Is the Universe guiding us?
The first perspective is that we are completely alone in this world, in a dog-eat-dog society, where everything ultimately falls onto our shoulders to bear. Like Atlas in mythology, we believe that we must carry the weight of the world without any support or guidance, because “that is what it means to be human.” This perspective says we must compete, fight, and hoard because “there isn’t enough good to go around.”
The second perspective is that we are actually not alone, and while the ego may feel separate from others, spiritually, we are all connected. Not only are we all fundamentally One, but we also have access to guidance whenever we need help.
While this guidance may come in the form of angelic, spirit guide, totemic, ancestral or synchronistic help, all guidance is always a manifestation of the Divine or Higher Self.
Not only that, but because the Divine is the eternal source of all abundance, there is always enough good to go around.
Depending on your perspective, you will either agree or disagree with this article. Personally, my experience shows me that the second perspective – that the Divine is always guiding us – is closest to the truth. Let me explain why.
When I tightly grasped the perspective that everything was essentially up to us and what we could “make” happen, I was always full of fear and my heart was closed towards others. I believed that I had to fight my way through life, and because my energy reservoirs were limited, I had to desperately cling to my successes and accomplishments.
Through time, this perspective led to my heart becoming more and more closed. I would feel suspicion, anger, and even resentment towards others who were “blocking” my abundance or trying to “take it away” from me. Not only that, but I was utterly exhausted, like poor Atlas!
Finally, what I can only call Divine Guidance helped me to see that nothing in this life actually belongs to me. All is given by the Divine, and all is taken away by the Divine.
Even obstacles and roadblocks can be sacred signs from the universe and gifts in disguise, helping us to realign with our true life paths.
How Does the Universe Communicate With You?
Most people are surprised to discover that the Universe is extremely present in our lives, and emerges in even the most mundane details. In every moment we can tune into the guidance, wisdom, and love of the Divine if we are open and receptive.
You don’t even have to be remotely religious or spiritual to understand what the Universe is communicating with you. In fact, sometimes it’s better to have no ideas or beliefs about how the Universe “should” communicate with you at all. Many people believe that the Divine only speaks through amazing, miraculous, ethereal events, and unfortunately, this blocks the flow of communication. But the truth is that the Divine is just as present in the grime and banality of daily life as it is in the “special” moments. The Universe sends messages everywhere.
I have received messages from the Divine in the shower, on the toilet, while doing the dishes, cleaning, going grocery shopping, and many other commonplace situations. Quite often the Universe will communicate through dreams, strange “coincidences,” repetitive numbers and word, songs, animals, meditation, other people, random objects, and endless other forms.
And yes, the Universe will also tell you when you’re making the wrong decision. No matter what you call the Eternal Force (whether it be God, Life, Jehovah, Shiva, Shakti etc.), it is inseparable from you, and therefore knows what does and doesn’t align with your destiny.
11 Warning Signs From the Universe
Through our eyes, the Universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the Universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witness through which the Universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence. – Alan Watts
The Divine seamlessly flows within and without us, constantly trying to catch our attention and guide our decisions. When we are ruled by the will of the small self (the ego), we tend to follow paths that don’t ultimately benefit us. We make poor choices, do things that hurt us and others, and lose touch with our life purpose.
How can you tell whether you’re on the right path?
The Universe will send ample signs! You needn’t worry. And when you do receive these signs, don’t fret either. As long as you pay attention, ask the Divine for further guidance, and be mindful of changing course, you will quickly shift back onto a healthy and beneficial path.
Remember that any warning signs from the Universe that you experience are there not to hurt you, but instead, are there to alert you. Sometimes warning signs even come in the form of a big slap to the face saying “wake the heck up!!” While these signs can be shocking or alarming, they ultimately arise for our highest good. So be mindful, approach them with humor, and pay attention.
Here are eleven common warning signs from the Universe that are telling you to stop what you’re doing:
1. Unexpected delays arise
For example, you might get stuck in traffic, miss your train, find that the flight tickets are booked out, or find that a spontaneous event arises which messes up your plans.
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2. You have an uneasy feeling in your stomach
You might feel a sense of queasiness or sickness inside of you. This negative gut feeling might not go away, no matter what thoughts you have or plans you make.
3. You keep losing things
Either something is stolen from you or you’re misplacing things. The temporary shock of losing something wakes you up.
4. You’re getting into frequent fights
Fiery arguments and silly disagreements keep popping up constantly. These arguments might be with your loved ones or with random strangers.
5. You can’t sleep properly
You can’t stop thinking and this is preventing you from falling asleep. You might have a single thought that keeps circling around your mind or a fearful scenario that may be playing out over and over again.
6. You keep getting sick
Sickness seems to be preventing you from doing what you want to do. You might develop chronic headaches, migraines, colds, or other forms of sickness that demand you to slow down.
7. You’re more clumsy than usual
You might keep stubbing your toe, bumping your elbow, stumbling, dropping things, etc.
8. Dread or anxiety fills you
An inexplicable sense of dread or anxiety seems to follow you wherever you go, as if “something really bad” is about to happen.
