Riding the Wave of Intention
The more you engage your spirit guides or follow your intuitive impulses by setting intentions and taking action, the more your intuition and your ability to manifest grows. Everything and everyone in the Universe responds to attention — the more you pay attention, the more fluent you become in the language of Spirit.
There is a momentum involved in your dance with the Universe.
Can you hear me now?
You’ve probably heard this all before — I have — but if you don’t take some physical action — if you don’t respond beyond thinking or wondering or contemplating, it’s kind of like people saying hello to you and your sitting there like you haven’t heard them. They may repeat what they said if they’re really trying to get through to you, but if you just continue to sit there, as if you are deaf or unable to respond, they will assume you haven’t heard them, you’re not listening, and move on.
Actions speak louder than words.
You acknowledge Spirit or the Universe not only by your words or your thoughts, but by your behavior.
Andrea Hess posted an incredibly simple, practical exercise for establishing the short-term intentions and actions that will lead to the greater momentum. If you’re starting from scratch, this is a great way to begin, with a time-frame of only 3 days.
Advanced Momentum
I’m not saying I’m a pro or that I don’t have anything to learn — actually, I’m going to tell you a story about what it looks like when I “fail” on the follow-through. I do consider myself a seasoned veteran and I’ve had enough “proof” that these techniques work in my own life to operate from a place of faith and confidence.
Chaos Surfing
I’ve noticed that from a position of constant practice living in a flow state — I think of it as riding a wave of synchronicity, or surfing chaos — my intentions in and of themselves create a conveyor belt effect. The intentions unroll a red carpet of actions that carry me, even when my will fails.
Let me give you an example of what happened to me last week as the result of this exercise.
The Ring of Fire
Seven years ago I underwent a horrifying series of medical nightmares: I was diagnosed with a “terminal” illness and fell through a rabbit hole into an alternate reality of blood work, specialists, and facing my mortality. The emotional, mental, psychic, and spiritual stress ultimately produced even more profound physical breakdown… A vicious cycle that climaxed with my having a stroke and being partially paralyzed for almost a year.
Some people, myself included, require a near catastrophic crash or meltdown in order to make the critical, foundational shift in perspective that leads to greater enlightenment. More and more people are waking to this awareness without having to be forced kicking and screaming — let’s hope that you are one of them… I was not.
I underwent a spiritual transformation that changed my life for the better, but in the process, I actually lost my health coverage. I’m not alone in living with this profound uncertainty. The challenge for anyone with a grave, pre-existing condition goes beyond landing a “good” job with benefits or being able to financially afford health insurance.
I am un-insurable. I am also self-employed… The list of obstacles is stacked quite high, such that my only options are a bureaucracy of government-funded programs. Still, I knew what was required to climb back to a place of safety.
It has taken six long years to get there, and I started this month with the awareness that there were only a few hoops left to jump through. When I read Andrea’s exercise, my short-term intentions were to secure my health care again.
The 3 Remaining Actions required were simple:
- I must photocopy all my financial materials, medical records, proof of state residency, etc — all the details I knew the case managers would require to tackle the red tape
- I must make some phone calls to track down the social workers who had successfully handled all this for me once before, or determine who currently occupies those positions
- Schedule a meeting and let the professionals help me — I believe in spiritual guidance; I believe in professional guidance, too
Light at the end of the tunnel — simple enough, right — what did I do?
Nothing.
I procrastinated. Why? I told myself I was too busy this week, but I was close and after such a long wait, a few more days wasn’t the end of the world…
On an emotional level, I was terrified to revisit that personal hell. Just setting foot in those offices again… Yes, I’d lived through it all once before, but voluntarily doing it again. Oh, God, help me. (And I mean that, quite literally.)
Three days after setting this intention, identifying the relatively simple steps required to take action within three days, and then choosing not to do them… I woke up with what I feared was strep throat.
Two years ago, I got a case of strep throat and had to seek emergency room care in order to be diagnosed, get a prescription, etc; without health insurance this is an extremely inflated out-of-pocket expense.
