Brandi Auset, Goddess in the flesh!
Interview with the MOST Divine Feminine + flotsam/jetsam, recommendations, newz you can uze
Have you ever met such a one-stop shop for all things magical? I mean, check her bio!:
Brandi Auset is trained as a High Priestess of the Goddess, an Aborisha in Lukumi and a Daughter of Oshun, Kundalini Yoga Teacher, a massage and energy therapist, intuitive counselor, tarot reader, and aromatherapist. She creates Goddess-inspired perfumes and oils, and teaches workshops on magick, sacred sensuality, and the Divine Feminine. Brandi is the author of "The Goddess Guide: Exploring the Attributes and Correspondences of the Divine Feminine," published with Llewellyn Worldwide. Learn more about her work by visiting her shop, RED ~ a sacred sensual space at redpriestess.com.
I’d been subscribing to her RED Priestess newsletter, on the recommendation of my hero Melissa Coss Aquino, as a window into the world of the divine feminine. Just combing Brandi’s words and invitations always makes me feel inspired and sultry, a winning combo not encountered nearly enough in modern life. I interviewed her for Everyday Intuition and we had a fun and mindblowing conversation about her path to intuition and women’s power. She very kindly gave us some news we can all use on intuition, magic, and goddess energy. Read on and feel the goddess in you.
AND subscribe to Brandi’s excellent Substack.
What is intuition to you?
Intuition is multi-layered for me. In the physical-world sense, intuition is an instinct: that gut feeling we have when a situation is right or wrong, safe or dangerous. In this area, much of our intuition comes from personal experiences, and the lessons we’ve learned throughout our lifetime. But in that same way, intuition is also an intrinsic knowing from years of evolution; a cellular memory, embedded in our DNA from our ancestors and their experiences with the world.
In the spiritual-world sense, intuition is a “message from beyond.” It’s that small, quiet voice in my mind that knows. Most often that voice is a deity, a Goddess archetype. Other times it’s my spirit guides, and sometimes it’s my Higher Self. The distinction is that this particular voice in my head and heart speaks a message that I couldn’t have possibly known on my own. It’s wisdom that comes from something other than my own conscious reasoning.
How does it show up for you?
I began my focused path as a Priestess and witch over 30 years ago, and my first lessons were how to recognize and hone my intuition. I trained myself to recognize what my intuition feels like in my body, in my energy. So now, my intuition shows up in all the ways. I get gut feelings. I have visions and dreams of past, present, and future events. I smell phantom scents, and experience flavors only I can taste. I see energy and spirits. I hear voices in the ether and in my head, and I can read the energy of things I touch.
And then there’s the simpler things: random billboards confirming a thought, and phones calls from folks I was just thinking about. There’s the mystical message of the hummingbird zooming around on my front porch. There are only synchronicities and alignments in my world, because when I fully developed and trusted my intuition, I realized there’s no such thing as coincidence. Everything speaks to you, if you take the time to listen.
Tell us about your study of the Divine Feminine and goddesses, and how they relate to intuition.
Goddess spirituality is a movement and a spiritual belief system in which the primary deity is realized through the feminine instead of the masculine. I am a High Priestess of the Goddess: a teacher and a guide for those looking to connect with divinity through the concept of Goddess and Her archetypes.
I live and breathe the Goddess. I’ve dedicated my life and career to the mystical and spiritual pursuit of the Divine Feminine. My intuition is one of the ways Goddess speaks to me, and through me. My intuition is how She instructs me, how She delivers messages to me for others, how She guides me to know what to say and do. It’s how She teaches me what to focus on, and what to let roll past without a second thought.
There are many Goddesses whose power focuses on oracular abilities, psychic connection, and divination – all things that strengthen and express the intuition. So when I need to up my intuitive game, I focus my spiritual practice on working with those deities: Goddesses like Hekate, Oshun, and Baba Yaga, among others.
How do you use intuition in your daily life?
I use my intuition every moment of every day. In my work, I act as a spiritual guide and intuitive reader for others (tarot, counseling, etc.). My intuition guides me on which ideas to manifest as books and articles, what classes to teach, what clients to accept and which to refer elsewhere.
For myself, my intuition is my guiding light. Every decision I make is based on my intuition, from what I eat to who I allow into my life. My choices have to feel right in my body, my mind, and my heart. And then I check in with myself and with Goddess to ensure I’m on the right path.
