Intuition - Your Inner Guide

Developing your intuition means connecting with your higher self – the part of you that is connected to the divine, which is the most awakened, wise and highest aspect of yourself. It is a source of inspiration, guidance and wisdom if you learn how to pay attention to the subtle messages it sends you. Guidance can be subtle – the feeling you have when something just isn’t right, a sense of unease that you feel in your gut, a strong urge to act in a certain way or a powerful resistance to following a particular path. Some people experience recurring dreams with a common underlying theme – this is another way our higher self or intuition communicates with us.

With our busy lives it is very easy to forget all about our intuition and feel disconnected from our higher self. That disconnection however can leave you feeling anxious, stuck, reactive and ungrounded. On the other hand, when connected to your higher self or intuition, you are naturally more receptive, creative and open to new experiences and have a sense of being guided to the right people and opportunities. Life just flows better. And you know when your intuition is spot on because when you speak it out loud, you feel cold tingles or shivers in your body, usually down the spine.

 

How our intuition communicates with us

 

To pick up the messages from your intuition or higher self, you have to learn to bypass the conscious mind – in other words you have to stop thinking and analysing and work with your senses instead. These are your psychic senses, also known as the clairs – clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairaudience (clear hearing), claircognizance (clear knowing) and clairsentience (clear feeling). There are also less common clair abilities of clairalliance (smelling) and clairgustance (tasting).

 

Meditation is a good starting point if you want to develop your psychic senses because it teaches you to detach from the mind chatter and calm the mind. After all, if you ignore something, over time it goes away.

When receiving your intuitions through the clairs, you’ll find that you have a natural affinity with one or two more than the others. So how do you know which is your strongest clair?

 

·        If you are someone who senses the emotions of others, if you feel the physical pain of others when giving healing, if you ‘feel’ when you are being watched or feel someone stood behind you, your strength may be clairsentience. You can walk into a room and feel the atmosphere, especially if there has been an argument of if the space is full of joy. These people are very empathic and often taken on the emotions of others.

 

·        If you are someone who sees someone in the street who reminds you of someone you know and you then bump into that person or hear from them shortly afterwards, you may be stronger at clairvoyance. These people often enjoy art and visual experiences and can see the finer details of a situation.

 

·        If you are someone who can just completely download an idea for a book, film or other concept in your head from out of nowhere, you may be claircognizant. Creative people are strong in this area, especially those who do creative writing where ideas just flow through the pen.

 

·        If you are someone who receives words imprinted on your mind or hears actual words spoken to you that others cannot, giving you information or a warning, you are likely to have the gift of clairaudience or inner hearing. These people often like silence, chanting meditation or just listening to the sounds of nature.

 

The language you use can also give an indication of which psychic sense is the strongest. Note how often you say “I see what you mean”, “I feel what you’re saying, or “I hear you”.

The more we practice and tune into our intuition, the stronger it becomes. It doesn’t mean you’ll never make a mistake again but you’ll find that you have an inner wisdom that you probably didn’t have before. You’ll also learn from ‘mistakes’ a lot quicker, sensing the best way to put them right and get back on track.

 

 

Notes: Helen is running a Developing Intuition workshop on Sat 17th August 2019 at 2pm-4.30pm at City Gate East, Toll House Hill, Nottingham. Please email her at helenshortland@live.co.uk if you would like to book a place. No previous experience necessary, just an openness to have a go!

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher, Holistic Therapist and Spiritual Development Coach currently based at City Gate East, Toll House Hill, Nottingham city centre, NG1 5FS. Helen offers several healing treatments such as Reiki, Spiritual Energy Healing, Angelic Reiki, Faery Reiki, Angel Therapy and Crystal Healing; holistic therapies including Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Foot Massage, Hopi Ear Candles & Facials; as well as Usui Reiki and Faery Reiki training courses and angel card and tarot readings. She has been on the spiritual path for nearly 20 years and has extensive knowledge of healing and the healing journey. For further information about her Reiki courses, therapies and workshops, please visit her website http://helenshortland.com or visit and ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland Holistics, Healing & Spiritual Development.

 

What Are Energy Blocks?

In healing we often talk about blocked chakras or negative energy build-up in our energy field but what are energy blocks exactly?

In simplest terms, an energy block is a form of resistance. They are pockets of stuck energy that limit the natural movement and flow of energy in and out the chakras which prevent us from living as authentically as we should and achieving our greatest potential. Energy blocks can develop from a negative mental pattern or belief system leading to perceptual misunderstandings; unresolved emotions from pain/trauma in our early years; a negative karmic imprint carried over from a past life; or from a physical injury or condition.