So, I found myself on the phone, calling everyone I knew, looking for clinics that might see me. Ultimately, I ended up calling to make an appointment through social services and when the nurse gave me the address and directions… Holy hell, the clinic was the office one floor below the case managers I dreaded going to see.
I immediately recognized what was going on — the Universe was kicking my ass into the car and literally forcing me to go to That Building. Instead of going to the clinic for a case of strep throat, I gathered up my folder full of paperwork, stopped at Kinko’s on the way, and climbed an extra flight of stairs.
Twenty minutes later — after six agonizing years of dread and uncertainty hanging over me — I walked out of that office with my health coverage reinstated.
The swollen lymph nodes, the sore throat, the symptoms I was experiencing had evaporated somewhere between the copy center and parking garage.
I used to set my intentions, point my surf board toward shore, and start paddling along; these days, I trust that the big waves will come and carry me.
Contacting Your Spirit Guides - 101
Free resources for Shift Your Spirits subscribers:
- Read the ebook by Slade Roberson especially for beginners who want to know who/what spirit guides are and how to communicate with them
- Listen to the teleclass Let's Talk about Spirit Guides
recorded by Andrea Hess of Empowered Soul - Download the free guided meditation Meet a Guide
created by Jeff Lily of Druid Journal
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16 Responses to “Riding the Wave of Intention”
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I look forward to your posts every week - they always really hit home with me! I’ve had the same kind of situations happen to me before, just didn’t understand it at the time. I read empowered soul also so I’ll give the three day intention thing a try. Thanks for the insight. April
This served as a pointed reminder to me that I need to honor my intentions with follow through. It’s funny b/c a friend commented on something the other day, frustrated. He had read some self help book and then whinged about ‘nothing coming of it’ Well.. it takes more than just reading. It’s a tough lesson to learn and a message I often have to remind myself when I get lazy.
I tried clicking on the link for the exercise but it kept telling me ‘internal server error’; I wanted to see if there was a way I could try that as well.
My heart goes out to you and anyone trapped in the morass of the health care system. Even with insurance my husband and I panic at some of the bills we still receive. Thank you for sharing such a personal story with us. What an overwhelming feeling (but exciting) when you realized the Universe would not let you get out of completing your intentions. It’s hard to wade through the unpleasant stuff to get there: even though we might have faith that the outcome will be positive dealing with the drudgery can be daunting. Looks like our guides won’t let us off too easily! It made me smile actually.
The Chaos Surfing idea fascinates me. I need to consciously try that as well
when I feel I need to take new approach to manifesting.
I hope your health remains stable and am so glad you have coverage again. It must be a great relief to you.
Wow, as I read this I was walking right along beside you in that spooky maze of the health insurance night mere.Having had colitis I maneuvered myself through the system.Growing up in a medical family my father always went the extra mile for his patients. My father is with me in spirit and I hear him encouraging me to plow through the insurance fiasco we face. Thank you Michael Moore for “Sicko”Thank you god for encouraging us and giving us the push and then shove into the direction of what we so deserve… good health insurance! If we don’t move in the direction of faith then and ask for our needs to be met then we will perish.
Blessings, Deb
What a fantastic article, Slade! Thank you for trying on the exercise - and for sharing the awesome results!!! Here’s to the little miracles that we get to witness when we apply our awareness!
I’ve had my own loving, spiritual kicks in the posterior by the Universe, where I’ve felt dragged along kicking and screaming in alignment with my highest path … and while the middle of that experience doesn’t feel very uplifting, I’ve always been incredibly grateful in retrospect.
Congratulations on getting your health insurance!
Slade, you share wonderful personal stories, and this one is funny! I laughed out loud while reading how your Guides sent a big wave and took you to the case managers’ office.
Actually, I was laughing at myself … this happened to me a few times and each experience was truly humbling. I’m no veteran, but I do have to say that this “dance with the Universe” can be rather addictive once you’ve learnt the steps! The first thing we all need to do is open ourselves up, suspend our disbeliefs and ask the Universe, “Would you dance with me?”. 
To everyone who sent personal emails instead of public comments in response to this post — Wow! I am overwhelmed by the private response. They are much appreciated and touching.
