The Difference Between Intuition and Fear: How to Know Which One is Speaking

There was a time when I couldn’t tell the difference.

I’d get a gut feeling—tight chest, racing thoughts, a deep sense of “something’s off”—but instead of trusting it, I’d spiral. Sometimes I’d ignore it altogether, only to look back months later and think, “I knew it.”

Sound familiar?

The line between intuition and fear is thin—almost invisible at times. But learning to tell them apart is the foundation of every aligned decision you’ll ever make. This is how we begin to trust ourselves again.

🕊 What Fear Sounds Like

Fear is loud.

It’s repetitive.

It wants certainty—and it wants it now.

Fear often comes from past trauma, limiting beliefs, or conditioned survival mechanisms. It says things like:

“What if this ruins everything?” “You’ve been hurt before—don’t let it happen again.” “You’re not ready. You’ll mess it up.”

It masquerades as protection, but what it really does is keep you small.

There was a time in my life where I let fear guide almost every choice I made. I stayed in places I had outgrown, clung to connections that drained me, and delayed decisions my soul had already made. Why? Because fear convinced me I wasn’t safe without control.

But the truth is: control is not the same as clarity.

🌙 What Intuition Feels Like

Intuition is softer—but stronger.

It rarely repeats itself.

It whispers once, and trusts you to listen.

It says things like:

“This doesn’t feel right.” “You’re not meant to stay here.” “You already know.”

Where fear is frantic, intuition is calm—even when the message is serious.

I remember a moment during a client reading where the cards were showing a clear message: this person needed to walk away from something that was spiritually misaligned. There was no drama in the cards—just truth. The client sat in silence and said, “I’ve felt this for weeks, but I was too scared to say it out loud.”

That’s intuition.

It’s not always dramatic—it’s direct. And when you honour it, it creates peace, even in chaos.

🔮 How to Tell the Difference in Real Time

Here are a few ways I personally check in when I’m not sure if it’s fear or intuition guiding me:

1. Check Your Body

Intuition often feels neutral or quietly uncomfortable. Fear feels tense, tight, overwhelming. Ask: Do I feel expansion or contraction when I think about this decision?

2. Check the Volume

Intuition won’t shout. It usually shows up once or twice. Fear loops over and over like a broken record. If it’s screaming in your mind constantly—it’s probably not intuition.

3. Check the Origin

Ask yourself:

Is this voice rooted in past pain? Or is it rooted in future alignment? Intuition often comes from a knowing beyond experience. It just is.

🕯️ A Simple Intuition Ritual

Light a white candle. Hold the High Priestess tarot card, or close your eyes and imagine her. Ask silently: “Is this fear, or is this my higher self guiding me?” Breathe. Journal the first truth that comes through—without editing.

Repeat this as often as needed. Strengthening your intuition is like building a muscle: it gets clearer with every act of trust.

🌟 Final Reflection

There will still be days you get it wrong. That’s okay.

Every misstep is just another lesson in discernment.

But the more you choose to sit with your inner voice, the easier it gets to recognise her. And eventually, you won’t just hear her—you’ll follow her, even when it’s hard.

Because peace isn’t in the absence of fear.

It’s in choosing to trust yourself anyway.

🔗 Ready to Deepen Your Intuition?

If you’re at a crossroads, torn between the panic of fear and the pull of inner knowing—a tarot session can help you reconnect to your truth.

✨ Book now by clicking here