Reading Signs and Messages
Although all of us have the ability to be intuitive and talk to Spirit, for most of us, it’s not as clear or precise as turning on the television. In the absence of that pure channel, the Universe uses signs and messages to communicate with us. These signs and messages mirror to us who we are, provide answers to our questions, and give us feedback about where we are on our healing journey.
The first step to tuning in to the messages coming our way is to make room for them. If we constantly run in high gear, distracted by thoughts of all the things yet to do on our to-do list, much helpful information from the Universe will escape our attention.
To encourage more signs and messages from Spirit, get in the habit of asking for them. Be specific, such as, “How can I heal my relationship with my sister?” or “What can I do to take the next step in my career?” Once a question is posed, be patient and remain open to the answer. Sometimes the answers come right away —such as sitting at a stoplight while debating with yourself whether to schedule an appointment with a psychic, then looking up and noticing the vanity plates on the car ahead of you: UHEALU. Other answers take longer to come, sometimes over a period of weeks or months.
Answers to our questions may come in unexpected forms, such as overhearing a snippet of conversation, turning on the radio and hearing lyrics with a special meaning, or glancing at a slogan on a billboard. Messages can come in any form, with any messenger. Other common messengers include:
- Our bodies, which speak to us through pain, illness, injury and discomfort
- Our cars and homes, which can break down or need maintenance
- Our loved ones, including spouses, children, parents, siblings, close friends, and pets, who mirror to us behaviors, patterns and beliefs that we also hold
- Our jobs and workplaces, which can reveal dysfunctional family patterns of relating and our beliefs about abundance and the value we place on ourselves
- Nature, which sends animals, birds, trees, stones and fairies to interact with us and share their wisdom
If anything can be a sign or a message for us, then how do we keep from being overwhelmed by the amount of information? The Universe helps us know which messages are important in two ways—repetition and energy. One light bulb burning out may just be a light bulb burning out. But, five light bulbs burning out in three days is likely a message. The Universe will continue to repeat certain messages until we understand their meaning.
Feeling the energy of a sign will also help reveal whether it’s an important message. Sometimes a situation will unfold; and, while it’s happening, we realize that it’s so bizarre, so unusual, that it must have a message for us. These can be thought of as waking dreams, and they carry an energy of heightened awareness or expectancy. We may get goose bumps or the hair on the back of our neck may stand up, which is our body cuing us to pay attention.
Some messages are blatant, while others are more subtle and may require more interpretation. To work with a message, begin first by calling it fully into your awareness. State your intention to awaken fully to the message, and ask your spirit guides and higher self for assistance. Then:
1) Begin by looking for the obvious meaning. Most signs contain a very simple message.
2) Remind yourself what questions you’ve recently posed to the Universe. The message you’re interpreting might be in response to one of those questions.
3) Work with the language of metaphor. Use clues from the message to guide you. For instance, in the case of several light bulbs burning out, ask yourself, “What do I need to shed light on?” If your shoulder is sore, ask, “What burden am I shouldering?”
4) Look at the symbology of the message. What does the color red or the number four mean to you? Reference materials such as a symbol dictionary or Animal Speak by Ted Andrews can be helpful in awakening to symbols. But, always verify any information obtained from an outside source with your own inner wisdom.
5) If necessary, consult with a trusted friend, who can suggest possible interpretations based on their knowledge of you. Remember, though, that this is your message, and you are the final authority on you.
6) Sit with the message over time if it still doesn’t make sense. Ask for more clarification from Spirit, then remain open and spacious until that clarity comes.
You’ll know when you’ve discovered the meaning of the message. Your intuition and inner knowing will tell you—either through a feeling in your gut, an opening in your heart, or a sudden release of emotion. Then, it’s up to you to act on the information received from the messages. When we do this, we become co-creators of our lives alongside Spirit, and we live in flow with the Universe.
About the Author: Debra Morrill has a shamanic healing practice in Prairie du Sac, Wis., and in Bettendorf, Iowa. She specializes in soul retrieval, ancestral healing, and helping clients connect with their inner wisdom for healing. debramorrill@charter.net or 608-279-4319.
