Intuitive Intelligence

We have all heard the terms used to describe sensitive children. Everything from indigo, crystal, rainbow, to ADHD, autistic, or children having sensory processing issues. I felt a post on Today's Intuitive Children (a group on facebook) yesterday, was a beautiful interpretation of how we need to stay away from labels, because of the long term impact it has on our children and their self- esteem. In our book- Raising Intuitive Children, we take a different approach to describe our sensitive children by giving them knowledge of their intelligence. Something we term- Intuitive Intelligence.

In the traditional psychological model the child is described as having one of the following attributes (or a combination of such)- physical, mental, emotional, intuitive or spiritual. In our book, we pair the traditional intelligence with an intuitive intelligence. Below in the chart, you will see the description of the natural intelligence when paired with an intuitive intelligence. What this chart does and what this discovery directs us toward, is the natural/ intuitive gifts our children possess. When acknowledged by a parent or caregiver, this can guide children to know what their gifts are and trust the development of them.
For a larger image, click here!

Here I will give a few examples of how you may see the natural intelligence paired together with an intuitive intelligence.

In the chart we pair the natural intelligence of being "physical" with a child's intuitive awareness of their body in relation to their space or activity, and now we give the overactive (or energetic) child who may be referred to as having ADHD, an intuitive intelligence. When we become aware of this as an intuitive gift vs. a problem, we find ways to help the child effectively manage their influx of energy. In the book, I refer to my oldest son as being a physical intuitive. He is a gifted athlete and at an early age, we taught him to channel his energy by becoming involved in sports, Tae Kwon Do, and yoga. You might also see this show up for a child in school by their lack of focus or ability to sit still; this is due to their heightened flow of energy. Encourage your child to hold onto something or give them something to squeeze during the times they need to focus the most. This will help ground them by giving them something to be aware of in relation to their body.

Next we pair the mental with creative and we have the Creative, Inspired intuitive intelligence. These are our children who exhibit strong interest in the arts. Children we might refer to as drama queens or being overly dramatic. They love the arts, music, dance, singing...etc. They often daydream, have trouble staying focused and mostly learn through experimentation. Creative intuitives need firm boundaries put in place or they are likely to run the class or household. Finding the source of their passion is a great way to channel their creative energy. If they love to dance or sing, give them their own radio; find a musical instrument they can drum away on; engage them in watching people who do the things they are interested in. There is a lot of controversy over whether children should watch T.V, but for the creative child, it sometimes gives them the ability to connect or identify with the gifts inside them.

How many times have you seen a celebrity interviewed and the one thing they attribute their success to is seeing that one star who inspired them to become an actor?

My oldest daughter is a creative intuitive. From the age of 7 months she had rhythm; something I had not seen in such a young child. She actually loved Baby Einstein, but for her she identified with the music, the movement, the rhythm. She is an avid singer, dancer, performer; all around musically inclined. Today she loves to sit down with us and watch American Idol and tells us every week- "when I get bigger I am going to be on Idol." Who knows, but what better way for her to discover her passion than to be able to identify with someone else doing it?

The key to understanding our children and their gifts is to acknowledge and become aware of their natural intelligence paired with their intuitive intelligence. As the chart demonstrates, we can pair any one of the five natural intelligences with what we have discovered today are our intuitive intelligences. All children have an intuitive knowing; its up to us as parents to help them trust and develop it. This can also take us out of the mind set of using labels- the ones that seem special like indigo, rainbow and crystal; as well as the ones that follow a child through life like ADHD, autistic and sensory integration, which can make a child feel like there is something wrong with them.


For more detailed information about the intuitive intelligences and how they impact today's sensitive children, you can purchase your copy of Raising Intuitive Children here!

Labels and Your Intuition About Your Kids

There is a lot of discussion these days about our children being labeled with learning disabilities and whether its appropriate given what we know about our children's sensitivities. For a long time, it has angered me to know that institutions, who don't directly relate to many of our children, could be in a position to tell us there is something wrong with them. Labels for everything from sensory processing, auditory processing, aspergers, autism to ADD or ADHD (whichever term they are using in this moment). Sounds to me like the only people NOT being labeled are the child prodigy's (and we know how few and far between they are).

