Intuition Basics

Your Yes & No

Thanks for joining me in being curious to learn (or deepen) your own rhythm.

This was one of the first crash course lessons I had on my intuitive journey. Not in a classroom, or a formal setting, but in a moment in daily life. It was the first time walking into my now bestie’s house. I was asked if the answer to a posed question was yes or no. It was the initiation before the invitation.

And In a matter of moments my mind RACED through so many thoughts:

Am I supposed to know the answer?!
HOW am I supposed to know the answer?
Do other people just KNOW this?!
WHAT EVEN AM I SUPPOSED TO DO TO ANSWER THIS??!!

And I took a moment. I asked myself if I knew the answer to this question, what would a yes feel like? Alright. Then I asked what would a no feel like. And I paused to notice the differences. Once I felt LOOSELY confident I could differentiate between a yes and a no, I went back to the original question. And gave the answer that matched my newly discovered bodily sensing. I would now like to share with you what I have discovered and have expanded upon from that moment.

These are skills I still use everyday. When I look at you in circle, or in session, or even just a lunch date and I ask does that feel true for you. I don’t want you to guess. And I do NOT want you to agree because you think that’s what I want to hear. I want you to KNOW your answer. And challenge me if you ever feel that it’s not true. I want you to use these skills every day until they become like breathing. That’s when you walk through life like you know what you’re doing. Because you do. Let’s help you remember what you already know.

WELCOME

This was originally created for a workshop I led. Upon completion of this afternoon workshop, each student was able to play a true or false game at a 98% or better accuracy. I decided to share it in this format so others learning to trust their intuition may find it helpful. Together, we will explore the depths of our inner guidance, unlocking the powerful insights that lie within each of us. Through engaging discussions, practical exercises, and shared experiences, we will cultivate a supportive environment that encourages growth and self-discovery. My hope is that this journey will inspire you, providing the tools and confidence needed to navigate life with a deeper sense of purpose and clarity.

Let’s take a moment to be present, close your eyes if you’d like, and take a deep breath into your belly. Imagine your heart opening gently as you exhale, softening any tension. Let yourself arrive fully in this moment, in this body. Notice the chair under you, or the ground under your feet. Take another breath through the nose, holding at the top, pausing for a moment before exhaling like blowing out a candle. One more time! Another belly breath through your nose, pausing at the top, and this time let out a sound on the exhale. Notice if you feel a little more settled in your body.

Another quick & easy way is to make figure-8’s around your eyes while noticing your breath in and out. Play with pressures as you do, see what you notice!

Before we begin, I want to offer a reminder: Don’t blindly believe anything I say. Let everything I share bounce up against your own field and see how it lands for you. Use discernment. I’m not here to hold answers for you—I’m here to walk beside you as a guide. Thank you for showing up for yourself and for trusting me in that role.

INTRODUCTION

Everyone has intuition. No one is a unicorn. Every single one of us was born with an innate, intuitive connection. For many of us, that channel got shut down, tuned out, or ignored along the way. In this entry, we’re working to rebuild that connection, or like strengthening a muscle. And just like a muscle, if those intuitive nudges have been ignored for a while, it might take a bit of time and trust to hear them clearly again. I often liken this to a friend you always go to advice for yet never listen. At some point they stop even sharing until you show initiative to re engage.

Our bodies, our energy fields, and our guides are always communicating with us. I often call this my body or intuition talking to me. And now, we’re going to learn how it talks to you.

THE CLAIR SENSES

There are many ways intuitive information can come through. These may be called extrasensory abilities, psychic abilities, and are commonly referred to as the “Clairs”.

Clairvoyance – clear seeing
Clairaudience – clear hearing
Clairsentience – clear feeling
Clairalience – clear smelling
Clairgustance – clear tasting
Claircognizance – clear knowing

Now, we’re not going to hyper-focus on mastering all of these today. What matters more is learning how your intuition works. Most people have one or two dominant senses, but you can absolutely develop others over time.

Let’s see if you can determine which senses are your most dominant, you know, for science 😉

Bring a lemon 🍋 to mind.

Do you first just know it’s there, and all about it? (Clairsentience)
Can you see an image in detail with the dimples & colouring? (Clairvoyance)
Do you hear someone describing it in detail? (Clairaudience)

This may give you insight on your dominant way of receiving information. Your body might speak through multiple doors, let it show you by slowing down to pay attention.

