om spirit Understanding our superstitions and engaging with

om spirit
Intuition and
superstition
Understanding our superstitions and engaging with intuition. By Charlotte Hunt
Why are our superstitions and intuition important? When we hear
the word ‘superstition’ we think black cats or cracks in pavements.
An online search defined it as a ‘widely held but irrational belief
in supernatural influences’. And yet most of us carry some
superstitious beliefs around with us, even if we don’t associate
them as being of supernatural origin. Familiar ones include: ‘you
have to work hard every day to be successful’’; or ‘money doesn’t
buy happiness’; while some beliefs may be more personal, such as
‘people like me don’t do those things’.
But it’s also important to note superstitions can be fun; some can
even be empowering. I had an irrational belief once that a woman
like me would never be accepted as a manager in the City, so why
aim for it? Whilst disappointing at the time it subsequently led me
to start my own company and follow what really made me happy.
Because, in all truth, women like me would never be happy as a
manager in the City. It is probably still an irrational belief but it
makes me feel great, and my business and life are in true alignment.
By understanding our irrational beliefs or personal superstitions,
we can consciously detach ourselves from negative or irrelevant
patterns. By engaging with our intuition we can tune in and see,
hear, or know, what our true dreams and needs are. Our intuition
will tell us what we can do to achieve an inner sense of wellbeing.
Trusting in it gives us confidence to make these positive changes.
Inner messaging
Superstition and intuition are both inner messaging systems. So
where do these messages come from: Our sub-conscious mind?
Suppressed emotions? God? The universe? Or just the confidence
that comes with age and life experience? To some extent where they
come from is not as important as what we do with the information
they feed us.
paths laid out for us, and not encouraged to think for ourselves.
We allow this to happen because it is easy for someone else to
make the decisions and take the responsibility. We can sit back,
judge and complain. By letting others lead us we don’t need to
take any responsibility for everyday things. From bankers’ bonuses,
corruption, and food chain contamination, down to the brands we
choose and where our lunch time apples are imported from.
Or we can choose another way. We can choose to take
responsibility for everything that happens to us, and everything we
engage with. When we expand our awareness of the decisions we
make, and the things we put our faith in, we understand that we
each have an individual core. This core centre can guide us if we
allow it too. When we follow this intuitive core centre, rather than
external influences, we can open up to our true potential.
How to open up
Trust is essential to recognising and engaging with our intuition. Yet
it is the biggest obstacle for most of us. Wherever it comes from our
intuition is our inner truth. Trusting our inner truth gives us a sense
of authenticity and power. We can make difficult decisions with
confidence.
Ask for what you need to know, and trust the answers you receive.
How and what we ask for are important. Our subconscious mind
will always provide our questions with an answer. So it’s important
to ask it positive solution-focused questions. Don’t ask: ‘why can’t I
get my dream job/life partner/go on that amazing yoga retreat?’.
Rather, ask: ‘how can I get my dream job/what can I do to meet my
life partner/what must I do to be able to pay for that amazing yoga
retreat?’
The answers you seek are available to you at any time. If you cannot
hear anything or see any signs, just focus and ask.
How we interpret these messages can be complicated, however.
We are socially conditioned to take things at face value, follow
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Questions and answers
Two things you can do to understand your superstitions and
engage with your intuition
Are your superstitions holding you back?
What are the beliefs that crop into your mind and regularly
influence what you do, say, and think? Take a few moments and
write down your personal superstitions. Then ask yourself: how
is this superstition serving me? Are you ready to let it go? Would
you like to replace or re-phrase it? Looking at what you do
want, what is the first step you need to take to get there? Are
you willing to take this step? What exactly are you going to do?
How committed are you to making this step on a scale of 1-10?
If you have written anything number lower than a seven, what
can you do to raise your commitment level and write that down
as an action too.
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Engage your intuition for clarity, guidance or answers
In a quiet spot, free from distractions, make a note of a
situation you would like some clarity or guidance on, or some
answers. Close your eyes and breathe deeply until you feel
relaxed. Allow your mind to drift to your chosen situation. Ask
yourself the positive solution-focused questions that you need
to ask. Notice what is happening. Are you hearing answers?
Seeing objects? Sensing smells? Let whatever is happening
happen. Stay here and explore for as long as you need to.
Afterwards, make some notes about what you experienced. Is
there a clear path for you to take now? Do you trust this is the
right path? If not, what needs to happen for you to trust the
guidance you have received?
Charlotte Hunt is a personal development coach and yoga
instructor based in London (thehappyhunt.com)