Our joy is found only in the present, so we are going to create some joy from a past love for a twist today..
And when I say a past love, I mean a song you loved in the past.
A Song From Your Youth
Identify a song that brought you joy as a kid. And then go find it. If you can, find it in the original rendition you first heard all those years ago (same artist, same album, etc).
Let it be a song you haven’t heard in who knows how long. Let it be a song that whenever it was on the radio in the car, you yelled out to let it keep playing. Perhaps it’s a song from a movie or from a TV show you particularly enjoyed. Or a song that your dad used to play when he got ready in the morning, or the song your grandmother used to hum to herself as she went about her day. It could be any song, as long as it was one that made you smile as a child.
Then it’s time to get present with a song that delighted you as a child to see how it brings you joy now.
Plug in your headphones and turn it on with whatever source you can find it on. Hear the song with your adult ears.
The goal this week is to bring a new sense of joy to an old love of music.
Most songs are only 3-5 minutes long, so I challenge you to sit and listen without any other distractions. Just sit. Close your eyes. Focus on just the sounds coming into your ears and the how the vibrations make your body feel. And listen to your song.
What emotions does it bring up for you? Did you find new meaning in it? Does it make more sense now or does it confuse you even more?
A bonus challenge:
If you want, choose more than one song of your childhood to return to to re-enjoy! Maybe make yourself a playlist of your favorite tunes from your youth that you can return to anytime you like.
How this challenge went for me…
A few songs I love from my childhood that immediately came to mind include:
“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips “Dreams to Dream” from Fievel Goes West “Whatever You Imagine” from The Pagemaster “Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks (why this was a 3-year old’s favorite song, I’ll never know!).
I loved rediscovering the harmonies in “Hold On”… Hearing “Dreams to Dream” replays the animated sequence with Tanya from the movie. “Whatever You Imagine” is one of my favorite songs ever so it’s always been in my playlists. And “Thunder Roles” returns me to the living room in my grandparents’ house with my little black tape player.
Music carries memory and history… See where your childhood favorites return you to.
Maybe these will spark further memories of songs you love from your childhood!
Did one song in particular come to mind at reading this post? Does it carry significant meaning or a special message that’s relevant to you now?
I’d be tickled to know if your chosen song brings a needed salve or message to you right now. If you feel like sharing, let me know which song you chose to return to in the comments below. You may remind someone of a song they loved too!
Have a blessed week!
The true joy is starting to be present to your life. Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more. Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses, you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul. Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.
Did you know that movement can also be meditative? If trying to sit down to quiet your mind for meditation is difficult for you, this is one meditative practice I love to return to.
Take a mindful walk.
Plan it in your calendar for at least 10-15 minutes a day (up to an hour if you feel like it!). No distractions, no earphones. Be fully present to the nature around you.
Begin walking slowly and intentionally, breathing in your natural rhythm.
Feel every step you take, how your feet hit the pavement or ground. Feel every sensation in your body, from the inside out to your skin. Connect with your inner self with each sensation that you feel.
Without losing that connection to your inner presence, start to stretch your awareness to your surroundings: what do you hear, smell, and see? Observe with no attachment.
If you get lost in thoughts, simply bring yourself back to your experience–the sensations, sights, sounds, and the feeling of your inner being within you enjoying the walk that you’re on.
Afterward, if you feel so inclined, journal out your experience and see what pours from you.
This is a time to return to your senses, clear your mind, and ground yourself into your body and spirit. This will help to keep you present while also treating your body to some conscientious movement. Good for mind, body, and spirit and for fueling your intuition and creativity as well.
This is here for you whenever you need it. Take care of you.
This is an excerpt from The Intuitive Creativity Forecast, a weekly email subscription that offers cosmic and energetic guidance for the week, including an intuitive pulse for the week, a peek at the astrological atmosphere, and ways to spark your creativity and intuition, and more.It’s a suggested $8/month exchange to keep the magic of the Forecast supported (about $2/email!).Sign up for the weekly Forecast today!
This Joy Challenge will require you stepping beyond your doorway this week. This might be a change for you or it might not be, depending on your routines. Either way, take a moment to breathe everything in for this challenge.
What’s Outside is Inside
Go outside with minimal belongings with you. If you must have items, keep them in a bag or in pockets and not in your hands. No earphones or added noisemakers. No mask (give yourself the space to feel safe doing so). Time to bask in being outside with no distractions.