GETTING IN THE BODY

To access your intuition more fully, I deeply encourage being in your body. I say this as someone who spent most of her life disassociating at almost any perceived danger. Trust me, I get it, it can be challenging, even scary. But here’s the thing: you chose to incarnate. You chose to be human. And the more fully you embody this experience, the more intuitive insight can be received. As you walk your dharma, the magic begins to unfold.

If you sense this is a challenge for you, try some body scan meditations, yoga nidra. Explore Qigong, yoga or pilates. Have a dance party (with or without music!). Somatic exercises may also hold a key for you. Learning to love the body you chose can be such a beautiful gift in so many ways. And when you’re ready, ask it to show you it’s most healthy expression.

LEFT VS RIGHT BRAIN AWARENESS

Let’s talk brain for a moment.

Your left brain analyzes, organizes, plans & sorts.
Your right brain imagines, creates, intuits & feels.

Intuition? It’s fast. It’s light. It’s immediate.

It might be the farthest thing from “logical” sense.

By the time you’re picking it apart, you’ve already dropped back into your left brain.

That’s not wrong—it just means you’re analyzing instead of receiving. We want to practice noticing which “brain” we’re operating from so we can consciously shift into that intuitive, receptive state.

CURIOSITY & CLEAR CHANNELS

To get the most accurate intuitive guidance, I recommend to be in a space of curiosity, openness, and play. If you’ve already decided what you believe, you’ll only get validation of that belief. That’s not intuition, that’s confirmation bias.

Before you ask questions of yourself, your guides or anything else, drop into what could be called “zero point”: a blank space, a curious heart, with an open mind. Drop everything you think you know.

You may notice that the cleaner your energetic, mental & emotional fields become, the clearer the data is received. I sometimes liken it to if a drain screen is clogged, water can’t flow. Same with data. I find you receive clearer sharper data the cleaner and more receptive your energy field is.

In here attitude could play a part
…..if I happen to be in a piss pour mood, and demand an answer, I guarantee the answer is different than when I can regulate and come from a neutral space.

YOUR UNIQUE YES & NO

Now that we’ve laid some ground work, disucssed and explored what your primary senses may be, and how to differentiate between intuition & working it out, let’s see what you can discover about yourself. Everyone’s intuitive yes/no signals are different, and they can change as your relationship with your body evolves. Think like a muscle you work out at the gym. It might not be strong today, but keep building that relationship, and it’ll be first nature to hear it, not second.

For me, my “yes” used to start as a little upward tickle around my nose. My “no” was flat or would very slightly drop. Then it shifted, a “yes” felt like champagne bubbles rising through my body, and a “no” felt like a flatline or a bottomless pit. Now I get fully body responses, and knowing’s that I just can’t deny. And often I’ll hear the answer before I even ask it.

What does it look like for you?!

Do you lean in or pull away
Are your arms crossed
Does your stomach tighten, or does your heart flutter
Do you stand taller
Have a sense of, “duh, that’s obvious”
Does your nose scrunch
Notice if your head shakes or nods

Let’s find your yes & no with a simple exercise. Let’s not overthink this part. Just notice

Speak these statements aloud (Yes, especially when we’re learning, say it with your voice!) and notice your body’s response.

My name is ____________ (your real name)
My name is ____________ (not your name)

My eyes are ____________ (true eye colour)
My eyes are ____________ (false eye colour)

The shirt I’m wearing is ____________ (true)
The shirt I’m wearing is ____________ (false)

My sun sign is ____________ (true)
My sun sign is ____________ (false)

“You sunk my battleship!” is from Monopoly
“Pass go, get $200” is from Monopoly

I’ve driven a golf cart
I enjoy sunsets
I enjoy mountains
I had an imaginary friend
I believe in aliens
I have guides

Have you began to notice how your body responds to when an answer posed is a yes or a no? Pause to reflect, or go back and try some again. Or bring it to a weekly connection circle to expand on this!

EXPANSION VS CONTRACTION

What does expansion vs contraction mean?! You’re essentially asking if this will allow for growth, or keep you in a stagnate state or even keel. When we sit in stagnancy I’ve noticed this is where issues can start to arise. When we’re working to challenge ourselves and grow, we’re always on the horizon of what else is possible.