Admittedly, I don’t always listen. Like everyone, I get caught up in my own desires or the requests of others, and ignore that feeling. An example: I RSVP’d to a dinner party, but my intuition was screaming that I should cancel. But I went, because I didn’t want to be the jerk who canceled at the last minute. When I get there, the food is burnt and the couple giving the party are arguing. Leaving my purse on the couch for two minutes was long enough for their dog to pee on it. I didn’t stay too much longer after that, but the whole time I was cursing myself and thinking, I knew I should’ve stayed my ass at home. [Ed. note: So real.]
What are some challenges to your intuition?
I’d say trusting your intuition is the hardest thing to master. Society at large pushes us to ignore our intuition in favor of subjugation, conventional education, and deference to the status quo. Trusting your intuition is continual practice, because the world will continuously try to convince you that it knows you better than you know yourself. Buy this, hate that, trust me. Trusting your intuition is honoring yourself, your experience, and your instincts in spite of what anyone else has to say about it. And that can be a difficult thing to master.
How do you trust your intuition? Give it the opportunity to prove itself to you. Test it. The next time you get an intuitive feeling about something, follow your instinct. Make note of how you felt, what the message was, and then how the situation turned out – and also note how it would have turned out if you hadn’t listened.
If you trusted your intuition and the situation turned out shitty anyway? Be sure it was your intuition you were listening to. Many people mistake anxiety for their intuition, because deciphering between the two can be difficult as well.
For me, the key was noticing how anxiety feels in my body, compared to how my intuition feels. Anxiety feels urgent, full of panic, and like something must be done now, now, now. It spins in the brain like a chaotic storm. Anxiety is uncomfortable and painful.
Intuition is insistent, yet calm. The more you listen to it, the clearer it becomes. It rarely screams; it whispers, urges, confirms.
What is your top tip for enhancing intuitive ability?
Meditation. Taking the time to sit in silence, or to connect with guides or deities, or to simply witness how my mind works is my most effective tool. Meditation is my space where I give my intuition the room to speak.
Sometimes I’ll add a little oomph to my meditations by using tools which help open the intuitive energy centers of the body and spirit – crystals like obsidian and lapis lazuli, and a frankincense and myrrh incense.
What do you think people misunderstand about intuition?
The message intuition delivers is not always clear cut. Intuition is a guide, not an instruction manual. It supplies information, delivered in a different way than our five senses provide. With intuition, we catch glimpses of a message, get a feeling, or embody an instinct. But that information generally has to be interpreted because it shows us a scene, not the whole story. It’s up to us to figure out the who, the why, the when. You have to work with your intuition to discern how to use that information for your highest good.
Upcoming events that I hope you can attend!
May 28: In conversation with Jo Piazza at Head House in Philadelphia! RSVP here and preorder Jo’s TRADWIFE THRILLER here!
June 9: In conversation with Swan Huntley at Godmothers in Santa Barbara! RSVP here
LIZ IZ EVERYWHERE!
Here are some cute articles and things I’ve published recently.
OPRAH, ever heard of her?!
Entrepreneur, get that shmoney.
An excerpt of EVERYDAY INTUITION on the WIE Suite.
Jessica Elefante interviewed me for her Substack.
As did Elena Sheppard, whose forthcoming memoir gives me chills.
And, this is really fun, this book of mine is going to be published in Brazil, Spain, the UK, and will be translated into Arabic! How to say “We’re f*cked”?
But on to the recommendations!!!
Ramona at Midlife: A sweet little indie movie the way they used to make ‘em.
Bittersweet by Susan Cain: This is medicine to me rn in my postpartum moment.
Robby Hoffman’s scene kleptomania on Hacks.
Unsung Heroes of Motherhood: My lovely husband sent me this piece, which made me lol and also shows me he KNOWS about the UNSINGING!
“My Miserable Week in the ‘Happiest Country on Earth’” by Molly Young
Can’t get enough of that Zohran
WANT MORE?!
Order my book Everyday Intuition as an e-book, hardcover, or audiobook.
Hire me for a workshop or talk on intuition by sending a message on my website.
For some tips, tricks, and full-throated recommendations, check out my archive. Paid subscribers have full access.