Before I start though, I do want to make a note that you should only attempt to read someone who has consented to the reading. Also, it’s ok if you’re not in a place where you feel safe or ready to do your own readings, there’s no need to rush :). Finally, if you’re wanting to do readings to give someone(s) SPECIFIC advice, I’d recommend you hold off on the reading – while we can go into a reading hoping to touch on a certain topic I don’t believe it’s a good practice to go in with a plan for the guidance you’re going to give, instead we should be open to receive what’s coming through and not what our ego is wanting to tell someone.

With all of that said, let’s start.

How I track what’s coming up during a reading:

Before you get started you might want to decide what why you’re going to send the message to the person you’re giving a reading for or if you’re doing the reading for yourself you still might want to find a way to record what came up since you might not remember everything that came up while you were doing the reading. When I do readings for other people I almost always type in steam of consciousness whatever is being sent through. But here’s some ideas:

• Write in a journal exactly what’s coming up
• Type in stream of consciousness
• Record yourself repeating the information you’re receiving
• Take short notes
• OR if you’re doing the reading in person you can just explain what you’re getting and allow them to ask questions after each segment of guidance you receive

Steps for a reading:

Everyone is going to do readings differently, but I’m going to walk you through my exact process. If any of these steps don’t resonate, feel free to skip. As with everything, take what works, tweak what needs tweaking, and leave the rest. This is just a process to figure out what feels right for your flavor of doing readings.

1. Find a place to do your reading. I go to a certain spot in my house, settle in, and then I have a specific song I play for all of my readings.
2. Then take some time to notice your physical body. Note what is coming up for you. What sensations are you feeling? You want to make sure there’s separation between YOUR experience/body and what’s coming up as guidance for the person you’re reading.
3. Clear your mind and take some cleansing breaths to release whatever you were feeling before.
4. Let go of any notions of how this reading should go and empty yourself of your thoughts.
5. Do an opening ritual – prayer, call in the best and highest good of all involved, protection (if that’s something that worries you – but I have a general intention that only safe things come through)
6. Go into your heart space or your mind’s eye. I picture myself in a field of my heart space to begin and I allow myself to fully be in that space.
7. Call in your guides and the guides of the person you’re reading. I call in the same two guides every reading I do and I have them over my left shoulder the entire time I’m doing a reading. Ask them to send you guidance for the person you’re reading and support you as you relay the messages.
8. Notice what comes up – colors, feelings, sensations, thoughts, anything. No thought is wrong (unless it feels wrong lol, then redirect your guides to help stay in a safe space).
9. Record what’s coming up from the method you picked earlier.
10. Once you’ve recorded everything and the reading feels complete thank you guides and the guides of the person you’re reading (and any other guides that might have shown up).
11. Finally, close the space with a closing ritual (sending gratitude for the session, disconnecting yourself from the person you’re reading, leaving your heart space and coming back to your physical reality).

Tips:

1. Don’t overthink. It’s ok if what you’re saying doesn’t resonate with the person. You’re practicing and once it clicks for you, you’ll know how receiving a message will feel.
2. Don’t question UNLESS what is coming through feels harmful and unsafe to you or would be harmful to share with the person you’re reading for. Ask to see this information in a different way. If it’s still coming up and feels off, discard it.
3. Remember you are just the messenger, it is not your job to tell people what to do or receive the information. Pass the information as you received it. You don’t know how it’ll be interpreted for the person.
4. It does take practice and it’s ok if you don’t get 100% of things right. You’re learning how to do this and you’re figuring out what feels true as you’re receiving information. It takes time to understand what is your body speaking about YOUR experiences and when it is your intuition giving you messages to pass on

I am wishing you so much luck on this journey! Once you learn how you best receive messages it is sooo much fun to connect with other people through offering readings to help them on their own journey.

Want to learn how to start a Channeled Writing Practice? Check out our Introduction to Channeled Writing workbook.

