Entries by Maris

Nothing is Happening – Navigating Intuitive Blocks – Part 2

For many people “blocks” are largely about changing expectations and developing confidence (see Part 1). But there are also more literal blocks to intuitive perception. Three common causes of intuitive block have to do with our mental-emotional states when trying to access intuition, the condition of our energetic boundaries, and our degree of energetic clarity and authenticity. These can all be factors in the experience of intuitive block, though they are not automatically causative. Some people are still intuitively open despite the presence of conditions to the contrary as there can be other factors in play. But when these types of blocks are present, addressing these causes will make a difference in intuitive clarity and flow.

Nothing is Happening – Navigating Intuitive Blocks – Part 1

In a prior post – Am I Doing this Right? Unpacking Intuitive Perception – I defined intuitive perception and addressed some of the pitfalls we can experience when developing our intuitive faculties. But there are more! Intuitive blocks are similar to creative blocks. For a great book on working through creative blocks see The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Some of this post is inspired by comparisons I noted while reading through this book again, and many of the book’s exercises can be applied to intuitive as well as creative flow. As with creative blocks, much of intuitive blocking comes from our relationship to intuition, our fears, and our often unhelpful preconceived notions and expectations about it from cultural conditioning. We think nothing is happening when in fact something is happening, it is just not what we expect. These common misconceptions will be the focus of Part 1. Intuitive blocks can also be the result of energy body restrictions and the need for stronger boundaries. These will be addressed in Part 2.

Am I Doing This Right? Unpacking Intuitive Perception

“Am I doing this right?”
“How do I know I’m not just making it all up?”
“Is this real?”

Any of that sound familiar? These questions are standard for many people beginning to use intuitive perception. They are good questions because discernment is important when accessing intuition, but when over-applied they can also get in the way of developing trust in your perception. I have witnessed many people going through this stage in the process of intuitive development, and I went through it when I first started training in spirit work. The following are tips for those struggling with intuitive perception.

Opening to the Spirit World: Safe & Sovereign

There are two general categories of people who want to learn about interfacing the spirit: those who are already open to it, and those who want to be more open to it. Each category has its challenges and benefits; and the two states can call for somewhat different approaches.

Lunatics, Idiots, and Charlatans: Bridging the Secular and the Spiritual

I was raised in a secular-intellectual environment firmly grounded in materialist reductionism: there is no world but the physical world and that which can be verified through research science.  Religion had no part in my upbringing, and spirituality even less.  Spirituality was the realm of lunatics, idiots, and charlatans; people who were either too crazy or stupid to be rational, or people who were intentionally trying to con the naive and gullible.

Imagine, then, what it was like as an adult to find myself going from the field of neuroscience into traditional Chinese medicine and then into spirit work.

The Spiritual Teacher – Student Relationship

A spiritual teacher is someone who serves as a guide along the path of your soul’s journey, providing information, methods, and modeling that help you realize your life dream.  They help you access and strengthen your connection to the source of your own soul and spirit.  Spiritual teachers come in different varieties, from well-known gurus to personal mentors.  There are some common misconceptions about spiritual teachers, and ways that we tend to give away our power to them.  Below are some guidelines and considerations to keep in mind when seeking or interacting with a spiritual teacher.