therapy

May

2021

How Do We Grow Our Intuition?

What is Intuition?

There are many names for intuition: instinct, gut feeling, hunch, inner guide, sixth sense, divination, clairvoyance, higher self. Whatever you call it, we all have it. It’s the part of our being that is grounded, calm, present, and able to make authentic choices.

Intuition is defined as: “a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.”

Intuition is the hidden whisper within that invites you closer to yourself and to the mysteries of life. We each have this inner guiding compass of intuition and yet it takes time, practice and a commitment to ones self to re-member and develop an intimate relationship with it. Intuition often arises as a felt sense in the body, a somatic awareness that is asking for you to pay attention and listen.

How Can I Tap Into & Strengthen My Intuition?

We all have a natural capacity to connect to our deeper intuitive knowing. Often growing our intuition is easier said than done with all the noise and chatter we can have in our minds.

External Distractions

Noise from stress and anxiety, noise from external stimulus like the news, social media, other people, or our own negative harsh judgmental voice. It takes time and practice to quiet these distracting voices and learn to tune into our intuition.

Rational Thought vs Intuition

We have to learn the distinction between conscious rational thought and intuition.

Practicing Mindfulness

We grow this capacity to tune into our intuition through mindfulness – turning our awareness inward toward our body, breath, and mind. Focusing on body sensations and our breathing can help us to quiet the voices in our mind. It allows awareness of an inner space to arise in our consciousness – a quieter and calmer space where we can tune in and begin to hear the voice of our deeper self – our intuition. It is there, waiting for us. Through meditative practice and turning inward again and again, we gradually can become more grounded. Through mindfulness and intention, we find peace and begin to hear our inner voice of knowing – our intuition.

Ask for Guidance

There are other relational ways to support the development of one’s intuition including engaging in therapy and/or healing modalities. Psychotherapy allows one to feel the supportive presence of another person as you look at and begin to call into question certain pattern and ways of being about yourself in a respectful way. You get the space to look at yourself understand in a more in-depth way – how and why you do what you do. Therapy also provides a space to develop insight, awareness, and self-compassion. It provides a space where we can begin to rewrite and re-imagine new possibilities for our life.

Questions to consider when connecting to your intuition:

How do I feel right now?
How does my body feel?
What is calling to me in this moment?
Is there an impulse that wants to move through me, or words that want to be spoken?
In what ways does my creativity want to be expressed?

Ongoing ways to connect to your intuition:

Pay attention to your dreams and record them in a journal
Spend time in nature and notice what nature evokes on you. Nature often serves as a mirror to a deeper part of our self.
Pray (this can be religious, spiritual, or both and is not bound to a particular religion).
Allow yourself to play, feel joy, and be curious.
Spend time in meditation, quieting your mind and listening.

If you would like additional guidance to tap into and grow your intuitive knowing, I would love to support you on this journey. Contact me online or email me at [email protected].

Feb

2021

Finding Your Purpose Through Healing

As we continue to live and adjust during this pandemic, we are learning more about ourselves and others. Covid has been called “The Great Awakener” because we have been forced to slow down and have gained a better understanding of what really matters in life. When we begin to have a deeper understanding of ourselves and our priorities, we can begin to heal and find purpose.

CHOOSING LOVE OVER FEAR

We are all here for a reason. What if our job at this time of great change in the world is to “wake up”? During this great awakening, awaken to the pieces in yourself that are out of balance – the parts that need love and healing, remembering and reconnection. There are a lot of scary external things going on in the world that are out of our control, so we have to turn inward to love and care for ourselves so we can heal and support others.

HEALING THE WOUNDS OF OUR CHILD CONSCIOUSNESS

As we self-reflect and turn inwards, we become more aware of the parts of us that need healing, and it’s often that inner child that lives in all of us. Whether you suffered from trauma, neglect, or lack of nourishment – no matter how small or extreme – it stays with us into adulthood. If they were painful experiences, we try to block it out, which prevents that part of us from healing. As we work to heal that inner child, we bridge the gap between the child and our positive adult self. We can begin to heal the whole self, past and present, and support others on their paths of healing.

“PEOPLE BECOME PEOPLE THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE”

We aren’t meant to awaken and heal on our own. Although inner work and healing is personal, we need the support of other people. It’s OK to need others and ask for help. Adults, especially those who have experienced trauma, neglect, or lack of parental support during early childhood, have a tendency to push through life with an overcompensated sense of self-sufficiency. But we aren’t meant to go it alone. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. We need the connection with and support of others as guides on our path of healing and awakening.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

Why are we here? The awakening and healing process allows us to remember our gifts. What have we come here to do? How can we use our gifts to be of service to others on their own paths of awakening? Rather than focusing on productivity, getting work done, or checking off items on our “to-do” lists, we can spend this time healing ourselves with the support of others, and acting as a guide to support others. Who are your people? Reconnect with yourself and others so we can collectively heal. Perhaps that is our purpose during this time.

