What is an intuitive reading, anyway?
Last weekend, I was one of the live intuitive readers at the Awkwardly Zen Divine Time Metaphysical Fair. It was such a cool experience that I wanted to write a bit about intuition, live readings, and the honor of helping people in this way.
When I was a child, I sensed things very deeply, but I had no idea how I knew things or how I felt the emotions of others so deeply. It was something so natural that I was sure everyone had the same senses. I remember the ability to walk into any room and sense if it was a good situation or a bad one. Regardless of my "knowing," I couldn't control circumstances, but I often felt the energy or mood of those in any given room.
It was much later in life that I realized that these senses were a gift. It was the summer of 1988. I was 20 years old and was invited to my first metaphysical fair. It was in a park in Folsom, California. A section of the park had a sign that said, "Healing Area." I immediately felt excited to sit in one of the chairs randomly sprawled around this grassy area, with numerous people standing over the people in the chairs and hovering their hands above and around them.
The entrance to this area had a beautiful archway covered in vines and flowers, and there was a greeter. The line to enter was about ten people deep, and as I waited my turn, I felt the energy of this part of the fair throughout my entire being. I was truly enthralled just watching the healers and the participants.
As I approached the entrance, the greeter saw the awe in my eyes. He gently touched my upper arm and said, "Oh my, you don't know."
He was correct. I had no idea what he meant. I looked at him, puzzled, and asked, "I don't know what?"
"You are a Healer, a very powerful Healer."
I was speechless. Then he smiled and opened his hand to gesture that I could walk in and choose a chair. Up until that moment in this life, I can honestly say that I have never felt more honored to hear words about myself as I did that day. I literally felt my heart open and my soul light up. It was the beginning of the beginning to understand myself, my path, and my purpose.
1988 was a long time ago, and much has happened since then. There has been layer upon layer of awakening and layer upon layer of healing. That was my first year in recovery from alcoholism, and the purity of a clean conscience is something I still don't take for granted. I began the journey of learning about spirituality and the application of spiritual principles. I started learning just how sensitive I really am, especially how much I loved being of service in the world.
I began volunteering in the twelve-step programs at a very early stage of my recovery, at only two weeks sober, and have held numerous volunteer roles over these many years. I am still a very active volunteer. At 22, I became a mother, and my entire being was alive to raise my children and do all I could to ensure their security, happiness, and well-being. At 25, I began a career in the staffing industry and held the work of helping people find jobs and businesses find employees very close to heart.
At 39, I knew I wanted to take my desire to help people professionally to a new level. I had no idea what I would do if I left my career in the recruiting industry, but my soul knew it was time to do something more. I had become versed in applying spiritual principles and actions, so I started praying for guidance.
The snowball effect was incredible! The Divine Guidance was an avalanche of synchronicities that were unmistakable gifts.
Check this out...
I went to see a hypnotherapist named Debra Berndt. I'd gone to see her for weight loss. Yet, in my initial consultation, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that career change, that becoming a hypnotherapist, was the reason I was talking to her, specifically. She had a corporate background and a heart of service, and I resonated with every aspect of her work. The training program Debra recommended started in only two months and was on the weekends, so I knew I could manage the schedule. Then there was the bonus check I could never quite add up that covered the entire cost of my tuition and some extra money to help the financial transition from one career to another.
One of the wildest synchronicities was the call from my close friend, Joline, truly out of the blue. She had been looking for a part-time consultant for just one year, and she called me about this literally five minutes after submitting my resignation. The idea of having transitional income as I was building my practice was perfect, and she was one of the people in the staffing industry I trusted implicitly, so this was truly a gift. Oh, and I must add that I was also gifted free office space for two years!
Talk about meant to be! There's a ton more to the story, but that's the brief version.
I love reflecting on the path of metaphysics and inner work more than any other reflection. It's a big picture, and I can clearly see how my inner work has led to a life that I never expected and one that I treasure. Some who are close to me don't like it when I say it, but honestly, if I die tomorrow, I know that I have lived an amazing life.
But don't get me wrong! I have a LOT more living to do and I hope to be around for a very long time!
So, back to my story and how it leads to intuitive readings...
In 2007, as I was training to become a hypnotherapist, working three jobs, and single-momming (it's a Paula word), I was more than busy. I was alive! I had so much happen in that year that I could write an entire book about it, but to stick to the topic, part of the training was to work with volunteers and conduct practice hypnotherapy sessions.
I had at least two practice sessions with volunteer clients every week from the spring through the autumn of 2007. I was fascinated and, dare I say, in love with the work of metaphysics and hypnotherapy.
When I officially became a full-time business owner as a hypnotherapist, I had a strong foundation of hours and ability with the skills I was employing. I had been working with people one-on-one as a sponsor in the twelve-step programs for many years, so helping people with conversation and applying spiritual principles was already natural. I knew how to create word flow while someone was in a trance, and I quickly realized that much of the articulation was being channeled by the Divine. I would often be in mid-session, thinking, "Where did that come from?" Deeply knowing it was divinely guided healing language.