9. You keep seeing “negative omens”
Negative spiritual signs or omens are highly personal and subjective, and as such, they change all the time. Therefore, instead of seeing negative omens as “fixed” or objective “facts,” simply see them as subjective signs that your mind picks up on and perceives to be true for you in a specific moment. For example, I might see a flock of black crows as a negative omen or broken traffic lights as a sign that a certain decision of mine is misguided. Be aware and conscious of how your mind reacts to different signs throughout the day.
10. You get into accidents
Accidents are often big signs that it’s time to change course immediately. Accidents can be physical or emotional/mental. For example, you might accidentally say something to offend your boss which causes them to stop giving you regular shifts. On the other hand, you might get into a car accident or have a household mishap which causes you to remain crippled in a bed for a few days or weeks.
11. Uncanny roadblocks and challenges keep arising
For some reason, things aren’t aligning no matter HOW much effort you’re putting in. You keep coming across roadblocks and barriers which prevent you from getting what you want or think you have to do. When you take a step forward, something might happen which causes you to take two steps back. All of your struggling and fighting doesn’t seem to be paying off.
What to Do When You Receive Warning Signs From the Universe
Keep in mind that it is common to experience things such as losing sleep or getting stuck in traffic. Just because you stubbed your toe doesn’t necessarily mean that you are on the wrong path.
However, when you are experiencing many of these signs from the Universe all at once or consecutively, please pay attention. Ask yourself, “What am I doing, thinking or planning right now which might be opposing my highest good?”
Depending on how aware you are, warning signs from the universe can range from subtle roadblocks to full-blown barricades. The more asleep you are, the bigger and more glaringly obvious the signs will be.
If you do feel like you are receiving warning signs from the Universe, be proactive rather than worrying or becoming miserable.
Often, shifting back to the best path requires a minimal amount of effort. Other times, you need to carefully reconsider your choices or intentions. But whatever the case, it is always possible to change direction.
Here are some tips for realigning with your ultimate life path:
- To receive confirmation that you’re on the wrong path, tune into your intuition. Ask, “Am I on the right path?” Pay attention to the feelings and sensations that arise in your body. For example, if your body reacts with a feeling of heaviness, this is a sign that you need to change something. If your body feels light and jubilant, this is likely a sign that you’re doing well. Read more about how to trust your intuition.
- Breathe deeply and thank the Universe for alerting you. You might even like to say a prayer asking for guidance like I do. For example, you might pray, “Dear Universe, please help me be aware of what needs to change in my life. Guide my actions and prevent me from walking down the wrong path. Help me to be humble, open, and receptive. Show me the next steps I need to take because I can’t do this without you.”
- Spend time alone in introspection. Think about what needs to change. You might like to journal to record your thoughts and feelings (I do this when I need clarity).
- Find the humor in what happened (if possible). Humor is an excellent way to lighten your energy and open your heart. Sometimes the Universe sends the most bizarrely humorous signs to gently slap us and wake us up.
- Meditate to clear your mind.
- If you’re confused about what you need to change, pay attention to the context. For example, were you thinking, doing or planning something when a series of signs occurred?
Finally, remember that you and the Universe are not separate. In reality, you are the Universe, so whatever signs that arise are coming from the eternal presence that underlies your entire identity. While it can feel like something “out there” is guiding you, actually, your very Soul is the one guiding you.
I hope this article has helped to clarify any concerns you’re having about your life path. If you would like to read more about signs from the Universe, you might like to read my soul communication article.
Please feel free to share any thoughts or insights below.
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I hate to be negative but from a writers perspective this could really go for anyone, and there are little to no facts or anything backing up some of the claims made above
I found this post after googling some anxiety symptoms I’ve been experiencing of late, that have left me a little lost. In December I’m going on a cruise with my husband’s family. I’ve been on several cruises already, all of which have triggered my fear of water, but none as bad as the thought of this one. I’ve been noticing a lot of signs lately that only increase my anxiety eg. Sinking ship references on movies, people saying things in conversation etc. along with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I think of the cruise… it’s like a big grey cloud hanging over me followed by a feeling of sadness. It lasts about 10-20 minutes each time and then all of a sudden I’m ok again. I’ve also had other signs that contrast this. Every now and then I’ll have a positive feeling about the cruise and I’ll feel completely calm. Recently I went to Thailand for my honeymoon and everyday I had anxiety about a tsunami, checking the water every 5 minutes to make sure it’s still there. Although there were disaster movie references on tv, there was nothing specifically tsunami based whereas the… Read more »
Thank you for being able and willing to put into words what you have. I found your article by typing in “What is the universe telling me when I can hardly move?” Almost suddenly, a month or so ago, specific parts of my body started hurting and stiffening. I have no bruises, no swelling, no rashes. My mind is clear. I had my blood, heart, checked out. I am normal in all the tests. I am now taking B12, calcium and collagen supplements thinking it’s my nerves, tendons or muscles. I know I’ve been pushing my body to its limits in the past few months at work as a freelancer and at home cleaning, cooking, and caring for kids and my parents. I multitask constantly. I have always prided myself in my physical strength and energy levels and now I shuffle and fumble like a person in her 70s! So I laid down on my bed and typed the above words in Google and found you. I hear you. I just need to stay still and listen again to the universe. Again, thank you for providing an answer.
