by Megan Caper | Empathy, intuition
Do you ever feel like you’re tuned into the world on a deeper level than most? Like you’re the one who’ll catch the slight shift in a friend’s smile or find yourself needing a quiet moment after the hustle and bustle of a busy store? If you’re nodding along, you might just identify with being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). It’s a special trait that I identify with and one that I would classify as another form of neurodiversity.
So, What Exactly is an HSP?
The HSP brain does not function identically to its neurotypical counterpart; it is characterized by a heightened processing of emotions, an acute sensory awareness, and an intuitive grasp of the energetic and emotional climates that surround them. Think of an HSP as someone with emotional and sensory volume knobs turned up high. The world is a bit more vivid and intense through their eyes. Every sound, emotion, and vibe in the room comes in crystal clear—and it can be overwhelming, just like trying to listen to a blaring symphony all day, every day. It’s not just about their five senses though; it’s about feelings, too. HSPs can pick up on the slightest shift in someone’s emotional landscape, almost like they have an internal mood radar. The empathic nature of HSPs means they are not just aware but also absorbent of the moods and energies of people around them, making them natural empathizers.
But why are HSPs like this? Well, it’s like they’re born with a natural sensitivity setting that’s then shaped by the world around them. Maybe they grew up in a home where they had to be in tune with a parent’s emotions, reading the room and tiptoeing around feelings. This combination of nature and nurture turns them into adults who are incredibly attuned to the world’s nuances.
Neurodiversity: A Different Flavor of Being
Neurodiversity is a term that acknowledges and respects a variety of neurological experiences as natural variations within the human population. It encompasses a range of conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and more. It’s this beautiful concept that suggests our brains aren’t meant to be cookie-cutter copies of one another. It celebrates differences in brain makeup and acknowledges that these aren’t flaws—they’re just variations in the human condition.
The concept of neurodiversity shifts the dialogue from one of pathology to one of acceptance and inclusion, recognizing that each brain is unique and that these differences should not be stigmatized but embraced as part of the rich tapestry of human cognition.
Walking in a Neurotypical World When You’re Not
Imagine walking through life with shoes that just don’t fit—that’s often how it feels for neurodiverse folks in a predominantly neurotypical world. It can be like trying to understand a language you weren’t taught, or feeling out of step with what everyone else seems to innately grasp. And this is the daily reality for HSPs, too.
Picture this: the average day is bustling with noises, people, and a thousand little stressors that most can shrug off. But for HSPs, those same things can feel like a lot. The constant buzz and emotional static of the world don’t just fade into the background. It’s not about being fragile; it’s just that when you feel everything so intensely, the world’s volume feels cranked up to eleven.
Living as an HSP in a world catered to neurotypical preferences requires resilience and often necessitates developing personal coping strategies. HSPs must learn early on to create boundaries and safe spaces to recharge. They also have to navigate the misconception that their sensitivity is a hindrance rather than a nuanced way of engaging with the world and overcome the pressure to conform to a society that values stoicism over sensitivity.
Folding HSPs into the neurodiversity conversation isn’t about slapping on a label; it’s about recognizing and celebrating them for the depth and richness they bring to the human experience. It’s a gentle reminder that being an HSP isn’t a shortcoming—it’s a superpower in its own right. Many healers (like me!), writers, musicians, craftspeople, and therapists are HSPs and we need these folks in our lives! So here’s to the HSPs: the world needs your sensitivity, your empathy, and your unique way of seeing things. Keep feeling deeply—it’s your gift to us all.
by Megan Caper | intuition, Neurology, Uncategorized
Welcome back to my series on your intuitive brains. We’ve looked at how to get intuitive info from your heart brain and your gut brain, and now it’s time to get primal.
We’re gonna look at your pelvic brain.
As a quick recap, you have “brains” (aka dense neural networks) in several areas of your body, including your heart, your gut and your pelvis. These brains work just like the one in your head using neurotransmitters to communicate and interact with your other systems like your immune and cardiovascular systems. Each brain is also wired to receive certain types of intuitive information. Take a look at my posts (linked above) for info on your heart and gut brain if you’re interested.
So, what kind of intuitive information can we get from our pelvic brain? Our pelvic brain is tied into our creative longing and what we are meant to do and make in this world. Our pelvic brain gets fired up when we think about something that’s in alignment with what we’re supposed to do in this world, what we desire to make, create, or interact with.
When we bring to mind something that is in alignment with our soul path, the pelvic brain says, “Yes, I want that so I can create magic with it.”