As the mom of four kids ranging in age from a teenager to an infant, I feel equipped through experience, to share my feelings and perception about this topic. My oldest son Adam, is one of those kids who fits in well with the traditional school model. He understands the material easily; he tests well; he's outgoing, athletic; a kid who will succeed no matter what is thrown his way. He is also naturally intuitive which gives him the ability to read his surroundings and other people, but in a way that doesn't affect his personal energetic space.

Conclusion: Not a child one would think would be labeled with anything.

However, in kindergarten there was one teacher who gently commented that we may want to watch him for ADD. Given my intuitive knowing as a parent I strongly disagreed and found other ways to help him channel his energy. We put him in Tae Kwon Do and took him to yoga. What I came to understand about him, was that his natural intuitive gifts are demonstrated through his physical being. He is a gifted athlete and as long as he's moving the abundance of energy he has been blessed with, he functions perfectly well.

*In Raising Intuitive Children Adam is an example of the Physical Intuitive intelligence.

My younger son on the other hand is the complete opposite. He is emotionally sensitive, something I was aware of about him, at a very early age. He connects with the earth energies- water, crystals, animals; is compassionate; a humitarian; feels the emotions of the people around him; began seeing colors at the age of 3 and started having clairvoyant experiences at the age of 4; he struggles with reading and comprehending what he's read, but he is excellent in math and strategic games like chess; and he's drawn to art and music. Caden is a visual/ kinesthetic learner and doesn't process things the way a left- brained linear thinker does.

Conclusion: The schools wants to test him for auditory processing disorder and his teacher said they may lean toward ADHD too.

Now I am not against techniques that will help him function more easily in school, like the ones they would use to test his auditory skills, because what I have observed is that his confidence and self- esteem are compromised when he feels like he's not as smart as the other kids. I do however, have a problem with this being done because he isn't reading at the level they expect him to be. As far as ADHD is concerned, he absolutely does not exhibit characteristics of this label. Yes his mind moves faster and requires tricks to slow him down, but he is running at an incredibly high vibration, something we are not accepting of (or even aware of) in our world at this time.

Techniques I use to slow his mind down are things he can relate to energetically. As I said, he is intune with the earth energies. He takes a crystal to school with him and can either feel it through his pocket or hold it in his hand. This reminds him to stay grounded. I make sure he has a water bottle with him and he is encouraged to sip from it frequently. From a very early age, Caden used water as a natural way to ground himself (he would swim, take a bath, soak in the hot tub) so by drinking water, it has a similar affect and calms him. He is blessed to have a teacher who is also a meditation instructor, so we have discussed her walking by and touching his shoulder from time to time, so he feels connected which helps him remain centered.

*In Raising Intuitive Children, Caden is an example of the Empathic Intuitive and Psychic intelligence.

Although it can be daunting to know what the answers are for your kids or how to fight a system that appears broken, my best advice is to trust your intuition. If someone tells you something you don't feel right about, question it. Pay attention to what your kids may energetically be telling you as well. Often times, our kids will lead us toward what is best for them if we take the time to pay attention. I had every intention of homeschooling Caden this year. The fact that he is a psychically, empathic child made school difficult for him at times and we agreed third grade would be the time to change our method of schooling. We moved back home to upstate NY from VA, right before school started and Caden requested to go to school. We even discussed him staying back in second grade so he could have another year to build his confidence and registered him in second only to find out they placed him in third. It all made sense when I found out his teacher is also a meditation instructor and certified in Reiki 1 and 2. I have also been told he would work with autistic children someday and what better way to understand their sensitivities than to experience some of what they experience.

We may not always understand why things happen a certain way, but what I have found is that if we trust the natural flow; trust ourselves enough to know we have the answers; and listen to what our children may not be saying to us verbally, but may be saying to us energetically; things always work out for the best!

Copyright 2010, Tara Paterson, All Rights Reserved

Global Tragedy in Haiti

I received a link to a web site in my inbox today and like most things it was an article about the tragedy in Haiti. The most disturbing part of this piece were the things Pat Robertson, of all people, was saying. The article further went on to ask whether this catastrophe was karma (you can read the article here)?

It is my turn to be deeply saddened by people who could believe something like this is just a karmic boomerang. Really? Would God, the grand illusion, your higher self/ soul, or whatever you choose to believe in, take out vengeance on people who barely have enough to survive as it is? I choose not to believe something "out there" punished people, who aren't even aware of anything different, just for the mere fun of their circumstance. Would you hold a bowl of food in your hand in front of a child who hasn't eaten in two days just for fun? I mean essentially, that's what we are saying God has done to Haiti if we agree with these kinds of views- be it the devil or karma.

