What does it matter how the messages arrives and from whom or from what as long as you receive it? The importance lies in the reception of the message.

When I attended the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University as a magazine journalism major, we were taught that for communication to happen there had to be someone broadcasting a message and someone receiving it. If no one hears what you say or write or show–or understands it–then communication doesn’t happen.

I often say I receive messages. Where do they come from? Sometimes they are gut feelings–a kind of intuitive knowing. However, I’d define intuition as being tapped into my higher self or my soul and then being able to sense what it is telling me. That part of me is connected to what I would call Source or God. So, I guess I could say at those times I’m actually getting messages from God.

Other times I get messages from the world around me; I suppose these could also be seen as messages from God, the Universe or Source. Or I could just be reading into them what I want to see–need to see. It’s all in your perspective.

Just this week I received a few messages in this manner. I’ve been trying to figure out how to cut back and to focus more on the work-related things that are important to me and to find more balance in my life. I’ve let spirituality and religious practice fall by the wayside over the last few years, as well as human potential and self-improvement study. I want to make time for these. At the same time, I need to increase my activity in several areas of my professional life. I’ve said, “I need to cut back and gear up.”

Interestingly enough, on Friday night I received a call just before Shabbat from a rabbi acquaintance of mine. I’d call him a friend, but we don’t spend time together. We’ve never socialized. I’ve studied with him, and I have spoken with him about a variety of things on numerous occasions. Out of the blue, he called just to say hello because we hadn’t spoken in a long time, and he wanted to wish me a “Shabbat Shalom,” a good and peaceful Sabbath.

I told him about the vision map I’d made for this year, describing how for the first time in many years the professional section was smaller than the personal section. To my surprise, he not only knew what a vision map was, he said, “When I make one or anyone I know makes one, I advise them to put the Hebrew letter ‘hey’ in the middle to represent God. Everything we do always comes back to God.”

Ah. What a great reminder of something I already knew but had forgotten–something I could apply to help me bring spirituality and religious practice into my life fully. Everything–even my work–comes back to God. It flows from God and back to God. My whole life can be about spiritual practice if I have that focus.

A wonderful message. You know what? This rabbi had never before simply called me to chat. Never. Not once. Yet he offered me just the message I needed to hear. I put the hey on my vision map.

The next day I had to do an interview with a best-selling author. I read his book just before the interview and found myself inspired by the message. We had a great conversation, and at the end I told him how I planned to publish different parts of the interview in several places. He asked me, “For how many different places do you write?”

“I have three blogs of my own and two on-line columns,” I replied, actually leaving out two of my blogs.”Then I also write for one magazine at the moment.”

“How do you do it all?” he asked.

“Well, it takes a lot of time, but I’m thinking of cutting back to focus more on my own blogs,” I replied, voicing a thought that had been running around in my head and that had been “feeling” more and more right to me.

“I can see why,” he replied. “That sounds smart.”

Ah. Confirmation? Another message–this time from a complete stranger?

Interestingly, I’d heard the same thing from a colleague earlier in the week–someone who was supposed to help me market my new book (How to Blog a Book). When she found out what all I do, she said maybe the best thing she could do to help me market the book was to help me consolidate what I was already doing.

Hmmm. Twice in one week the same message from people outside my daily life. By the second time, I was really listening. And my gut–my intuition–was agreeing.

I can ask myself questions, too. I receive answers. Is it just me answering? I don’t know. If I intuitively sense that the answers are right, I trust them.

What about you? Do you get messages? How do they show up? Are they in the words or numbers on the license plate on the car in front of you in traffic? Are they visions while you sleep? Are they in links emailed to you by a friend? Or does God speak to you?

It doesn’t really matter as long as you receive them…and heed them. But I’d still like to know about your experience. Leave me a comment.

A few weeks ago I noticed that a psychic and medium I happen to know personally as doing readings at a local metaphysical store. I felt inclined to get a reading, but I hesitated. In fact, I didn’t get one. So, yesterday I went back to see her. When I asked her how I could open to my intuition, she told me to meditate.

While I spoke with this women, she not only encouraged me to pursue some of the newest ideas I have concerning my work, she said she was interested in working with me as an editor and writing coach. I said I’d like to have her help me move to a higher level with my intuitive/psychic ability. She said, “Great!” A client and a spiritual coach all in one. Wow.

This morning I meditated. I got some really clear messaged during the meditation, which I wrote down.

This evening I decided to wait for my daughter in a coffee shop. As I sat down, I saw a woman behind me making crystal jewelry…real pieces of art. I adore crystal jewelry. I spoke to her, and before I knew it I had agreed to have her make me a piece. In the process, she offered me a “reading”–information from her intuition. And the crystal she used to create my pendant was chosen for my by her young daughter, who has a special gift for choosing crystals and is a healers. Who would have thought I would get a reading and crystal jewelry in my favorite coffee shop. Wow.

Recently, one of my best friends told me someone called him and asked him to teach a Kabbalah class at a yoga center in my town. I told him I’d attend. He told me I wouldn’t be attending; I’d be helping him teach. Turns out the same woman who made my crystal pendant was the woman who called him. She saw his card, and it spoke to her. She had it in her coat pocket for several months before she felt compelled to call him this past week. Then I met her this evening and told her I’d be teaching with him. Wow.

It’s amazing what happens when you open to your intuition…everything from knowing when to purchase tampons (really!) to knowing when to mention your son dances to a man who has a daughter who sings and might want to make a video (Yes, that happened today, too.) to having your daughter speak to someone who knows exactly what to say to her and what she needs to hear (This also happened.).

The thing is, you have to listen to what you hear , pay attention to what you feel, do what you feel compelled to do…not matter what. You will then know if your intuition truly provides you with a guide. I had enough proof today to make me keep meditating, remain open and keep following my intuition.