Intuition -- An Intuitive's View

In these days of burgeoning interest in all topics metaphysic, intuition and psychic phenomena have piqued the curiosity of many. Indeed, we have all, by and large, been fascinated by accounts of experiences involving psi (that elusive “x” factor that causes psychic phenomena), usually assuming that these phenomena belong to a realm out-of-the-ordinary and are not within the daily purview of most of us “common folk.”

As one who has delved more and more deeply into the world of intuition as a practicing intuitive, albeit somewhat unintentionally, I would like to share some of the things I’ve learned about these interest-provoking, yet little understood phenomena. I say “albeit somewhat unintentionally” because I did not set out years ago to have this as a career goal: it was not what I majored in in college nor something I had ever seen myself doing. However, at the same time, being somewhat of a “reluctant” intuitive has given me an interesting perspective on this often misperceived topic as I had to develop and work with a faculty I didn’t even know was there.

I think most of us do is to assume that intuitive/psychic phenomena are something that other people experience (and I’ll use these terms interchangeably in this article to refer to informational phenomena, rather than other forms involving psychokinesis, teleportation, etc.). One thing (of the many) that I’ve learned from doing this work is that everyone is intuitive and can have “psychic experiences.” Intuition is democratic; it really is everyone’s birthright.

I’ve also learned that what I used to consider as other-worldly really is a very natural part of life. Intuition and psychic knowing are actually another form of intelligence, another way of knowing and apprehending. For those who are interested in developing and using their full mental and knowing potential, developing and using their intuition is essential. However, one flip side of this aspect of intuition is that, because intuition really is a form of intelligence, it is not always connected to spirituality. We have often assumed that intuitives, just because they are intuitive, are spiritually oriented; this ain’t necessarily so! As an ability, it can be used for good or ill, just like anything else.

Consider, for example, the reports of psychics who tell vulnerable clients that they have a curse on them and they can remove it for some exorbitant fee. Although this sort of misuse would appear to be in the minority, the point is that spirituality is not always a correlate of psychic ability nor, conversely, is psychic ability necessarily a portal to mystical wisdom and higher knowing. When the two are combined, however, ah, now that’s a beautiful thing! But I’m digressing….

One fascinating aspect of intuition is that it can come in many different forms and, just as I am convinced that everyone has intuitive ability, so too have I learned that the form it can take can vary greatly from one person to another.

I always assumed that intuitive or psychic information came in the form of sudden, strong awareness, almost like being hit by information, and, indeed, some people do get information like this. Intuitive insights can also be very subtle — a sense or feeling or impression about something. And some people simply have a knowing about things; this knowing can be so deep that it will often be there with no effort, as if by osmosis, a knowing that is deeply integrated and ingrained and may just come to conscious awareness at the appropriate time. One just knows — without knowing how one knows or when one came to know.

Aside from the strength or subtlety of these awarenesses, the form can vary greatly as well. Some people will see images or hear voices (either literally through the auditory faculties of their ears or in their heads or minds). Some may see or sense colors. Others may have an impression that does not come in the form of one of the five senses.

Some people are very sensitive to energy, whether it’s the energy of a place or location, people’s energy, geological or geothermal energy, nature energy, animal or plant energy, or even color or light energy. Some people are sensitive to the energy of objects, receiving information from holding them. This latter form is called psychometry and many forensic psychics who specialize in working with police on solving crimes work with this form.

The type of information that comes from intuition can also vary. We have all had mundane experiences where we think of a song right before it’s played on the radio or think of someone just before they call on the phone. Psychic information can come in the form of events — what is going to happen — whether trivial or significant. It can also come in the form of meaning, what the meaning or significance is of what someone is going through.