Energy blocks act as barriers to the natural free-flow of energy. On the mental level barriers are created by negative beliefs about ourselves, others and the world in general. These beliefs tend to form when our minds are young and impressionable and lacked the mature reasoning to examine them properly. Over the years this negative thinking distorts our perceptions of the world around us so that we only see the negative things which affirm our beliefs. More and more often in my Reiki treatments these days I am finding the healing energy clearing out the third eye chakra (which governs perception) to release the negative perceptions the client holds. We always have a choice in how we perceive something – negatively, which only hurts and limits us more, in a detached neutral manner or with an open positive outlook.

Emotional blocks are formed when we hold onto a lot of unresolved emotions from the past. Often we suppress or deny how we feel on a conscious level but the hurt and pain is still present in the subconscious mind where it quietly affects our behaviour and expectations. Feelings of unworthiness block our ability to receive and manifest good things, often because we are afraid to trust again. These blocks are often related to self-protection: shutting down emotionally may have helped you cope at one time but now they no longer serve you and are shutting you off from the good as well as the bad.  Emotional blocks are held mainly in the heart, solar plexus and sacral chakras.

Spiritual blocks can manifest as a sense of unease, restlessness or frustration. You may feel you are on the wrong path in life or made a wrong decision in the past and are now faced with the task of getting your life back on track. You want your life to be more aligned to what is right for your soul. Spiritual blocks can often result from negative karmic imprints carried over from a past life which you need to clear in this one. Even if you don’t believe in the concept of past lives, I think the idea that there are certain ‘stories’ or energy patterns imprinted on each of us at a soul level are acceptable and understandable  to most people.

All of these spiritual, mental and emotional bocks lead to a weakened energy flow in and out of the physical body. Negative thinking and emotional wounding result in our energy no longer vibrating at the correct frequency. This leads to weakness, dis-ease and eventually illness at the physical level. Accidents, injuries and surgery to the physical body can also create a build-up of blocked energy on the physical level. Therapies such as Reiki or Acupuncture can usually help in these cases.

Sense of Disconnection

The spiritual, mental and emotional energy blocks arise when we feel cut off from the source of Love – our higher self, soul or our concept of God. Blocks act as barriers to the feeling of connection to Love and to our essential Self. Blocks limit our sense of wholeness and connection. Blocks are formed when we feel disconnected and equally, when formed, often serve to prevent us from realising that sense of connection again. It therefore becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.

In order to fully achieve our highest potential for health and wellbeing and to realise our soul path and the work we are meant to be doing in this lifetime, it is essential to work on releasing our blocks and shifting these stubborn barriers. The only thing that can dissolve these blocks is Love, or more accurately I believe Light, in the form of healing energy and all the understanding, awareness and forgiveness that Light brings. It is literally like shedding light on a situation. Love is the Light of God, that divine healing energy that dispels the darkness of our limiting self-imposed barriers.

 

Self-Help for Emotional Blocks

We can consciously breathe out emotional pain by breathing in through the nose into the stomach and abdomen, then consciously breathing out emotional hurts and negativity through the mouth. These areas are governed by the solar plexus and sacral chakras which govern self-worth and emotions respectively.

Then imagine your crown chakra opening up like a white lotus flower in full bloom and visualise a beam of pure white light coming down from the heavens into your crown chakra. As you inhale draw the white light down into your stomach/abdomen and as you exhale let the white light fill your whole body.

 

Therapeutic Help

A healing treatment such as Reiki or Angelic Reiki which channels energy as light can help to dissolve blocks and barriers. In Angelic Reiki the healer is often aware of repeating negative karmic cycles the client is experiencing and calls on the angels to release these. Past Life Regression, shamanic healing, crystal healing or many of the other forms of energy healing available today can also help shift blocks.

 

Setting Yourself Free

When you start to release some of the pain, negativity or darkness and let in more light, great shifts can take place. Situations and comments that would have upset you in the past will have less of an impact. By releasing past hurt, you become stronger. As you move away from your wounded ego with its outdated negative beliefs about yourself, you start to become more open to trusting, loving, experiencing – to Life itself.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at 15 Wheeler Gate in Nottingham city centre. Helen offers several healing treatments such as Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Faery Reiki, Angel Therapy and Fairy Blessing Guided Journey, as well as Usui Reiki and Faery Reiki training courses. She has been on the spiritual path for 15 years and has extensive knowledge of healing and the healing journey. For further information about her Reiki courses, therapies and workshops, please visit her website http://helenshortland.com or visit and ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland Holistics & Enchantment.

