Take a few moments to look at this image and share your thoughts. This experiment is designed to be fun and playful. Don’t approach it from the perspective of being right or else you will miss the point of this exercise.
“Reading” people is something that we always do consciously or unconsciously. When you meet someone you always have a sense about them. Sometimes you are aware of that and at other times you don’t pay attention. The first layer we hit when we encounter other people – whether they are friends, family or strangers – is often a judgment (pleasant, unpleasant, attractive, kind, fashionable, sexy, nice hair, nice shoes). This is normal and quite natural but unfortunately it can create a false or limited impression of them.
Intuition allows you to go a layer deeper and discover more about people. I advice you do not do readings for people without their permission. This will be intrusive and inappropriate. For practice and exercise you can use people who’s lives backgrounds are already on the internet for being notorious.
Take a moment to look at the image here then write down your thoughts. What do you see, sense, smell, hear? What do you pick up about them? Childhood, career, family? Let your intuition flow and don’t hold back.
Learning to see someone in their humanness will help us accepting more who we are, with our virtues and vices. Intuition is truly a wonderful tool which works both ways. Not only you learn to be more accepting and kind towards others but you learn how to accept and love yourself.
Write your comments on my Facebook page (you find my FB box on the right). I look forward to hearing from you.
Sophia xo
Posted in Readings on September 10, 2012
“I think the service that you provide is fantastic. 
For me, the mini-readings are helpful in a number of ways. When I know the 10th is coming up, I take time to sit down and evaluate where I am and what I would like some clarity on. In this way, the 10th is a sort of “alarm clock” for me to get in touch with myself and what’s really going on. Knowing that the reading will be short helps me to focus on what my core question is”.
“In my experience, the feedback I’ve gotten through the mini-readings have felt like gentle reminders, directing me back to a feeling I might not yet trust, or providing a some “space” where I only saw limited options. For me that’s a real gift~ they create space and help me stay open to new possibilities that I might not have seen on my own”.
“I found it very accurate and helpful in that it really resonated with my intuition concerning the question I had asked. It was supportive to hear it worded that way by someone else, and always a useful confirmation in times of doubt”
“It’s wonderful that you are providing this service, I hope it continues”!
“For me there are several things that stand out about your generous ‘once a month’ short readings:
1. it creates continuity and dialogue
2. it helps focus on the most essential and this simplifies life a bit
3. it teaches me how to accept generosity from others eg. you in this instance
4. it is stimulating and creates momentum”
“Your once a month questions have been amazing for me. As I have very little time to ever tune in with myself, it helps so much to connect with at least 1 bit of what’s going on once a month. It helps me stay in the flow, so much. Whereas I love the full one hour readings, it’s not so much an ongoing thing, but really stand-out events for me. The once a month helps me to continually tune in and for me it’s like having a very dear friend I can share with so openly”.
“Thanks as always for your insight- i’m always excited to hear what you have to say, and i notice i don’t usually write afterwards to tell you how “on” your insights are, but they very much are. lots of love to you in vienna!”
“So much gratitude for your continuing support and wisdom. What you said really really connected. What you put into words is usually brewing somewhere deep inside and is lifted to light through you saying it – so thank you dear Sophia”.
Posted in Readings on September 10, 2012
Dear Friends,
Summer has been an interesting journey. If you feel that the last few months have been a bit of a roller coaster you are not alone. It seems we are going through a phase which is effecting a huge amount of people. Whether it’s minor or big changes many of us are trying to navigate down this road.
The good news is that these transitions are designed to improve your life. I am aware it’s hard to welcome this concept while suddenly finding yourself without a job or in the middle of a break up. Or even worse when you lose someone dear. But it is often the case that if we look backwards in our lives in difficult times we can always find good reasons as to why they were necessary and valuable experiences which ultimately helped us become more mature.
The best way to deal with these transits is to try not to resist. There’s always going to be a little voice inside saying ‘yes, but..’. Acknowledge the voice, even love it, but remember that if you are going through some bumpy times it is only for one reason, and that is to move towards more happiness in your life. A state of being that every single human being deserves.
