(Read Time 6 Minutes) Our mental perceptions arise from a wide array of sources. Some of these originate from us, some from the environment, some from Non-Local sources, and others from sentient spiritual beings. But how do we discern between these and come to know the difference? As I personally tend to rely heavily on spiritual communication for many of my insights, this lesson came as a reminder that information can be gathered from a wide range of sources. I had forgotten this aspect of what my Spiritual Team called our own ‘Indigenous Experiences.’ Let’s take a look at what this means and what my Team had to say about it.

Most of us are highly prone to a wide range of mental thoughts. For example, some thoughts come from the thinking mind and are born of personal worry, logic, or creativity. Some thoughts come from Psi-based/Intuitive perceptions that can arise from the environment and from others around us. This can include collective consciousness or the stored energy and information of a location, as well as the energy, emotions, & intentions of other people around us. In addition, some thoughts can come from our higher self, or soul, and its desires for us. Some thoughts can also arise from intuitively connecting with higher nonlocal sources. For example, if we are seeking to find a solution to a given problem, we may find that in time the answer we need floats into us in some strange or serendipitous way. It’s not that we personally solved the problem through thinking, but rather our need for a solution (among other things like letting go and allowing) brought that solution to us. These insights can arise from sources associated with certain fields of knowledge or information, and based on our need for resolution, the answer intuitively floats into our conscious mind.

Each of the above insights or perceptions will often feel as if they arise from us – meaning they appear to originate from our own thinking mind, and it is these that my Spiritual Helpers define as ‘indigenous.’ This means they are precipitated by our own internal needs and arise from within us. They are indigenous to us and our personal ability to perceive – even if that perception is coming from outside sources. Granted, we may not always be able to discern amongst these various sources, and so we’ll perceive them as coming for our own cognitive processes. However, for those who are developing or exploring their intuitive side, understanding the variations of these indigenous experiences is of importance.

So how is Spirit communication different from these indigenous experiences – even though they can both arise through intuitive or psychic perceptions? Here is the direct answer that I was given!

“Conscious indigenous perceptions are valid but often disorganized, whereas direct spirit communication is concrete, uniform and with context woven into it. Communication is also softer, less abrasive or abrupt. Taken as a whole, (spirit) communication has meaning, whereas random thought does not. Indigenous perceptions can be valid and accurate, but often are rather irrelevant overall. They of course may have some value for the person perceiving them, if that meaning is sorted out and applied. Messages from spirit communication do not need to be analyzed. They speak for themselves. Truth is in the content of the message, even if it bears no evidence to tender its proof. Messages are evidence!”

So, for those of you who may want to pick this apart (as I would if I were in your shoes), I think what we need to understand about the differences between spirit communication and indigenous experiences is one of source as well as control. Indigenous perceptual experiences arise from inside us and our connection to the world around us – local or nonlocal. These indigenous experiences are a by-product of being alive and being in connection with the world around us. They often feel like blips or little spurts of information or perceptions. When examined, they can clue us into what is happening around us, but overall remain these isolated bits of awareness that often feel like our own thoughts and ideas.

Spirit communication, on the other hand, arises from a concentrated and organized connection to a nonlocal sentient source. With this type of connection comes context and meaning that resides outside of us, as well as beyond our current thought processes or intentions. Yes, these perceptions and impressions often come in small blips much the same as indigenous awareness, but when strung together and examined as a whole, they create a picture of meaning and context that simple indigenous perceptions lack. Both have meaning and validity but are quite unique.

The other thing I would point out is not to get hung up on this message that indigenous experiences are of no value. Psychic information that is not spirit-based communication can in fact be highly useful and applicable, especially when it is coming from our higher self and intended for our personal growth and awareness. Another example is how someone can utilize indigenous intuitive insights about a location to perhaps highlight a crime scene, or, to gain psychic insights about another person’s health and then relay that back to them. We can also utilize field information to help solve problems and enhance creative solutions. So these things do have enormous value if, as the message says, they are ‘sorted out and applied.’ But how many of us actually bother to do this? Especially when they come as seemingly small random blips for our own thoughts!

What I personally feel this lesson is really about, is not to forget that intuitive or psychic perceptions can come from a wide range of sources and that we have to discern not just spirit communication, but our own inner perceptions as well. In addition, spirit communication involves an inherent cohesiveness that is created by the one sending the message. You can think of it as a friend telling their story in their own words. With indigenous experiences, we are the ones telling the story. We are the ones who create cohesiveness from our perceptions and these will feel and be slightly different than those of the spirit communication type.

Discernment is always the last and final test of our psychic perceptions! It is here, in discernment, where we can begin to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together and really start to utilize our perceptions to the best of our ability – for us and for others. However, this takes time, practice, and experience. I am always learning and discerning, trying to understand sources and impressions and how to best utilize them. This lesson was simply a reminder that we often get stuck in the trap that ‘spirit communication’ is the source of all of our perceptions, and I admit to being guilty of this from time to time. So just remember that we have a vast array of indigenous experiences that also must be examined.

Blessings,

Carol