Deeper Chakra Clearing following Attunement

During the middle of 2016 I was drawn to Faery Reiki and given the opportunity to recharge my energy body on a much higher vibration. This attunement cleared my chakras on a deeper level than before, clearing out stuff that had developed in the years since my previous Reiki attunements. Along the way I gained greater insights into the purpose and role of the 7 main chakras. I now feel like there is a higher vibration of energy in each chakra – blocks have been cleared, resulting in the chakras now being filled with more light, consciousness and awareness. During this clearing I received messages from my guides and angels that related to each of the chakras, which I am including here in this blog.

 

Root Chakra

 

“Good solid grounding is essential for whatever you are trying to create or manifest.”

 

Clearing began with the Root Chakra. I had always been prone to anxiety (especially since my spiritual crisis in 2014/15) and living in my head a lot and therefore needed grounding and strengthening of the root chakra, the connection to Earth. Many spiritual people spend a lot of time in meditation and reciting mantras and affirmations but if your Root Chakra is weak or blocked, all that spiritual energy cannot flow down your central channel and out the Root Chakra where it can bring about positive change in the physical world. Instead it remains in the energy field around the head (as a mental activity) or around the heart chakra (if you are connecting with it emotionally). This was one of the most enlightening insights I received at this time. Many spiritual people neglect their Root Chakra and focus solely on reaching up to the higher dimensions but a balanced energy system with an open Root Chakra is essential if we want all our spiritual endeavours to improve our day to day life. In addition to practising Faery Reiki, I was drawn to try a Shamanic Reiki session, which was equally grounding, being focused in the dimension that is closest to the earth plane. Once we start on the healing journey, I am convinced we are drawn to what we need at the time for our own healing.

 

By clearing and strengthening the Root Chakra, anxiety can be practically eliminated or at least considerably lessened. When your Root is clear and balanced, you feel strong, safe and secure in yourself, able to cope better with any challenges or problems that arise. I also discovered that I had developed a much stronger connection to animals and a deeper appreciation of nature. There were still many aspects of my life I was unsure of but I was happy to go with the flow and let things unfold.

 

Sacral Chakra

 

“Stop trying to fit in with the norm, the expectations of family, society etc, and just be yourself.”

 

A couple of weeks after the clearing of the Root Chakra I was aware than a period of intense creativity had begun. I was receiving ideas and inspiration for new courses to take myself, workshops to run, a new direction to take my business in and plans for the future relating to life in general.

 

Issues of power and control are related to the Sacral Chakra and I had some old anger issues come up to be released at this time. I received messages from my guides about not worrying if some people appeared to be walking out of my life. Some friendships did indeed go but others deepened. When you are being yourself, and open about who you are and what you do, you vibrate at a level of truth. This attracts new people to you who match your new vibration. Fear of loss and rejection can stop you making healthy choices but healthy choices are essential to your wellbeing. I was initially rather reluctant to start promoting my work with the faery realm, worried that people would think I was literally ‘away with the fairies’ but the amount of new clients I attracted for my Faery treatments at this time was amazing!

 

On a physical level I was given to understand how gynae and digestive problems are connected: this is because our reproductive and digestive systems are both governed by the same chakra – the Sacral Chakra. A diet of sugary and/or processed food is bad for gut health/digestion and makes menstrual problems such as period pain and PMT much worse. This was a time to become more aware of what I was consuming and making a few changes to improve things.

 

 

Solar Plexus

 

“Stay calm, stand in your own power, stay strong.”

 

When this chakra was activated a couple of weeks after the Sacral chakra, issues relating to conviction of principles and self-belief were highlighted. If someone challenged me in the past, the first thought that went through my head was always “Oh, I must be wrong then”. During the clearing of the Solar Plexus Chakra I was given a test when I really could have doubted my own abilities but it soon appeared that there were many other factors involved and it was simply a matter of the timing being wrong. My self-worth and self-esteem improved. I was no longer prepared to put up with certain types of behaviour so I developed some assertiveness strategies at this time.

 

Heart Chakra

 

“Get past your own hurts and see the love in others.”

 

Several teachings came through while this chakra was activated and cleared. It is essential not to let your ego stop you from doing something new or something different. After all, it may all turn out better than expected and you may be surprised at the kindness of others. How many times do we come out with excuses like “I can’t possibly do that”, “I’ll never be good enough” or even “I’m too old”. So often we just expect the worst, from ourselves and others. The lesson here is to get over your own ego and give others, and yourself, a chance.

 

“Know what’s in your heart – this knowledge is power.”

