Developing Your Intuitive Powers

I have read the Tarot for people for many years, but recently my readings have become more like spiritual counseling sessions, with the cards acting as indicators for where the client's blocks and issues lie. So in addition to information about the future, they are receiving practical advice on how to prepare for what is coming, and how to achieve their heart's desires. It's been such a joy to be able to be of service this way! (For more information on my readings, please see my FB page "Hokulani Spiritual Alignments" and click "about", on the upper left side. https://www.facebook.com/HokulaniTarot?ref=hl)

 Recently I was speaking with a client who talked about her own intuitive powers, and that she would like to know how to develop them further. I believe that we all have intuitive or "psychic" powers. I believe that there was a time in the history of man that we used those powers, or the "sixth sense" just like we currently use the other five. But somewhere along the line, as we came out of the wild and into "civilization" we began to lose touch with that integral part of ourselves. If you look at ancient cultures that still survive in some form today, such as the Native Americans, Polynesians, Celts etc. you find that they still very much believe in a world beyond the physical and have their own ways of being in touch with it. It's a very natural part of their culture.

I think what we call "intuition" is actually the voice of our higher self, or soul, that part of us that is eternal, and as such remembers and knows all things since the beginning of time. It is the "God-spark", that piece of the divine that exists in all of us, and as such is all-knowing, and all-powerful. (See Dr. Wayne Dyer's book "Wishes Fulfilled" for an excellent treatment of this concept.) So if you wish to develop your intuitive connection further, you simply must learn to pay closer attention to this part of yourself. It's always present, but you have likely been ignoring it for so long, you may have to really listen to find it.

Here are the techniques that have helped me to deepen my awareness:

1. Make note of Divine synchronicities. To begin learning to be in tune with your intuition or your higher self, start by paying attention to the little coincidences in your everyday life. When you have a "feeling" and it turns out to be right, or you suddenly think of someone you haven't spoken to in a long time, and then the phone rings and they are on the line. Begin observing these "divine synchronicities", and start to write them down. Making entries in your journal is a perfect way to record your "intuitive hits". The more you notice and document them, the more often they will happen. By becoming more conscious of the occurrences, you are exercising and strengthening your intuitive muscle. By collecting "evidence" that you are able to know things intuitively, you are building a sense of trust in that inner voice.

2. Make time on a regular basis to connect to Spirit. Which is the same thing as connecting to your higher self. Meditation, prayer, sitting quietly in nature, whatever makes you feel connected to your higher power, and thus your soul. By doing this on a regular basis, you are opening the "channel" to allow the information to flow.

3. Make the mind/body/spirit connection. I've found that taking proper care of my body is an important part of cultivating my internal spiritual guidance system. By eating "clean", mostly healthy, organic fruits and vegetables, and eliminating sugar, caffeine and alcohol, I am able to drop into meditation much more quickly and easily, and I am able to "hear" the voice of my inner guide much more clearly.  

4. Buy some kind of intuitive card deck. The Tarot is not easy to learn and according to legend, if you are "meant" to read the Tarot, the cards will find their way to you. But there are many wonderful, more simple cards out there now that are usually accompanied by a book that helps translate the meanings. I began with "Rune cards" based on the old Nordic Runes, and my readings (only for myself) were simple, usually either a single card or sometimes 3 cards, for showing the "past, present, future" of a situation. There are angel and archangel cards, Native American spirit guide cards, Goddess cards, etc. The best thing to do is go to a store where they are sold and see which ones you feel drawn to, then take them home and play with them. This is a great way to continue learning and strengthening your abilities.

5. Learn to trust your inner voice. While following these steps you will learn which voice is your intuition, and which is your so-called "rational" mind. When I first began to pay attention to my sense of "knowing", my rational voice would immediately try to over-ride anything my intuition would tell me by shouting "You can't know that!" and "Don't be ridiculous! That's crazy!" Observe this for a while, and then as you start to see that your intuition is ALWAYS right, you can start to say to the rational voice "OK, thanks for your input, now SIT DOWN!"

6. Pay attention to dreams. Particularly very vivid dreams that seem "different" than your usual ones. These are strong messages from your higher self, via your subconscious. I think often this is the way our soul chooses to communicate with us in the beginning, because it is somewhat more acceptable to the rational mind. Immediately upon waking try to remember what you dreamt about, before it slips away. If you are not sure about the meaning, try journaling about it, and start with "The message of this dream was______." Your higher self will help you to fill in the blanks.