Now let’s explore some statements & again notice what your bodily responses are. Imagine yourself in the following:

Having friends that support and lift you up
Family that says “why bother, it never worked for anyone I know”
Sharing about how life feels like it’s against you
Sharing a story as a hero’s journey
A play day on a warm winter afternoon
A sunny day at the beach

What did you notice as you tried on the above experiences? Can you sense any expansion? Did you or your energy field contract? Growth or stagnancy? Light or heavy? That’s your data. Noticing and paying attention to when you get a sense of these feelings in daily life can start to unlock new ways of looking at the world, and knowing when something is meant for you vs when it may be time to walk away.

Do you feel like you have room to breathe
Get a sense the walls are closing in on you
Feel like you’re in an open field
Feel trapped in a locked cell
Generally defeated or elated?
Did your chest tighen
Did your throat constrict
Did your shoulders relax
Did you sigh in relief

When we move to make a decision or even take on the daily chores, there’s always more than one way to do or approach the situation at hand. If you’re in a space that has you finding this hard to believe, try adding this phrase to your life “what else is possible?”.

Listening to Louise Hay one day she referenced a study that was done by family therapist, Virginia Satir. According to Satir and the research she did, she found that “there are more than 250 different ways to wash dishes, depending upon who is washing and the ingredients used.” Louise Hay goes on to say, “if we are stuck in believing there is only ‘one way,’ or ‘one viewpoint,’ then we are shutting out most of life.”

I have found that when I approach anything from a query and feel for lightness or heaviness, I can find the path that is least resistant for me, and damn does it make life more fun. This experience isn’t meant to be a killer chore all the time. Or maybe you’ll find a way to reframe something to approach it from a lighter angle. (Sometimes even releasing an old story or emotion can be the key – but that’s another topic for another day) Let’s work to get back to playful curiosity in all things we do.

Hey body can you show me what it feels like when a task is heavy?
Hey body can you show me what lightness feels like to me?

Somedays shifting a task from heavy to light can be as easy as taking a moment to shake off the current mindset with a dance party, or take some moments of gratitude. I trust you can find the things that can shift this in your daily life.

DECSION MAKING PRACTICE

I have found through MANY trial and errors that the question is more important than the answer. Why? The answer can only ever be as good as the question asked. Ask with clarity, or the Universe will answer with humor. (Ask for flow and you might get a leaky tap.)

For example:

Is this toaster the right one? = okay
Will this toaster last and support our family needs = better

Everything is energy – yes a toaster can respond – as I was reminded recently on an adventure day – I talk to everything

Try using this in your every day decisions (start small to build confidence!) Before making a choice ask:

Does this light?
Does this contract me?
Which path feels expansive?
What does my body say about this?

You can even hold both options in your hands (if you have more than 2 do it tournament style) like a scale and notice which one “rises.” Or use a red/yellow/green signal system with your guides. Stand up and use your body as a pendulum when you ask a question, and see if your body is going forward or backwards. Use your hands like a magnet and see if they pull together or push apart. Play with it!

SIDE STORY: At my partners work before Christmas, they do a secret santa. They have 24 hours after the gift is received to try to guess who it’s from, and there’s a bonus prize (or maybe just for pride!) if you can guess correctly.

The day he received his present, he was helping me move. While he fueled up the U-Haul prior to returning it, I smashed out the back window on my SUV. He was mid helping me clean up my car to put up temporary fix until it could be replaced. And let’s call a spade a spade, I was in a spin. Full blown anxiety response. Not in my best centered self you may see when we meet in session or circle. (YUP! I’m still human tooooooo!!) He looks up, and goes “My 24 hours is almost up and I haven’t had time to detective out who was my Secret Santa.”

Uh-oh. He’s undefeated. This means a lot to him. And he’s been helping me, AND still is. I went okay. WAIT. I’ve got this. Shook off any anxiety. Took some major deep breaths. Reset the best I could. I took the energy of his gift. Held that in my left hand. And 1 by one, brought the energy of the potential Secret Santa’s in my right hand. I watched as either my hand shot back away like it was being repelled. Didn’t move at all. Or had a pull inwards. (There were even a few I couldn’t picture, so I looked at him and said YOU need to focus their energy signature in my hand). It came down to 1 who had the most pull towards each other. I looked and said, from this exercise, I believe it to be **Theresa. He entered her name as his official guess – AND IT WAS RIGHT.
**Name changed for this story

CREATING SPACE TO RECEIVE

To get clear answers, you need a clear line, and preconceived biases left at the door. That means quieting the noise, both internally and externally.

