Luminescence from Semiconductors

As your intuitive powers begin to develop, you will find you can tune in to them at any time. In addition, here are some purposeful ways of making full use of this new resource.

Sleeping on it: it helps to sleep on a decision before making your final preference. The subconscious is like a computer, able to sort through complex ideas without your conscious state interfering. It works for you 24 hours a day, including when you are asleep.

If you are struggling with a difficult decision, ask your intuition to help. As you’re dozing off to sleep, focus on a problem or question, and ask your intuition to reveal the answer to you. Keep a pen and paper by your bedside so you can write down any answers immediately, otherwise you may not remember in the morning.

You will frequently wake up clear about what to do.

Problem solving: write down the problem and examine it carefully so that you fully understand it. Ask yourself, ‘What’s stopping me from solving the problem? How can I get rid of the blockages?’ Deal with those if you can.

Next, write down all the solutions that you can think of. What seems to be the best solution? Try it out.

So far, you’ve mainly used your left brain. If this doesn’t work, relax into the alpha state and ask your intuition to help. The answer may not come there and then, but sooner or later it will. Often it will pop into your head in the most unexpected moment. Expect a solution and keep your wits about you so you don’t ignore it when it comes – intuitive answers often seem simpler and wiser than normal thinking.

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Sitting for ideas: use this method whenever you need some inspiration. Take a half-formed idea and examine it closely. Think about it, research it, and formulate some key questions (intuition usually works best when you have gathered plenty of facts and sorted through the information). Have a notebook and pencil ready.

Sit patiently in a darkened room for an hour or so, asking for the answers to pop into your head. (Many brilliant insights and ideas simply popped into someone’s head unexpectedly.) Jot down any ideas that come to you before you leave the room.

Ask a higher power for guidance: pretend you are asking for help from a higher power. (If you believe in a higher power you’ll have no need to pretend.) Use a question and answer format. Ask a question on which you need advice, then listen carefully. Have a pen and paper ready and write down anything that comes to you. You can do this any time you need quick guidance or relief in stressful situations.

Mind mappingTM_{is a technique popularised by Tony Buzan (the mind} mapTM_{is a registered trade mark of the Buzan organisation). It is a} graphical technique for generating and sifting through ideas. It reflects the way the brain works by utilising both left and right hemispheres.

Take a large piece of paper. Write the topic of interest in the centre and ask your mind for ideas. Each main theme is plotted like a branch spreading out from the centre. Each sub-theme is plotted like a minor branch. Eventually the page is filled with ideas (see example below).

Mind mapsTM_{can be used for many purposes, including note taking,} note making, revision and structuring ideas.

I used them to plan this book and structure each chapter. One of my initial mind maps is reproduced in the example.

To draw a mind mapTM_:

1 Take a large piece of plain paper. Turn it on its side (landscape). Have to hand a set of coloured pens.

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2 Write or draw your central idea (using pictures of diagrams is a good idea, since the right brain brings these into play) in the middle of the page.

3 Add the main branches using key words or images. Use colour. If you can draw a picture that represents an idea, do so.

4 Add more detail in the form of sub-branches, with more key words and images.

5 Make your mind mapTM_{as pleasing to the eye as possible.} 6 When you are sure you’ve exhausted every idea, use arrows to

connect ideas that are linked in some way.

The example opposite shows the mind mapTM_{I used (in black and white;} the original was in colour) when initially planning the contents of this book. As you can see, the final result was slightly different from these first thoughts, but, as with most mind maps, it was a useful starting point.

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that started the planning for this book. S_{TEP 2}

: USING THE A WESOME PO WER OF Y O UR MIND

To heighten your intuitive and creative senses:

1 Notice what inspires and uplifts you and deliberately bring more of it into your life. For instance, if you like dancing, go dancing more; if you enjoy nature, go for a walk in natural surroundings regularly. 2 Seek out more inspiring situations.

3 Every day, do things that enthuse and stimulate you.

4 Spend more time around creative and inspirational people – it will rub off on you.

How to recognise your intuition: intuition works in subtle ways. Usually it reveals itself quietly. Sometimes it makes itself known in a dream. Many dreams are of little consequence – they are simply your

subconscious cleaning out the mental cobwebs while you sleep – but a memorable or recurring dream may be a sign that your intuition is trying to get through to you.

The best way to recognise your intuition is to ask yourself, ‘Does this feel right in my gut’ (intuition is often called ‘gut feel’).

Also, take note of the first feeling or flash of thought. We initially experience something as a physical feeling a split second before we intellectualise about it. The first response is usually the most reliable because the left brain has not yet had time to come up with a conditioned response.

In general, the stronger the feeling of fulfilment and contentment, the more likely it is to be your intuition.

Trust your instincts. Intuitive perception is rarely wrong. You

subconsciously gather all sorts of ideas and information which fuel your

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Sometimes the rational mind suggests one thing and intuition the other. You’re not sure which to follow. Find out what you need to know, make a decision, then ask your intuition if it is correct. If your deepest self turns against it, don’t do it.

The more you tune in to your intuition and rely on it, the better it works for you.