7. Watch for signs. I believe signs from Spirit/God/The Universe/Source are all around us. We must open our eyes to them in order to receive. I find heart-shaped things everywhere I go, leafs, clouds, rocks, even spray-painted on the side-walk. Each one serves as a message to reaffirm my belief that Love is the only thing that is real. (I have devoted a whole post to the subject of signs and their many forms- please click here if you're interested:
http://livelaughloveinla.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-cats-and-seeing-signs.html)

8. Find like-minded people to talk to. It's important while you are growing your confidence in your intuitive powers that you find other people who think the same way, who have similar experiences to compare notes and to share with. The last thing you need is to talk to some "practical, scientific" type who wants to discourage you from trusting yourself. These people are usually quite fearful of their own inner voices, and will discount yours as a way of denying their own.

9. Learn to journal. Writing your thoughts and feelings down in a private journal, one that you know no one will ever read can be a very therapeutic experience, especially with regards to developing your psychic abilities. Unusual things that occur, and even our thoughts, are not "real" until we either tell someone else, or write it down. Journaling at it's best can be an on-going conversation with our higher self, and with Spirit. If you have never journaled, or need fresh inspiration to get you going, please check out Charlene Geiss, a fantastic diarist and journaling teacher, as well as her book:
http://www.charlenegeiss.com/index.php/book-shop.html

10. Read books about intuition and other's experiences with it. Understanding how other people have received information can help you open your own "channel". Here are a couple of good ones:
"Angel Watch- Goosebumps, Signs, Dreams, and Other Divine Nudges" by Catherine Lanigan and "When God Winks at You" by Squire Rushnell.

I truly believe intuition can lead you and guide you, to make decisions, to walk your path, to do the right thing for yourself, and ultimately for everyone whose life you touch. I think we should nurture this voice, encourage it to speak, by carving out some quiet time in our busy lives so we're able to hear it. The bottom line is that we all have these so-called "powers" because we all have souls. It's just a matter of awareness and trust, and those things can be developed!

Much love and light to you on your journey.

Becoming ME, Version 2.013

I don't really make New Year's resolutions anymore, but I love the idea of a new year as a new beginning. 365 days stretch out before me, mysterious with the sweet promise of unlimited potential and endless possibilities. Anything can happen, our wildest dreams could come true! As always, I'm hoping this new year will the be the best one ever, but just hoping won't make it so. This time, instead of waiting to see what this year will bring, I've decided to get busy living, and being the best me possible. ME, version 2.013!

I'm going to practice what life coach Cheryl Richardson calls "extreme self care" in every area of my life, starting with the physical. "The body is a temple", an amazing vessel designed to carry my soul until I've finished what I came here to do. I'm going to treat it with kindness and respect, listen to it and let it tell me what it needs. I'll let it rest when it's tired, and feed it what it needs to be healthy and run efficiently, not just what my emotional inner child wants at the moment. Instead of forcing myself to "exercise" (ugh!), I'm going to find ways to go out and play! To run, jump, skate, swim, ski and dance....have more F-U-N!

I'm going to feed my soul too, less mind-numbing TV, more music, books, and hanging with people who inspire me, make me think, make me laugh. More laughing, for sure! I'm going to spend time with my girlfriends, because we women need this, it's good for our souls. I'm setting aside time every day to be grateful, to appreciate the many blessings in my life; my health, a warm, safe home, amazing friends and family of the heart, a good job I enjoy in the industry of my dreams, working with people I like. I'm also making self-expression a priority, finding time to create, and giving myself the gift of not being overly critical of what I've created. I'm going to take time for reflection and connection to Spirit, so I can stay awake to the wonder and beauty of this world, and to hear my own wise inner voice.

I'm going to laugh more and complain less. To look at difficulties as gifts of opportunities for learning. I'm going to keep my heart open, even if others close theirs. I'm going to make leaps of faith and trust that the universe will catch me, to believe that whatever is happening in my life is for my soul's ultimate growth and that I am safe, loved and cared for. I'm going to surrender everything that's beyond my control, and make room for magic to happen.

I'm letting go of things that no longer work for me, including relationships. If I am the one doing all the work, putting all the effort into a relationship, I'm walking away. I'm choosing to value myself, my love, enough to stop wasting it on people who do not appreciate it or reciprocate.

