Discussions about intuition often evoke two extreme responses: either a sense of awesome mystery or an overwhelming anxiety. Intuition is usually considered to be either taboo or revered, and neither reaction offers much opportunity for open discussion. A world where intuition complements analytical ways of knowing would bring greater inspiration, fulfillment, wisdom, wholeness and unity to our planet. Human beings do have the ability to hold both the mysterious and the obvious in a way that reveals the highest wisdom possible.

   Everyone is intuitive. You might not recognize your intuitive abilities or moments of unexplained “knowing” because you have not yet learned to recognize them. Unfortunately, intuition is not a subject taught in elementary school or shared at home unless you are fortunate to have a parent, grandparent or mentor that will educate you about this wonderful connection to the universe. Yet your daily life is filled with intuitive moments. Nighttime dreaming is intuitive, and so is listening to music, fixing motors and computing mathematical models. Intuition is not usually a voice coming out of nowhere telling you what to do, although sometimes an intuition can be so strong that it may seem as though you have been spoken to. More likely, it is a quiet sense of knowing, a gut feeling, a thought that comes to you while you are daydreaming or an abstract image with meaning. You are receiving intuitive messages all the time; you only need to quiet your busy mind and tune in.

   Here are some common myths about Intuition. Hopefully they will stimulate and inspire!

Myth 1: Intuition is a gift. Intuition is not a gift; it is the very essence of your being and is most beneficial when it is recognized, nurtured and developed. Some individuals may be more intuitively talented than others, but everyone has the ability to develop it to a useful level.

Myth 2: Intuition only comes to those who are spiritual. Everyone is intuitively guided – it is the way of the universe. All of creation is part of a grand, dynamic design. Intuition is understood most consistently when you come from a place of wholeness. It is easier to connect to your intuitive nature in the quiet space of meditation, but in reality, the guiding forces of the universe are continually steering you toward your greatest potential. You only need to know how to tune in. Intuitive messages also break through the random noise of your mind when you are in crisis, such as life threatening situations or when you are called upon to help others. Perhaps at these times you are thrust beyond your everyday mind into a space that allows you to intuitively know that you are being guided.

Myth 3: Intuition will help you predict the future. Intuition helps you stay in the present; it has little to do with predicting the future. When you are fully present the future is not the issue. You are willing to take the steps right in front of you when you are in the present moment, with great faith in your heart.

Myth 4: If you are intuitive in one subject, you will be intuitive in every subject. Intuition usually shows up in the areas where you have passion and talent. If you are in love with cars and engines, you'll know how to fix something under the hood as if it was second nature, but you may be clueless when it comes to cooking a soufflé. Look to your areas of great interest to know where you are the most intuitive.

Myth 5: Intuitive answers are absolutes. Intuitive hits are possibilities that are present in the here and now, which changes every second. One intuitive hit may lead to another if you let it.

Myth 6: Being intuitive means your life will run smoothly. Intuition does not guarantee a smooth life. If you find yourself in a situation that is challenging, your intuition may have led you to it for a “growth opportunity.”

Myth 7: Intuitive awareness is all you need. Awareness is the first step, but transformation comes from actualizing the awareness in your own life. You may be guided to go in a certain direction, but can you overcome fears and anxieties to actualize the intuition? In order to safeguard your intuitive guidance, you need confidence, power, compassion, wisdom and faith.

Myth 8: There is only one right answer. Diversity is built into life and intuition reflects this diversity in all people and situations. Intuitive guidance comes to us through cultural filters – it takes the prophetic state of consciousness to rise above all filters.

Myth 9: Intuition guarantees you an answer. Sometimes your intuition is blocked and you have no clue and no gut feeling about what to do. Nature has built voids into the cycles of life so that regeneration may occur. Winter is a void time for most plants. It looks like nothing is occurring, but actually, a great deal is happening in the unseen realms to allow for new growth in the spring. The same applies to you; a void period may seem to yield no insight, no path. At these times, if you allow it, your intuition will guide you to rest and renew – but you might not recognize it as intuition because of your cultural inclination to be so busy all of the time!

Myth 10: Intuition is a booming voice or a flaming bush telling you what to do. Intuition comes to everyone in many different ways: gut feeling, a song playing repeatedly in your mind, a dream, a vision, a fragrance or a taste. All the human senses are channels for intuition and every cell can be an antenna to receive information. Presence and awareness allow you to know what you know in many less dramatic ways than a booming voice or a mind-altering vision.

Sarah Weiss, MA, LMT, is a medical intuitive, practitioner of energy medicine and founder of The SpiritHeal Institute for Intuition and Healing and Light Journeys. Sarah works with traditional medical and mental health professionals to support their clients in healing when the mysteries of illness call for inner growth and awareness. She lectures frequently at area universities and health care facilities and teaches courses in intuition and healing at the Ursuline Sophia Center. Sarah can be contacted at (440) 564-1190, spiritheal@aol.com, or through her website, www.spirithealonline.com.