Love,
Sophia
Many of us start the new year with resolutions, goals and ambitions. We enter into the year energised and confident that nothing can stop us achieving them. However, as time passes we lose some drive and find that not much of what we set ourselves out to achieve has actually materialised, which can lead to disappointment and perhaps loss of self confidence. My take on this is don’t be hard on yourself. Maybe try seeing every day as a new year’s day. Or your new year’s day.
Having goals is natural because it gives us a sense of purpose and comes from the need to evolve and expand, but I don’t believe everyone necessarily needs to have a vision or a purpose. Do what is right for you.
What many of us fail to grasp is we can’t achieve our goals without investing in them. If you choose to go mountain climbing you need to be prepared with your planning, knowledge and fitness, which takes commitment. Sometimes going out of your comfort zone by taking risks can also have its rewards. Meditation and chanting mantra will not be enough to take you to the summit. Neither will it be enough to realise your visions. A combination of persistency, commitment and inner work are more likely to propel you forward.
What can you do practically in your day to day life to realise your new year resolutions?
1. Don’t beat yourself up. Ask yourself if you might have an inner block on success. How often do we think, am I good enough? The key is progress, not perfection.
2. Try and be clear about what it is you want to achieve. Keep it simple, tangible and realistic.
3. Write a list of what you want to achieve, or if you wish even make a drawing of it.
4. On a daily basis try not to lose touch of your vision(s). Focus, contemplate and play with ideas. Be creative with your imagination.
5. Baby steps. Start with small steps. Make regular energetic investments with your goals. To avoid falling in the trap of disappointment, do something small but do it regularly. You will be amazed at what this will bring into your life.
6. Depending on your goals try a little patience, especially when planning a house move or business start up. What this attitude does is take some pressure off. Sometimes getting ‘out of the way’ with the bigger decisions can bring the goal into more focus.
7. Talk about it with with people who can support you. Trust your instinct in choosing who to talk to. For instance, family members or close friends, no matter how much they love you, may not be the best choice to discuss ideas and plans simply because their affection towards you may compromise their ability to see neutrally and therefore endorse you.
8. Get a notebook and write down what you want to achieve in the short term. Your notes may even be daily or weekly. This takes the pressure off the long term vision and the overload that comes with it.
9. Open up to support, whichever way it comes to you. Allow yourself the possibility of not having to do everything on your own. Interaction with others often inspires creative thought.
10. Give something back. Always look for ways to contribute to others even if their goals are not directly involved with yours. I am a true believer that what goes around comes around.
A tree takes time to grow. You can’t rush the process but you can nurture it and allow it to evolve at its natural pace.
Sophia Colangelo, Founder of www.whatisintuition.net
Practical tips on intuition development
Many people tell me developing intuitive skills sounds easy. However, at times those same people find that not to be the case. The most common struggle is making a distinction between intuition and mind chatter (or clatter). My answer to this dilemma is don’t worry about it. I am aware this may sound rather unrewarding, but if you really think about it, it can also come as a huge relief.
Intuition is not about being right. Sometimes, making a ‘mistake’ can be a gift. The trick is in acknowledging and then interpreting these mistakes before you discard them. Everything you feel has meaning. It’s just a question of good housework or filing. As with domestic waste management being ecologically sound, compartmentalising our thoughts or instincts can be just as productive. People in the creative arts very often use mistakes to their advantage by making something of them. Part of you may believe intuition is simply a feeling which comes and goes. Like waves in the ocean, could you say one wave is better or better formed than the other? (I am sure surfers would argue this point). But if you imagine you are sitting on a beach watching waves crashing on the shore, it would be quite hard to sit there and judge them. Pointless even. They are just waves being waves and doing their job. It’s the same with intuition. Intuition is neutral and selfless.
To develop your intuitive skills you don’t necessarily need to attend workshops. It’s something you can do anytime, anywhere. I had some requests on sharing practical tips in developing your intuitive skills. Below are some I have chosen to respond to at this moment. I hope you find them useful.
Let go of any expectations or agenda when it comes to intuition development. Practice being flexible in your mind and if possible, in difficult moments always look for a wider prespective.
Be in touch with your body. Treat it with kindness and care.
Be light and playful around intuition development. Being too serious can interfere with the process.