This year I've decided not to just sit and wait, hoping for the best. I'm going to go out and BE it. I intend to pack as much love and joy into each minute of this new year as possible. I'm choosing to be happy, daring to dream big, looking at the glass as half-full, and my life as half-started. This year I'm going out and having a big, fat love affair....with life.

Here's to a great 2013, may you also be the best YOU yet!

Sending you light and love.

12/21/12 Gateway to Ascension

Thanks to media hype, I think everyone is very aware that according to the ancient Mayans, the world as we know it is ending tomorrow. Some people have chosen to take that literally, but many spiritual beings believe that the prophecy likely refers to a major shift in consciousness, away from fear and back to our natural state of love. As 12/21/12 draws near, there is talk of "ascension", a term that has many definitions, depending on who you ask. One on-line article I read details an "influx of supreme energy" that began on 12/12/12 and will become stronger and more intense on 12/21, lasting through the end of the year. It states that although to some the world may still appear to be unchanged tomorrow, it is not. Ascension is defined as "the shift in the Earth’s vibrational frequency from the third dimension to the fifth dimension of living. The ascension process is similar to a change from analog to digital, from monochrome to color. It is a return to the Crystalline Age. As dimensional grids make a shift, the natural laws that govern time and space will apparently change....When you are living in the third dimension, you are mostly concerned with what is going on in the physical or material plane. However, living in the fifth dimension aligns you with a consciousness that is based on love and light, a non-dual reality and the surrender of your higher spiritual self. Very importantly, it also allows you to access previously “untapped” capabilities, enabling you to live in a more evolved bio-energetic state."

Something is definitely transpiring. I am seeing it all around  me, in the attitudes and actions of others as well as myself. Some people are becoming more calm, more loving, more centered and balanced. Others are becoming very agitated, anxious, even angry, without knowing why. Random acts of violence are occurring, more extreme and senseless than ever as we approach this portal, as in the Sandy Hook school shooting. Those still vibrating at lower, negative frequencies are feeling the free-floating angst, and are acting out. I think all humans are experiencing the "pull" of this on-coming wave of energy in some way, much like standing in shallow water at the beach and feeling the power of the ocean trying to drag you out to the depths with it. I believe the appropriate response to the huge tidal surge of energy currently happening is to go still, relax, and allow it to take you home. I think we are being lifted higher, so that our perspective will allow us to see the fearful illusions of this "third dimensional" world, and we'll be able to see that we are actually held safe in love, and our fears are ego-based lies. 

I'm planning to spend this evening with like-minded beings cleansing in the ocean, and tomorrow in meditation. We are being transformed to higher versions of ourselves. Our focus is being redirected to our spirit and away from the material world. Relax, trust, surrender. Allow the shift to happen, you are being "reset" to love. It is the dawning of a new age. All is well. All is unfolding exactly as it should.

Love and light to all.
Namaste'

 

Getting Into the Holiday SPIRIT

I love the Christmas holiday season. I love the beautiful lights, the festive music, and feeling the "holiday spirit". This phrase means different things to different people, and I've been thinking about what it means to me. I love this season because it is a time of joy, mystery and wonder. I don't consider myself religious, but I do think the story of the birth of the baby Jesus is a wondrous one; people being mysteriously drawn to a stable on a cold, starry night in Bethlehem. Kings and wise men led by angels and a shining star to bring gifts of incredible value, and to kneel down in reverence before a baby born to a humble family in a manger.

Then there's Santa Claus, who is definitely mysterious. He hides out at the North Pole 364 days a year with elves, has some way of knowing if you've been naughty or nice, and uses magic to make his reindeer fly, and to get into your house while you're sleeping!  Santa loves the children of the world so much he has devoted his life to making their wishes come true on Christmas Day.

The holidays are traditionally a time of peace and harmony, and the feeling that all is right with the world. It's the time of year when our thoughts turn to love and giving. We become "heart-centered" beings, instead of "ego-centered", and we devote ourselves like Santa, to bringing joy to those we love, and to helping those less fortunate than ourselves. It's a wonderful yearly reminder to "reset" our thoughts to love, especially needed in light of recent events in the world.