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Building and understanding your intuition is a really personal journey to go on. Some practices might work for some people while for others they absolutely do not. Before we talk about which practices work for me, remember that this is called a practice for a reason. Through trial and error and tweaking you’ll be able to create a foundation for your intuition to thrive, but don’t get discouraged if all practices don’t resonate with you. With that said, let’s get started…

How to Develop Your Intuition

Everyone has access to their own intuition, and like any other skill it’s something that needs to be practiced in order to really tap into it. Some people might take to a skill with more ease and others might need to work a little harder for it – but either way, everyone can increase their intuition. Intuition often manifests as gut feelings, downloads of insight, or a deep sense of knowing. In order to connect more deeply with your intuition, you’ll need to work on trusting the vibes your physical body sends you.

Intuition Development Tools

You don’t need any physical tools to begin working on your intuition but it can make things a little easier at the beginning. Having these tools can help you see synchronicities and begin to trust your own intuition when the responses of the tools match what your body was feeling.

• Tarot and/or Oracle Cards

• Pendulum

• Journal

• Your Spirit Guides

Intuitive Practices for Intuitive Development:

Here are the practices that I used most when beginning my journey to create a foundation for listening to and strengthening my intuition:

• Yes/No Exercise – This was the first intuition development practice I was taught and I still use it today. To start, close your eyes and take a few cleansing deep breaths. Once you feel centered I want you to ask yourself a question you KNOW the answer to (like what is your name, your favorite color). Something simple. While you’re eyes are closed ask a question in a yes or no format. See if you hear/see/feel a yes or no come up for you. For me I would feel into how yes and no feels in your body. For example, my name is Ariel. So I’d ask myself “Is my name Ariel?” then I’d feel into no. When I feel into the answer of no, my body shifts to the right and feels tight in my stomach. When I feel into a yes, my body shifts to the left and I feel more expansive in my upper body. Continue to ask yourself yes/no questions you know the answer is and feel what each response feels like. Practice with this until you start to notice a pattern of what you ‘true’ response is (ex. I am Ariel) and what your ‘false’ response is (ex. I’m not Ariel). As you get more comfortable with this, move on to more open ended questions where the answer might be more difficult to say a definite yes or no. Eventually, you’ll train yourself to notice the shifts your body makes when you ask these questions and you can feel into what it’s saying.

• Green Light/Red Light Exercise – This is really similar to yes/no, but if you’re more of a visual person, this might be an easier exercise for you. Do the same thing as the yes/no exercise but replace seeing green for yes and replace seeing red for no. Once you get the basics of this exercise you could add in colors to mean different things. Pink could mean not yet, blue could mean indifferent, and so on. You get to play with what colors mean to you.

• Feeling expansive/restricted in your body Exercise – Like the two exercises above, this is a different variation. This is the one I resonate with most (which is why my yes/no exercise feels more into my body than into actually seeing/hearing yes or no). When you ask your known starter questions does your body pull you into a restriction (tightness in your belly, shutting into itself) or does it feel like your aura is expanding or you notice you take a breath out?

• Daily Card Pull – Grab a tarot or oracle deck that you resonate with and each day get quiet with yourself. Ask yourself what you most need to know today, listen to what your intuition says, and then pull a card. See if the card matches what your intuition was saying (it’s ok if at first it doesn’t seem like it matches – you might have two lessons to learn today or you might not be aware yet how the card and your initial intuitive hit are related). Throughout the day be aware of how the card is unfolding. Bonus points if you journal how they day went and what card you pulled.

• Grounding – I find that through grounding a lot of messages find me without me having to do any work. Grounding can look a lot of ways; it can be having a clear mind while you’re cleaning your house, cooking can be grounding, eating can be grounding, gardening…etc. Here’s a more witchy practice for grounding. Sit your tush on the floor (or wherever you can sit), now close your eyes and imagine that your tush (or your root) has a white light attached to it. Picture that white light as a string that flows up your spine, through your crown/head and into the universe above. Then picture that white light string extend down, down, down from your root to the grass, and soil, and rock, all the way down to the core of the earth. Picture yourself sending energy you no longer want to carry down into the earth, it receiving it, and sending back that white life force into your root and through your body. Nourishing you, cleansing you, and energizing you. Repeat this as many times as you want. Then send gratitude to the earth and end your practice for this session.