No one can do this work on their own – we need the presence of another person to accompany us on that journey inward to be supported or challenged. If you need support during this process of awakening and internal healing, I’m here for you. Contact me online or email me at [email protected].

Dec

2020

Finding the Light During the Darkest Night

Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere this year occurred on Monday December 21, 2020 at 5:02am EST. It is the celebration of the Light representing death and rebirth, as the old Sun dies and the Sun of the new year is born on the longest night of the year. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin word sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). It has been observed and celebrated in cultures all over the world for thousands of years. It represents surviving hardship, turning a corner, and welcoming brighter days ahead.

HONORING OUR ANCESTORS

The Winter Solstice and holidays also marks an important time for remembering and connecting with family and loved ones and honoring ancestors. Many of the customs, symbols, and rituals associated with Christmas are actually connected to Winter Solstice celebrations of the holidays or ‘holy days’ of ancient Pagan cultures. These rituals, traditions, and stories exist to remind us of deeper truths.

For many people the holidays this year may be an emotionally challenging time, given cautions around family and friends gathering together, and especially for those who may be mourning the loss of loved ones. Through remembering our inner Light, we can also remember and connect to the light and love of our deceased loved ones and our ancestors who passed their light and love onto us.

RECONNECT TO THE LIGHT OF YOUR SOUL

This has been a difficult year for all of us, but the solstice reminds us that brighter days await us. But rather than waiting for the light to shine on us, we have to embrace the darkness around us and find the light within. The dark days during this time of year are a powerful time for turning within inviting reflection, renewal, and reconnecting to the light of your soul. The solstice is a time in the year when it’s the darkest, so we have to trust the cycle, embrace the shift, and go inward to access our light. The changing light is part of the rhythm of what it means to be human.

Sometimes we can’t do this work of turning inward on our own. We need the presence of another human being to accompany us on that journey inward to help us find our power and light. Someone to remind us that darkness and shifting cycles are inevitable, but we all have the power within ourselves to overcome obstacles.

As we turn this corner, we head into a new era filled with light and hope. It is at this darkest moment that we know it will only get lighter. It is not always easy to see the light and find hope. If you need support, I am here for you. Contact me to get guidance and support, and to find your inner light.

Sep

2020

Connecting to Your Ancestral Lineages

As these late summer days turn toward fall, you may find yourself feeling weary and perhaps overwhelmed at times with the prolonged state of uncertainty and unrest that continues to unfold in the world. Our lives have changed in so many unexpected ways. Thoughts of “risk” and “safety” are at the forefront of our minds for so many of us as we navigate new ways for social contact and connection with loved ones. Some are adjusting to too much alone time, and others are adjusting to not enough alone time.

LISTEN TO YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL

This extended global “time out” has created the space for many of us to slow down and practice tuning into ourselves. Notice where you need help – is it with internal conflict? Do you have challenging thoughts during this time of chaos? Do you feel out of balance within your family? How has this new way of living affected your relationships with family members? Are you more disconnected with your family or more immersed with them? What areas of your life have been affected and need healing? Listen to what your mind, body, and soul are telling you.

MEDITATION AS A POWERFUL SOURCE OF INNER PEACE

As we are forced to turn inwards, we are cultivating a connection to our body, breath, and a deeper part of our being – our soul consciousness. This connection to our deeper, intuitive soul-self can grow and evolve through consistent and steady meditation practices. It can become a powerful resource for navigating times of stress and anxiety as well as become a powerful source of nourishment and inner peace.

One of my daily meditation practices includes remembering and connecting to my ancestors – those who came before me and who passed on the thread of life to me through my ancestral lineages. This is a powerful way to cultivate a sense of being connected to something larger than yourself. It creates an opening to receive the gifts and blessings from our ancestors as a source of nourishment and support in our life.

ANCESTRAL MEDITATION: A RITUAL OF REMEMBERING

Find a quiet and comfortable place to ground and center yourself.
Take a few moments to connect to your body and to deepen your breath.
Focus your awareness and your breath into your heart center.
Cultivate the feeling of love by thinking about someone who you love; a family member, friend, or pet.
Invite a connection to your ancestors by remembering their names (silently speaking their names) within your heart space. Begin with your parents then move back through your maternal lineage and paternal lineage as far as you can remember. Don’t worry if you can’t remember specific names. The act of remembering your ancestors and their place in your family lineage awakens your connection to them.
Ask your ancestors for their wisdom and guidance around an issue that you may need support with in your life right now. Be open to receive their wisdom and blessings.
Take some time to reflect on any guidance that came through for you.
You may also want to spend some time journaling your thoughts and feelings.
Know that you can return to this heart based connection with your ancestors anytime through this ritual of remembering.

This connection with our ancestral lineages allows for deep healing and transformation for ourselves within our families. Learn more about family constellation work or contact Kim to work one-on-one with her to deepen your connection with your past and nourish your soul.