Intuition Basics: What is intuition, and how does intuition work?
I’m going to dive into “intuition 101,” but before I do I want to start with the “why?”. Why pay attention to your intuition? Why work with your intuition? What does all this “follow your gut” stuff mean anyway?
Your intuition is a two-for-one. It is your most trusted advisor AND a completely free asset available to you at any time. When you tap into your intuition, you have access to wisdom, knowing, clarity and direction. It is only ever one breath away.
Alright, on to the “101”...
What is intuition?
Students in my Love Your Intuition class know that I like to start with the definition of intuition. Merriam Webster says it is “the power of faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference”. There’s a lot to unpack here but I’ll point out two things:
Your intuition can be trusted “without evident rational thought”. In other words, it’s ok to “just know” something is right for you without really understanding why you think or feel that way. It’s also ok to trust your intuition when it throws you a curveball that you really don’t understand. Your logical mind doesn’t need to be in the driver’s seat when working with your intuition
Second, when tapping into your intuition you are “attaining to direct knowledge”. The definition doesn’t say you’re attaining “woo” or “whimsical”, it’s knowledge. The knowledge that you can use to guide your heart, your decision-making, and your life.
How does intuition speak to you?
There are three main ways that your intuition can show up: physically, consciously, or un/subconsciously. A quick note: you can experience each type on its own or in combination with the others. Let’s look at each type.
Physical Intuition
You may be most comfortable with this type of intuition. A large portion of this type of intuition is your survival instinct. Taking a left turn instead of a right, avoiding a certain place or person because something feels off, etc. This also may be called “women’s intuition” or “mother’s intuition”. There are other physical ways intuition can speak to you as well. You may experience a tingly sensation like on the top of your head or goosebumps on your skin. Sometimes it will show up in the form of an itch, possibly on the palm of your hands. You may experience ear ringing. You could experience a lump in your throat or a feeling of needing to burp or even throw up (this happens to me before I write a poem!).
There are also two “clairs'' that show up in physical form. The “clairs' are types of intuitive gifts or skills that many people have (note: You can have one or multiple clairs!). Clairalience is receiving an intuitive knowing through scent/smell. Clairgustance is an intuitive knowing through taste.
Conscious
When your intuition presents itself consciously, you’ll most likely be using your mind or third eye to receive this information and guidance. A form of conscious intuition you may already be familiar with are synchronicities (maybe you know this as kismet or serendipity or “lucky” moments). You may receive conscious intuitive downloads (like an idea “falling from the sky”). You may see animal signs (i.e. seeing a cardinal and being reminded of a loved one who has passed on). You may see “angel numbers” or repeating number patterns. Telepathy is also a form of conscious intuition.
There are 4 “clairs” that present consciously:
Claircognizance: an intuitive “inner” knowing (this may be the other way you are familiar with intuition after the survival instinct”
Clairaudience: intuitive knowing through sound/hearing (this could be hearing voices or certain songs that provide you with a new perspective, memory or knowing)
Clairvoyance: intuitive knowing through sight/inner-eye/third eye (this is similar to day dreaming or receiving clarity in visual form)
Clairsentience; intuitive knowing through feelings and emotions
Un/subconscious
Your intuition may speak to you through your un/subconscious via your dreams, meditations or visualization practice. You can also tap into this side of your intuition through hypnosis or altered states (such as from physical practices i.e. breath work or supplemental i.e. kava, psychedelics, etc).
What to do when you have an intuitive “hit” or moment?
I believe the first thing to do when you experience your intuition speaking to you is to bring yourself back to the present moment. Become an objective observer in that instant of your mind, body, and spirit. Here’s what I mean:
Say you’re on a walk and you get an intuitive knowing to reach out to a friend. You could immediately pick up your phone and call your friend but instead take it as a sign to connect to the present moment. Become aware of your surroundings. Notice what other thoughts come into your mind as you scan the moment. What’s going on with your body, your breath, your heartbeat? Your intuition serves as an instant reminder that all we have is NOW.
Once you’ve reconnected with the present moment, you can do a couple of other things.
Reflect: The reason I recommend connecting to the present moment is that it then gives you a chance to reflect on what’s going on. Maybe you need to be thinking about that friend, that relationship, and where things are at. You can use this moment to spend time in reflection.
Act/Plan to Act: The most potent thing you can do with intuitive knowing is to take action (or make a plan to act). We think we’re past the point of needing our intuition as a survival instinct but that’s still what it is doing for us. Your intuitive knowings are either guiding you toward “death” (i.e. the shoulds, the sea of sameness, living out of alignment, living without intention) or toward “life” (i.e. living in alignment, following your heart’s path, living with conviction and by your values). Consider your intuitive hits as little steps along your path to your highest self.