Our pelvic brain gives us information on what kind of transmutation work we are here to do. We each have a special sort of magic that we’re here to harness and use. Some of us transmute words into prose, some of us transmute love into a family, some of us transmute work into money.
Now, anyone can perform any of those things, and even be successful at them, but each of us has an area (or two or three) where we can sense that we’re doing so with the help of a muse, with the support of something more than just our human powers, with a sense of an almost magical support behind our efforts. We’re supposed to bring that unique, individual magic to the world, and intuitive information from the pelvic brain can help us do just that.
Here’s how to tune into your pelvic brain’s intuition – think of a problem or an issue you are trying to move forward on. Bring to mind the various options you have. Now, bring your attention to your perineum (aka your “taint”) and the area just above and around it. Go through your options one by one and notice if the quality of feeling in your perineum changes. Are there options that make you feel more lusty, more desire, more like you want to go after it and make it yours? The ones that do are more in alignment with your pelvic brain.
Check-in with your heart brain and your gut brain as well (directions for this are in the linked posts). How do they feel about this option? Are all 3 of your brains telling you something similar, in their own way?
Getting in touch with your pelvic intuition can be a very powerful thing, especially if you’ve been in a culture or part of a marginalized group that has been taught to deny your own desires. Let me know how this goes for you. I’d love to hear your experiences – send me an email and let me know!
And if this exercise has been helpful for you, I’m teaching a free class on Zoom, “Harness the Power of Your 4 Intuitive Brains” on September 22, 2022 at 5pm Pacific Time. (I’ll be sending out the recording after for those who can’t make it live.) Sign up here and I’ll keep you in the loop with all the details:
https://megancaper.com/4brains2022
Xo Megan
by Megan Caper | Happiness, intuition
Welcome back to this continuing series on your four intuitive brains. Today we’re going to look at your heart brain and how to tune into intuitive information coming through your heart complex.
Last time, we looked at your gut brain and how it can give you information on whether something is right or wrong for you and your life path. This time, we’re going to take a look at your heart brain which gives you information on whether a decision will bring more joy, love and peace into your life.
Your heart is the epicenter of the emotion of love and all its ancillary emotions — joy, acceptance, belonging, etc. When we tune into the intuitive info of what our heart wants, we head down the path of what will bring us these emotions in our lives. Whereas our gut brain looks at, “Is this right for me?” our heart brain looks at, “Will this make me happy?”
Heart intuition speaks to us of fulfillment, excitement, and connection. Just like with intuitive information from our gut brain, information from our heart brain is often not logical. Think of the saying “the heart wants what the heart wants” — this implies that the decision isn’t logical but is compelling and fulfilling.
Our heart brain gives us information on what would help us feel happy, connected and loved, which may not be the most logical or well reasoned-out decision. In fact, heart brains are notorious for telling us to follow our passion, which can sometimes mean a radical and sudden departure from the path you were on.
Here’s an example — the first time I visited Italy I knew I had to go back and live there. I came back from my trip, changed my major in college from chemistry to Italian Studies, and started taking Italian language and culture classes. Two years later, I was living in Rome, studying film, art and history and I could feel the joy, love and connection in my heart the whole time I was there. It was the first time I’d fallen in love with a place. This sort of love affair can happen with places, people, careers, creative endeavors and more.
When looking at day-to-day decisions (that don’t involve picking up and moving halfway around the world) here’s how you can tune into your heart brain intuitive energy:
- Bring your attention to your heart brain complex. If you have trouble tuning into that energy, think of something or someone that makes you feel all loved and/or connected. This could be a person, animal, or even a place.
- Bring to mind all of the options you’re considering. One by one, tune into each option and notice how you feel about them.
- Which one brings more of that heart brain emotion? Which one feels in alignment with bringing more love, joy and connection into your life? Which one are you drawn to with a sense of emotional excitement, longing and fulfillment?
Your heart brain gives you valuable information on what will make you fulfilled. This can be such powerful information as we make our way through life and attempt to find a way of living that will bring us the most happiness. I’d love to hear some examples of when you followed your heart — what was the intuitive hit and how did you follow it?
If you liked this post, I’m teaching a class in September about your “Four Intuitive Brains” and I’d be happy to put you on the list to get more info about it. Message me or reply to this post and I’ll make sure to get you that info as the date gets closer.
Now go forth and follow your heart!
Xo Megan
by Megan Caper | intuition
I’m starting a revolution and I want you to join me.
