Intuition has always been a fascinating subject of study. It is generally associated with genius, because the greatest scientific discoveries happened thanks to moments of intuition.
Einstein wrote:
Intuition is a sacred gift of which reason is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and forgets the gift.
In addition, we all know that it is thanks to our intuition that we make some of the decisions of our lives, even if we consider ourselves rational and Cartesian beings.
From the point of view of the Eastern religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism) there is no mystery. In the traditional languages of these millennial wisdoms, the terms designating knowledge, consciousness, lucidity are often identical.
Attachment to mental constructions, beliefs, and concepts, as well as the mental agitation that accompanies it, are seen by them as a veil over primordial intelligence. Buddhists explain it like that:
if we do not stir water, it will become clear by itself. In the same way, if we leave unchanged the nature of the mind, and we do not manipulate it, it will find peace and clarity on its own.
Let’s see how we make a decision. We will evaluate three elements:
- rational analysis,
- emotional aspect,
- intuitive wisdom.
However, if we practise meditation, thoughts and emotions would calm down, and intuition would manifest. In fact, there are several testimonies from practitioners who tell that the most creative ideas came at the end of their meditation.
In a linear, predictable, and orderly environment, a rational analysis is often more effective for deciding and planning an action.
On the contrary, in a volatile, unpredictable, or chaotic environment, when the human element predominates, intuitive intelligence becomes useful. Therefore, meditation is more and more used in our times, as we live in an ever-increasing insecurity and instability.
How intuition works
Intuition draws on three main resources.
- Like a tree, the first source is the ramification of its roots. It is the entirety of information, of experiences lived in the past and stored in the unconscious.
- The second source is comparable to the leaves of a tree. These are the strong or weak signals, picked up in the present moment. All these signals are undefined and cannot be evaluated by rational analysis.
- The third source is collective intelligence. In fact, our personal intuition can go beyond temporal and spatial limitations. Intuitive intelligence can tap into a nearly unlimited source, outside the limits of time, space, and the individual. All this is normal according to Buddhist philosophy where, for example, the individual, time, and space are conceptual categories created by the mind.
How do you synthesize these sources of information?
Cognitive science researchers have tried to answer. Just before an intuition, there is a “letting go” moment, a descent within us. Then, suddenly, the presence increases, there is a kind of awakening, a feeling of unity and inner agreement. There is also a feeling of evidence, of surprise, of amazement and wonder.
These are the elements that we also find in a meditative experience: letting go, increased presence, awakening, unity.
It is necessary to emphasize the essential place occupied by the body in intuitive intelligence.
How many times have you made rational or emotional decisions while your body opposed it? Did you regret this decision a few days, months or years later? It happened to me several times in my life. I should have listened to the signals that my body sent me and taken them into account when making my decision.
In this regard, body scan meditation can help to develop this sixth sense of intuition. We shall also consider that if we constantly ignore the body’s messages, we might experience illness, pain, or disorder. Which is what happened to me.
Intuition, beyond the help it provides us in making decisions, is our deep inner voice, our wisdom, our most precious guide. It is important to learn to listen to it and to look after it.
To conclude if you hesitate to follow your intuition, try asking yourself these two questions, which will help you clarify what is at stake:
- What do I risk following my intuition?
- What do I not risk following my intuition?
What do you think about intuition? Do you agree with me that it is powerful?
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Thanks for this great post on a very interesting subject!
I love how you said intuition “is our deep inner voice, our wisdom, our most precious guide.”
I tend to try and look at the facts when making a decision, but also consider what my gut is saying. Knock on wood, it hasn’t typically steered me wrong. And… as in your experience, when I’ve overridden my intuition, I’ve paid dearly, and am stuck with “I KNEW I should have/shouldn’t have.”
The part about collective intelligence was really interesting too. Enjoyed it all!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
I loved this post, Cristiana! Especially how you walk through how we make decisions, how intuition works and how it aligns with our ancient spiritual traditions. This sentence really resonated with me, “These are the elements that we also find in a meditative experience: letting go, increased presence, awakening, unity.” Great post!
Hi. Great post.
Thank you!
Here is what I have learned about intuition by living life.
Most people are taught, by parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, etc. that they should question their intuition. However, for a very select few, well less than 1%, the individual never learns not to trust their intuition. Instead, their intuition learns fast as it moves along the path of life and it ends up leading based upon that learning. By so doing, and without negative impact, the person ends up well done the path that others eventually get to once it is “OK’d” by the judgment that is super imposed upon it.
Any thoughts about that?
I am not sure I understand correctly. Do you mean that by following our intuition an individual will end up at the same point of others not following it?
No, I believe the fully trusted intuition, which has trained itself throughout life, will give that individual a path that is best given all circumstances in the moment. The only way others get to the same place is by following the path that such an individual has taken steps on a little ahead of them, but it will be a good path. So, the others end up at a point the intuitive found, but they would never be there waiting on the intuitive.
Oh I see, I like this approach. Thank you for commenting!
What a great post, Cristiana. Thank you for sharing it with us. It has been my experience that when I go against strong intuition, that I do so at my peril. 🙏
Thank you Art!
What I’ve often heard about it is “Intuition is that quiet inner voice”. Less often is it said that it is our Angels speaking to us quietly, helping us, giving us answers, insights and helping us to our next step.
I’ve come to strongly believe in it, the times I didn’t listen, because I couldn’t figure out the reasons logically, were the times I lived to regret not listening, for the pieces of the puzzle made themselves known to me after the fact.
Yesterday evening I was set on going for a walk in the park, and had determined that I wanted to walk on the far side, so I was going to take an exit off the highway further down. I felt a nudge to take the 1st exit, so I followed the nudge. Walking along the very busy highway was an elderly man in a hospital gown, clearly lost. I pulled out my phone and called 911 to report him so police officers could help him. Had I followed my initial plan, I wouldn’t have seen him and made the call. If I had waited until I could understand logically why I should exit earlier, I’d have missed him.
We never know what the universe has ins tore for us or what part of a plan we are to play when intuition nudges us to do or to say something.
That’s it Tamara! I also have examples, like when I missed a plane but I still wanted to reach the destination and at the end I had an awful experience! thank you for reading and commenting!
My pleasure! I’m learning that the more we listen to our intuition, the more it tells us!
Meditation cultivates intuition and psychic development, in my estimation at least. If anything, it makes life a more enriching experience than the alternative. I’ve been at it for over 20 years now and couldn’t go back if I tried. Nice article crisbiecoach.
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you, meditation cultivates intuition and makes life a more enriching experience.
Fascinating post Cristiana. Love that Einstein quote. So true. I think intuition is for those major life decisions when you can’t know what the outcome will be. The rational mind is for the details after the fact. Often we can’t connect the dots going forward – only once we arrive do we understand why. 🙏
Thank you David, I like your insight here.
Lovely post Christina, I am reading Ian Mcgilchrist’s The Mater and the Emissary and the content of this post really resonates alot 🙂
Nice post!🙏💐
Thank you!
So interesting – most memorable for me is the part about when we meditate the thoughts and emotions calm down amd allow intuition to surface. When I read that it really clicked – and connecting that with not stirring the water. I also realised that I’ve seen it happen in coaching – especially when using imagery or metaphor for example. Thanks for sharing this post
It’s good that it happens also in coaching. Very effective technique indeed. Thank you for commenting
well written, love to see more about intuition in daily life