Really listen to people when they talk. Be present. Notice how often when someone is talking to you, you are either judging them or already thinking about what to say next. Try and keep yourself out of it.
Slow down. Find at least 5 or 10 minutes a day to sit down, rest or simply be.
Make an act of kindness when you can and don’t let the person know it or tell anyone. Watch and notice what happens.
When your phone rings try to anticipate who is calling.
When you are about to pay at the supermarket try guessing the total amount before the cashier tells you.
When having to make a decision, notice how your body and emotions feel when imagining the first option (expanded, warm, aligned or contracted, anxious, fearful) then pause for a moment, and then again scan how your body and emotions feel when you imagine choosing the second option. In most cases you will notice a distinct difference.
Notice if you are someone who likes to collect objects around the house. Do some decluttering every so often. You will be amazed not only at the impact this will have on your intuition but also on your general well being. It’s proven that being tidy and organised does enhance intuition.
Imagine you are someone you admire and really think highly of. What does this “person” think about a specific situation? Write it down.
When you lose something, before you’ve given up hope try to be patient and ask your intuition where the object might be. Try not to expect an answer a second later particularly if you are feeling stressed, where you wouldn’t be able to hear it anyway. You need to let it go and be detached. Very often the answer will come when you least expect it.
Practice giving honest yes and no’s.
Learn to deal with feeling overwhelmed. In such cases slow down and try to follow the “one step at the time” mantra.
If you are a perfectionist and like to have things under control it is possible certain things might make your feel uptight. When this happens, ask yourself, is being uptight useful to me right now? See what happens.
Be open to criticism. Try not to defend or justify.
Eliminate negative and ugly language.
Sophia Colangelo, Founder of www.whatisintuition.net
There is a wealth of information available on intuition which is becoming ever more popular. Talking and writing about this subject is a very personal and subjective process for me. What I attempt to illustrate to you here is my own experience of intuition where I will use a few analogies to simplify what can be a rather complex topic.
A simple illustration is to imagine people sharing a cake. Although the cake is the same, the experience everyone has eating it is different and unique. The same principle applies for intuition.
Intuition is an experience that starts in the body. Sometimes it is a subtle and instantaneous feeling.For instance if you arrive at your best friend’s dinner party and she and her husband just had a terrible argument, no matter how hard they try to conceal it something in you will feel that all is not well. While your logical mind may not understand it, something in you gives a warning. This is your body speaking or a gut feeling which is perceiving something without knowing why.
Experiencing a gut feeling doesn’t mean having a major bodily sensation. Sometimes this process happens in a split second and we don’t always recognise it. Neither does it need to be a cathartic episode; more a case of feeling something without understanding quite what it is. With practice and awareness you will become more alert and in tune with your surroundings.
If you are wondering how it’s possible for us to pick up energies around us, I believe intuition is a primal instinct present in all of us, passed on from our ancestors who needed it to detect danger in order to survive. Today we don’t use intuition for the same purposes as our predecessors, rather we utilise it to enhance our lives and as a tool in understanding ourselves better.
After the initial bodily experience, or gut feeling, the next step is allowing intuition to travel to the mind. This is when we start consciously asking questions. Now pieces of the puzzle slowly start coming together.
Interpretation and understanding also happen in the mind. This can be truly enlightening because this is where intuition really becomes a skill and where training comes to fruition.
When a feeling or an intuitive thought hits the mind, and we start trying to interpret the meaning of it, many of us get into a panic because we can’t distinguish it between a dream or an imagination. My answer to that conundrum is it doesn’t matter. What matters is awareness, practice and patience.
Much in the same way a computer sees numbers and then decodes them as a photograph, our aim is to decode what our gut is saying, allowing us to interpret these feelings. This process requires a neutral attitude which can be positively influenced by many factors including experience, knowledge, common sense, responsibility, creativity, perception and care.
So, going back to the initial question, “is intuition an activity of the mind”? In my own experience intuition is an activity that includes the whole. Mind, body and spirit.
Sophia Colangelo
founder www.whatisintuition.net
1. Believe in it. Be open to the possibility that intuition is in you. The simple fact that you have an interest on this subject is the first step towards nurturing your intuitive skills.
