We don't all wake up with the wisdom to tune into our own intuition. For some, it can be more difficult to connect to our extrasensory side. We know that intuition is real, and most of us can even acknowledge that we have indeed used it before. So often, though, it's without trying. It seems almost accidental. And then when we try it doesn't always seem to work. We find ourselves doubting our intuition or discrediting the information we are receiving. Having a tangible way to recognize that it really is our intuition trying to talk to us could increase our confidence in our own gifts and make the process less complicated.

A deeper question we may have is: why? Why do we need to use our intuition? That question is relatively easy to answer. Intuition helps us every day in every way. It can provide a gentle nudge when you need to move forward with something, or it can pull you back when it's time to stop. It can help you sense a person's energy upon meeting them and help you decide whether to spend time with them. It is a way to help you find lost items, as well as finding your most beneficial path. Intuition guides us in our career, our relationships, our finances, and even the groceries we pick up on our way home. Intuition assists us, when we allow it, in all of our decision-making processes by revealing which choices will best serve us.

Imagine, if you will, talking to someone who speaks a different language than you. You'd have to learn a new way to communicate. You'd likely look for books and classes and even computer programs to teach you. It's the same with your intuition: it's almost like a new language. And, yes, there are books and classes and even computer programs you can find to help you, and I suggest you do! However, what if I told you that there are physical tools that can also help you speak this new language? And, almost more importantly, that it's okay to use them?

Using the Tools
Think of intuitive tools as personal assistants: they strengthen your natural gifts and offer tangible ways to recognize our connection. By making intuitive insights visible, they reduce uncertainty about what your intuition is telling you. Using these tools also helps bridge the gap between desire and ability, creating a simpler, more accessible connection.

Life can be difficult, and even more so when we don't have the right tools to help us. Even when accomplishing simple tasks we often use something designed for the job at hand. Intuition is no different. That's why it's so important to discover tools created specifically to facilitate our intuitive connection.

Let's talk about the tools! Tangible tools to boost your intuition are unlimited. There are a variety of cards, pendulums, crystals, scrying implements, and more. However, some are more common than others. We'll start with oracle cards.

Oracle Cards
There are more card decks than you can possibly imagine, including tarot decks. Tarot cards do have a consistent meaning across every deck and to become good at reading them there is more practice involved—some people spend decades with them and still feel they have more to learn. Oracles, on the other hand, can be simpler in that they tend to give more straightforward answers. Though the cards of each have a meaning associated with them, according to the creator of the deck, they are open to interpretation. That said, they are generally pretty easy to understand.

Using Oracle Cards
Grab an oracle deck; any deck will do. Shuffle them as you think about a question you may have in your own personal life, such as, "What will my life look like if I change careers?" Or, "How does this person feel about me?" Or, "What does the universe have to share about my upcoming day?" Or, "Is there anything I should focus on this month to help me on my path?" You'd do better staying away from strict yes or no questions, unless you have a deck that specifically offers you those answers, and rather ask what the situation may look like.

The great thing about oracle cards is they give you the ability to instantly connect with them. The first thing you can look at is the card itself. Notice the colors. Do they feel like happy colors to you? Or sad? Or even angry? Also, look at the imagery on the card and consider if it makes you feel good or bad, in general. There may be a word or even a description on the card—when you look at that it may help you understand which way the card is leaning on the happiness spectrum. For instance, if the name of the card is "Relief," I would think it would give you some respite from any difficult situations with which you may have been dealing. Alternatively, if it is "Destructive," it may intimate the opposite of something good.

Another great thing about oracle cards is that if you're not sure what the card is trying to share, you can always ask for clarity and pull another card. So, for example, if you pulled a card that said "Shadow," you might want to pull another to find out to determine what it means. Is it asking you to look at your shadow side? Is it telling you there is something you're afraid of? If your original question was whether to move forward with a new relationship, pull another for clarity. If you got "Thrilling" as the validating card, it may be telling you to move past your fears because the new relationship will be stimulating or even electrifying.

Using oracle cards launches your intuition and also enhances your intuition. It provides you with clear, quick answers. The more you use them, the more you discover you can do an entire reading with just a single card.

