We’re pretty sure you’ve probably experienced (even just once) having a tight knot in your chest that screams “Nope!” – and then a few hours later, you're wondering…was that actually a warning from my intuition, or just another episode of overthinking?

This is one of those questions that comes up again and again, especially for those of us on a spiritual path. You’re trying to trust yourself, trying to make aligned choices, maybe even working with tarot or energy work…but then your brain chimes in with fifty “what ifs” that just makes you stuck and doubting.

Let’s really sit with this idea of intuition vs. anxiety, and not from a clinical lens, but from a place of inner knowing, energy, and a little witchy wisdom.

Intuition is Quiet. Anxiety Shouts.

We’ve always said this (if you’re an avid reader of our blogs, or you’ve read one of our posts on Instagram - feel free to follow): your intuition doesn’t yell.

It doesn’t spiral, it doesn’t rush, it doesn’t flood you with doubt. It’s more like a subtle, grounded sense of this feels true. It might be a gut feeling, or a little inner nudge. For us, intuition shows up when it’s quiet – like during a walk, or right before bed, or even pulling cards when we’re not overthinking the question.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is loud. It shows up as racing thoughts, urgent decisions, panic in your chest, and this overwhelming need to do something right now before the world ends (no, it won’t).

So, next time you’re unsure, pause and ask yourself: is this feeling coming from a place of fear… or from peace?

Quick Energy Check: What Does It Feel Like?

Let’s break this down a bit.

• Intuition feels calm. Clear. It lives in your body, not your head. You feel it in your heart space or gut, and it usually comes with a sense of steadiness, even if it’s nudging you toward a hard decision.
  
• Anxiety is tight. Panicked. You feel it in your chest, your jaw, your thoughts looping into exhaustion. It’s the energy of “what if,” and it doesn’t want you to rest until you’ve spiralled into every possible outcome.

One of our favourite ways to check in is to literally ask: Does this thought feel expansive or restrictive? If it feels like a contraction, like bracing for something bad, and you’ll know it’s anxiety.

A quick storytime (or maybe an intuitive gossip?), it’s from a close friend and a bad breakup the night after the full moon. They were in a relationship, and it was a steady one, too! Their partner was very attentive, and seemingly had only green flags. But the night after the full moon, they got a message in their dream, from an old lady’s voice.It was a bit urgent and, you know, how a grandma would often warn you from a place of love and care.

The voice was letting them know that their partner was cheating on them, and that they should check the phone for proof or an answer. 

And they woke up in cold sweat, confused why it was so vivid. So they did what the woman’s voice said…to check the phone.

And that’s how this friend found out that what they heard in the dream was true. They realized that it could’ve been a message from their ancestors, as they remembered they uttered to the universe to cleanse and remove the things that do not align with them and are no longer healthy for them.

What they shared is something that we see as what a real intuition hit can feel like: grounded, calm, but undeniable.

What About When It’s Complicated?

Sometimes, anxiety pretends to be intuition. Especially when you’ve been through trauma, heartbreak, or have a hyperactive mind (hi, same). So don’t beat yourself up if it’s confusing. 

This is spiritual discernment, and it takes time.

Here are a few tools that can help you tell the difference:

• Grounding: If you’re feeling spun out, walk barefoot outside or visualize roots from your feet to the earth. Simple, but wildly effective.
  
• Journaling: Writing things out can help you see if you’re looping in fear or if something deeper is trying to come through.
  
• Ask Spirit: Seriously, just ask. Say, “Spirit, is this my intuition or my anxiety?” Then I look for signs: dreams, numbers, even a song lyric at the right moment. You’d be surprised how loud the universe can be when you’re listening.
  
• Divination Tools: Tarot. Pendulums. Oracle cards. These are great mirrors, but remember it’s not there to replace your inner knowing, but to reflect it back to you.
  

Also… Are You Self-Sabotaging?

Let’s go there for a second.

Sometimes the reason you can’t hear your intuition clearly is because you’re subconsciously blocking it. Some of us may have done this so many times. Ignoring gut feelings, dismissing signs, spiraling in doubt, and then wondering why nothing feels aligned.

Truth is, ignoring intuition is often a form of self-sabotage. It’s a defense mechanism. A way to stay “safe” instead of growing. And yeah…learning to trust your gut after ignoring it a few (or many) times is humbling.

But it’s also where your power starts to return.

Practice Makes Intuitive

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t need to get it right every time. The more you practice tuning into your intuitive voice – and separating it from the anxious noise – the easier it gets.

Start small: choose your morning ritual based on how you feel. Ask your body what it wants for lunch. Take the route that “feels” better, even if it’s not the fastest. Build that trust muscle gently and consistently.

Over time, your inner voice gets louder… and the anxious one? A little quieter.

Here's a quick recap of everything here

If you’re ever unsure, here’s a simple guide:

• Intuition feels like trust.
• Anxiety feels like fear.
• Intuition whispers.
• Anxiety demands.
• Intuition is anchored in now.
• Anxiety is rooted in past or future.

So breathe, ground yourself, ask, and wait.

You’ll know.

And if not right away… you will soon.