• Meditation – I haven’t really done traditional meditation but what I do instead is meditation in my heart space (I have a blog all about how to create your heart space here). But this is a practice where I actually meet with my guides, walk with them, and build confidence in the messages that are coming through for me. If you’re needing more assistance getting started on a meditation practice, there’s a ton of guided meditations on youtube that can help you get started without you having to create the guided session yourself.

• Channeled Writing – This is how I do my readings for myself/clients and I love this practice because it gives you written proof later when your ‘feelings’ manifest into our reality. Grab a journal, something to write with, and a quiet spot (or I use my notes on my phone and type instead). Close your eyes, take a few cleansing breaths, then when you feel centered, ask your higher self or guides to come in and guide you. Set a timer for however long you’d like this session to go (to begin I’d start with 5-10 minutes and then see how that amount of time felt) Once you do that, put your pen to paper and write everything that’s coming to mind. Don’t control what’s coming through, just allow it to stream and let your pen write whatever is coming to mind. If you notice you’re conscious mind starts taking over, pause, take a few more cleansing breaths, get up and shake for a second, then when you’re feeling centered again, hop back to writing. Once the timer stops go back through what came up. If you’re handwriting isn’t legible, don’t worry – write any notes you want to make of what came through now that the channeled writing practice is over so you can go back and review what guidance came up. Don’t worry if this doesn’t come naturally to you at first, it was definitely a practice I needed to ahem practice quite a few times before it became my go-to for longer form guidance from my guides.

• Pendulum Questions – A pendulum is a great starter tool to ask yes/no type questions to. Hold your pendulum loosely and ask questions you know the answer to (similar to the yes/no exercise above). See which way the pendulum swings when the answer is yes, and which way it swings when the answer is no. Once you feel comfortable with the basic questions, move on to more grey response ones and see what comes up.

• Create a Language with your Spirit Guides – You are the co-creator of you life with spirit and one of the most fun ways to build your intuition is working with your spirit guides/spirit team. You get to create a language between you and your guides. One way to do this is to designate certain colors, words, animals, or symbols as something of meaning with your guides. When I first connected with my intuition and guides I decided that for my one spirit guide if I saw a monarch butterfly I’d know it was a wink from her. After making that our special symbol I saw SOOOO many monarch butterflies for months it was truly magical. Try it out and see what signs your guides send your way.

As you continue to work on your intuition, remember that it’s ok for it to take time or for it to be a trial and error process. Be patient with yourself and try not to get overwhelmed with figuring it all out today. By practicing these exercises and using these tools into your daily life, you’ll find yourself becoming more attuned to your inner knowing, making decisions with more clarity and confidence.

The post Intuition Practices: How to Increase Your Intuition appeared first on Soft Spirituality.

What are spirit guides?

Spirit guides are any being that we can connect with in the spirit realm. There are infinite types of guides and individual guides available to connect with. I believe that we have a core team of guides that are closer to us and are just waiting to being called in. These guides will likely be with us for our whole life or through different periods of our life when we most need their guidance. I also believe we have guides that pop in and out of our lives – they could just be here for one meeting or maybe we’ll connect with them when we’re young and not again for decades.

What is Channeled Writing?

Channeled writing is the practice of connecting with your spirit guides and loved ones through automatic writing. Automatic writing is putting your pen (or hands if you’re typing) to paper and releasing control of what is being written and instead allowing your hand to move on its own to allow messages to stream through you.