Find a sunny spot that feels good to you or a favorite place you like to visit, sitting or standing. Let the sun beam down on your face with your eyes closed. Hold your hands out to your sides with your palms facing up or forward in receptivity.
Use your senses. Feel the warmth of the sun or the sweep of the breeze on your skin. Breathe in the air and taste it. Smell it. Listen to the sounds around you, first in your immediate surroundings, then extend your hearing beyond what’s closest to you. What do you hear? Feel your feet on the ground and let Mother Earth nourish you as you breathe in and Be. What do you taste, smell, hear, and feel?
Keep breathing in the outside air for a couple of minutes or more. See how your body feels.
Then open your eyes and smile at the sun and thank it for its light and warmth. Thank the earth for supporting you and your health. Let that gratitude wash over you as you take in another deep breath from the world around you.
For a bonus challenge:
Stand with your back against a tree, on the ground beneath a tree, or go barefoot in some grass to truly sink into mother nature’s healing energies. If you feel so inspired, frolic and play in the grass! Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Be a kid again and relish in what you used to do as a child when you got to play outside. Roll down a hillside if it’s available to you!
Nothing heals and brings more balance to our bodies than being outside, in the sun, and connecting with nature and the earth.
Being outside as The Intuitive Editor
What has surprised me most about The Intuitive Editor brand is how much of the natural world is in its core energy. Trees in particular have come through quite strongly in what I create and intuit for content… Perhaps because books are made up of trees, and being a book editor is my absolute favorite job in the world?
Personally, I love touching the branches of trees as I walk by, standing with my back against a tree with my feet among the roots, or just resting my hand on their thick trunks. It always brings me such peace… and Peace is the sister of Joy.
Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know how being present with your nature outing goes for you. I look forward to hearing about it.
Have a blessed week!
The true joy is starting to be present to your life. Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more. Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses, you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul. Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.
Do you want to know the secret to being in alignment? To be in tune with your natural intuition and thus your muse of creativity?
Following your joy.
That’s right. It may be more simply said than done, but that’s why I’ve decided to start this Joy Challenge as a weekly prompt and reminder to you to find moments of joy in your day.
To quote one of my favorite teachers from my youth, D. Kim Clayton, “The simplest of things bring the greatest of joys.” And I’m here to remind you of ways to breathe in more joy into your life.
For these challenges, I encourage you to partake in the exercise at least once or as often as you like. Daily if it feels supportive for your personal joy!
Read on for your first challenge…
The Journey of a Sip
Before you get too far into your day, I challenge you to take your time with your morning beverage of choice—tea, coffee, cacao, whatever it is you sup first thing. This can be a practice you do every day, or something you do when you remember.
Turn off any other sensory distractions. The entire experience should be focused upon only the body parts that come into contact with your drink. No music or podcasts, no TV, no reading material. Sit down and relax if you can. If standing, rest your hips against something to stabilize yourself if needed.
Give yourself a moment with your cup before your first sip. Hold the mug or cup gently yet securely in your hands. Give it a swirl if you want. Enjoy the aromas that emerge from the lip of the cup. Breathe it in. Exhale it out through your mouth. If it’s a hot drink, watch how the steam dances with and away from your breath.
Now close your eyes.
Slowly tip the cup onto your lips, letting the liquid tread its way to your mouth. Pour in just enough that your whole tongue is embraced by your morning drink for few moments.
Note how the flavor hits your tongue. Does it taste different on the tip of your tongue versus the left side, then the right side, then the middle, and the back? Refrain from swallowing just yet and let the flavors settle in your mouth.
Let your morning beverage tell you a story of what’s within it. Focus on the sensations, the flavor and aromatic notes. And once you swallow, what flavors remain? How does your tongue feel now? Observe.
Now open your eyes.
Then, thank your morning brew for the journey.
How this challenge went for me…
This morning, the coffee I drank struck me with an initial cinnamon sweetness on the tip of my tongue, making it tingle in glee. As the coffee made its way back on my tongue, a new richness took over, almost like the coffee bean centered itself on my tastebuds, freshly roasted. Then a slight tinge of cocoa emerged. Along the sides, my tongue tingled like the tip of my tongue had, thanks to the dance of liquid on the edge. I’m left with a slightly smoky flavor with the spice of the cinnamon lingering all over my tastebuds.
Now… that was an incredible journey for me this morning. Savoring my first sip of coffee, particularly if it inspires me to keep savoring each sip after like that one did.
