When you’re on a spiritual path, it’s easy to get caught up reading many books, attending lots of classes and workshops and having numerous deep conversations with like-minded friends. It’s certainly exciting and validating to discover facts about mysticism and inner growth. It’s also tempting to want to think or figure your way into enlightenment. Don’t you wish it were that easy?

If you are even reading this magazine, you are an evolved soul. You’re smarter than you think you are! You’ve probably been seeking knowledge for many lifetimes. Your intellect is extremely developed. You might not feel so smart, however, because you run into the same problems over and over again. More than likely, you can’t overcome your issues even though you know what they are, how they developed and what you ought to do to heal them.

You’re intelligent enough to know there’s more to you than the limitations you experience. What it comes down to is you’ve expanded your intellect as far as it can go. Your frustrations lie in needing to now develop your intuition.

Simply put, intuition is an advanced style of thought. It is a higher faculty of your mind, one that has been secondary to your intellectual mind up until now. Your brain is capable of more than you can imagine. The neurons in your skull are just waiting for you to “flip the spiritual switch” so they can get to work and heal your life.

Experiencing spiritual frustration or even depression is the way your soul yearns to expand beyond its present boundaries. This “divine discontent” is your ticket to freedom. Try not to be critical of yourself during this time. It is so hard to surrender your intellect and to let your intuition begin guiding and influencing your life more strongly. You’re in uncharted territory. Think of it as going from high school to college. You might have been valedictorian in your hometown, but now you’re just another freshman in a university full of brilliant people. Humbling and intimidating.

The best way to increase your intuition is to meditate. Don’t make things complicated or stressful. Pick a set time and place so your conscious mind becomes soothed and relaxed by your daily ritual. Just focus on your breathing and don’t expect fireworks. They might come, but be OK with just being still. Over time, your dedication will definitely spark a fire in your intuitive brain cells. Trust small pieces of guidance when they come. Don’t let your intellect say, “Oh, that’s silly.” Don’t pick your intuitive ideas apart, either. The spiritual wisdom will escape your rational thinking, like the beauty of a rose can’t be found by separating the petals, leaves and stem.

As your intuition strengthens, you’ll have revelations and “Ah ha!” moments about your life choices, behaviors and relationships. You won’t struggle to gain this information. It will just drop into your mind in an instant and you’ll effortlessly comprehend the entire situation. Also, you’ll usually know exactly what step to take to truly heal the situation at the root. Please take that step as soon and as fully as possible. This will create more momentum in your spiritual growth. You’ll be able to create a true soul healing rather than merely an “ego band aid.”

There will be a certain calmness that comes with these types of revelations. You’ll feel clear and somewhat detached even from deeply painful issues. Your intuition isn’t mired in drama and hopelessness, as is your intellectual mind. Answers will be peaceful, solidly grounded and ethical. Your intuition is capable of seeing the widest possible picture and knows how to resolve situations that are in the highest interest for all involved.

Strangely, you might find that you need to release your attachment to struggle and emotional drama. Your intellect complicates things, although it likes to think it is so sensible and direct. It simply doesn’t have all the pieces of information you need to grow into the person you wish to be. Just like the person entering college, your intellect must cave in to the fact that it just doesn’t know everything. At its worst, the intellect is a real know-it-all. Yet your intuition quietly brims over with wisdom.

As you begin this new phase of your mystical adventure, love your intellect for serving you so well up to this point. Praise it for a job well done. Reassure your ego that it can rest easy, for it is in good hands with your intuition.

Continue with daily meditation and taking the steps you are intuitively guided to take. You will quickly evolve from a very smart spiritual seeker into a powerful soul standing confidently in your wisdom and light.

Aluna Michaels is a second generation astrologer and soul evolutionist practitioner. She also holds a Masters in Spiritual Counseling and has been teaching and consulting for more than two decades. Aluna is available for appointments in her home or by phone. Call (248) 583-1663 or visit www.ascension.net/aluna.