By Bridget Boland

• PRANAYAMA

Deep breathing helps you “light up” the neural pathways in your brain, especially in the frontal lobe or “God brain.” It also allows you to access more information from your surroundings through your energy body or field.

Simply focusing on taking long slow deep breaths works really well. Specific kinds of breathwork, like kaphalabati (fire breathing), alternate nostril breathing, and holding the inhale and exhale for periods of time, are also very powerful. Amy Weintraub’s Yoga for Depression utilizes different pranayama to positively affect the emotional body.

• YOGA

Combining breath with movement heightens awareness exponentially more than one or the other alone. Poses that aid in accessing the gut, heart and brain are particularly helpful for intuition. I highly recommend Forrest Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, but all forms are helpful.

• NUTRITION

Eating nutrient dense, light, plant-based foods heightens intuition while “dense” choices like carbohydrates (grains, bread, cereal), sugar, dairy and meat tend to dull our faculties. Smoothies, salads, steamed or cooked veggies and juices are good to eat when you want to heighten your intuition. Cleanses and fasts can also be good when used appropriately to aid in tapping into the frontal lobe (God brain.) I recommend Power Up Your Brain by Alberto Villoldo and David Perlmutter for those who want to evolve their intuition. It combines nutrition and supplements with spiritual and shamanic practices in a three week cleanse program.  

• CHECK IN WITH YOUR THREE INTELLIGENCE CENTERS

Head, Heart, Gut. When you want information on something, check in and ask all three of these wisdom centers what it has to tell you about your question or topic. Most of us become highly skilled at relying primarily on one of these, usually the brain or the heart, and we make decisions that are limited because we haven’t used all our faculties to evaluate our options. When two or more of these faculties give me different answers, I tend to go with my gut over my heart’s longings or my brain’s analytical evaluation.

• JOURNAL

Studies show that people who journal report more satisfaction and peace in their lives than people who don’t. Journaling – especially when you use a pen and paper instead of the computer, transfers energy from your cell tissue to a “container” outside of yourself. This energetic practice helps clear your energy pathways and often reveals epiphanies the mind can’t access without the physical activity of writing. Non-dominant handwriting is particularly effective.

• MEDITATE

Quieting the mind helps access the frontal lobe and makes you more aware of the bigger picture of your life, more spiritually evolved. It allows you to see what’s really going on and to reframe your life experiences in the context of spiritual growth and development instead of getting trapped in the details of being in human form. It reminds us who we truly are – Spirit incarnate, empowered and supported.

• PRAY/ASK YOUR GUIDES FOR GUIDANCE 

Our culture has created a collective belief that independence is to be highly valued and that we should be able to “figure things out” on our own. While it’s important to feel empowered in our lives, it’s equally necessary to remember we are part of a “team” – there are guides, loved ones, angels, etc. that are always available if we remember to ask for their help and support. Taking questions or issues to your “team” and trusting them to aid and guide you is a powerful way to stay conscious and connected to Spirit.

• SCHEDULE AN ENERGETIC CLEARING

An energetic clearing release old thought patterns, beliefs and behaviors from your energetic and physical body, making it easier to access the more deep-seated wisdom of your intuition. Energy clearings can be done in person, via phone or Skype and take 60-90 minutes.

Resource List
Mastering Life’s Energies, Maria Nemeth
A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson
Secrets of Aboriginal Healing and Aboriginal Secrets of Awakening, Robbie Holz
Be Your Own Shaman, Deborah King
Shaman, Healer, Sage, Alberto Villoldo
Fierce Medicine, Ana Forrest   

Bridget Boland is a, shamanic energy healer, writer, Forrest Yoga teacher birth and death coach, and former attorney. Bridget strives to provide a sanctuary for students to explore their emotional landscapes through breath, movement and energetic practices.