Category Archives: Innerwork

Intuitive Perception & Spiritual Discernment

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A unique synthesis of all the subtle sense-signals brings realization, a new vision, and important insights that support a creative evolutionary leap for humankind. Integrative intuitive functions are processed by the neo-cortex and pre-frontal lobes of the brain. This may include intuitive insight that empowers spiritual discernment, prophecy, psychic dreaming, clairvoyance and creative genius that humanity so needs right now in order to respond to the many concerns we face in the world.

Spiritual discernment is a sense of expanded clarity and choice. One senses the right direction to go forward, without judgement or analysis (as is required in rational thinking). What is right is not a moral judgement between making a right or wrong choice. Rather, clarity comes from one’s synergistic perception of the whole truth, which perceives all paths including automatic responses, as well as new possibilities, and options that awaken one’s full human potential as a spiritual being. [Radical Self Care, Chapter 5 “The 12 Senses of Embodied Awareness”. Dr. Beth Hedva].

Spiritual discernment comes in the form of inner knowing, guidance or direction.

We can ask for guidance to awaken spiritual discernment.

The questions we ask ourselves guide our quest.

Do not ask ‘why’. “Why” will take you down the path of rationalization rather than toward inner guidance. Ask an open-ended question that is free of imbedded assumptions. Practice choosing questions that help you go in the direction of ultimate happiness instead of needing to be right or wrong. 

During one of our Embodied Awareness seminars we used a  sentence completion exercise to expand intuitive perception and cultivate the inner Observer and therefore spiritual discernment, by answering a series of questions. As a continuation of the previous blog post, Come To Your Senses, the question “What is my life in service of….” is the next in the series. Here are some of the responses:

My life is in service of…deep connection.

My life is in service of…transformation.

My life is in service of…self actualization.

My life is in service of…transformational guidance.

My life is in service of…self acceptance.

My life is in service of…finding joy from a lost child.

My life is in service of…love and joy.

My life is in service of…developing intuition.

My life is in service of…continually seeking truth and  authenticity.

My life is in service of…the fertility of darkness.

{Artist Unkown}

{Artist Unknown}

My life is in service of…exploration and introspection.

My life is in service of…spiritual pilgrimage.

My life is in service of…personal introspection.

My life is in service of…self observation without judgement.

My life is in service of…love.

My life is in service of…divine light.

My life is in service of passion and joy.

My life is in service of…inviting voices to sing.

My life is in service of vitality.

My life is in service of…being a vessel and a voice.

My life is in service of…happiness.

My life is in service of…truth and community.

My life is in service of…spreading wings through empowering myself and others.

Your invitation:

What is your life in service of?

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Come To Your Senses

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As we  give birth to a new era for humanity and build our global community, it is important to use all your intuitive processing skills. This is especially important during cycles of high stress, accelerated change and rapid transformation.

Come to your senses. Learn to follow the signals and make sense of them. They will guide you to act. We are all being guided by the same, ultimate and universal intelligence that extends through all existence, including human consciousness. This intelligence that resides within you is guiding your (and our) evolution-beyond the stress that comes with fear of death (whether ego death or otherwise), toward both a personal rebirth and collective renewal.

Begin your journey to consciously evolve your brain. Reflect on your experiences. Make sense of your experience by using all your senses. Explore each subtle signal as distinct. Intuitive processing synthesizes the various signals received from your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions (neocortex, limbic brain and the sensory-motor brain). Self reflection, and making new connections i.e. ‘making sense’ of your experiences (and all the input you receive from various physical and subtle signals) actually builds new integrative neural fibers in your prefrontal lobes. [ Radical Self Care, Chapter 5 “The 12 Senses of Embodied Awareness”. Dr. Beth Hedva.]

Intuition comes from the Latin root word tueri, which translates as “to observe, to guard, to protect.’ By developing our inner Observer or “Witness” we naturally awaken our intuitive capacities. During one of our Embodied Awareness seminars we used a  sentence completion exercise to expand intuitive perception and cultivate the inner Observer, by answering the question “What I am aware of in this moment is. . . ”

We passed a piece of flourite around the circle (along with a hand held recorder). They became our symbolic ‘talking stalk’ Who ever held the object would speak, and when complete, would pass the objects to the next person in the circle. Round and round the circle we went, each person adding one awareness, and through the process awareness expanded and deepened. Here are some examples:

What I am aware of in this moment is…possibilities.