For too many years, the art and science of intuition has been maligned as nonsensical, silly, invalid or even dangerous and evil. I want to change all that, and I want to help women learn how to use this invaluable source of information to make decisions, lead happier lives, and remember their true power.
I’ve developed a method called the “Four Brains” to help women learn to tune into and receive information from their intuition. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to go through each brain and talk about how each one receives intuitive information and what that info looks and sounds like in your body.
This week we’ll dive into your gut brain, look at what kind of intuitive information it contains, and see how to tune into that information so you can hear it for yourself.
Your gut brain is also called your “enteric nervous system.” It’s a dense, semi-autonomous neural network that contains neurons, neurotransmitters, glial cells and similar structures to your head brain. Your gut brain is responsible for a lot of your emotional regulation and your baseline happiness or well-being. Your gut brain is also the seat of your third chakra, which is all about your sense of self, your self-confidence and your personal power.
So, what kind of intuitive information can we get from our gut brain? Gut brains are tied into our sense of instinct and intuition. Primarily, it tells us if something is right or wrong for us (which may not be right or wrong on a logical, head brain level). Since it’s grounded in that 3rd chakra energy of individuality, our gut brain is about what’s right for ME, not necessarily what I “should” do or what would make the most sense.
The way to tune into your gut brain is to bring your attention to that part of your body, the area spanning from about 2 inches above to 2 inches below your navel, and ask your bodymind a question you’ve been pondering. Our gut brains synthesize and provide information almost instantaneously, usually in a feeling of being pulled towards something or being pushed away or slightly disgusted by something. Gut brain information is usually a “yes” or a “no”, meaning “yes, this is right for me” or “no, it’s not right for me.” Oftentimes a feeling of deep knowing or a sense that something is the right decision comes from our gut brains and it’s not always the most logical decision. If you think of the phrase, “I had a gut feeling” it means you intuitively knew it, without needing the facts or logic to back it up.
If you’re having trouble feeling the “yes” and the “no” from your gut brain, then try this. Think about something or someone you KNOW is right for you. It could be a dream job, a dream travel spot, or a creative endeavor or activity you’ve always wanted to try. (Make sure it’s not something you think you “should” do, like have a mansion in the city or a high paying job. If what you’ve always dreamed of is a cabin in the woods or to get paid to read books, think of that.) That feeling you have in your belly? That warm, excited, satisfied feeling? That’s your gut brain “yes.”
Now think of something that you KNOW is not right for you. For me it would be a life making tons of money as a corporate executive for Perdue Pharma or living in a sterile, minimalist, all white loft space. I feel slightly repulsed or disgusted by both of these things and I know that’s my gut brain’s intuitive “no” that’s not right for me.
I like teaching about the gut brain first because that “yes” or “no” is pretty easy to tune into and so it’s a good place to start learning to listen to your intuition. (I’ll teach about your other three brains in upcoming weeks.) I also like it because if you only ever practice and develop this one aspect of your intuition, this alone can completely change your life. If you can learn to tune into that Third Chakra information about what is right for YOU, what your soul’s life path is during this incarnation, that’s the basis for a happy and meaningful life.
If you like this post and want to know more and get some hands-on practice, I’m going to be teaching a workshop on your “Four Brains” in September. Send me a note and I’ll put you on the list to get more info as we get closer.
In the meantime, the intuition revolution starts with you. Get out there and start messing with the status quo — listen to your gut brain and do what’s right for YOU, not what you’ve been told you should do. I’ll be here cheering for you every step of the way.
Xo Megan
by Megan Caper | intuition
I’m on a mission. It’s a mission to help you feel deep connection, wisdom, and know who you really are.
It’s a mission to bring back a lost art — one that’s been maligned, dismissed and vilified. One that’s even cost people their lives because it’s so powerful that it scared the bejesus out of the people in charge.
I want you to know your connection to source consciousness, I want you to be able to access information directly from your higher self, your spirit guides and the ascended masters that have come before you.
I want to empower you with full, unfettered access, to your intuition.
Buț first we have to take a look at what we’ve been told about intuition and how societal conditioning has led us away from this valuable way of knowing.