2. Read and research. Gather knowledge by finding out more about the topic you are interested in. There is a wealth of information (audio and visual) available on the internet on intuition training. Research will also help you to discern what you do or don’t resonate with which will help define what kind of path you choose or choose not to embark on.
3. Inner work. Limiting beliefs about yourself and others needs to be investigated in order to develop your intuitive skills. If you believe you are not intuitive or that you can’t be, it is important you take a look at understanding why and what you can do to make progress.
4. Be humble. Working on your judgments, be they are about yourself or others, should be an ongoing process when developing your intuition. No matter how justified we feel, we often cast judgments on others to avoid feeling insecurities about ourselves. Commit to clearing yourself from any clutter and you will find that your intuition will flow more easily.
5. Healthy life style. Nutrition and physical activity do have an important role in developing intuitive awareness. It’s not that you can’t eat chocolate or that you need be vegetarian to enhance your intuitive skills. I believe the key is in establishing a healthy balance. Excess in any direction can be very limiting, even if one’s excess is in being overly healthy.
6. Down-to-earth. Everyone is born with a degree of intuition. When we start to consciously develop it, it can be that many of us go through a phase where we believe we are special. Being intuitive is a natural condition which doesn’t make you better or superior to others. When starting to develop our intuitive skills we tend to expect our family and friends to share our journey. Remember to respect others for who they are and respect their decisions whether they do or don’t share your interests. Seeing others as equal is a doorway to intuitive development.
7. Persistency & Practice. This includes of all the above with the addition of some practical practice which I will share in the next newsletter. As with learning a musical instrument, discipline and training are necessary when it comes to intuition development. Occasional and erratic approaches are not going to enhance your intuitive gifts. Persistence will. Using the musical training analogy, it’s not how long you practice but what you practice. Or, it’s not the quantity but the quality of practice that matters. Even just 5 minutes a day to contemplate on some of the above will support you on this journey.
8. Think Big. This is easier said than done and many struggle with this concept. In my experience this is a fundamental key to intuition and psychic development. Thinking big falls in the same category as daydreaming, and for one reason or another, in our society there is still a degree of shame attached to it. Daydreaming doesn’t mean you have to stop taking responsibilities in your life. It’s more about giving yourself permission to go to your deepest dreams and desires regardless of wether they are going to happen or not.
9. Notice, watch and listen. In order to develop your skills you need to learn to sit still and observe what’s happening around you. When you are with family or friends or somewhere public, remind yourself to look around and scan how you feel. Often we walk around being absorbed in our thoughts, but if we shift our focus on the outside we may start perceiving a lot more and include the world around us.
10. Let go. The biggest tip I would like to share is to absolutely let go of any agenda you may have around developing your intuitive skills. If you think that training your intuition can get you something or someone or somewhere, I would highly encourage some inquiry on this subject. Being intuitive can be very fulfilling because it can create a sense of empowerment within yourself and can certainly support your recognition in good opportunities. However, I personally believe it shouldn’t be misused to interfere with the natural course of life.
Sophia Colangelo founder www.whatisintuition.net
IF YOU ARE THE READER
- Try to prepare yourself to a neutral mindset before you start a reading. Whether you know your client’s background or not, it is important that you put any preconceived ideas or judgments aside and that you make yourself available for new and fresh information to come through each time.
- You may take a moment to ‘meditate’ and get centered before you start a reading, however I do believe that meditating is not a must before starting a reading. I am convinced that we can access our intuitive skills even when we experience mental busyness or emotional turmoil.
- Ask your client for their questions. Some people will have a list ready, and some will say to you that they have none. In this case, ask them what’s important for them in their life at present moment. This will give you a sense of what it is they are looking for in terms of guidance.
- Treat your client with respect and care. They deserve your full attention for the entire time they have with you.
- If you notice that you do not get any information, don’t panic. Please don’t be afraid to say so and possibly stop the reading. Don’t carry on trying to do it ‘right’ for the client as this will compromise your integrity and whether they are conscious or not, they will feel betrayed.
- I suggest you do not give any medical advice and absolutely do not give any information that could harm or scare your client (e.g. predicting deaths or accidents).
- Remind your client that they have free will and nothing is set in stone. They will appreciate if they feel empowered and supported in making their own decisions, rather than being told what to do.
