Kerry Jehanne-Guadalupe
Do you ever have periods of your life where you feel like you know nothing? A time when all notions of reality are in question? A time when you need to rely on the wisdom that may emerge from the power of uncertainty? That is where I am now, questioning many paradigms and, by doing so, perhaps opening to new perspectives. Maybe this is not the time to write about knowing, or possibly it is. I just don’t know. Yet, I feel called to take this journey as mindfully as I can.
When the nature of reality has felt utterly bizarre, I have often greatly relied upon the only unwavering knowing I have: Love, an unconfined force that vibrates in me as a miracle and magic of this existence. It is from this last knowing standing that I contemplate in order to gain additional glimpses of awareness: where does knowing originate; how do we really know that what we feel to be a knowing is actually a knowing; what is the role of our essence, our intrinsic nature, in knowing and intuition; how does knowing transform us individually and collectively; and on and on.
Knowing and Intuition
I have often been curious about the possible relationship and intersectionality between knowing and intuition. The meanings of knowing and intuition can vary widely among different philosophical or religious belief systems as well as vary depending upon individuals' personal beliefs or experiences. To me, both knowing and intuition involve a form of insight or understanding that often goes beyond rational or logical thinking. I have witnessed that they are not necessarily based on conscious reasoning or explicit evidence. Their existence seems to be activated by an instinct or an immediate sense of having access to information, not always accompanied by an ability to explain the source from which the information was derived and the process by which it emerged. This has assisted me in surrendering to the possibility that not all knowing is rational or logical, as knowing exists in different forms and within diverse contexts.
Though similar, I tend not to use the terms knowing and intuition interchangeably. Some distinctions that I make relate to the source of information, the nature of the insight, as well as the application. To me, a knowingis a profound insight pertaining to the nature of existence, such as: divine or spiritual truths; the interconnectedness of all things; and broader perspectives on life. Knowing is not about having knowledge, although knowledge can be a baseline. Yet, knowing, in my experience, is an awareness of a truth or a profound understanding of universal wisdom that often transcends rational thoughts and intellectual comprehension. The source of knowing may involve a connection to universal wisdom; a higher level of awareness beyond the individual self. Through this connection, there can be an experience of unity, an interconnectedness of all things that can allow us to be open to knowing.
For me, intuition has been different than knowing. While I think of knowing as relating to larger truths about the nature of existence, I view intuition as pertaining to more of our everyday life experiences. In my experience, intuition is an innate and instinctual form of knowing that can often involve insights related to practical, everyday decisions, such as understanding a situation or a "gut feeling" about what course of action to take. Intuition can present as a hunch, a feeling, or a sense of certainty about a situation or a decision. I think of intuition as an innate ability to grasp truths or make decisions without relying on explicit, step-by-step analysis.
I feel gratitude for the powerful experiences that both knowing and intuition have promoted in my life and the lives of countless people over eons. I believe knowing and intuition are valuable and often underappreciated aspects of human ability that are sometimes dismissed in areas of society that are heavily reliant upon left-brain analyses. I appreciate the courage it can sometimes take to rely on one's knowing and intuition within any culture that values critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning over intuitive judgments. These occurrences do not need to be mutually exclusive while playing in the playground known as life.
Knowing and Intuition as a Dance with Consciousness
I have experienced knowing and intuition as a dance between different levels of consciousness. A knowing may come from a greater consciousness / universal wisdom to our essence (our ultimate intrinsic nature) and then be present in our subjective consciousness. Our essence acts as a bridge that connects our physical, mental, and emotional levels of our being with knowing and intuition.
For example, someone might experience a knowing from a greater consciousness, such as all living beings are interconnected and share a universal essence. This knowing may come from a greater consciousness to one's essence and is then experienced in one's body, mind, and/or heart. A knowing can be a deeply felt realization that then influences one perspective on life and interactions with others.
Our bodies can have a sensation or gut feeling, our minds can receive a thought, and our hearts an emotion that can feel distinctly different (though sometimes very subtle) than everyday physical sensations, thoughts, or emotions. It has been my experience that the more I am connected to my essence, the innate and indispensable source of life, the more my knowing and intuition are heightened. This connection has consistently assisted me when distinguishing what is a knowing versus what is mind chatter or an emotional reaction.
Consciousness as a Continuum
As a dance between different levels of consciousness, I think it is important to understand the role our subjective experience plays in knowing and intuition. I view consciousness as a continuum, from self-awareness to an ultimate consciousness that is difficult to fathom while our spirits are in human form. Consciousness, from a subjective perspective, can be viewed as the state of being aware of and the ability to think about one's own existence, as well as to recognize oneself as a distinct individual separate from the environment and other individuals. Consciousness, as a subjective experience, can involve introspection and reflection on one's thoughts and feelings, the capacity for reasoning, and higher cognitive functions. It includes the ability to perceive, process, and interpret sensory information from the environment as well as discern knowing and intuition.