Not ideal: cooking dinner, kids running around, dogs barking, TV blaring
More ideal: a quiet room, clear mind, calm & centered

If you can’t seem to get clear enough to receive answers, you can always say:
“I need space. Anything in my field that won’t allow that, must leave.”

When we’re constantly in a rush, or on the go busy bodying around – it becomes very hard to receive any data. A way to get quiet and remove distractions may be by going on a walk, taking a shower/bath, grabbing a nervous system reset tool – or it may be to sit down and meditate. You’ll start to notice that from a centered space is when the gold can be received. The more you practice this, the easier it will become to gather data even when life is on the go. Remember, it’s like a muscle, it will get stronger in more ways than you may imagine. As your skills, trust and communication with yourself increases, so will your ability to drown out the noise and tune in at any moment. There will come a day you receive data ANYWHERE, not just in meditation.

INTUITIVE CUES

Ready for another level?! Let’s talk about your body’s cues. What is an intuitive cue? It’s the noticeable things that always lead to the same end result. Ok what? Let’s say that another way. The more present in your body and taking moments to pause & pay attention to how your body reacts in certain situations, the more insight you’ll have to how you’re feeling. I’ll share some of the ones I’ve noticed for myself to give you some ideas of what I’m talking about.

My nose scrunches where there’s something that is a lie or not a full truth.
My shoulders will drop and relax when I find the question that leads to an actual answer.
If I can’t picture a situation, or person at an event in my mind’s eye, it is very unlikely to happen.
My voice will squeak if there is incongruence to what I agreed to or said
I’ll tug at the collar of my shirt when I’m bothered.

Learning to notice your own intuitive cues are going to give you a fast track to categorizing data or situations around you. I highly recommend you pay attention to these and build your own catalog. And be careful what you share with others. My partner almost ALWAYS calls me out when my voice is 16 octives higher than normal when I give an answer. I mean it’s not a bad thing, but it can be annoying when you give away your own tells.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Keep practicing. Start small. Check in with daily choices. Ask curious questions. Play. Pull a shirt out of your closet and ask if this is the shirt your body wants to wear today. Hold a food up to your stomach and ask if this will be supportive to your body today.

To gain confidence in your intuition, you’re going to want to track it. I know. This sounds like work. But how else will you know you’re getting intuitive hits if you’re not taking notice?

Have things seemingly begun to fall into place more often?
Do things always seem harder when you push past those intuitive hits you received and ignored?

As you track and keep notice, you’ll also notice that those intuitive hits will get louder and way easier to spot a mile away.

The more you lean into it, the stronger it gets. Just like a muscle.

FINISHING NOTES

If something doesn’t play out how you expected, it doesn’t mean you got it ‘wrong’, let’s look into this. You might find there can be little golden nuggets of amazingness.

Did you have to go that way to find an answer you really needed?
Were there deeper layers to understand before you could hold the next level?
Were you responding from pre conditioning or a trauma reaction?
Was there too much distraction when you tried to get an answer?

There’s also other possibilities, like a timeline collapses or merges (one time what was true at midnight, was no longer true at noon the next day – but THAT’S a whole other story 😉) or something bigger at play that may not make sense right away. We aren’t always meant to know everything. This I’ve been reminded of OFTEN.

GRATITUDE

We can’t talk about intuition without touching on gratitude.

Thank your body for the information.
Thank spirit for the support or information.
Thank yourself for taking a moment to check in.

Gratitude is an intense amplifier (in so many situations). And a doorway to finding more. Always remember to sprinkle this on everything, like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

Hot Tip! – gratitude as lip service won’t land the same way as taking a moment to really feel into and send the appreciation.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read along through this post, and try the exercises out. These are things I STILL use in my daily life on the regular. It’s part of my most basic tool kit and I recommend that everyone learns who comes into my orbit. As what’s true and right for me, may not be true and right for you. And how will you know to discern that without some tangible skills?

A downloadable file to help make note of how your intuition works

If you want to go deeper, or need support shifting an area of your life

I offer a free consultation to see if working one on one or connecting in another format is an aligned option for you.

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