Questions for your Spirit Guides

1. What is your name?
2. What is your purpose in working with me?
3. What guidance do you have for me?
4. What can I do to better connect with you?
5. How can I best serve my purpose or mission on this Earth?
6. What areas of my life do I need to focus on for growth and healing?
7. What limiting beliefs or patterns do I need to release in order to move forward?
8. What messages do you have for me regarding my relationships, career, or personal development?
9. How can I live more in alignment with my highest self?
10. What is the most important lesson I need to learn right now?
11. How can I deepen my spiritual practice?
12. What is my soul’s purpose and how can I align with it more fully?
13. What actions can I take to manifest my dreams?
14. What habits or behaviors do I need to release in order to live in greater alignment with my highest self?
15. How can I best navigate any challenges in my path?
16. What steps can I take to enhance my creativity and intuition?
17. What gifts do I have that I may not be fully utilizing or expressing?
18. How can I tap into a greater sense of peace, joy, and abundance in my life?

Want more information on Channeled Writing? Check out our workbook Introduction to Channeled Writing on Etsy

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What is Channeled Writing?

Channeled writing is the practice of opening yourself to messages from your spirit guides, higher self, or loved ones in the spiritual realm. It is a form of automatic writing, where you put pen to paper (or hands to keyboard) and allow the words to flow without conscious thought. Instead of controlling what you write, you surrender to the process, letting your hand move freely as messages come through.

Some people receive clear words or phrases, while others may experience more abstract messages—symbols, scribbles, or even emotions that take shape in writing. Trust that whatever comes through is exactly what you need in that moment.

How to Begin Channeled Writing

1. Create a Sacred Space

Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can write undisturbed. To set the mood:

• Light candles or burn incense to raise the energy.
• Play soft, instrumental music if it helps you relax.
• Hold a crystal (like amethyst or selenite) to enhance your connection.
• Take a few deep breaths to center yourself before beginning.

2. Set a Clear Intention

Before you start, set a strong intention for your session. You might ask to connect with a specific spirit guide, receive insight on a situation, or simply be open to any messages that come through.

To ground yourself in this intention:

• Place your hand on your heart.
• Take a few deep breaths, feeling yourself become present.
• Silently or aloud, say: “I am open to receiving guidance for my highest good.”

If you’re unsure what to ask, here are 18 Questions to Ask Your Spirit Guides to help guide your practice.

3. Relax and Begin Writing

Once you feel ready:

• Take a few deep breaths to release any tension.
• Place your pen on paper or fingers on the keyboard.
• Write whatever comes through, without judgment or overthinking.
• If you feel drawn to doodle, scribble, or write nonsense words, let it happen—sometimes messages come in unexpected ways.
• If nothing comes through right away, be patient. Just keep writing, even if it’s only “I don’t know what to write” until the energy begins to flow.

4. Trust the Process

One of the biggest challenges with channeled writing is learning to trust the messages. Doubt can creep in, making you question whether what you’re writing is real or just your imagination.

Here’s how to cultivate trust:

• Let go of the need for immediate validation.
• Accept that not all messages will make sense right away.
• Notice patterns or recurring themes in your writing over time.
• Reflect on past writings—often, their meaning becomes clear later.

5. Close the Session with Gratitude

When you feel the flow slowing down, it’s time to close the session. Here’s how:

• Take a few deep breaths to ground yourself.
• Thank the guides or energies you connected with for their wisdom.
• Set an intention to integrate the guidance you received.
• Express gratitude for yourself and your practice.

6. Practice Without Expectations

Like any spiritual practice, channeled writing takes time to develop. The more you do it, the stronger your connection will become. Try to write every day, even for just a few minutes. Some days will feel effortless, while others might be more challenging—and that’s okay.

Give yourself permission to explore without pressure. Some messages may be profound, others simple. Trust that all of it is part of the journey.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re looking for more guidance on channeled writing, check out our Introduction to Channeled Writing Workbook on Etsy, designed to help you refine your practice and strengthen your intuitive connection.

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