When the mainstream culture talks about intuition or psychic information, it’s often dismissed, belittled, invalidated or worse. It’s also often feminized (aka “women’s intuition”) which is the most surefire way in a patriarchal society to get something dismissed as second class or not as rigorous, serious and significant. We’ve been taught that the “gold standard” of how to know the truth is through the scientific method. Now, I love the scientific method. I have a whole-ass graduate degree in biological sciences, but it has flaws, limitations, and opportunities for oversight and failure just like any other way of knowing. Many scientific discoveries have later been found to be flawed, incomplete, or incorrect. So why is intuition any less valid? If we are really connected to a web of consciousness that has all the information of the universe embedded in it, why wouldn’t we want to develop our connection to that web as much as we can? (I’m asking that as a rhetorical question here, but I could very easily get on my feminist, anti-imperialist soapbox here and explain exactly why the powers that be have tried to belittle, dismiss or even burn these ideas at the stake. But that’s for another blog post…)
I believe we’re all intuitive, it’s a skill you can practice and perfect like playing a musical instrument. Like with musical talent, some people may be born with more inherent skill, but anyone can practice piano and get good at it and the same is true of intuition. (If you want a place to start, you can take a look at my post on accessing intuitive information from your Four Brains. I’ll also be offering this as an expanded workshop in September 2022, so if you’re the type that learns better in a class setting, be on the lookout for an announcement about that soon.)
My mission is to have people connect to a higher wisdom, either through developing their own powers or with me as a conduit. All of this is in service of having a world where people are connected to universal consciousness, and awake to our true reality as a hologram of source energy. Can you imagine a world where we all have access to the connection, unconditional love, and wisdom of our higher selves? So many of the social structures built on fear and false power would be unable to withstand that type of revolution.
Are you in? If you want to know more, message me and let’s talk about how to get you connected to your higher self and start accessing your own intuitive information. It’s time to know deeply why you’re on this planet and what kind of world you’re here to help build.
Xo Megan
by Megan Caper | Happiness, intuition, Spirituality
Last week, I went to the World Domination Summit, a weekend conference in Portland for people who want to “live a remarkable life in a conventional world.” I’ve been going to this conference for several years now (with a 2-year hiatus for the pandemic) and the reason I keep going back is that it fills my bucket in a way that no other activity or event can. The power of spending time with people who are open-minded, creative, and compassionate rekindles something in me that often becomes dormant in our work-a-day world.
I don’t quite know the name for this thing that rekindles. Maybe it’s my creative spark? Joy of being alive? Feeling connected and seen by my fellow humans? Whatever it is, I always feel extra motivated and inspired after my WDS weekends.
One of the things that the World Domination Summit does so well is to combine motivation and play. I think we too often forget that the best type of motivation doesn’t come from deadlines or to-do lists, but comes from a sense of play, creativity and passion. If I feel passionate and playful about something, then the creativity flows. If I am excited about something, then I don’t mind doing even the mundane aspects of it because it feels like it’s in service of something big and important.
But how do we connect to this sense of passion and play in our everyday lives? I have a few ideas:
- Check-in regularly with your intuition. I taught a workshop at the conference on how to tune into your intuition and it was a big hit. I’m realizing more and more that this is a lost art. We are so used to using our brains to come up with a logical, well-thought-out plan for things that we forget to check in with what resonates with our soul. Sometimes a “good decision” will also be what’s right for our spiritual path right now, but sometimes we have to listen to that inner knowing and do something that sounds crazy or illogical to feel that sense of joy and awe.
- Find your weirdos. One of the things that help me stay connected to my own unique purpose is to spend time with other people who are weird like me. When I surround myself with folks who are creative, intellectual and kind in the same way I am, it starts to build on itself. I find myself getting increasingly more inspired and when I share my ideas, my weirdo friends riff on them and mirror them back to me in even more creative and interesting ways. Creativity is an emergent property –it’s more than the sum of its parts. So, if you can get a bunch of creative people together, magic will happen.
- Remember this is all a play and we’re supposed to experiment. When I’ve traveled to the place we go between lives via meditation or astral projection, I see that we come here to have an EXPERIENCE. It’s like we’re signing up for an 80-year, round-the-world vacation where we get to feel, taste, see, hear and discover so many unique and amazing things. From our soul’s perspective, there is no danger and no fear, because this is all temporary. The more spiritual work I do, the easier it becomes to remember or lean into that aspect of my awareness and let go of the “small stuff” that usually stresses me out. I ask myself, “What would I do today if I knew this was just a time-limited adventure and my only job here was to have amazing experiences?” I invite you to ask yourself the same question – what would you do today if you knew this was all a grand adventure that would end sooner than you realize? How would you spend your time if really, the point of this “humaning” thing was to have memories and experiences just like you do on vacation?
I’d love to know if these resonate for you, or what your ways are for connecting to that creative spark. Reply and let me know!
Xo Megan
