Angel Tarot Guidance

It seems that there has been some curiousity behind that recent epiphany of mine... (thank you Bill) Can you believe it? Someone actually reads my blog.. oh joy, oh rapture!

So here is the article cut and pasted for all to read... I'm unsure of theauthor, but forever grateful to him for this important reminder.

Art of Following Intuition

Listening to, trusting, and acting on your intuitive inner guidance is an art.Like any other art or discipline, it requires acertain commitment. It is anongoing process in which we are always being challenged to move to a deeperlevel of self-trust.

For most of us, the practice of allowing our intuition to guide us is really a new way of life, very different from what we have been taughtin the past. Attimes it may feel uncomfortable or even a bit frightening. If we have been conditioned to try to approach life entirely rationally, to follow certainrules (or to automatically rebel against them), or to do what we think other people want us to do, then beginning to follow our own inner sense of truth is a major shift. It's natural for it to take some time and it may be a little difficult and confusing at certain moments. It's important to be very compassionate with ourselves in this process.

At times we may be veryaware of the conflicting voices inside of us. One part of us may be excited about making changes while another part of us is terrified aboutit. If we can acknowledge and honour all our different inner voices and their feelings, our intuition will show us an appropriate step to take -- one that moves us in the right direction without being too frightening for our vulnerable selves or too radical for our conservative parts.

Opening New Doors

The more we practice following our intuition, the more faith we get,because we see that it really does work. Not only is nothing disastrous happening (as  in our worst fears), but our lives are actually getting better and better.Remember to start with small steps until you build a sense of confidence in yourself and can gradually tackle bigger issues.

Your intuition will most likely push you gently toward taking some appropriate risks and trying new things. For example, you might have a fantasy of doing something creative that you haven't done before, such as taking art, dancing,or music lessons. An inner critic voice might try to stop you from risking failure or embarrassment by whispering in your ear, "Don't be silly, you're not creative!" or "You're much too old to start something totally new." You can acknowledge your

inner critic and thank it for its attempt to protect you from humiliation.Then you can go ahead and give it a try anyway. Your intuition may be trying to show you that you have a new direction in which you need to move

or that there is something within you that is trying to come through. If  you give yourself permission to try it, you don't have to be great at it; just do it for fun. Follow your intuitive impulse and see what happens. It may open a new door for you. It may give you a chance to play and discover a new part of your personality that you haven't learned to express before.

Suppose you have always wanted to start your own business. Allow yourself to fantasize about it. Start thinking about what steps you could take in that direction. Ask your intuition to show you what to do. Try following any impulse you might have to explore this possibility. It may be that nothing will happen,or that you take a few steps and then feel blocked.This may be an indication

that this is not the best course of action for you at this time. Or it may mean that you need to be

opentoit happening in a totally different and unexpected way. Stay open and see what happens. I know many people who have become very successful this way. As you learn to live from your intuition you may find that the process of making decisions changes. Rather than just trying to figuret hings out in your head,you follow your intuitive feeling for a while and let things unfold. In the process, the right decisions usually getmade.

For example, if you are unhappy in your job, don't immediately make a decision to go in and quit, unless you truly have a strong gut feeling that that is the best course of action. Instead,explore and acknowledge your feelings, such as,"I'm really unhappy here, I'd like to work with people more," orwhatever. Then turn it over to your intuition and allow it to show you step by step what you need to do. You will probably find that something will emerge.You may find that your current job changes and improves, or you may get an inspiration about a different career and begin to explore that possibility. You may follow an impulse to interview for another job and find that it is right for you. Or you may get very clear that you need to resign, and it will feel appropriate to do so. The right action will emerge from the process. If you have a problem to solve, or a desire to fulfill, try turning it over to your intuition. For

example, if you feellike your social life is boring or unrewarding and you'dlike to makenew friends, consciously ask your intuition to guide you inthisprocess. You might find that a week or two later you read about ahobby groupand you intuitively feel drawn to attend. You may end up

joining a camera club or a hiking club and find a new circle of friends with acommon interest.

Somepeople fear that trusting their intuition will lead them to do thingsthatare purely selfish, irresponsible, or hurtful to others. Inreality, theopposite is true. Since intuition is connected to our soulsand to theuniversal intelligence, it is always guiding us to our ownhighest good and thegreater good for all concerned.

Whenwe follow our intuition, we sometimes behave in new and differentways,and others may sometimes be temporarily disappointed or upset.For example, if you are a very giving person who has always tried toplease andcare for others, your intuition may push you to learn to say"no"when you really don't want to do something, and to set betterboundaries withpeople. At first, this might upset someone. In the longrun, however, you andeveryone else you relate to will be healthier andhappier because of thischange.

It's actually quite amazingto watch how the intuitive process sorts things outso that everyoneends up exactly where they need to be, doing exactly whatmakes themhappiest.

A Guiding Force

In the process oflearning to trust intuition, some people go through a periodof timewhere they feel like their life is falling apart. Relationships mayendor change dramatically, you may move, change jobs, lose interest infamiliarpastimes. These are indications that you are letting go ofcertain

aspects of your old identity. If you tried to holdon to it, you would limit orimprison yourself. The forms in your lifehave to change because you are changing. It's a matter of trusting thateven when things are not going exactlythe way you expected, there is adeeper perfection in the process. New

forms of relationship, creativity, work, and home will come into being and theywill reflect your growth and development.*

*Formore understanding about how following your intuition can changeyourlife, I suggest reading my book Living in the Light. It's importantto haveemotional support while you are going through these kinds ofchanges. Find a

friend or group of friends that you cantalk to about your hopes, dreams, andfears, someone who can support andencourage you as well as give you honestfeedback.

Sometimesfamily or old friends feel too threatened by the changes you aregoingthrough and are unable to give real support. You may need to seekoutpeople who are interested in personal growth.

One ofthe best ways to do this is to go to a workshop or join a supportgroup(or create your own). Learning to follow your intuition cansometimes feel abit like "living on the edge". In a sense, it'slearning to livewithout the false sense of security that comes fromtrying to controleverything that

happens to us. It'srecognizing that as we follow our inner guidance, wonderfulthings aregoing to unfold for us, things that we may not yet even imagine.

Graduallywe become less afraid and more comfortable with uncertainty. Wecanlearn to enjoy not knowing! It's actually a very exciting, alivefeeling. Wecan learn to move into the unknown with the confidence thatwe have a guidingforce within us that is showing us the way.

I'm hoping this article inspires you all as much as it did for myself.

Love & blessings always.

Angel xx