Do You Believe in Signs? What the Universe—and Your Body—Might Be Trying to Tell You
Some people look for signs everywhere: repeated numbers, a song lyric that starts to play at the perfect moment, or a feather that seems to fall right in their path. Others dismiss these experiences as coincidence. But whether or not you believe in signs from the universe, your body is always sending you signals. These are called somatic signs—messages from your nervous system that reflect your inner state and point toward something it perceives as important. These can be signals that tell you to take a rest break from physical strain, or to eat something when your blood sugar is low. Other signals relate to our nervous systems sense of safety - signals that indicate “something’s off here, there’s a problem I need to deal with.” These are signals of “stress” and we often override them.
Why we notice (or don’t notice) signs
Our nervous system plays a big role in perception, and it’s mostly subconscious. When “perceive safety,” like when we are in an environment or with people who care for us, we feel “regulated,” and present. Our awareness widens and we can notice subtle details—like meaningful synchronicities (like song lyrics or butterflies) or sensations and shifts in our own body. But when we “perceive danger,” sense the effects of chronic stress, anxiety, or overwhelm, our nervous system narrows its focus to survival. We miss the signs around us (and within us) because our body is locked in protection mode.
Why we believe (or don’t believe) in signs
Belief in signs often comes down to worldview. Some see them as guidance from spirit, intuition, or the universe. Others view them as the brain’s way of spotting patterns. Interestingly, both can be true. Research shows that the nervous system filters information based on what feels relevant. In other words, when something “jumps out at us,” it’s often because our subconscious body-mind system is saying: Pay attention here. Essentially, if you expect to see signs (often subconsciously) you will.
Why we follow (or ignore) signs
Even if we notice a sign, acting on it requires trust. Self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of getting it wrong, past experiences of being dismissed, gaslit, or being taught to “push through” discomfort can lead us to override our instincts. We also tend to live “in our heads,” and our focus doesn’t allow us to track the many signals we are receiving from our body. It often requires slowing down which runs counter to our fast-paced productivity and consumption-obsessed culture. Noticing our body often requires us to take intentional pause. Somatic awareness is the skill of being able to track our bodys’ signals. Somatic awareness helps us become consciously aware of our body’s signals and learn how to respond appropriately to them, it helps us build inner trust, can help us reduce the effects of stress like physical and emotional tension.
Somatic signs: the body’s way of guiding us
Unlike cosmic or symbolic signs, somatic signs are grounded in physiology. They’re the nervous system’s way of telling us how we’re doing:
Tight jaw or clenched shoulders → often signals stored tension and stress.
Racing heart → body signaling “I don’t feel safe right now, get going!”
Heavy chest or lump in throat → can relate to unexpressed or unprocessed emotion.
Butterflies in the stomach → can signal excitement, anticipation, nervousness or anxiety.
Spontaneous sigh, yawn, or tears → nervous system shifting toward release and regulation.
When ignored, these signals can accumulate into chronic stress, exhaustion, or even physical illness. But when we learn somatic practices—like mindful breathwork, gentle movement, or body awareness—we can respond to these signs with care, helping our nervous system return to balance.
How you can use “signs”
Signs—whether from the universe or from your body—are invitations to pause, reflect, and connect. Last year, I started intentionally looking for “signs” while I was out and about. I looked for “hearts.” I looked for anything in the shape of a heart - leaves, petals, rocks, blobs of gum on the sidewalk. I looked for kind eyes, smiles and wagging tails that, to me, signal a warm heart inside. I looked for hearts in advertisements, on cereal boxes and magazine covers. I found them everywhere and the practice of “heartspotting” has become something I do automatically now. I expect to see them and do see them everywhere. It might seem silly to you, and that’s ok. It uplifts my spirits and reminds me of the good in the world on days when I might otherwise start to get overwhelmed. Finding these signs helps my soma feel safe. My nervous system slows down, I become more present, I start to smile, walk with a bounce in my step, my heart feels open, my breath easy. I make sure I notice how I feel and that makes my good feeling grow. What’s something you do that helps lift your spirits and feel more present?
In our modern world, it’s easy to override the body’s wisdom with caffeine, busyness, or distraction. But when you begin to notice somatic signs of stress, trauma, or emotional activation, you gain the power to respond differently.
By listening and responding to your body in specific ways, you create space for healing, resilience, and transformation. Your soma (your living body) is constantly communicating—it just needs you to slow down long enough to listen.