| Excerpt from Finding Your True Self (out of print) |
| According to the dictionary, intuition is knowledge gained without evident rational thought. We all have it; some of us call it a “gut feeling.” This knowledge comes from the True Self in each of us. When we harmonize with it, our lives stay on track. Everything automatically flows more smoothly, and we feel more connected with those around us. |
| When we are just learning to “tune in,” we generally start with those closest to us. For example, when my daughter was in high school I often reach for the phone knowing that she was calling. I even awakened at 2:00 a.m. with the feeling that she was about to call. It is much nicer than being jarred awake by the phone at that hour. I also used to pick up her thoughts as she was driving home after curfew. She would be worrying that I’d wake up and know that she hadn’t gotten home on time. Her thoughts would actually wake me up so, much to her dismay, I was often awake when she arrived home. |
Intuitive Flashes
Here are some other examples of intuitive insights. Since several of these happened before I had really developed my intuition, and had enough trust in myself to follow that intuition, these stories also demonstrate the pitfalls of not listening to your inner voice. |
| Sometimes I need to gather the facts first and then let my intuition work. It will present me with an answer as long as I stay relaxed and aware. Other times, my intuitive knowing comes in an instant–which happened when I was led to my career in hypnotherapy. I met a woman when I was working at a local university as an administrative assistant. She was planning to attend hypnotherapy school. After her first weekend in school she said, to me, “This is wonderful. You have got to do this with me!” I decided in that instant to go back to school because it “felt right.” I changed schools halfway through my training, and again, in my search for a new school, I suddenly just knew which school to attend next. |
The Ideal Message
Sometimes my intuition draws me to a particular book. The title seems to jump out at me. Those are the books that I always buy. Once I have this book in my home, I do not necessarily feel like reading it right away. I have learned, however, that at some point this will be the perfect book for me to read. I have kept some of these books for up to two years and suddenly felt compelled to read them. When I have forced myself to read them I have not been ready to accept the message. |
Home Sweet Home
When I was first learning to use my intuition, I bought a house. Initially, I’d looked at this house and not liked it. I’m not sure why I didn’t recognize that this was my perfect home. Perhaps I was distracted by the kids who were six and eleven. At any rate, one day at work, I suddenly thought, “I want to buy that house on Raintree Place.” I called my realtor to let him know that I wanted to see it again. He reminded me that I hadn’t liked this house initially. True, but something had shifted internally and I knew that I had to pay more attention. I felt very much “at home” in this house. |
It’s a Boy!
I knew, during my second pregnancy, that I was carrying a boy. Even though I consistently referred to the baby as a boy, I’d always correct myself and tell everyone that it was a girl because I already had a girl and I couldn’t imagine knowing how to raise a boy. Had I paid more attention and trusted the process, I would have been better prepared. And I’d have avoided making my girlfriend return all my daughter’s baby clothes that I’d loaned her! |
Warning Episode I: Don’t Go There
One year around Christmas, I was going out dancing once a week. After dancing, my friend and I went to a restaurant for tea. Every time I saw the steps to the front door of the Peppermill, I would feel apprehensive. I can remember thinking to myself, “Oh no, there are those awful steps again!” But did I suggest that we go to a different restaurant? Nope. My mind continued to try to get my attention–on two occasions, I had a mental picture of myself in the hospital. Finally, one cold December night as we left the restaurant, I slipped on those “awful steps” and broke my leg. |
| My intuition did its best to warn me, but I didn’t pay attention. Looking back I could clearly see the warnings. I ignored seeing myself in the hospital, because I’ve had quite a history of surgery. Had I taken some time to look within, I’m sure that I could’ve determined that those scenes were future events, and I probably would have avoided that unfortunate accident. |
| Tune in next month for Part 2 of Living Intuitively |
Katherine Zimmerman
Clinical Hypnotherapist
