So, you want to develop your intuition and increase your intuitive powers? Lucky for you, the Universe has brought you to the right place.

If you aren’t familiar with intuition, you might want to bookmark this page to refer to later. Then, read this article Intuition: Everything You Need to Know is what you need.

In this article, we will discuss various ways to help you develop your intuitive abilities. In fact, there are SEVEN exercises to help you refine your craft.

Exercise #1: Meditation

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the moment or present. When we are present, we are in touch with our higher self and can tap into our intuition. One of the best ways to practice mindfulness is through meditation.

As you prepare to sit in meditation, focus on the event or scenario in which you are seeking guidance. As you sit down, set your intention. Ask for guidance from your higher self for that thing you are needing help navigating. Then, let go of the need to control the narrative. Listen to the message, images, or feelings shared with you — it may be simple or more detailed. Neither is right nor wrong.

Exercise #2: Automatic writing (or drawing)

Grab your pen and a piece of paper (or your favorite journal). Write the prompt at the top of your page “What do I need in my life right now?” Silently repeat this question to yourself at least three times.

Once you’ve asked yourself the question, start writing or drawing. When you are done, consider what is on your paper and figure out what it means:

• Are there thoughts about what to add or remove something in your life?
• In what way do you feel as though you are being guided by these messages?
• Do you notice a theme or trend with the words written in your journal?
• If you were writing about a particular situation, how does your body respond to what you wrote? Do you feel good about it? Or, are you sense negative vibes?

The answers to these questions will help to guide you in the right direction.

Exercise #3: Where are you most engaged in life?

Being engaged in life can come in many forms, for example joy, happiness, or excitement. Think of a hobby that makes you smile. Or, when you go out into nature and you have that feeling of joy looking at the flowers, watching the birds, and being amongst the trees. In addition to these emotions, you may also find yourself in a state of flow as a form of engagement in life. When you are in flow, you completely transcend time. Being in flow is like being completely engrossed in what you’re doing.

If you are still trying to figure out where you are most engaged, consider these questions:

• Are you particularly excited while talking about a specific topic? If you don’t recognize this yourself, ask close friends or family members to tell you when you light up while talking.
• In your free time, how do you spend it? On the flip side, when you are really busy and wanting a break, what do you long to do?

A quick example. Recently, I was speaking to Ashley Looker as part of the Fire Starter program she guided me through. After telling her how stressed I was and all I wanted was have some down time, she asked me a question. “What would you be doing during that downtime instead of what you are currently doing?” Without hesitation, I replied, “I would be writing.” Bam. Right there. I am most engaged in my life when I am writing.

Exercise #4: Notice your body

Do you find yourself getting goosebumps or chills when talking about something? Are you paying attention to your words when this happens? It’s often an indication to stop and take note.

You can also find more directions on how to get in touch with your body — and the related Chakras — in this article Best Crystals for Intuition and Psychic Ability.

Exercise #5: Dream analysis

As you prepare to sleep for the night, ask for your guidance on a particular situation.

Be sure to leave a journal (or paper) and pen at your bedside. When you wake up, before doing anything — such as grabbing your phone — Write down anything you remember from your dream.

Now, at first, you likely won’t remember much. However, as you continue to practice this regularly, you will fine tune your practice. Within no time, you’ll begin to recall more and more information.

Exercise #6: Notice the world around you — Books, music, TV shows, etc.

As you participate in daily life do you notice books, music or TV shows that have a similar theme? What is the message your are being given?

For example, a couple of years ago, I regularly watched the TV show Mom with Ana Farris. If you aren’t familiar with the show, it is about a group of women in Alcoholics Anonymous and their experiences while navigating sobriety. Around the same time, I watched a show Flaked on Netflix with Will Arnett which also highlighted sobriety and Alcoholics Anonymous. Then, a short time later, a song kept playing each time I turned on my Apple Music playlist. What was the song? Dancing with the Devil. Yes, another one about addiction. Finallllyy, I asked myself, “What is the Universe trying to tell me?” It was a repeated lesson I had been missing for at least 1.5 years. The message was, “Reassess your relationship with alcohol.” Since then, I’ve cut back on drinking significantly, regularly completely forgoing the habit or limiting it to only one drink a week. And, guess what. Things are muuuuch better in my life without alcohol on a regular basis.

Exercise #7: Let go

Of times, when we are seeking to get in touch with our intuition, it is because we want guidance for a specific situation. However, if you are attached to a particular outcome or expecting only one answer, you won’t be able to successfully listen to your inner knowing. It’s time to learn the art of letting go.

In addition to learning to let go, we often feel as though we need to force outcomes or control everything (and everyone) around us. Trying to strong arm things that are outside of your control is a self-destructive act. In fact, it only leads to stress, anxiety, and/or heartache.

Learning to let go of specific outcomes and releasing the desire to cling to control takes practice. To help you make this actionable, start with the little things. For example, when you order food at a restaurant or coffee at your local cafe, release the expectation of when your food or drink will arrive. If you are you having trouble making a small decision (eg. what to wear today), try taking a few deep breaths and allow the first thought that comes to mind guide you.

It’s time to put these exercises into practice and learn how to harness the power of intuition!

First things, first. Share this article with someone who you’d like to practice your intuitive powers with. This way, you can help one another refine the craft.