Your higher self is the larger part of your soul that is still connected to Source Energy, God, the All That Is, All Is One. Only a small percentage of each of us is manifested here on Earth as physical beings. The greater part of each of us is on "the other side" and exists only as conscious energy. We can tap into our higher selves for knowledge and guidance. Because we are part of the greater whole, which we see as a collective consciousness, we are each connected energetically to all the knowledge and information that Source Energy has. 

From the time I was a young teenager, I remember being able to ask myself yes or no questions about big life decisions and receiving a positive or negative feeling in my body as a response. Many times I didn't heed the response because it wasn't an answer I wanted to hear. I learned the hard way that when I ask for guidance, it behooves me to accept the answer I receive as truth, at least it is my own, personal truth. That was many years ago now that I didn't listen. Since then, I have not only trusted my inner voice, which comes directly from my higher self, but I have learned to increase that voice by doing two things. The first is raising my vibration higher and higher through my ongoing spiritual practices, and by actively pulling my higher self down into my lower body through the use of attunements (Lightarian Ascended Master Track - Lightarian Clearings™). I now feel more than just a positive or negative feeling. I also feel a full array of emotions coming from that higher, more connected part of myself. It's more comprehensive and more like an emotional dialogue than simply a black and white, yes or no response when I ask a question to gain clarity in my life. It's extremely important to maintain an openness to the responses you get to your questions. If you are solidly tied to the outcome of the response, you might as well not even ask the questions. It's not always easy. Like I said, I had to learn the hard way. 

The Solar Plexus chakra, between the belly button and the heart, relates to your inner knowing and I feel responses from my higher self resinate in that part of my body. To connect with your higher self more you can use Shamanic journeying (guided or self directed drumming technique to go tap into the "other side"), or use quiet meditation, both with the intention of making that connection. You can also have one specific question in mind that you can ask. If you're new to this, then ask a simple, yes or no question. Think of one that you don't have a strong emotional attachment to. Now, call in protection (angels, ascended masters, guides, god - whoever your crew is that you call on) and then call in your higher self and ask your question and set your intention that your higher self will answer you with a positive or negative feeling. Just be fully present in each moment of your meditation and breathe. Be aware of your body and any sensations that come through. Journal afterward to make notes of anything you saw in your mind's eye or felt physically in your body. Practice. Enjoy your deepening connection.

It is my belief is that Gaia is a sentient being and is literally the soul of the earth. We manifest human bodies for our souls to live in and Gaia's manifested body is the Earth. I see it like this... I was taught to see plants growing on Earth as alive, but never planet Earth itself. Now I see it as the entire planet has that same life force energy flowing through it and its bursting at the seems. That energy needs to be let out, to expand and grow and as a result, plants, flowers and trees grow, sometimes even out of unimaginable places like a concrete driveway or out of a the side of a boulder.  That is the energy of creation and incredibly powerful.

My 1st Real Experience Connecting with Gaia:
I was taking a walk through my neighborhood on a beautiful day and I was loving being outside. I had made a decision a week or so before the I wanted to really know how Gaia's energy felt so if I called her in for support, I'd recognize when she was present. I decided that that moment was the perfect time to do so because being outside versus inside was the first step to connecting with her energy. It's not necessary but can be helpful to for getting into the right state of mind. The second step was calling out to her in my head and asking her to allow me to sense what her energy feels like. I asked that she channel it though me and I promised to be open to it (openness was the third step). Two or three minutes after that, I realized that even the smallest details of the homes I was passing were holding my interest much more than usual. Something was happening inside of me emotionally. I specifically remember noticing a simple, gray-colored block wall that had been built in someones backyard. I saw the details of how a foundation had been laid and saw each course of blocks stacked strategically on top of the other, and how the mortar had placed between them and smoothed with a tool. I became overwhelmed with pride for this accomplishment. I felt overwhelmed by the intelligence and creativity behind inventing the blocks and the tools and the sequence of steps involved in the design, and also in the effectiveness of the wall. It looked so strong and permanent. I got teary and pride for humanity's cleverness swelled uncontrollably in me. I was blown away by how I was feeling. Me? Feeling proud of human-ingenuity? Hmmm... It seriously felt like I was a proud parent of my beloved child. That's when I got it. I understood why Gaia is also called "Mother Earth". I was channeling Gaia's love for, and positive view of, humanity, just as a mother feels for her children. I try to remember that loving feeling when I get down about people sometimes. I had indeed channeled Gaia that day. I call on her almost everyday now and when I do, I feel a surge of deep, warm energy moving up through my feet and into the rest of my body when I call on her and I always feel safe and protected. These experiences inspired me to create a guided meditation (Coming soon!) to help others enjoy a deeper connection with Gaia, too.