Socrates said, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”

Welcome to The Soul Podcast. I’m Stacey Wheeler.

Socrates reminds us of the importance of self-awareness as a foundation for deeper understanding and wisdom. As we learn to know ourselves, we find new aspects we may never have noticed. Intuition is one of these. 

When we nurture our intuition, it becomes a superpower of sorts. It guides our decisions. Have you ever known someone who makes decisions intuitively? Someone who somehow knows the right things to do? And even when you think they’re making the wrong decision, somehow, things seem to always work out okay for them? These are the intuitive people.

We all have intuitive capabilities. For some, it is stronger than others. But these abilities can be cultivated. They can be strengthened. 

With that in mind, let’s explore ways to expand and strengthen intuition…

1. Practice Mindfulness and Presence

Intuition thrives in the present moment. By practicing mindfulness—whether through meditation, breathwork, or simply paying close attention to daily activities—you can quiet the mental chatter that often blocks intuitive insights. 

2. Develop Body Awareness

Intuition often speaks through the body as much as the mind. Many people experience intuitive "gut feelings" or physical sensations.

3. Meditation

Meditation is one of the most powerful ways to expand intuition. 

4. Trust Your Inner Voice

A key part of developing intuition is learning to trust it. Often, intuition manifests as a quiet, subtle nudge, but we can doubt it because it doesn’t always provide logical explanations. Trusting these intuitive feelings—whether they come as gut instincts, flashes of insight, or dreams—can strengthen this inner knowing over time.

5. Journal Your Intuitive Hits

Keeping track of your intuitive insights can help you validate your inner guidance over time. 

6. Spend Time in Nature

Nature has a grounding and clarifying effect that can help heighten your intuitive awareness.  

Take regular walks in nature or sit quietly in a natural setting, noticing what you feel and sense, not just what you think.

7. Explore Dreams

Dreams often provide access to the unconscious mind, where intuition resides. Keep a dream journal by your bedside. Write 

8. Practice Letting Go of Control

Expanding intuition often means surrendering the need for certainty or control. Allowing yourself to trust the flow of life and relinquish the need to logically understand everything can give intuition the space it needs to guide you.

9. Seek Guidance from Mentors or Coaches

One thing I didn’t do when I was entering my spiritual awakening was to find a spiritual coach. Fortunately, I had a great therapist who was also a spiritual person. She made several great suggestions, from spiritual reading material that was quite helpful, to an introduction to meditation. There are spiritual coaches for any and every need. If you’re going through a spiritual awakening or intuitive expansion, find a coach that fits your needs. Guidance in your time of expansion will provide tools you didn’t know were available. 

When we embrace the intuitive parts of ourselves, when we allow them to expand, we develop powers we never knew we had. Perhaps even now you’re doubting it’s possible. Work with a spiritual coach, do the exercise to continue the expansion of intuition. When you do, you’ll see that your intuition grows. 

Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao te Ching wrote, “At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.”

He also wrote, “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”