Getting Serious (Again) About Guidance

I step into the elevator and press 3. The doors close but nothing happens. This is a frequent occurrence in this building. I press the Open Door button and then press 3 again. The same thing happens. I laugh to myself and say “you want me to get off this elevator and take the stairs, right? Maybe there’s someone I’m meant to run into along the way?” It’s a likely possibility in light of other experiences I’ve had with guidance. So what do I do? I press the Open Door button again and instead of stepping off the elevator, I press 3 again, the doors close and now stay closed.

I am stuck.

My detention lasts only a few minutes. I’m not afraid of being stuck in an elevator, and it’s a cool day, so it’s no big deal.

Depending on your background, you might interpret this story in one of the following ways:

1. It was all just a coincidence.

2. I was being punished.

3. I was being playfully pranked so a point could be made.

4. I was given a tip that would have avoided a delay or annoyance.

For me, it has never been 1 or 2. My interpretation usually falls somewhere between 3 and 4, depending on the situation.

So, what was the possible point being made?

Even though I know better, I still do not always seek and follow guidance. WHY?????

Guidance, intuition, my gut, street smarts, instinct, spidey senses, a feeling in my bones, ESP, clairsentience: there are so many terms to explain this idea of having a strong sense of something without understanding how we know. We may know what it involves—for example, whether we should say or do something. Or maybe it’s a sense of another person’s motives, or the need to be wary of what lies around the corner. There’s an expression “ignore your intuition at your own peril.” We have an affinity for the dramatic.

However, if we have experienced moments of deep intuition or guidance and know the power of it, why do we not consistently check in and follow what is received???

This story has a prologue. In the online spiritual community I belong to, a member made a point about how we’re so immersed in this world that if an enlightened master were imparting wisdom in a classroom, the students would all be staring at their cellphones. She took this thought as a nudge to put her cellphone down and get back to her spiritual practice. I started to respond but then…got distracted. I kid you not.

So, on this day, in a difficult week, two days late for my Monday Substack post, and having given up on the idea that I would publish one this week, I’ll tell you what I was going to tell her:

When you’re having difficulty maintaining your spiritual practice, use that cellphone for good. Set a regular alarm. (I set it for every hour to get back on track fast.) When it rings, do the thing you need to do to progress on your path: sit in stillness, meditate, ask for guidance, read a lesson, give a miracle (an expression of love) to someone…whatever. Build a habit that will support you in this ever-changing world where nothing ever changes.

There’s a funny conclusion to my story. When I finally arrived at my floor, a woman was about to enter the elevator. I told her I had just been stuck in it. She nodded, said “oh yeah?” AND GOT IN ANYWAY. If that doesn’t make the point, I don’t know what does. We are gluttons for punishment—adults stuck in a toddler mindset of “me do by myself!” LOL.

I’ve learned my lesson for today. It’s time to tune back in to my regular practice…and actually follow through. Tell me your guidance/intuition stories in the comments. I can’t get enough of this stuff.

With love and peace,

Margaret