I love the innocence of this season, the idea that anything is possible, if you only believe. For me the true meaning of "holiday spirit" is that magic and miracles really do exist. This time of year is a time to dream, and to believe that those dreams, no matter how large, really can come true.

Wishing you and yours a wondrous, joyful, love-filled holiday season!

Opening to Abundance

The Universal Law of Attraction says that whatever we put out via our thoughts and actions we will receive back, multiplied. Our thoughts and actions are based on our belief-system, which in most cases was formed while we were growing up. These beliefs are made up of things we were told, or that we witnessed or experienced, and then made decisions about. This belief system became "The Truth About How the World Works According to Me", and we have been living our lives ever since accordingly, usually without even being conscious of it.

I consider myself to be a pretty positive person, and fairly self-aware. But this past year of financial insecurity and instability (that I volunteered for) has brought to light some deep-seated, not-so-positive beliefs about money. So I've spent some time thinking about where these ideas originated, and I realize that as a child I made some flawed assumptions about what I was seeing around me. My father did a great job of making and handling the  money in our family, and my mother was mainly interested in spending it. He made sure that she always had what she wanted, and out of love didn't bother her with the stress of how much we had, or how he managed to make it happen. Looking back I can see that with my child's mind I misinterpreted this as an unspoken message that "women can't be trusted with money" or "women aren't smart enough to handle money." I have a vivid memory of my dad sitting me down at about age 17 and telling me that if I wanted to continue to live in the style to which I was accustomed (comfortable upper-middle class), I would need to become a "professional", meaning a doctor, lawyer, etc, and I would need to marry the same. I knew in my heart of hearts that I was not cut out for those kinds of professions, so I made an unconscious decision "OK, I'll never have a lot of money" based on that conversation. (And of course, this became a self-fulfilling prophesy!)

My mom, on the other hand was very much a true "Southern Belle" who went from living with her own father who spoiled her, to living with mine. The belief system I inherited from her was the idea that "there will always be a man to take care of you", and "making and managing money is the man's job". So I think on some deep subconscious level I've been waiting for a man to come along and take care of me financially, because I believed that I wasn't capable of doing it myself. On top of all of this, somewhere along the line I also decided that "wanting money and material things isn't spiritual." The combination of these messages and decisions I made in those early years have influenced the way I think and have lived my life ever since. I have made statements like; "I'll probably never own my own home" (so, of course I haven't), "I'll probably have to work all my life", and "Money isn't that important to me." I've thought many times "as long as I make enough money to just cover my bills, I'm OK", and of course, this is exactly what the Universe has given me. No surprise, all of my adult life despite working hard and climbing several corporate ladders, I have made just enough to pay my bills, and not a penny more. I have been totally limiting myself with my own limited thinking! Even though I was trying consciously to think thoughts of abundance, my subconscious belief system and my resulting actions were completely undermining any progress I might have made.

I believe that we come into this life with a divine purpose, maybe even several. When we are "on our path", meaning making decisions and taking actions aligned with accomplishing this divine plan, our lives are easier, things seem to unfold more smoothly. Doors fly open, red carpets roll out, divine synchronicities occur. (Oprah calls this "being in the flow of Spirit". I love that image!) Conversely, when we stray from our path, things get harder, we get bogged down, and find that every door seems firmly closed, no matter how long or hard we knock. I believe this is the Universe's way of getting us back on track, back on our path to our ultimate destiny. I think that  the financial struggles of this past year were meant to get me back on my path, and to hold up a mirror for me to see how self-sabotaging my thoughts and actions have been. The gift of this past year is that I've been so uncomfortable that I've been forced to take a long, hard look at why I was choosing to live my life this way.

Now that I recognize those old-worn out beliefs and understand where they originated, I can make new decisions based on what I know as an adult to be true. I have decided that I am tired of struggling financially. I am weary of constantly worrying about money. "Just able to pay my bills" is not good enough any more. I can decide that I deserve to have whatever I want, and that I am smart enough to earn it and handle it myself! I know I can manage money and manage it well, after all, I've been "managing" to get by on a small amount successfully for a very long time!  I believe that following my passion and fulfilling my divine purpose in the world is the surest way to achieve these things. I have been playing small, and as Marianne Williamson says "Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking....We are all meant to shine."

It's time to reclaim my power, it's time to shine. I believe that the Universe is a playground designed for us to enjoy, and to be happy. So I am choosing to step into the life the Universe wants me to have, no more holding myself back!