For a bonus challenge:
If brewing your morning potion is a part of your morning routine, look for ways you can draw it out and find joy in the process. If you infuse your brewing experience with your own joy, imagine how that journey will go!
You don’t have to write down your experience like I have here, but this is my example hopefully to inspire you. Whatever your art is, perhaps this exercise will spark something for you to create or muse on!
Feel free to comment below and let me know how being present with your morning brew goes for you. I look forward to hearing about it.
Have a blessed week!
The true joy is starting to be present to your life. Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more. Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses, you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul. Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.
I can look at the absolutely tangled, jumbled mess of a necklace’s chain, and with my fingers pull the string this way and that until–voila! The necklace is untangled and returned to full glory so you can wear it proudly again.
Where I untangled a knot…
Just a couple of years ago, a one-time gig employer had a massive floor of costumes and a necklace she irritatedly swore up and down “had been tangled for ten years.” No less than seven minutes later, the necklace was gleaming in the light, dangling from my finger completely untangled. Her jaw dropped. “Do you mind if I bring you back to my house to fix the rest of my necklaces?”
How editing is like untangling knots
It looks at the big picture while also diving into the details to make sure everything is aligned and correct in your content. Editing takes what’s there, makes a few adjustments, offers suggestions, and smooths out the errors. In the end, you have your beautiful, compelling, and kink-free content ready to be presented to the world. And you’ll feel pretty confident putting it out there too, knowing that it’s exactly how it’s meant to show up!
Just like untangling a necklace or a knot, editing is a precise art.
I just love taking piece of writing and making it truly sing by untangling the knots, smoothing the clunky language, and polishing it up. I can get lost in the best way while working with words. Honing in on the message, stripping away the unnecessary, and correcting any unsightly spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors… All while maintaining your true voice and making sure the message shines through without any discrediting or unprofessional distractions.
And sometimes while untangling something, you have to work with what you can hardly see… And that’s where my intuitive skills come in to help fill the gaps between what’s not on the page and what should (or shouldn’t) be.
Untangling text is my specialty.
Many of my previous colleagues and employers can attest to what I do. A few keep me on speed dial for when they need a final proof since they know I deliver impeccable editorial feedback time and time again. Like the lady whose necklace I fixed, they wanted to keep me on standby for their projects that need editing. I’m honored to be their go-to proofing person, and I love having on-going relationships with clients so I can get to know their style and so the knots get easier to spot and smooth out as we work together.
It’s such a delight when I get a message that says, “Hey Mikael, can you proof this for me please?” Because that tells me that they trust me, love my feedback, and value my contribution to their work–and that’s the best feeling in the world.
Plus, the clarifying process of editing and proofreading is my absolute favorite way to help people. It’s within my zone of genius, and I’m stoked to offer my skills in this way… It’s one of the core reasons The Intuitive Editor was born!
Do you need an eagle-eyed proofreader or insightful editor to help untangle the knots of your content or your book?
Did you know that each of us has a team of spirit guides working with us from the ethers? Because we do, and it’s magical.
Whether you want to choose to be aware of or meet them, they are always working with us. It helps when you actively ask for their help. They are always conspiring on your behalf for your highest and best good and the experiences and lessons you’re here to learn from.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye. shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7-8, KJV The Bible
Their help may show up as thoughtful nudges, reminders, synchronicities, conversations that spark something, inspiration to watch a certain show or read a certain book, or when you think you might be picking up on another voice in your head that doesn’t quite sound like yours but maybe offers warnings or other promptings.
All those kinds of things that line up in at just the right time are often because of their involvement.
How I met my spirit guides
I first met my guides back in 2015, and they came roaring onto the scene when I started working with my intuitive coach. My main guide came to me in my sleep in one of those “sleep paralysis” moments. Freaked me out a little bit until I heard him say, “I’m here for you!” He’s one of my main protectors, obviously.
It took some piecing together of his highly unusual name before I realized his name was one that had come to me years before during a writing project (the one I’ve been working on again lately!). I had named my beta fish in college with his name. Goes to show how it stuck with me through the years, even if I didn’t know where it came from!
Then, as if in a line, I discovered I had about 6-7 guides working with me at any given time, though four seem to be the most prominent since I’ve gotten acquainted with them. “The Core Four” as they call themselves.
So, who are your guides?
Your guides might be people you’ve known before in previous lives. They might be beings you’ve never met before. They are spirits that have a soul contract to help you from the behind the scenes in this life for you. Odds are, you’ve been a guide for them at some point in another life.
