Can the universe communicate with me?

The Universe can't just sit down and have a conversation with us (how great would that be!). So it sends us signs instead to guide us towards what we want to manifest.  These signs come in the form of feathers, repetitive numbers, a song with a particular meaning or memory, a road sign that reminds you of something or someone, gut feelings, robins, dragonflys...or a great, big squawking magpie!

Yes, that's exactly the sign the Universe sent me this week. A huge magpie standing menacingly in the middle of the pathway in front of me, squawking at me loudly and staring right into my soul! Despite feeling mildly uneasy, I carried on walking towards it, telling myself to stop being an idiot. It was only a magpie! Of course it would fly off as soon as I got closer.

Would it?! Hell no! It stood its ground and squawked louder still until I was practically on top of it. It was like some kind of weird show down. I was determined to keep walking, and walk I did until the magpie FINALLY hopped up onto a low wall just to the side of the path. Yes! I won the show down (okay, I do realise how ridiculous it was feeling challenged by a magpie).

And how wrong I was! The magpie might have hopped slightly out of my way but the show down was far from over.  The magpie - now nearly eye level with me on the low wall (those of you that know me know that I'm a little vertically challenged) - continued to stare me down and the squawking got even louder as it flapped its wings at me and took off after me as I nervously slunk passed it.

Is this fight or flight?

It was at this point that I abandoned all hope of victory and took off running towards the building I was trying to get to. Clinging to my bags and trying not to break an ankle as I sprinted in my heels towards safety, I burst through the doors of the building, tripping over my own feet and panting hard with my heart practically bursting out of my chest. 

And that's when I noticed all the faces in the foyer of that building. Some faces were laughing. But most looked slightly unnerved; as though wondering if I knew something they didn't and they too should be running for their lives.

All were staring at me. 

I straightened my hair and my coat, put my bag back on my shoulder and walked somewhat calmly over to the reception desk, with only one slight glance over my shoulder to make sure the magpie hadn't somehow followed me into the building.

Is this a sign from the Universe?

I made a mental note to have a word with the Universe later about the manner in which it had delivered this particular message!

To be fair, I had been seeing single magpies in my path for weeks and, despite the nagging feeling that they were a sign I should be paying attention to, I refused to acknowledge them as such and totally ignored them.

I mean, single magpies can't be a good sign right? I know that rhyme...one for sorrow....two for joy. But I only ever saw one. One magpie outside my window every day while I was working. One magpie while walking my dog every day. One magpie on the side of the road as I drove past. One magpie sitting on my car roof on my driveway. No! No! No! Not my sign. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Usually, if my intuitive alludes me about the meaning of a particular sign I receive, I google it. I interpret the message, acknowledge it, thank the Universe for it and work out what it means for me in my life at that particular time. But I thought I knew what seeing one magpie meant. Not because I REALLY knew, intuitively, but just because of a silly rhyme I used to tell my kids. And so I refused to acknowledge the sign.

Until I couldn't anymore. 

Why was the Universe sending me a sign?

When we don't hear (or refuse to acknowledge) the signs the Universe is sending us, they get louder. And they are ALWAYS, always for our greater good. I had let my ridiculous limiting belief make me lose sight of that. But the Universe didn't give up.

The magpie was meant to let me know that I needed to re-evaluate my priorities and use my gift of perception to know what's right for me, rather than being swayed by beautiful illusions that were tempting me, but not right for me deep down. 

That day, I let go of something I had thought I wanted and chose something else that my intuition told me was right for me (even though my ego mind was steering me in a different, totally wrong direction). As soon as I had made the decision, the stress that had been keeping me awake at night, lifted and I knew that I was once again aligned with my soul purpose. 

So I did have words with the Universe later that day. But they were words of gratitude for not giving up on my stubborn ass!

You too can communicate with the Universe. And better yet, the Universe is constantly communicating with you. Your ability to hear the guidance the Universe is giving you, is directly linked to your willingness to listen.

What is my challenge?

So I have a challenge for you this week.  I challenge you to make it your mission to notice your signs. Notice the things you are seeing, hearing or feeling (that gut feeling) repeatedly. Notice, acknowledge and interpret what the Universe is trying to tell you – BEFORE the messages get louder.