Deciding to Fly

"Life is not about what happens to you. It's about how you handle it."

I'm not sure who said this, but I am sure that it's true. You do not always have a choice in what life throws at you, but you do have a choice in how you view it. I am not always in control of what's going on in my life, but I am in control of my thoughts!
A few weeks ago I received the news that my current job will end in a month's time. My first knee-jerk reaction was to go to a place of total fear and complete panic. My ego immediately started telling me "scary stories" about all the bad things that will happen. I forced myself to stop and take a few deep breaths to calm down. I woke up the next morning and it hit me: it's my choice how I think about this event, I am not at the mercy of my ego! So I made a conscious decision to look at this as a huge opportunity, not a tragedy, and immediately felt the positive shift in my emotions as well.

Once I made the decision to view this coming change as a positive thing, a miracle occurred. By letting go of my fear, I was able to still the ego voice and create a space of quiet. This allowed me to be able to "hear" what my inner guide was telling me. I realized that I know exactly why that job is ending. I am supposed to be doing something else! For a while now I've been "hearing" that I am supposed to be writing a book, and I've come up with a million reasons why I can't. I am quite certain that this period without work is actually an incredible gift, of time to do what I am supposed to do. To fulfill my destiny, bringing light and love to the world through my writing.  I'm looking at this as an opportunity to begin a whole new chapter of my life, to spread my wings and fly! In addition, instead of being panicked about loss of income, I am choosing to see this as an opportunity for the next project that comes in to offer me more money, now that I'm no longer locked into the old position and salary.

This whole situation has forced me to walk my talk. It's easy to "have faith" that you are in the flow of Spirit, and that things are unfolding exactly as they should for your highest good and greatest benefit, when things are going well. It gets a little tougher when your 5 earthly senses are telling you that things are not going well, not happening the way you think that they should. That's real faith, continuing to trust, to believe, even when there is no tangible reason to. I know in my heart that this is why I was guided to Hawaii. None of these things would have/could have happened if I had stayed in my comfort zone in LA. I made a leap of faith in moving here, now I am being asked to do it again, to follow my heart, to share my light with others, in a BIG way. So I'm GOING FOR IT! I am trusting my higher self/inner guide, and I am leaping off this cliff. From the outside, for a little while it may look like I am falling, but I know that I am merely learning to use my wings.....and getting ready to soar!

Much love and light to you all.

Taking Ownership of Your Life

"There comes a time in every life when you have to acknowledge areas where you keep having the same problems, such as the same recurring issue in every romantic relationship, or every job situation, etc. You have to be honest and look at the common denominator in each situation, which is YOU. Instead of it always seeing it as "their fault", you have to get rid of the victim mentality and own it, so you can fix it, once and for all. Only when you start taking responsibility for your life can you truly move on and make a new beginning, leaving the past behind."

I posted this original quote not too long ago on Facebook, and couldn't believe the overwhelming response to it. Evidently it really resonated with many people. We all realize that we tend to repeat self-sabotaging behaviors, and usually can see it clearly in other people's lives. Why is it so hard to see the patterns in our own life? I think the ego is very invested in keeping us believing that we are helpless victims, that things are constantly being done to us that we are powerless to stop. The truth is that WE are the creators of our lives, co-creating with the Universe, with our every thought, word and deed.

Most of the time we're pretty much on "auto-pilot", constantly retracing old patterns in our thinking. Our thoughts then create our actions, and our actions create our reality. We have to rise up high enough to see what those patterns are in order to change them. If you have a repetitive thought that you are not good enough, or don't deserve something, this will become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and creates the reality you will experience. We have to become the one observing our thoughts, and then we become the one with the power to change them where necessary. We can observe the negative thought and decide to put it back on the conveyor belt and choose a positive one instead. We are constantly making choices in our lives, and the things that happen are a direct result of those choices. If there is the appearance that someone else is doing something to you, hurting you etc, realize that you have made a choice that has put you in this position, and now you can make a different choice. You are not a victim, YOU have the power!

It's a hard thing to do, to take an honest look at your life and see where you repeatedly make the same bad choice. The important thing to remember is that this is what you came here to do; to learn, and learning requires making mistakes. So be gentle with yourself, forgive yourself for making the same mistake, possibly several times. At least you've gotten it now, and you can move on. And that's a very positive thought!

Love and light.