In fact, you may have guides that show up for only certain periods of your life. Some guides are on a rotation or only come to help you during a set time in your life (teenage years, maybe?).
And yes, we are surrounded by souls and spirits at all times. Not all of them are ghosts… These particular spirits that have contracts as your guides are here to help you!
These are souls who love you unconditionally and want to protect you, guide you, and care for you from the ethers. No need to be afraid of them.
How can you connect with your spirit guides?
There are different ways you can connect with your spirit guides.
~ Meditate or do breath work before asking for their help or protection.
~ You can also simply ask, “What would you have me know? What would you have me do?” Trust the first thing that comes to you that’s peaceful and loving.
(Though some can get sassy too, depending on their character… I’ll never forget when one of them yelled, “Go get some! … Then come back!”)
~ Figure out a symbol that means something to you, and ask your guides to show it to you when you’re on the right track. This could be anything! For me, shiny face-up pennies work. Also, certain animals sometimes reflect different guides, messages, or loved ones who have passed on.
There is one particular way that is quite fun and it’s super easy to do every day as I check in with them for any guidance or pointers.
I call it the Spirit Shuffle.
At its simplest, I call on my guides to offer insights, guidance, and anything I might need to know for the day… through song. And then I hit the shuffle button on my entire music library and see what song(s) come up. It’s often so eerie when the songs perfectly align, uplift me at a time I need it, or give me tough love.
I always love playing Spirit Shuffle with my guides, and I do it most days of the week as a regular check in with them. It’s one of the most fun ways to connect with my spirits guides. When something is fun, I’m in!
The songs that play are often are so aligned with where I’m at, and it’s great way for them to pick songs with either titles or lyrics that I most need to hear.
Pay attention if any particular lyrics stick out!
You can also learn your spirit guides individual characters in the Spirit Shuffle. One of my guides is a hopeless romantic, so I almost always know when he’s chosen the song since he’s been a recurring past life love.
Presently my guides are being cheeky and playing songs back to back that say “When we’re human (again)” and it’s hilarious!
Sometimes they just remind me that they are there for me whenever I need them, that they love me, and even that is comforting. To know that I have a spiritual team at my side always. Highly recommend!
A message from my guides to you!
So… Here’s what I’ve done for us today. I asked my guides to present me a song that can help us through the autumn, since today marks the autumnal equinox!
Here’s the song they played for me:
That’s Amore! by Dean Martin (though specifically the one from Enchanted that James Marsden sings)
What this song makes me think of are simple moments that are much bigger and brighter when they are enjoyed with love. The enjoyment of little moments. Recognizing that as the connecting piece of us all… Love. Love can be seen in the moon, in the stars, when you dance, and in practically anything if you let it.
Also, “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore!” clearly was talking about the full moon in Pisces we just had.
So, this fall, spirit wants us to remember to find joy and love in the little things that make us smile. To return to seeing love in all things—because that’s truly what connects us all. It’s also a reminder that when we look at the world through a lens of love, everything is a little bit brighter. Seek enjoyment however you can this fall. It’s not an easy time in the world, but when we focus more on the love and enjoyment of moments, it gets easier. What you focus on expands, so focus on loving the moments in between everything else.
What you focus on expands, so focus on loving the moments in between everything else.
I love the alignment of this message.
When I first started The Intuitive Editor, I had the inspiration to have my regular newsletter be called the Joy Challenge. It contains prompts each week to lean into and savor little moments that hopefully inspire you to bring more joy into your life. That joy, enjoyment, and love are all intertwined, and how these elements further spark your creativity and guide your intuition.
If you want in, join the list at theintuitiveeditor.com to receive these promptings and nudges to find moments to return to your joy.
If you feel inspired to play the Spirit Shuffle game with your guides, I’d love to hear how it goes!
In case you’re wondering who is behind The Intuitive Editor, look no further.
My name is Mikael (pronounced Mih-kehl, she/her), and I am the editor & writer behind this purple curtain.
And I cannot wait to help you make your content shine. Whether it’s a book, a website, articles or blogs, your resume or cover letters, I’ve literally done it all! With more than 12 years under my belt as a professional writer and editor, I have a plethora of experience writing and editing that spans a number of industries and styles.
Not only that, but I’ve spent the last six years honing my intuitive abilities since they came roaring onto the scene with my Saturn return—my most attuned psychic abilities include clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairsentience (clear feeling), and claircognizance (clear knowing).