- Before you end the reading, ask your client if they have any more questions. Make sure that they feel complete by the time they leave or get off the phone.
Sophia Colangelo, founder www.whatisintuition.net
IF YOU ARE THE CLIENT
If you feel drawn to a Intuitive Reader but never worked with that person before, try to get in touch with them via email or phone before booking the reading. You can simply share your interest in a session and feel free to ask any questions in terms of how they work and what you can expect from a reading with them. There are plenty of intuitive readers, psychics, clairvoyants, mediums, all working in different ways. You do have the right to feel a connection with the Reader which will enable you to feel relaxed and familiar with that person throughout the entire reading.
- Just before you receive the reading, do take a moment to look at your emotional state. It is helpful to notice if you are feeling nervous or agitated or mostly if you have any expectations about the outcome of the reading. If you are someone who likes to hear what they want to hear, try to be open to the possibility that other people (in this instance the Reader) may see or point out patterns or aspect of yourself that you may be blind about. Try to be open and humble to receive feedback, however, be absolutely present and alert while you receive the information. If you do feel that what is being shared with you does not resonate and does create a feeling of fear and anxiety, do not take on board the information.
- It is absolutely important that as you walk into a reading you learn to discern the information being shared with you. If you do not resonate with the Reader, please allow yourself to communicate that and if you need, do end the session at any given moment.
- If you wish specific guidance, go to a Reader with a list of specific questions. The advantage of asking direct questions is that it will focus the ‘energy’ on areas of your life where you wish / need / want guidance and clarity. It will save time for both you and the Reader. It will also avoid generalisations. It will also save you money.
- Do not try to test the Reader by purposely not sharing your questions, feelings or thoughts, and wait to see if they pick up on it. People do feel impressed and value the skills of a Reader if they pick up on energies without having given any hints, but it is also true that being a psychic doesn’t mean guessing which colour underwear you are wearing. I can assure you that there is nothing worse for a Reader when they realise they are being ‘tested’. This will jeopardise their confidence, and therefore, the outcome of your reading. And you will have wasted your money.
- A reading should leave you feeling empowered (i don’t mean disillusioned!). If that’s not the case, you may want to discuss that with the reader by sharing your feelings and concerns. Your feedback is valuable and can help the Reader to grow and improve!
- I have spoken to a few people who were upset because other psychics told them something was going to happen but didn’t, leaving them feeling disappointed. I am sorry if this is going to pop your bubble, but I don’t believe in fortune telling or destiny written in stone. If you do want changes in your life, you need go for it. Living your life is not the job of the Intuitive Reader, his or her job is the one to just shine some light on it and give some perspective.
Sophia Colangelo, founder www.whatisintuition.net
Your questions being answered
Join a 1 day Intuition development workshop with Sophia Colangelo.
- Do you wish to have a quicker access to your Intuition when needing to make decisions?
- Do you ever wonder what it is your aspiration in life and how you can accomplish it?
- Do you wish to feel more confident by learning how to rely on your own Intuition?
- Are you feeling drawn to a practical and down to earth approach to develop your Intuitive skills?
- Would you like to learn how to give Intuitive Readings?
Many of us go through these questions at different times in life. Many of us, also deeply and intristically know If these are questions that are occurring in your day to day life. You will be taking away a great understanding about what is Intuition. Developing your Intuition is an amazing support as it enables you now be in touch and rely on an ability that is always there!
It is absolutely possible to train and develop your Intuition with ongoing practice and through simple and accessible exercises.
The Intuition development day program:
Part 1: How to stir your awareness in the direction of your Intuition.
You will learn how to stop and listen, how to invite guidance into your day to day life, whether we are talking about small decisions or big decisions. You will learn how to formulate clear and concise questions in order to attain clear and specific insights, both if you are asking yourself or another person.
Part 2: How to discern Intuition from the mental chatter
You will learn how to recognize Intuition from the mental voice, emotions and fears. You will also learn how to include all your other senses and how these play a role in developing your Intuition.
Part 3: Trust and start to play
You will learn how to keep proceeding with your own Intuition development in your day to day life. Its about experimenting and playing and finding what is your unique way to receive and give Intuitive guidance.
For more information contact Sophia »
