6th Chakra: Intuition
We have been conditioned to value intellect over intuition in our culture. Yet, even Albert Einstein, one of the world’s greatest scientistic minds, recognized the importance of our intuition when he said, “the intuitive mind is a sacred gift, the rational mind is a faithful servant.” The sixth chakra, the third eye, is associated with higher knowledge and allows us to perceive beyond the physical world of the five senses. It connects us to our intuition. Intuition is not always rational. It’s an inner knowing. Our intuition can help us to discern between truth and illusion and guide us in making life choices. When your sixth chakra is open and clear you trust your inner wisdom.
I have felt guided much of my life, even before doing the healing grace work. Our intuition is that driving force within us that we often don’t pay attention to but that at other times can feel impossible to ignore. When I was in my early 20’s and living in Texas, I started to feel drawn to New York City. I had never been to New York, but I felt this undeniable call to not just visit but live there. I had been born and raised in Texas, where my entire family also lived. I was living paycheck to paycheck. Paying for a trip to New York would have been a stretch financially, much less financing a move! I did end up visiting a couple of times, but living there still felt impossible to pull together, yet the feeling to do so persisted for years.
I had made a pact with myself to do something new and adventurous once a year. One year, I decided to go alone on a 10-day volunteer backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon with the Sierra Club. The yearning to move was unshakable at this point, even though it had been five years since the initial “call.” It was literally eating at me. I can still see the tears of frustration running down my face as I stood on one of the trails I was clearing and looked out over the breathtaking canyon. I cried out to God, “Why do I feel this yearning to move to New York?” If it’s meant to be, make it happen. I’m stuck.”
At the time, I was managing a day trading firm in Austin, Texas. I made it clear to my boss that if they ever opened an office in NYC, please consider hiring me to manage it. Exactly two weeks after my trip to the Grand Canyon and my surrender to God (we’ll more about surrender next week- the fifth chakra), my boss came into my office and told me he had arranged an interview for me with a company in New York City; the office in Austin was closing. My trip to the Grand Canyon was in April, the interview in NYC was in June, and I moved to NYC the weekend of July 4th. That’s not all. The company in New York put me up in a one-bedroom corporate apartment in Battery Park City and paid to have all of my things moved from Texas to New York. The list of miracles went on, but I think you get my point.
Intuition and inner guidance can be a whisper or it can be a strong yearning. In most cases it’s usually a whisper, but how I love when it’s loud and clear. So how can we tune into the sacred gift of intuition and inner knowing? Prayer (creating a relationship with the inner Divine) has been the greatest strength that I’ve incorporated in my life. As with the seventh chakra (the crown), it’s important to quiet the mind and open your heart to the present moment. Meditation is a powerful tool that can help us strengthen our inner ear. Walks in nature alone can also connect you to this powerful aspect of inner guidance. Whatever works for you, it comes down to making time for yourself to connect inward.
Moving to New York turned out to be one of the most valuable personal growth experiences, which I don’t think would have been possible in Texas. Who knows how much heartache we can spare ourselves when we follow divinely guided intuition. I know when I don’t honor my inner knowing, the outcome is always a much harder lesson/experience than it needed to be. And that’s okay, as long as our intention is to learn and grow from our experiences. We’re all work in progress. Consider exploring or fine tuning this sacred gift that is within you. The beginner’s meditation group can help you jump start your inner journey learning how to incorporate these higher aspects of yourself. I’d love to see you there.
