I invite you to tune in to my new radio series on Heart Beat titled Beyond “I Do”: Getting Married Consciously, inspired by my own upcoming June 2010 wedding. I am having a great time speaking with experts in the field to understand the significance behind what many call the ‘most anticipated and memorable event of one’s life’.  Beyond “I Do” goes deep into the significance of what it means to experience weddings as a rite of passage while examining the history, ceremony and psychology involved beyond just choosing cakes, dresses and bridesmaids.

I had to investigate why people kept telling me “this is the most important and special day of your life”. ” I know I am not alone in this quest but I had the intense desire to find out for myself what this rhetoric is all about.”  I am definitely having meaningful conversations with exceptional guests and I am enjoying it as it brings clarity, excitement and further meaning to myself and others asking similar questions”.

You can listen live here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/heart-beat . Archived shows can be found at the same address or at http://www.juliecusmariu.com/blog/radio-show-archives/.

Featured Guests include: Jean Houston internationally known psychologist, scholar, philosopher and teacher,  Stephanie Coontz historian and author of the award-winning book ‘Marriage: a  History’, Devaa Haley Mitchell interfaith minister, wedding officiant & spiritual life coach , Marion Light – CEO of Women in Bloom ,Robert Gass-Trained at Harvard in clinical psychology and organizational development & his partner of 37 years Judith  Ansara Gass, MSW, teacher and consultant , Sheva Carr Licensed doctor of Oriental Medicine and HeartMath trainer, Sheryl Paul counselor and Bestselling author of ‘ The Conscious Bride,’ Barbara Max Hubbard futurist and evolutionary leader and more.

All shows are archived and available here .

Tell your friends, their friends and all their friends. Bring your questions, and wedding angst and we’ll move through it together as we discover the meaning behind it all.

Thanks for tuning in. I look forward to hearing from you!

One of the most often asked questions when learning about intuition is ” How do I know if what I am listening to is actually my intuition and not something else, like a sudden impulse ? “  It is a great and important question.

When intuition comes through it is clear and crisp and carries an unemotional and neutral tone.  Intuition is grounding and calming and provides a feeling similar to what would be evoked by hearing the saying  ‘it fits like a glove” .  Impulse on the other hand is hurried and rushed and carries an urgency to it that instructs immediate action.  When impulse is the motivator it feels like the opportunity must be  immediately seized, regardless of the obstacles, for fear of the loss. Impulsivity feels  anxious and unsettling and creates a false sense of need. The ego fears annihilation and thus impulsivity kicks in as ego fights for its survival. When you’re acting on impulse you can be sure to be left with restlessness and an after taste asking for more.

Intuition always serves your well-being and development. Though it might not always feel easy to trust and follow through with, especially when it seemingly takes you of course in a new direction, intuition provides guidance that is supportive and wise.

Here are some tips to help determine if you are listening to intuition or impulse:

1. Sleep on it- Don’t act immediately.  Instead sleep on your decision for a couple of nights, let it rest, and see if the energy around your decision alters.

2. Keep checking in as you take the steps- Keep asking yourself how you feel as you move closer to making your decision. If you begin to feel anxious or hurried or things start to feel urgent, wait and come back to your decision a little later on. I experienced this the other day. I came across some conferences I really wanted to attend and felt convinced that I had to be there. As I took the steps to register it became increasingly clear that it wasn’t time for me to go. With each phone call and inquiry I made into the event, I could feel indifference rise in me and guidance that informed me it wasn’t the time.

3. How do you feel now? Check in with yourself after you have followed through with the decision and notice if you feel better, calmer, more relieved?  If you still find yourself wanting more or something else then impulse has come out on top this time around.

It takes practice to discern between intuition and impulse and with time the voices become easier to identify. Whether it is impulse you’ve recently acted on, or intuition, vital lessons about each voice can be learned from both experiences. With each new decision, action and outcome, we develop the wherewithal to know the difference. Simply put, intuition leaves us feeling calmer and clearer and leads us to greater well-being. The more  familiar we become with our intuitive voice the less inclined we will be to act on impulse.

Here’s to trusting your intuition!