Why don't we look at this global catastrophe in a new light. Perhaps these things happen to people who are less fortunate in an effort to wake up those of us who have been living a life of splendor. My family has fallen on hard times, as I have shared before, like a lot of working families in this country, but we still have far more than people in countries like Haiti. I don't see this event in their life as karma nor do I see it as the people of Haiti projecting something out into the world. This was a natural disaster and one most likely caused by countries like ours.

I received an email yesterday asking whether I wanted to "buy" an item off of someone to give as a gift for a birthday which is THREE months away! Are you kidding me? We just suffered a natural disaster of epic proportions and someone is concerned about gifts for a birthday in April. In my mind, uncontientable!

This is the mentality of the people who have been in control of our world and it's time we make the changes necessary to move forward in love. Forget karma, judgement, opinions, or explanation. Start changing the stories you create and the outcome will begin to look different too! This life isn't about what we have; how much we've given; whether innocent people are being punished or whether its karma! The reality is we have witnessed yet again human tragedy and the only question that needs to be asked is- what do we plan to do about it?

God Bless the people in Haiti. You did not deserve this; you did not bring this on yourself; and there are people who deeply care about you and the human condition. May you rise up from the ashes and ascend into the light of humanity's love!

Today's Morning Blessing from Reverend Angela Peregoff

I thought this was a nice follow up to what I posted yesterday about being a parent. Must be a theme this year :o)

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.
It is to decide forever to have your heart
go walking around outside your body.- Elizabeth Stone

There comes a time in each child's life when they are faced with critical decisions and we, as parents, must sit back in silent witness and observe their choices. We hang intently on the outer edges of their judgment-making processes hoping to get a glimpse of the honesty, empathy, kindness, compassion, respect and responsibility we modeled for them. Children naturally adopt behaviors they observe in us -- we are the example of what they will be in the world. The curiosity of what they will choose often has us questioning our own values and character. Did who we really are speak loudly enough for them to hear? Can they find the same fire within to stand in integrity and light when life is creating a challenging adventure for them? Have our own accomplishments as parents passed the legacy of Wisdom on to our greatest channeling of joy?

Lately I have had a number of conversations with parents that have revolved around this very subject. The moms and dads find themselves having to trust the journey and the heart wisdom of their most precious creation. There is distress and concern that a son or daughter won't have the courage or conscience to make the right choice. I have urged them to remember the depth of commitment they have given to parenting, and while children usually choose the lesser standard of behavior first they eventually come back to the framework they were raised in.

We all learn about what we value through trial and error, so why would it be any different for our children? If you have any doubts about the confidence and truth your child possesses I beg you to get up right now, walk up to your child and stare into his or her eyes. The reflection you see is the Intelligence of the adult they will become. Sure, it may take a while to mature but I guarantee if you blazed a trail of authenticity and were a living example of what you want to see in your children it will show up. It can't not!

Never lose sight of the energy, thoughtfulness and love that is sometimes hidden within a blanket of chaos and denial my friends.

The time will come when your children will clean up their acts and meet their challenges with the allowance of values you have embodied in them.

Remember, our children are the messages we are sending into
a future we may never see, Reverend Angela Peregoff

Parenting Never Ends

I have given a lot of thought to this post, because its necessary to be centered in a neutral space when sharing feelings or beliefs about anything, especially our views on parenting. We know everyone has a different lense for how we view the world and our role in it so let me be the first to say, this is through my own personal lense as an experienced and loving parent.

"Struggle" has been the name of the game for many people over the past few years. For my family personally, we have struggled since 2005 when the housing market was in its beginning stages of a major decline. My husband's business was dependent on people remodeling or adding on to their homes as he owned his own carpentry business. His work and ability to find it was coming to a rapid halt beginning in late 2005 only to hit bottom, as we have all witnessed has been the case for many over the past couple of years. We surrendered our home; bankrupted; moved twice; and have spent many sleepless nights wondering how to put food on the table for our children, much less concern ourselves with how to pay bills or least of all health insurance. Somehow we have remained intact, although it hasn't been easy.