This means I can see straight into the heart of the matter and channel what’s there—whether its your business, book, or message—so we can strip away what’s unnecessary, clarify what’s there for more impact, and proof & polish it all to how it’s best meant to serve you and your audience.
With the technical editorial experience combined with crystal clear intuitive insights, I help you to elevate your writing to new heights while also offering suggestions to further improve your writing skills. And because I enjoy this work so much, I aim to make it an enjoyable experience for you as an author too. (I, too, am a writer and understand how scary it can be to hire an editor in the first place.)
What matters is that I help your words shine through in your own voice so you can make the impact that you desire to make and reach the people that resonate most with your message. I’m here to help make your writing sing with confidence & heart while also keeping away those distracting grammar/punctuation/spelling mistakes that make you look unprofessional.
Your words are what represent you… And I can help you to make them sparkle and shine from the inside out. Let’s talk.
Did you know the Universe is trying to communicate with you all the time? All. The. Time.
You just have to pay attention and stay curious.
While I came out of the spiritual closet a few years back, sometimes I still end up having to tell people some strange things. Or, things that I don’t think are strange, but other people may think are strange.
I’ve gotten really quite open with talking about the fact that I get messages from the Universe on a constant basis.
Seeing feathers on the street delight me. I giggle at seeing hair bands littering the ground. Getting messages and songs from my angels to know what I most need to know in the moment. The Universe tells me things. Sometimes a baby or toddler communicates with me with zero words. Dead people talk to me in my dreams (sometimes while I’m awake). This is just scraping the icing off the cake…
Specifically, I am an empathic medium (or channel) with claircognizance (clear knowing) and clairsentience (clear feeling) very much alive and working in my sphere. This means I can also tap into people’s energies and guides to see what’s going on with them, or if they have messages waiting for them in the spirit realm.
When it comes to my editing work, I get impulses about what needs to be changed for that narration to be just right. Like I can feel what the author meant but maybe couldn’t find the word or phrase for.
There have been a gamut of reactions from people, from intrigue, shock, confusion, belief, disbelief, excitement… I worry about freaking people out sometimes, but most of the time, people seem to react at least positively, if not politely or curiously. Sometimes I say something and I’m met with silence, then I move onto safer topics. Usually I can judge when someone isn’t open to hearing about my intuitive hits.
To be honest, I see this “talent” as just connecting the dots of the Universe and finding the magic in every day, in every little thing.
Some people say magic doesn’t exist, and I beg to differ. I see it every day.
I don’t expect everyone to understand; I feel lucky just to have the wonderful group of magic makers that do understand.
For me, I don’t believe in hiding who I really am. It was jarring at first, but I’ve learned that this is a huge piece of who I am. Intuitive, powerful, and magical. And I aim to bring that magic to all the work I do.
You can take me as I am, or move onto the next normal person; because I know I’m not normal, and that’s perfectly perfect.
I’m going to leave you with a message from my own guides:
Shine on. Every little bit that makes up who you are is that way for a reason. You’ve got something special in you.
Embrace your own magic, no matter what anyone else thinks. Create what your soul commands you create. Create art you love through your life. Create the life you want, every minute of every day. You’re worth it.
My grandmother used to sit with me when I was very little, and she’d read me stories before bed—or even at my insistent request.
I knew very quickly that I wanted to be able to read them for myself.
One day, she started reading to me The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It didn’t have pictures, but I was enraptured nonetheless. I remember looking at the page, filled with so many words I hadn’t seen before, astounded I could still see what was happening in my mind as my grandma told me the story (my clairvoyance working for me and clearly wanting to play).
After that fateful moment, I declared to myself that I was going to learn to read this book. I was spellbound by the words and the story, and I needed to know how to read them. And I was determined to show her that I could read it by myself.
At the tender age of four, I ran to my grandmother, grabbed her hand, and said, “Grandma, grandma, come here! I want to show you something!”
And I began to read that very same book to her like she had read it to me. I finished reading the first page out loud to her before I looked up and saw tears in her eyes. I knew they were good tears. And thus began my love of books and stories. Especially those that contained a bit of magic, adventure, and fantasy.
From a love of reading grew a love of writing stories. From writing stories, my writing abilities grew and grew. From writing and gaining professional writing experience grew another skill that I would later discover is one of my absolute favorite ways to help people: editing. Making writing better. Making stories come to life. To make them shine.