Hi Peter, Thanks for sharing the products of your life’s search and research! I had come across Chris Thomas before – although he was being targeted at the time I came across him last, so I’m glad to see he may still be alive. I will certainly check all of this information out. I am a newbie to this website as of today. I have been on a similar journey since of searching and, although I believe in a universal source energy (that some may like to call God, including me). Whilst I believe there are many nuggets of truth within the Bible, for example, I do not believe in organized religion and, in fact, rejected the version of God presented as a young child. The God of the Bible sounded more like a very scary psychopath to me, NOT my idea of God. But I didn’t reject the idea of God altogether. I believe that organized religions are simply another form of control. I am aware that we are in the process of receiving more light currently in order to assist us to awaken, and there are various physical symptoms that have confirmed this for me personally. We are… Read more »
Thank you for this article, it is spot on. I used to be in touch with the signs the universe was sending to me, which always manifested in an overwhelming sense of deja vu and numerous synchronicities. When I experienced these moments I felt strongly I was on the right path. Unfortunately many terrible things happened and now I’ve been thrown off course, and this article will help me find the right path again.
Fantastic article, bang on the money. Thanks Mateo. Eventually we all come to the realization that our limited egos just don’t cut it for making a success of life. We are designed as part of the One and to function as part of the One. The Universe has our back in all respects including the most trivial. It just depends upon how sensitive we are to all the cues and clues. The best we can do to increase that is to fully accept this truth and totally surrender to it. Trust is what it takes and since the Universe is doing all the heavy lifting behind the scenes we just don’t have to worry so much about it all. Let go and let God. As free-will, creative beings our job is follow our instincts to identify and pursue what it is that truly lights our fire and gets us out of bed everyday. Meditation sure helps with that. At the risk of being long-winded, I would like to include the prayer that Jesus recommends prior to meditation, as follows. FATHER-MOTHER-LIFE, you are my life, my constant support, my health, my protection, my perfect fulfillment of every need and my highest… Read more »
Thank you Sol.I just heard the Universe speak through this article.I have been grappling with anger and insecurity issues the last few years.This year my 44th birthday made me realise mt Higher Self through compassion and understanding of human behaviour starting with my own behaviour.No longer do i feel hatred or anger towards people’s pettiness,rather i pray for them asking the Higher power,the Universe to guide us all in this journey,for everyone is my sister,brother,my mother or father,my child or even me.Its amazing how when we humbly accept our faults,offer apology for our ignorance and seek guidance from the Universe,its amazing how She responds and rushes to mend us to make us whole again.Compassion for all is a beautiful feeling Sol that is new to me,a mind that wallowed in Right and Wrong,Black and White,Success or Failure and Loss or Gain,Fight or Flight.I couldnt understand anything beyond these terms’No,not those grey shades you always spoke of.And certainly not the FREEZE you referred to in one of your articles.Now i know.I understand and i am grateful to the Universe,Her powers that reshaped me.
The last sentence answered my question: who does the guiding? I find it difficult to believe there is some sort of entity / force out there who decides how your life should go. Because that doesn’t explain why bad things happen, nobody deserves pain and trauma. But as you say at the end, it is your own soul who can guide you and that is a better guidance then making your choices based on what other people do, what the media says, what is on trend, what celebrities do, etc. Last Saturday I kept bumping my legs and knees, they are covered in bruises and scratches… I thought it had to do with it being very hot and I get drowsy when the temperature is higher then 25 degrees Celsius. But maybe it was my Soul warning me? But for what? I appreciate the tips for what to do when you encounter a lot of messages at once. Have I changed my path, I am doing the right thing? Or is it just sleep I need or a cooler weather? Thanks for this article, it got me thinking. Sometimes things happen that are just to much of a coincidence, but… Read more »
Sometimes we go thru years of struggle wondering, “What the heck am I doing wrong?” or “Why can’t I catch a break?”. Life is difficult for everyone. It is all about how we handle it. We can let it make us hard and brittle or compassionate and loving. We can drown in depression or learn to roll with it and even find humor in the absurdities of it all. We can grow in wisdom and strength or give up and die. Our choice. There is positive and negative in every situation. Which side we choose to see is, again, our choice. These may sound like platitudes but they are my truths. I hope that 70 years of living have taught me how to die…but not yet! ;~).
This was really a great help. I have a chaotic family life and have learned that I need to develop patience because of it. I do experience synchronicities and other “signs” from the Universe, so having these is a good reminder to me that I am never truly alone.
I recently read an article on Involution on Self Transformation, which you wrote:
“In true Alchemy one goes through four stages of development:
The Nigredo; in which one experiences the darkness and depression of life.
The Albedo; in which one sees the brightness of things.
The Rubedo; where one discovers passion and understanding.
The Citrino; where one appreciates the goldenness of life.”
This has really sparked my interest, as I have gone through the first of these phases already and am in the process of entering another. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for books on Alchemy that I could read?