Intuitive Cartography

Dear Reader,

Welcome to “Intuitive Cartography,” a blog about developing your intuition and much, much more.  All human beings have the gift of intuition, whether or not we acknowledge it, develop it or use it.  As with any other human characteristic, some people have easy and immediate access to their intuition, and others have to search and practice to be able to use it.  Regardless of which group includes you, intuition is a deep part of who you are, and can help you live a full, satisfying life.  Sounds good, right?!

But there’s more.  What I am talking about with “Intuitive Cartography” is a reorientation to a very different way of living.  You can consider your intuition as the voice of your Spirit, that deep, passionate, wise, exuberant part of you that is bigger than your every day conscious awareness. It is the part of you that many consider eternal or divine.

In so many ways, our world does not honor or even recognize that part of you.  The dominant culture places a much higher value on rational thought and the intellect.  The role of the intellect is valuable, and does have an important place in determining how you live your life.  I am not out to devalue the intellect.  I am placing it in perspective, and inviting you to consider where it fits in the bigger picture of who you really are.

In my work with clients and in my own growth, I focus on nurturing the body, heart, mind and spirit.  The intellect represents only a portion of mind, and a small part at that.  That leaves a lot of other territory to explore in being human!

As I said previously, intuition is the voice of your spirit.  Your heart is the gateway to that voice.  Immediately perhaps, misconceptions rush in about the heart, about love; we may think of crimes of passion, or the misguided choices we have probably all made in the name of “following our heart.”  Those stereotypes are not what I’m talking about, and peeling away such misconceptions is part of what I will address in future posts. For now, I am talking about the wisdom and depth of a heart that recognizes truth.  One immediate question that pops up: “Well how do you tell the difference?!?”  We’ll get there; I promise!

Cartography according to Websters Dictionary, is the “science or art of making maps.”  If we look deeper, this act involves rendering something multidimensional (anything from a geographical landscape to your own inner landscape) in a way we can understand and make use of.  I like that.  It is what I do with my clients.

Intuitive Cartography, then, takes the multidimensional nature of our human being-ness, including intuition and the deep knowing of our heart, and renders or portrays it in a way we can understand and make use of in living our lives the way we really want to live them.

You may be skeptical about some of the concepts I’m discussing here – spirit, the heart that knows, your divine nature.  That’s OK.  You don’t have to believe it.  All it takes on your part to benefit from this discussion is curiosity, an open mind and a desire to learn more about yourself and your true nature.

My original intention in creating an online presence was to have a traditional website that would communicate with people about the services I offer.  So, what happened?  Why the blog?  I realized that, perhaps more now than at any other time in history, these topics are crucial for us to look at together. The best way to look is to have a dialogue.  From dialogue comes a shift in perception and attention, supported by mentors and peers; from attention comes discovery; from discovery comes change and growth.

Intuition, the nature of the heart, the mind, the body, the spirit, what it means to be human – these are not topics reserved for theory, or the ethereal, or the land of “woowoo” as some would call it.  These topics, as I live them, are grounded in the real, the everyday.  It is my intention, and my passionate belief, that the dialogue we hold here, over the next weeks and months, can change us all in a very grounded, real, yet exciting and passionate way.  Call it practical magic if you will!

I honor your loving heart,

John