What I am aware of in this moment is…integration.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the power of intuitive connection.

What I am aware of in this moment is…questions.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the power of other’s ability to see the places I don’t want them to.

What I am aware of in this moment is…guidance and unity.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the power of vulnerability.

What I am aware of in this moment is…strength.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the contrast between the medicine and agitation of relentlessness.

What I am aware of in this moment is…potential.

What I am aware of in this moment is…binding of energy.

What I am aware of in this moment is…truth and sincerity.

What I am aware of in this moment is this (microphone) is not nearly as satisfying as the rock (flourite we were using as a talking piece).

What I am aware of in this moment is…unfurling.

What I am aware of in this moment is…gratitude for circle process.

What I am aware of in this moment is…opening to new perspectives.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the power of creativity and how surrender can be side tracked by taking detours.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the aliveness of intuition.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the edges of breakthrough.

What I am aware of in this moment is…acceptance.

What I am aware of in this moment is…emotions.

What I am aware of in this moment is…is this moment.

What I am aware of in this moment is…opportunity for integration.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the energy of creativity.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the intuitive importance of resistance and how it can act as a blind spot.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the power of insight,  peacefulness and creativity.

What I am aware of in this moment is…physical sensations coming up in my body as my intuitive resistance voice is rising.

What I am aware of in this moment is…how sleepy I became in the last minute.

What I am aware of in this moment is…the both the desire to escape and to hold a flash light to discover where all the shadows are.

What I am aware of in this moment is…an art piece being created.

What I am aware of in this moment is…sense of stillness.

Your invitation:

What are you aware of in this moment?

Beyond Spiritual Bypass

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{ Artist: Susan Sedon Boulet }

{ Artist: Susan Sedon Boulet }

Resistance to spiritual growth can take the form of a spiritual by-pass and psychological resistance to our thoughts, feelings, intuitions and deeper spiritual truth.  Embodiment means being whole—experiencing your feelings, thoughts and subtle impressions here and now–in your body, and letting them move you to new insights, awareness, and behaviours.

Spiritual by-pass is a term coined by transpersonal psychologist John Welwood.   In his article Principles of Innerwork, Psychological and Spiritual, Welwood describes three common traps when we begin to open spiritually. . .and all three can act as barriers to intuition by distorting our perception.

1. Mental By-Pass: ‘In your head’—a belief that the spiritual world is ‘better’
2. Spiritual By-Pass: Psuedo-detachment. (This is not the same as ‘non-attachement.  It is a way you avoid doing your personal and emotional work by disociating or pretending to be ‘above’ it.)
3. Emotional By-Pass: Over-processing of emotions. (Getting stuck in, or ‘addicted’ to the intensity of your feelings)

Spiritual by-pass is full of shadows.  AND, it is common to confront the ‘shadow’ when ever we go into unknown territory.  As we find our way through, we are able to mine precious gems and hidden resources found beneath the surface of our ordinary awareness, deep in the ground of being .

Take note:

Which are your favorite forms or resistance?

How do you find your way beyond the resistance?

How do you know when you are on the other side?

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After one of our Embodied Awareness seminars, one participant, a corporate Coach, shared gratitudes with the class as she shared what she had learned about herself and her relationship to resistance:

“I want to convey a real sense of gratitude for the reflections from each of you today. I have had a real movement through my resistance.

I have danced with my resistance gnome for awhile. I really felt like instead of feeling, “Overpower! Overcome! Annihilate!  I feel like I can now live with my resistance–and it’s always going to hang around–but that’s not going to stop me from moving forward. . . .

Kinesthetic impressions have helped me make resistance a partner, rather than battle it – big move today- Oh my Gosh! I can live with this – not like a disease live with it – sort of like you’re going to live in my little back pack for awhile, like a little gremlin. That’s ok!  I can share partnership with my resistance.

It keeps me aware.
It keeps me in the trenches.
It reminds me what others may be up against.

{Artist: Brian Froud}

{Artist: Brian Froud}