There are truly many variations on the forms and types of intuitive experiences and the information they may provide, as well as the way they come to people. I am often asked by clients how I receive my information and what form it comes in. It took me a long time to figure this out and to know how to respond, because I was not doing what I thought an intuitive did (or should do?). (I read people’s energy — directly experiencing it — on a level not usually associated with the body, receive information, and work to interpret it — usually in the form of a direct experiencing that is difficult to define, a sense, an impression, sometimes visual images, sometimes words or quotations, sometimes colors, etc. I am particularly sensitive to people’s and animals’ energy. And I also have a deeply seated knowing about things.) Some intuitives/psychics specialize in certain types of phenomena or information: some specialize in health, working as medical intuitives; some, in finding missing people or lost objects; some, in communicating with passed-on loved ones; some, in animal communication; etc. Some people directly access their information; others work with guides as intermediaries. The point I would like to make is that intuition/psychic informational experiences are a much richer, more complex, and diversified phenomena than most of us have realized and, because of their richness and complex beauty, are well deserving of our admiration as another of the universe’s creations and marvels.

We can all have one or more types of intuition in one or more forms. The information or content we get can run the gamut from the mundane to the divinely sublime. But we all usually have some form or forms of it, and, if we’re truly open and don’t put preconceived terms and self-imposed limitations on it, can receive many different types of information in different forms. The trick is to start to work with what we have (and may not even know that we have). Ofttimes someone will have an ability and just assume that everyone else does. For instance, a gifted healer I know has always been able to see people’s organs and assumed that everyone else had this trait.

It is in starting to work with what we have that we start to open up the treasure chest that we have been given in our lives. There are many benefits of doing this aside from the trivial and temporary side effects of wowing or entertaining ourselves or others, or of simply manipulating energy or playing psychic games. We can have many practical benefits in our lives with regard to information that can be helpful to us in a practical, quotidian fashion. For instance, we have all heard about people averting potential tragedy or catastrophe by heeding gut feelings or other intuitive information they received.

In addition and quite significantly, when we begin to tap into our own intuitive/psychic knowing ability, we begin to strengthen in ourselves. Once we begin to develop our own knowing, it is very powerful and deepening. No one can take that away from us. With knowing comes the beginning of understanding. And with understanding and insight can come wisdom if we are so open and so inclined.

There are many ways of starting to develop our innate gifts. There are several very good books on this subject that are available. I as well as others have taught workshops on this. One can just practice and feel one’s way along.

The key is to know how it works for us and also simply to believe that it is indeed there. We have to first acknowledge and own that we do, in fact, have some form(s) of intuitive ability. Once we figure out how ours manifests, we must honor our gifts and their form(s).

One tricky little potential sticky point to using intuition/psychic ability is in learning to distinguish what is true knowing from what may be coming from our own “stuff” — our wants, needs, fears, mindsets, beliefs, etc. True intuition is not colored by emotional feelings; it is neutral, colorless. Nor is it filtered through our mindsets or cultural filters. If we get a feeling about something that is tinged with, for example, fear, it may just be coming from our own issues. Pure intuitive information is just that: pure, and uncontaminated by our “stuff.”

One reason why it may have been more difficult for us in our contemporary Western culture to work with our intuition, aside from the fact that it hasn’t been valued in our culture, is that it often works in a different way from our normally used and encouraged faculties. Intuition is receptive. It is a receiving of information, which is a different mode from that of our left-brain logical modes which are active as we analyze and probe. Instead of trying to figure things out intuitively (which doesn’t work because it’s a figurative oxymoron), we must instead receive information, paying attention to what comes. I am convinced that we all receive information all the time. It’s just that we aren’t trained or encouraged to pay attention to these subtleties. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that we are all spoken to all the time by this wonderful universe, if we are inclined to listen or pay attention to the signs we are given.

It is perhaps my own personal prejudice, but I also feel that the highest manifestations of intuition/psychic information come in a spiritual form and/or have spiritual relevance — that give us information for our own progress on our paths (or for others on their paths). I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I have a strong sense that the more we connect to the knowing place within ourselves, the more we also connect to the divine. And the more we consciously connect with the divine, the more true knowing we have.

We don’t have to become professional practicing intuitives or psychics to develop our potential and benefit from it. Intuition is real. It is a very natural part of life. And it can be yours if you desire for it to be. It can enrich your life, as well as that of others around you. And it is deserving of our respect, because it can serve a quite honorable purpose.

This article was first published in Innerchange Magazine in the February/March 1998 issue.