Pendulums
The pendulum is a simple tool, an instrument that can be created by your own hands or can be purchased. Pendulums are generally made up of something pointy, such as a crystal or a stone or even a piece of wood, which is suspended from a chain or a string. They can be basic or extremely fancy. My first pendulum was a lead fishing lure on the end of a string. One of my favorites, now, is a clear quartz crystal pointed on the end, with rainbow crystals traveling up the length of chain. There's no right or wrong type of pendulum; it only needs to feel good to you.

Using a Pendulum
Pendulums are a way to channel your intuition in a manner that you can see. You might discover people use pendulums in many different ways. You can use a pendulum mat or a board (similar to a Ouija or divination board) that has letters, numbers, yes or no, and other words that will help you understand what your pendulum is sharing. However, it works just as well using only your pendulum with your hand to get straightforward answers. Unlike cards, you do ask yes or no questions.

Start by putting the top end of your pendulum cord over your pointer finger and hold it in place using your thumb, letting it drape down over both your pointer and your middle finger. This helps to secure it without too much accidental movement. You can use your dominant or non-dominant hand; it's your preference.

Then, holding your other hand under the tip of the pendulum, without touching it, ask it to show you "Yes." Notice, first, if it moves at all. Then pay attention to how it moves. It might move in a straight line or a circle. Once you've established what your "Yes" looks like, ask it to stop. If it continues moving, you can hold it for a second. When you're ready, ask it to show you your "No." Again, it may move in a circle or a straight line. Some people prefer to pay attention to the direction (left or right) it moves rather than if it is a circle or straight line, but I find it's easier to discern by the two different patterns. However, it's fine either way. When you're done deciphering the different answers, ask it to once again stop moving.

Think of a question you'd like to answer. You can ask if you should buy a specific book or if it would be a good idea to take a class. If you've been debating about a new car, you can ask whether to purchase a new car. But, don't ask whether you should buy a new car or stick with your old one in the same question; your answer won't be clear. You may not even get movement from your pendulum. You should only ask one question at a time in order to receive a true "Yes" or "No" response.

Much like you did with the oracle cards, you can ask the pendulum for validation or clarification if you're unsure or even if you don't like the answer you're getting. This can happen when your ego gets in the way—for instance, if you really want a new car but the pendulum is telling you "No," you can ask if it's for financial reasons.

Pendulums assist your intuition with questions about what's to come, directions you should go in, and even purchases that would be beneficial. It's your intuition connecting to the energy of the universe that is directing the swing of your pendulum to provide you with tangible "Yes" and "No" answers—which makes the pendulum a fantastic divinatory tool.

Scrying with Crystals
For some, scrying can be the perfect way to connect to their intuition. Crystal scrying, essentially, is the act of gazing into a crystal and seeing what the universe and your intuition is sharing with you. You may see imagery or symbols inside the crystal. Scrying can be done with crystals, clouds, mirrors, and even water. Using crystals to scry allows your intuition to shine through. Any crystal will work, but I prefer to use one with inclusions. The outside of the crystal can be smooth, but the inside should have divots or crevices, which will help you access your intuition. You might choose an amethyst or a quartz crystal or even a crystal ball. It's entirely up to you.

To help you connect with your intuition, hold your crystal. Close your eyes. Set your intention to receive any information relevant to your journey. Open your eyes. Gaze into your crystal and ask for your future to be shown to you. At first, you might only see the crystal itself. Let your vision blur a little bit. Move it around and look into it from different angles. As you do, allow any thoughts you may have, imagery you may see, sounds you may hear, or emotions you may feel to come through you. Scrying opens you up to more than just seeing; it is a pathway to your intuitive gifts. Pay attention to any impressions you have, no matter how they come. Once you feel comfortable scrying, you can ask for more specific information to be shown to you if you choose.

Scrying can be an important tool to gain access to your intuitive abilities. Next time, when you're unsure of something, look up towards the sky. Let the clouds be your scrying medium. The sky, as they say, is the limit.

Connecting to Your Intuition Using Tangible Tools
Using tools to help you connect to your intuition may have been something you've discounted at first. Now, I trust you will understand the benefits. It is not cheating. It is, rather, a way to access your birthright, the gifts you were born with. It is a means to jumpstart your connection to the universe, your higher self, and even those around you. Tools help; so why not use them now?