April,
Thank you so much for telling me you look forward to the articles and that they speak to you. Although I hope people feel this way, it is very nice to hear.
What you said about having this kind of thing happen to you before, and perhaps not recognizing it at the time… Bingo! You get better and better at identifying the signs all around you, and hopefully your confidence builds in being able to respond quickly and go along with it, align yourself more efficiently to the situation and save a lot of struggle and unnecessary grief.
Sabine,
You’re so right about the follow through, and going beyond just reading about and studying… What I also hear a lot of times from clients is “I tried, but it didn’t work. I can’t. I’m not getting anything…” With a little strategic interrogation, I often find that they tried an exercise or a technique ONCE. And moved directly to the “I must suck at this” judgment.
Just like ACTUAL surfing, you must ask yourself, how many times did a successful professional surfer have to try to get up on that board, and how long did he manage to stay on before he wiped out? How many waves does it take?
Well, you know without asking that the answer must be at least in the hundreds…
A good affirmation is simply “This is where I’m starting, and I am improving.”
Thanks for the well wishes about the coverage, I am doing very well, and to tell you quite honestly the stress of worrying about illness is sometimes worse than illness itself — know what I mean?
Here’s the link again to Andrea’s 3 Day Short Term Intention setting exercise. Or go to Empowered Soul blog and look for the recent article entitled “Developing Intuition: The Mind Trap.”
Andrea,
I actually had the wrong link (to the follow up post) but I’ve corrected that. They are related/connected, so hopefully everyone can get there. Thanks for the congrats!
Deb,
There is so much press and bad news about the US health care industry, and we know it’s true, but if it helps any to hear this — let me just say again how MUCH the social workers and case managers are saints walking on earth. You do not have to crawl through that maze without assistance — what is overwhelming for us… Well, there are people whose life purpose and careers are dedicated to handling some of that for you.
Ask for help, call on an expert — that’s why they are there and they have so many resources that it would take you months of digging or studying to locate/understand. What’s overwhelming for us is someone’s expertise!
The inaction, and the fear of discomfort, and the worry about what you imagine it may take to get through… We can make it worse. I know I do. And what do I inevitably discover when I make that perfectly targeted phone call? “Why didn’t I make this call, talk to this person, before, earlier?!”
The tiniest bit of assistance and reassurance from someone who knows what they are talking about can be very effective.
Irene,
I’m glad you found some comic relief in my story — it is there, and it’s one of my favorite ways to insert some much needed philosophical distance.
A few reasons I wanted to share this experience is to illustrate:
1. Hold on once you set the intention, because the Universe or your guides may take action for you. It’s ideally what we always wish would happen.
2. It’s important to remember that not everything we wish to manifest is necessarily desirable; it’s about who you become, who you are, when the world happens to you, good and bad.
Obviously, a few lousy songs come on during the dance, but at least you’re dancing!
Slade,
You really are to be commended for following through on this very difficult task. I don’t know what you’re going through personally, but I do understand the gathering of a ton of documentation, contacting innumerable sources and the frustration and stress that can sometimes cause. I’ve had to do this type of thing for other purposes. But to add your health and wellbeing to the mix and what was at stake, then converts this experience to tremendous accomplishment. Or at least I think so. By the end of the post, I was glad and relieved to see it done! As no doubt you are, too.
Wow.
Hi Slade,
I am late to the game on this, but this post was wonderful, I love the idea of surfing chaos. There is something to the horror of huge bureaucracies.
I wanted to thank you for you honesty in this post, what struck me most was that is happened to YOU. I mean you are THE SLADE!!! The master of all things spiritual and guidey! (I know you would fight that declaration tooth and nail). But from my little but growing practice, I had imagined life being a certain way once you could work with your guides and consciously create your life. Since you are an expert at this (from my perspective), I imagined your life would be a certain way.
This post was a wonderful lesson for me to see that there are no magic bullets. It all begins and ends with the individual, their choices, and there day to day action. No matter how much guidance one gets, one (or I) have a responsibility to DO something with the guidance. No matter how magical or spiritually advanced I get, I am still here on this physical plane that will require activity of some sort.