I feel it's important to add here that there are two primary forms of hypnotherapy.
Traditional hypnotherapy is based on suggestions and visual metaphors, and much of the training is based on the use of scripts, some very effective, some not as much. Once the scripted sessions are learned, many traditional hypnotherapists create word flow much like a script, but more from improvisation as they've mastered the ideals.
Metaphysical or transpersonal hypnotherapy is more of a custom body of work that addresses the root causes of a client's issue using many metaphysical techniques that may have some script, but much is based on the flow of the session and cannot be scripted. It has to be felt or intuited. I am grateful that I was trained in both of these ways, but the use of metaphysical tools, which all require intuition, is my primary work.
I think most hypnotherapists, regardless of our modalities and techniques, would agree that intuition is a primary component of our work. This is relevant from the first conversation I have with a potential client to the many sessions I might conduct with them. It's also relevant to share that hypnotherapy sessions are not an experience that begins and ends with closing your eyes and taking a journey through the subconscious mind. Conversation is a critical component. In fact, every session of therapy, no matter the form of therapeutic treatment, includes conversation.
So, in walking this path of working with people one-on-one for over thirty years, I've done a lot of talking. I've used my intuition a great deal. Over the years, I've grown to trust myself, my voice, and my inner wisdom more. This trust comes from the many experiences that are similar to the synchronicities I shared about above as well as the positive results my clients have achieved from our work together.
Every time I've had a "hit" about some part of someone's story, an insight that I felt I needed to share, or a suggestion that I felt would truly benefit them, I know it came from my connection to the divine, from my intuition.
In my mind, every session I've conducted as a hypnotherapist and every conversation I've had with someone who is a client or whom I've mentored as a volunteer has included intuition. Does this mean that all of them are intuitive readings? Not quite.
So then, what is an intuitive reading?
When an intuitive psychic, a reader of the Tarot, the iChing, tea leaves, or any of the many other forms of intuitive readings that have been taking place for millennia, sit with someone who has an inquiry, a channel of Divine wisdom and insight comes through. Cards (Tarot, Oracle, or even a deck of playing cards), pendulums, tea leaves, runes, crystals, and several other tools have been proven to enhance a reader's intuition. Still, overall, it is the reader who is channeling the wisdom, light, and guidance from the Divine. And the number one most relevant tool a reader must have is trust. They must trust their connection, their channel of information, their inherent gifts, and most of all themselves.
A reading is an exchange between the Divine and the inquirer. It is a conversation, with or without tools, in which the Divine provides guidance through the third-party messenger, the Intuitive.
And what is one of the most sought-after feelings in humanity? Security.
You can call it trust, faith, direction, purpose, or any other name, but ultimately, the aim is to feel secure. People want to know they are on the right path and that they are loved, protected, and safe. Additionally, most humans believe in the Divine and have a great love for Spirit, Source, God, or a Higher Power of many different names or belief systems.
However, most people also struggle with faith, which is the same as struggling with trust that the Divine will catch them when they fall or that there will be value in the outcome of a tough situation. Many struggle with feeling sure about their own direction or decision-making. So, they turn to the Divine.
For the rare few, faith is strong. They trust the great mystery of life and roll right along with most situations from a place of ease. But for the vast majority of us, there is self-doubt. There is fear of failure, injury, loss, and several other things that may be difficult. So, they look to someone intuitive for guidance.
Some will go to a trusted member of the church, such as a priest, reverend, minister, or adviser. Some know that God speaks through people, so they just converse with friends, relatives, and mentors. But many people, and for many centuries, rely on Intuitives, called by many names.
Intuitive readings offer a direct channel to the Divine for information, guidance, and confirmation. They offer a place of assurance, clarification, or direction. And no matter how it is described, the underlying hope is to feel more secure.
If you're reading this, I'm assuming you've either had a reading or have considered one. I'd also bet that at one time or another, you've relied upon a conversation with somebody of Divine influence or persuasion to support you, and they used intuition.
Regardless, one hope that I have for you, dear reader, is that you deepen your own Divine connection and your own intuitive guidance. I truly believe that we all have it. Whether we know, see, hear, feel, or all of the above, we have some Divine Wisdom.
For me, the honor of being able to channel divine guidance or wisdom is one of the greatest honors of my life. There are times when I clearly know that the message given to another soul through our conversation is from a place of divinity and a Higher Realm. It is something that I've been honored and gifted to share with hundreds around the world for many years, and my love for being a trusted channel is something I will never take for granted and will always cherish. To help people feel safer or more secure has strengthened my own faith. I have never trusted life as I do now. It's not perfect, but it's so good to feel the growth and evolution from the wounded soul of that young woman who began this path in 1988.
If you ever wish to discuss this or have any questions, my inbox welcomes you! Write a note or ask a question at any time.
Wishing you insight, security, and love, all ways,
Paula~