Within one’s subjective experience, a wide range of states of consciousness can be experienced, as consciousness is not a uniform or static experience. States of consciousness can include: wakefulness; various stages of sleep; and altered states such as meditation and trance induced by substances. In my experience, encountering higher states of consciousness can be characterized by a state of awareness and understanding that transcends the ordinary, the everyday consciousness associated with our mundane experiences. Such are moments when an expansion of awareness, beyond the usual perceptions of time, space, and individual identity, is revealed. It may not be surprising that a shift from subjective consciousness into higher consciousness is commonly linked to the experience of transcending the individual self (e.g., constructed human identities) and, thus, gaining glimpses of universal insights, influencing a greater humble acceptance of the interconnectedness of all that was, is, and will be.
There are countless reasons one may desire to be in a state of higher consciousness accessed through meditation, prayer, contemplation, or other spiritual practices or rituals, such as fasting and ceremonies that bring clarity and insight. For some, it may be to have an experience of who they truly are at the core of their being, beyond the body and emotional or cognitive patterns, and, by doing so, continue to explore reasons for their human existence. Others may wish to access universal truths to simply and humbly live in alignment, not needing to know reasons for their human existence, yet modestly feeling supported by the knowing that one exists within and beyond form. The reasons are endless.
We need our knowing to explore aspects of reality that are beyond the material world and empirical observation, as well as our subjective experience of consciousness to process and individually articulate any knowing or intuition received while dancing within and beyond the form.
God, Supreme Being, The Almighty, The Creator, Higher Power, Allah,
Brahman, Yahweh, Elohim, Great Spirit, Universal Energy
In thinking about consciousness as a continuum, I don't attempt to answer the question of whether God is a form of consciousness or even consciousness itself. The nature of God or the relationship between God and consciousness is complex. It is a multifaceted subject that has been explored for eons among different religious and philosophical traditions. In many monotheistic religions, God is often conceptualized as an ultimate, transcendent being possessing omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. God is often described as infinite, eternal, and beyond the limitations of human understanding.
In some Eastern religious traditions, such as in certain forms of Hinduism, the idea of Brahman encompasses an ultimate, formless reality that underlies and unifies all of existence. Some interpretations suggest that individual consciousness (Atman) is ultimately identical to Brahman, emphasizing a non-dualistic understanding. In various mystical and esoteric traditions, there are also concepts of a universal consciousness or a cosmic mind that transcends individual consciousness and forms.
It is my view that we all, as spirit in form, embody a divine consciousness that is part of our innate mystical, celestial makeup, which transcends our ordinary human awareness. While I believe that our ordinary human awareness is part of all that is, it is of a different qualitative nature as it is grounded in experiences within the form. Yet, it is my perspective that there is a non-dualistic experience with a corresponding dualistic experience. The non-dualistic experience represents an intrinsic nature that derived from and represents an extension of Source, the Creator, and creation itself. Perhaps the non-dualistic experience, while participating in a dualistic physical realm, is how the connection is maintained with universal consciousness/intelligence.
As the continuum of consciousness relates to knowing and intuition, I believe that universal consciousness gets filtered through our subjective consciousness. As my time in the physical form has continued to unfold, I have persistently witnessed moments when I am attempting to access my knowing (to answer questions about the nature of existence, purpose, and, ultimately, the meaning of life), and my intrinsic nature is activated, bridging the interaction between subjective consciousness and universal wisdom. While initially, I habitually resisted this process due to my upbringing and indoctrination of what is logical and could be possible, throughout the years, I have continued to trust and learn that things are not always what they seem, that logic is confined by its own boundaries, and that the universe, as it has been stated by many, is filled with boundless possibilities.
Divination, Knowing, Questions, and Knowledge
Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge and insight into the future or universal truths through various methods that are often considered mystical, supernatural, or symbolic. People engaging in divination can gain understanding or guidance by interpreting signs, symbols, or supernatural forces. Divination has been a part of human history and is found in various cultures and traditions around the world. Some common forms of divination include astrology, runes, tarot reading, palmistry, I Ching, numerology, crystal ball gazing (scrying), and tea leaf reading (tasseography). In some spiritual and metaphysical practices, as well as in alternative and complementary medicine, pendulums and muscle testing (applied kinesiology) are used for divination.