 

So often our egos cloud our connection to our soul, causing blocks to recognising and realising our dreams. This powerful message ‘Know what’s in your heart – this knowledge is power’ highlights the importance of knowing what is actually in your heart, ie. what you really want to do with your life. Knowing this gives power to set your intention. You are beginning to align with truth. Once you know where your heart lies, the energy from the heart centre can move up to the throat chakra to enable you to follow a new path. Until the Solar Plexus was fully cleared of blocks, I had had too many doubts in the Solar Plexus which impaired the flow of energy from the Solar Plexus to the Heart. Once these issues were cleared, I was free to follow my heart.

 

Throat Chakra

 

“Speak kindly of others – this purifies your Throat Chakra. Anything else lowers your vibration.”

 

When the Throat Chakra is clear you can put into action the creative impulses from the Sacral Chakra, free from the self-doubt of the Solar Plexus and the confusion of the Heart. When the Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras are clear, the energy of these creative impulses moves up the central channel free from the emotional wounds and limiting beliefs of the Solar Plexus, fully aligned with what is in your heart.

 

The teaching I was given (above) by my guides at this time is one we can all use to keep the energy in the Throat Chakra high and strong. This teaching can be very challenging at times but every action has a reaction and the energy we give out always comes back to us.

 

The Throat Chakra is concerned primarily with self-expression, living your truth and your path in life. While this chakra was clearing I was drawn to a book containing information which negated something I had been told several years back. I made a very interesting discovery relating to someone else’s erroneous belief that I had bought into, assuming that they knew more than I did. Discovering that I had been informed incorrectly helped to clear away a ‘limiting belief’ which had hindered my development in the area of mediumship/channelling which I really wanted to develop further. This is a strong reminder never to hand over your power to others, especially when deep down you know what they are saying feels wrong.

 

Third Eye

 

“Your path is unfolding. Don’t get side-tracked in other people’s lives and dreams; stay focused on your own. See clearly what is for you and what is for someone else.”

 

While this chakra was clearing I was drawing more like-minded people into my life and connecting with people with a similar vision – inspiring women with spiritual ambitions. Developing discernment is a major function of the Third Eye Chakra – understanding what is your path, in other words what is right for you, and what is someone else’s path. A clear, balanced Third Eye literally enables you to see clearly. It also enables you to detach from drama and all things which no longer serve you.

 

I was now beginning to feel much clearer about the direction I was heading in. I knew what I wanted to do, to raise my energy higher to achieve a stronger connection with Spirit, but sometimes when you are so focused on the big picture you want it all now without doing the work along the way and giving it the time it needs. My guides told me that I needed to deal with the small things and enjoy the steps along the way, rather than focussing on what I would be doing one day in the future. When you’re full of grandiose ideas, it is often very easy to neglect the boring day to day stuff of life. This was a reminder that being in the present is essential for bringing the grounding we need to manifest those great plans.

 

Crown

 

“See the underlying inter-connectedness in all things.”

 

Our external world can be regarded as a mirror of both our true desires and our fears. Have you ever noticed how often things keep going wrong when you are on the wrong path in life? In the symbolic language of the universe, things going wrong is a sign that you have veered away from your real path in life. Having a series of bumps in your car, for example, can be interpreted as the universe giving you a push or kick up the backside!

 

At this time I asked for a new spirit guide to help me on this next stage of my journey. I was then drawn to a book which helped me improve my connection to spirit and to take further energy attunements to raise my vibration higher. As my Crown Chakra cleared I also noticed an improvement in my manifesting abilities – things I really wanted to do suddenly became possible.

 

Overview

 

By the end of my journey of clearing through the chakras I understood how each chakra is affected by the energy of the chakra below it. Ultimately it all starts with the need for a strong, healthy Root Chakra which can provide a solid, stable foundation for future growth and happiness. Without this, the energy flowing up into the chakras above the Root becomes weak and distorted which prevents these chakras from developing and functioning as effectively as they should. The Root Chakra, I believe, is the most important chakra of all yet it is so easily damaged by trauma, emotional upheaval and not feeling safe in our early years. It is also easily neglected by those seeking to develop spiritually and ‘go higher’. It seems that healing is a universal process that virtually everyone here on Earth will feel the need to address at some point in their lives if they wish to achieve their highest and greatest potential.

 

Helen Shortland is a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher and Holistic Therapist based at 15 Wheeler Gate in Nottingham city centre. Helen offers several healing treatments such as Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Faery Reiki, Angel Therapy and Fairy Blessing Guided Journey, as well as Usui Reiki and Faery Reiki training courses. She has been on the spiritual path for 15 years and has extensive knowledge of healing and the healing journey. For further information about her Reiki courses, therapies and workshops, please visit her website http://helenshortland.com or visit and ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland Holistics & Enchantment.