Let’s face it, we all need guidance, and since we live in an interactive Universe, that guidance is always available to us, but we have to be open to receiving it.

Many years ago I was on a hike with a friend, and she mentioned to me that she never saw any hawks where we lived in Southern California. I had to stop and ask her what she was talking about, because I saw them all the time, and we literally only lived a few blocks from each other.

To receive signs from the Universe we have to be able to do two things:

Perceive: We have to have awareness, and pay attention to our environment.

Receive: We have to be willing to accept seeing something as a message (rather than writing it off as a coincidence).

One of the easiest ways for us to receive divine guidance is through signs and synchronicities, because the Universe likes to make things happen together. And these events are typically so unusual that they catch our attention, making it more likely that we’ll consider that there’s a message in there for us.

Here are five of the most common ways we can receive a message from the Universe.

1. Repeating Numbers

I remember back when I went very deeply into my spiritual studies, I started seeing 11:11 everywhere, and this was long before the days when people were talking about the power behind this number. Even now, when I meet spiritual seekers new to the path, I’ll almost always hear from them how they are repeatedly seeing 11:11.

All numbers, and number combinations, carry a vibration, and a meaning. You may be repeatedly seeing the birthdate of a loved one who has passed, or double or triple digits (333, or 22). If you find that you are seeing the same number, or combination of numbers over and over again, the Universe may just be trying to get your attention.

2. You start thinking of someone you haven’t heard from in a while.

Have you ever been preoccupied with a friend or family member that you haven’t been in touch with for a while? This may be a good time to connect with them. Maybe they could use your support, or maybe they can support you in some way!

3. Seeing the same animal over and over.

When I was in high school I used to see unicorns everywhere; on notebooks, jewelry, t-shirts. Of course, I was a teen age girl, and loved unicorns, but as I later got into the study of shamanism, I found that even mythical creatures sometimes have a message for us! Looking back I can see that it was actually a very supportive energy just when I needed it.

Are you seeing the same animal over and over, on posters, t-shirts, in your dreams, or maybe even outside your own window?

4. Your dreams develop a theme.

I went through a period of time where I would dream about birds three or four times a week, and this went on for months! And it was all different kinds of birds too. Soon I started noticing them even when I was awake. Later on, this became an important part of my spiritual journey.

You may have noticed that your dreams have a certain theme lately; illness, getting lost, married, divorced, being chased, having a baby, or having a loved one die. Remember that dreams typically aren’t meant to be taken literally, however, if you have a recurring theme, you may want to spend some time examining what it means to you.

5. Unusual experiences.

Maybe your life seems to be filled with a lot of unusual experiences lately. People may start acting strange, you may not feel comfortable in your usual circle of friends, you may lose interest in things you used to enjoy, and suddenly want to do things you’ve never done before, and feel a need to expand your life.


If you feel that you aren’t receiving any signs from the Universe, and would really like to, remember that Divine Guidance is interactive - it requires action on our part too. Ask for guidance, be open to receiving, and then be willing to act on the guidance you received.