Though acceptance and interpretation of divination methods vary widely among different cultures and individuals, I think the practices speak to a yearning to connect with and understand the world beyond the mundane.
Whether one uses divination practices to ascertain insights into spiritual truths or find to answers within the mundane, I believe it is essential to approach such methods with a strong sense of what a knowing feels like. It has been my experience that the validity and reliability of divination tools rests in one’s ability to be in their knowing, especially when the results can be influenced by internal and external factors, including: one’s emotional state; personal biases, cultural conditioning, and preconceived notions of reality; overthinking or cognitive fatigue; external influences such as environmental factors; as well as not being able to discern conflicting information to mention a few. Therefore, I believe that it is essential that one can accurately discern energies, vibrations, and non-physical dimensions while understanding the forces at play that can interfere with a precise reading.
Though knowing and intuition are complex and individualized processes that people experience in various ways, there seem to be some similarities in methods to mitigate the impact of interfering factors. Commonalities to lesson interference in knowing and intuition may include: staying open-minded to mind-blowing insights so that one remains receptive to spiritual wisdom and is able to allow messages to come unobstructed; learning to be in a state of being free from personal agendas, desired outcomes, and expectations; remaining unattached to certain notions of reality; and discerning the most subtle of energy and frequency. Additionally, I believe enhancing our knowing corresponds with our willingness to be deconstructed by a knowing. If we are not willing to be deconstructed at the personality level of our being, we may inadvertently block knowing.
Asking the right questions correctly, I believe, is also part of enhancing and honing our knowing. For example, one day, a friend sat with me while using her pendulum. She had a feeling that she was meant to travel to Italy and decided to use her pendulum to ascertain information. Her pendulum work indicated that, yes, she was supposed to go, yet the trip never manifested. Though I don’t know my friend’s truth, the experience made me wonder about the role questions have in ascertaining accurate information. Was she supposed to go there physically, astral project herself to Italy, go in a dream state, or through an altered state of awareness? Was there a past or parallel life influencing any part of her discernment process?
This experience, among many of my own, has led me to be very mindful when asking questions. I feel the right questions will bring the correct answers, along with clarity of the information and enhanced understanding. When I work as an intuitive, I ask Spirit if I am asking the questions correctly. When working with others, a distinct feeling arises in me if I am not asking the right questions, as well as if the information I am delivering needs finetuning. I feel it is our interconnectedness with all that is that allows us to tap in and assist others while still honoring that we are delivering information through our subjective consciousness.
I also ask Spirit if I have enough knowledge to understand a knowing. For example, if someone is wondering if they are the reincarnation of someone specific in history, it might be important to know that we, as humans, can carry a soul fragment of another, or work with another’s consciousness to the point that we feel like we are the incarnation of them. Having this knowledge base can help us understand a spiritual knowing that is coming through our essence and then present in our mental, emotional, and physical awareness.
I think it is important to ask the right questions as well as to question what has been determined to be spiritual truths. For example, I have heard countless times that we, as souls, choose our parents for our next incarnation. I think it is essential to ask, does this seem like a spiritual truth because we have heard it so many times that it feels true? Do we know this to be true through our knowing? Do we want this to be true because it helps us make sense of our lives? If it is true, is this an absolute truth of all souls over all eons?
The one and only universal truth that feels unquestionably anchored in my knowing is LOVE.
Love
Accessing universal wisdom, I believe, can offer insights into personal transformation and the evolution of human consciousness. I think of universal truth/wisdom as transcending cultural and temporal boundaries. Such wisdom, timeless and enduring, transcends specific belief systems, traditions, cultural contexts, and historical periods, as well as individual perspectives, beliefs, and experiences. Universal truth/wisdom can offer guidance for personal and collective growth while deepening the experience of the interconnectedness of all things. The experience of interconnectedness may cultivate inner peace that promotes tolerance, empathy, and a broad-minded approach to a fulfilling life.
Additionally, I believe universal truth/wisdom can change one’s notion of self-worth as one recognizes their inherent value and divine nature. The realization of one's true nature may aid one in navigating life with a higher level of consciousness, including understanding the role of love in creating one's life. Such wisdom can empower individuals by providing some freedom from the limitations of the ego and the illusions that hinder personal and spiritual growth. It can provide guidance on living in a state of liberation and authenticity.
Accessing and then translating limitless divine wisdom through our limited subjective human nature comes with its challenges, of course, yet the good it brings has the potential to transform lives. Ultimately, we are expressions of Love. Knowing this can heighten an experience of the interconnectedness of all things, including the natural world, other beings, and the spiritual realm, fostering a sense of unity, harmony, and expansion.