As if that doesn't seem like the worst of it, my husband may be facing a health issue and is still desperately searching for work. We have 4 kids to provide for and he has bounced from four different jobs since November because of lack of work or lay offs due to pending projects. I am not slated to work again until late February or March. I lay awake at night or have thoughts constantly flowing through my head, that beg for the ability to take care of our children. As a parent I think we all worry about how to meet our children's needs especially in today's declining and uncertain economy. It really is scary what we may be facing and yes, I pray to God everyday to deliver us from the fear and concern that our needs won't be met.

So the bigger question I have been contemplating for the last several days, months and years, is what causes a parent(s) to think they have ever done enough to help their children when every other course of action has been followed through with? Again mind you, this is coming through my lense of being a conscious parent/ human being, who looks through the heart when responding to those in need.

Two years ago, I took on the most difficult task that could have been asked of me which was to take in my mother to live with us. My father passed suddenly at the age of 52 and my mom was left with her world turned upside down. After attempts by my siblings to care for her (and one prior attempt by me), in the end I had the compassion and strength to take on the responsibility. This was not an easy decision to make and to this day is almost a challenge daily, but we aren't asked only to do what's easy, but rather asked to do what God would do.

Would God ever turn to one of us and say- I've done all I can do; you're on your own now kid? Hopefully, this is a rhetorical question....

As a parent, I would go to the ends of the earth for my children. I would give them the shirt off of my back and if they were struggling in the world, because of unfortunate circumstances and I had the means to do something about it, I most definitely would. Heck I would do it for a stranger, but definitely my children first and foremost, if they were in need. Many of us would give a kidney, our blood or our life for our children.

I recognize that for some the idea of living through the heart is a foreign concept. Hell, for decades people have been living in the shadows of their true selves to conform to social norms. So many people in my parent's generation were raised to be disconnected. Disconnected from themselves, each other, God... I see emotional pain at war inside some people and they can't even see they're fighting themself. One side wants to be the person that reaches out and helps lift someone else from their heart, while the other side is conditioned by past thinking and the old energy of- you have to work hard and struggle the way we did; nothing was ever handed to us. The sad truth is that we are watching people struggle and suffer from stress induced illness and all for what? There is no lesson here to be learned folks. We are supposed to give the shirt off of our back and our cloak too. Of course some of us want to believe that because we attend church and go to bible study we are living "the word." If you can't see you have only been given that which you have, to offer as a way to give others a hand up, you haven't been paying attention to the sermon.

To the parents out there who feel they've done enough and would rather watch their children suffer than to be burdened with their child's issues, in the end the greater travesty is that the grandchildren are the one's who will suffer the most. They will be the one's who remember there was no food in the cupboards or no money to pay for music or art classes; no gloves for the cold or heat to warm the house; no gas to put in the car or health care to correct a serious health issue.

We have many good friends, all with kids, who have been hit as hard or harder than we have. What amazes me the most is it appears our generation has been the fallout for the mismanagement of values from the prior one and some have family members who stand in the very same mindset of- we've helped you enough. We also have friends whose parents have given them half of what little amount of money they had in the bank (one person's parents had $400 and gave them $200 and would have given it all, but needed it for something).

Family members who own multiple homes and yet every one of their children are struggling in some way (emotionally, spiritually, financially). I don't know about you, but I couldn't in good conscience go to sleep at night knowing I have excess while my children are without. Believe me, you can rationalize anything I'm saying by quickly judging why someone else has been put in the situation they're in, making excuses for why you feel justified with your stance or criticizing the choices people have made, but in the end the only thing that truly matters is what choice did you make when faced with the option of making the right one?

If this hits a nerve, perhaps it was intended to raise your awareness. If you agree, you are probably like me and give from the heart without judgement. If you don't care, this wasn't intended for you.

I know that each and every day I make choices that will be best for my children and family. If you don't believe our children chose to be here, then you chose to have them and need to take responsibilty for what you've taught them or are teaching them. If you are of the belief our children chose to come to their parents then view them as the mirror of your experience and allow them to help you grow more fully into the light.

In the end, you have nothing if you don't have an open heart. You will never be given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven if you are kind to strangers, but turn your back on your family. You will never be able to face a higher power and justify why you didn't do more. You were told to do whatever was asked of you... believe me, its not easy. I live it on a daily basis!

©2010 by Tara Paterson, All Rights Reserved