What happens when you mention the words spirit, or soul, or source, to most people? Very likely, they conjure images of angelic beings dangling from clouds; set apart from the reality we live in every day. To most, feeling the presence of spirit seems like a distant or even unreachable desire.
And yet, we now understand that everything in this seemingly material universe is made of energy. And, that all energies move or vibrate at a certain frequency.
From this perspective, it’s easy to understand that we are not separate from the source that created us. And whether you refer to this source as Spirit, Life Force, Mother Nature or God makes no difference whatsoever.
This broader energy is the essence of who you are. It is the very source of you. It’s the force that breathes you. It’s the boundless supply of everything you could possibly need or desire. And you are an extension of this vast, intelligent field.
When understood in terms of energy, the act of feeling a spirit’s presence is not as esoteric – or as rare – as we might think. In fact, we are all communicating with spirit all the time, although we may not be consciously aware of it.
Here are some common ways you may have experienced the presence of spirit – whether or not you identified it as such:
- A sudden rush of guidance or insight that often comes in unexpected times or places.
- An intuition or gut feeling that leads you in a direction that your logic would not normally encourage you to go.
- A rush of creativity that feels amazing when you allow it to flow.
- A feeling of love or communion with those around you, even those you don’t know.
These heightened experiences are not mystical, and they are not reserved for a select few. In fact, they are available to all of us, all of the time. Energy and vibration is the basis of everything we experience. And the purer our vibration is, the easier it is to tune ourselves to these higher states of consciousness.
If you desire a more conscious experience of feeling a spirit’s presence, here are some very concrete steps you can take:
Step #1: Practice receptivity.
Feeling a spirit’s presence is not something that can be forced. You can’t will yourself to connect with the energy that sources all things. In fact, trying too hard to experience it will only get in your way. Instead of thinking of this connection as something you need to accomplish, try thinking of it as something you receive.
As energetic beings living in an energetic universe, we have access to the full range of vibrational frequencies that exist. You can envision these like the invisible radio signals that flood our airwaves. By adjusting your radio dial, you can tune into whatever station you desire. Likewise, through the power of how we are focused, we gain access to certain vibrations, while other vibrations are in that moment out of our range.
If you’re preoccupied or feeling impatient; if you’re feeling unworthy or forsaken, you’re not in range of experiencing spirit’s presence. The signals are still being offered to you, but you’re temporarily blocking them.
To realize this presence that is always around us, we must be in a receptive state of mind.
One of the most reliable ways to cultivate a state of receptivity is through the practice of meditation. When you de-focus your brain’s never-ending stream of thoughts, you release much of the resistance that blocks receptivity. Being in nature, listening to music, doing something creative, or just sitting quietly are other ways of becoming more receptive. Anything that you enjoy and can easily lose yourself in will support your receptivity.
Step #2: Clear your mind of expectations and pre-conceived notions.
Many of us grew up with the idea that God, or spirit, is above us, better than us, or beyond our reach. But beliefs like these block us from feeling the presence of spirit. If you think of all things – our creator included – as being made of energy, you can easily shed these limiting ideas.
Spirit is as present in a flower or a blade of grass as it is in a galaxy. Knowing this, you are free to open yourself up to the experience however it shows itself. What you are seeking is to connect with that high-flying, good-feeling energy. And this connection can happen in any number of ways.
You are in the presence of spirit when you exchange a kindness with a stranger. Spirit is flooding through you when you sing along with your favorite song. Anytime that love is allowed to flow through you unobstructed is a moment you’re experiencing spirit.
Step #3: Practice appreciation.
Appreciation is one of the highest vibrations in the universe. And it’s more accessible than you might think. You don’t have to withhold your appreciation for big things; you can appreciate the miracles that surround you every day.
Watching the sunrise or sunset; petting a favorite animal; admiring the beauty of nature… All of these simple acts increase the vibration of appreciation within you.
The more you appreciate the simple things in life, the more things to appreciate will be drawn into your awareness. And appreciation is, by definition, a recognition of and a celebration of, the presence of spirit.
The presence of spirit flows through you and all around you. It is not relegated to shrines or temples. Set an intention to become more mindful of this presence, and evidence of it will rain into your experience.
Christy Whitman is an energy healer, celebrity coach, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Having It All: A Woman’s Guide to Unlimited Abundance. To watch a free webinar on the principles of energy mastery, please visit www.quantumenergymastery.com.