuitiveFriday to help celebrate listening to that small still voice within.
The journey of trusting intuition
Learning to trust intuition and understanding how to tap into it as a source of wisdom and power is a journey. It’s important to better understand and celebrate the valuable role of intuition in how we perceive the world.
As a Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) INTJ personality type, Introverted Intuition is my dominant gift and preference. Even though I naturally lead with this way of perceiving, working from my inner world, it’s taken me time to truly begin to understand and trust it. It’s so easy for my louder, logical brain to step in and not allow that still small quieter voice within to be heard.
I’m a work in progress in this regard and in 2017, I am wanting to experience intuition more, especially as it relates to passion, spirit and voice. I am interested in working together with you as the Quiet Writing community to see how we can explore intuition as a concept and a valued way of perceiving.
Just as there has been a recent focus on the value of introvert strengths, I think it’s time for intuition to be explored and better understood. Even when it’s a strong preference, we can still feel strange about acting on what feels like ‘gut instinct’ or first impressions. Anyone can learn to strengthen this preference and value it as part of a balanced way of experiencing the world.
So what is intuition?
the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.
Synonyms include: “hunch, feeling, feeling in one’s bones, gut feeling, funny feeling, inkling, sneaking suspicion, impression.”
In a Huffington Post article on 10 Things Highly Intuitive People Do Differently, Sophy Burnham, bestselling author of The Art of Intuition, says,
“I define intuition as the subtle knowing without ever having any idea why you know it…It’s different from thinking, it’s different from logic or analysis … It’s a knowing without knowing.”
In ‘Looking at Type and Spirituality‘, the high level descriptor of the MBTI Intuition preference type is:
- Figurative meanings
- Pay attention to imagination/insight
- Theory, patterns
- Focus on possibilities
- Learn new skills, then innovate
- Big picture
- Trust inspiration/hunches
- Impressions first
- General concepts
- Anticipation/vision
Ways to access intuition
There are many ways to access or create the right environment for intuition. Here’s a quick ‘Introverted Intuitive’ brainstorm:
- working with tarot and oracle cards
- reading
- walking in nature
- meditation, yoga, tai chi, gentle exercise
- being in or near water – ocean, beach, lake, shower
- mind-mapping, brainstorming
- journal writing, free-writing
- vision board, collage
- poetry, found poetry
- coaching and being coached
- healing practices
- asking for/receiving assistance from spirits, ancestors, guides
- spirit animals
- symbols and images
- flashes of insight
- dreams, listening to dreams
- synchronicity/meaningful connections
- considering multiple perspectives
- identifying quotes that speak to you
- using your unconscious more overtly
- jigsawing pieces together – literally or figuratively
- envisioning/imagining possibilities/affirmations
- techniques for using imagination
- pinning with Pinterest
- strategic planning
- trusting your feelings
- knowing what to do in line with vision
Launching #IntuitiveFriday
If you are like me, this list is exciting and inspiring! There’s so much rich material here, so many ways to access intuition and to look at what it means. As a way of exploring this as a creative community, I’m launching a new hashtag project: #IntuitiveFriday. Similar to the #MondayBlogs and #FridayReads hashtags (both of which I enjoy), it’s a way of connecting across platforms on all things intuitive, especially on Instagram and at the Quiet Writing Facebook page.
I know intuition doesn’t only happen on Fridays but it will be a great way to be mindful and tune into the ways we are ‘knowing without knowing’ during the week. Then share and celebrate it, learning from each other.
So when Friday comes, let your creative imagination come into play. Share your poetry, quotes, images, tarot and oracle cards, symbols, collages, vision boards, dreams and experiences with synchronicity. Or any other signs of listening to that still small voice within or without.
We will mainly be on Instagram – just tag your post #IntuitiveFriday – and you can tag me in too as @writingquietly if you so choose. You can share ideas at the Quiet Writing Facebook page too. And I’ll be posting round ups and emerging thoughts on the Quiet Writing blog.
I encourage you to get your intuitive/feeling caps on and get ready for #IntuitiveFriday this week and every week.
It will be, well, intuitive, so I’ll keep it open to start, introducing some prompts along the way to focus our attention. And I welcome your thoughts and feedback as we progress.
I encourage you to get your intuitive/feeling caps on and get ready for #IntuitiveFriday this week and every week.
True feelings, hidden potential
I drew a card from Lisa McLoughlin’s Plant Ally oracle deck to focus attention as we embark on #IntuitiveFriday. And this was the card: Bluebell representing ‘True Feelings’:
The message?
Align with inner truth to unlock your hidden potential.
You are moving towards a period of personal blossoming.
Communicate what you discover about yourself.
Beautifully appropriate! I’ll be communicating what I discover and hope you will join me in this blossoming of true feelings and potential.
Keep in touch
Quiet Writing is now on Facebook so please visit here and ‘Like’ to keep in touch and interact with the growing Quiet Writing community. There are regular posts on creativity, productivity, writing, voice, intuition, introversion, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), tarot and yes, passion!
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‘Trust your intuition’ image from Pixabay, with thanks.