As I am typing this, this is a deeper and deeper idea for me. I always imagined a conscious spiritually empowered life to be a certain way, and low and behold I am learning it is not too much different from my life today.
Thank you again for this great post, your honesty and sparking all this great energy!
Glenn
Thanks Barbara!
You’re right, it is a great relief.
Glenn,
Excellent comment from you. For anyone in my “position” (playing the role of “expert”) it’s really easy to only present your best face, your strengths, and become unconscious of the Big Public Smile you’re putting out there… clearly you want to share something valuable with others…
Part of the value as I see it is humanizing it, not perpetuating the notion that someone has a Secret you can’t comprehend or identify with… If you read enough Shelf-Help you can start to feel inundated with ego-driven insecurities, or comparing yourself to others, and you may not be getting the full picture.
Sure, on some level, you have to know that an “expert” isn’t living a perfect bliss available to only some “special chosen few” … And truly, the most effective ways to show someone how to break the cycles of f-ing everything up is to share the harsh reality of your own on-going learning experience.
Man, I obviously can not lift myself out of the water or give anybody wings by waving a magic wand… In the flow, with the waves coming, it comes down to a matter of either swimming or drowning. I can’t fly and I can’t teach anybody how to fly, but I can share my tips for NOT drowning!
Know what I mean?
An enlightened perspective is just that, a perspective, a shift in how efficient you become at handling the shit that life keeps throwing at you. But it keeps coming, and all we aspire to is merely a matter of degrees…
I wish I could remember who said learning to walk within the context of gravity is an exercise in the controlled state of falling…
Slade:
Wow, that was really awesome - it was a great story about what length the universe will go to kick your rump into high gear. I also read Andrea’s post on the 3 day intention-take action exercise. Great stuff. I left a comment on her blog about something I took immediate action on even though nothing happened (at least on the surface). It was a great exercise on taking immediate inspired action rather than overanalyzing the idea and either procrasinating or not doing it at all.
Very good stuff. It’s a great reminder to remember that we are being guided all the time - we are being led, given universal messages all the time. It’s up to us to raise our level of awareness and be alert to them. I love being a conscious versus unconcious person!
[…] Developing Intuition: The Mind Trap: Even though I subscribe to Andrea Hess’s Empowered Soul blog, I was made aware of this article by Slade from Shift Your Spirits. Instead of taking immediate action on upon receiving an inspired idea, most people think about it - rationalize it - justify it. Andrea says that’s a big mistake and I agree with her. She provides a simple solution by outlining an exercise to help you build the ability to take immediate action instead of over-analyzing reasons why the inspired action should/should not be taken. Thanks to Slade and Andrea! […]
Stephen,
I like to feel that all reality is talking to me, all the time, without exception — then the questions become “Am I listening? Am I paying attention?” Something is always happening, at an energetic level, and it’s a dialog — a choral symphony, actually, a multi-directional, multidimensional conversation.
Thank you for the comment and for including me in your Weekly Gratitude Links — I am indeed truly grateful for that!
Hey Slade… I’m going to offer a slightly different perspective. I want to offer this to you: when you got the strep that sent you to the building where the case managers dwell, it was everything coming together exactly as it was meant to come together. Instead of “Slade didn’t honor his intention” it seems to me that you did honor it in the right time, in the right manner, for how you were able to best follow through. So you needed a little pointer from the Universe! All I can say is thank God we get pointers.
None of the above is to diminish your point or your experience. I guess I simply see these things unfolding exactly as they should, in the right time, in the right sequence. Just an alternative perspective that may or may not be helpful. Namaste.
Tom,
Very true, indeed!
Everything in its own perfect time - I would have to agree with you that that perspective is somewhat the “unwritten story” that’s always true.
I guess the nuance I most wanted to point out is that the intention itself affects the motions of everything involved. When the intention is clear, the Universe you’re waiting on is waiting on you.
Your point also speaks to an over-arching message — that you can’t really “fail” at anything. You are already perfect, as you are, fulfilling your life purpose simply by being here.
Thanks for your input!