Following your intuition is about being in the moment, constantly aware of your feelings, sensations and perceptions. There is nothing more you need to do other than be aware of what is going on for you and what feels true for you in the moment.  Once that moment is over, you’re already on to the next moment when you can again check in and see what is true for you then.  Relieve yourself of the responsibility of needing to know about what might or might not happen next week or in 6 months. If you can simply occupy yourself with the moment, (breathe, feel your body and tune in to what feels right for you), you will be on your way towards moving ahead and you will naturally be guided into the next right action. Whatever needs to show up for you will, as in each moment there is a revelation of  how and what you need for your next best step.  This is a process that takes practice and trust in oneself and in time gets easier and becomes more fulfilling.  As we tune in to each moment we  tune in to the most valuable source of wisdom we have access to,  the truth that resides within us.

To your awareness and self- discovery.

All the best!

If you want to read a recent blog post  about the ‘ I Need to Know Mind’ click here

APPLY HERE to ‘In Session with Julie’ on Heart Beat Radio

Life Coaching is a powerful and beautiful process that facilitates self-discovery and transformation on a very deep level. Coaching provides an on-going supportive relationship whereby the client’s strengths, values & desires are unearthed and expressed in their daily life. The coaching process catapults the client forward into living a richly authentic and inspired life.

• Do you want to connect to your intuition and navigate even more successfully inyour life?
• Do you feel compelled to make a significant change in your life and want support along the way?
• Are you feeling stuck in a profession you’ve been great at for many years and are longing for change?
• Do you want to positively impact the lives of others on a greater level?
• Are you on the precipice of bringing forth something new to the world and need
  some extra support?

If you answered YES to these questions APPLY HERE and have a chance to get coached for FREE, live, on air, each Wednesday at 4:30 ET by Julie for 8 weeks beginning May 13th. Applications for ‘In Session with Julie’ are being received until May 1st.

Might YOU be the one to take part in this first-ever-on air opportunity? I look forward to meeting you and support you on your way…

I responded to a query the other day for a magazine article being written about intuition and fitness. The questions that were asked wondered whether intuition plays a role in fitness and exercise routines. Being an Intuitive Consultant and an enthusiastic runner and participant in regular exercise, my reply was an adamant YES!

Did you know that every time you exercise and move your body you are that much closer to connecting to your intuition? Our bodies are huge intuitive receptors that contain enormous amounts of information for us to integrate into our daily lives. This information can appear in the form of a physical sensation, a gut sense or an instant knowing. The messages and guidance we receive from our non linear mind supports us in living healthy, enriched and balanced lives.

When we exercise and move our bodies we no longer stay stuck in our heads, instead we allow the deep and meaningful connection to our entire physical being to exist . When we do this we naturally connect to the inherent wisdom of our bodies.

When I go out for my morning run I receive dozens of inspired thoughts and ideas for my day. Very often solutions present themselves to matters I was preoccupied with and thinking about even days earlier. The run has a beautiful way of clearing my mind and providing me with a sense of relaxation, inspiration and well-being.

Here are 5 reasons why exercise & movement connect you to your intuition:

1. To use your intuition you need to be connected to your body. Exercise heightens your awareness to your physical nature and the life force within you that animates your body.

2. Being physical means being in your body, grounded and connected to the physical world. When you are engaged in physical activity you are less likely to be stuck in your head mulling things over from the day, looking for solutions to your problems. As soon as you engage in movement and activity, mental chatter lessens, thus making room for the wisdom and inspiration from within to flow.

3. Exercise increases energy levels, mental acuity and also reduces stress levels. All these benefits create a favourable environment for intuition to communicate to us. The intuitive voice is subtle and requires attentiveness, awareness and groundedness.

4. Exercise improves your mood and promotes relaxation. This creates a fertile space for intuition to come through and be heard. We can hear our Intuition most when we are relaxed and undisturbed, especially by emotions such as fear or anxiety.

5. One more crucial point worth noting about exercise and intuition is that exercise boosts self-esteem. Listening to, trusting and then acting upon your intuition requires self-esteem and courage. By developing your self-esteem, you will develop your ability to trust and successfully act upon your intuition.
So there you have it. Exercise and Intuition are linked in a beautiful way, one serving the other, each crucial to our well-being.

The next time you are exercising or moving your body notice how you are feeling. You might even find yourself arriving at a solution to a problem you had since given up on. And know that we are all privy to these moments of inspiration and clarity.

Enjoy!

Wishing you lots of intuitive moments and inspired physical activity in this New Year.
Julie