Intuition, What Is It?                            

 Intuition is wisdom that comes from within. 

When we listen to our inner voice, we are paying attention to subtle energies within and around us.  It brings forth all sensory information from the environment.  There is more in our environment than what we "pick up" with our five physical senses.  There is a spiritual world, a vibrational energetic world, that we can perceive with our intuition.  Intuition is our 6th sense.  It is a spiritual sense, which is connected to our soul and centered in the heart.  Just as our physical senses keep our body connected and informed, our 6th sense's main function is to keep us connected to our Creator*, our Higher Self, and heavenly helpers, who lovingly guide us in our path.  We are spiritual beings experiencing life in a body and our intuition keeps us connected to our Higher Guidance.  Listening to our intuition brings us peace of mind and shows how to live a more joyful, safe and loving way.

All humans are intuitive  or "psychic."  We all have the ability to tune-in to the energy of people, situations, and places.  We all have the ability to know what is in someone's mind, an outcome before it happens, and what our children need to be happy and healthy.  Even though this ability is inherent in all of us, some of us are more aware of its guidance.  Some people are highly aware and their intuition is more developed.  Most of the time, being intuitive or psychic is a choice and can be developed through practice and awareness exercises.  A Course in Miracles says, "The voice of God is as loud as our willingness to listen to it."  So consciously listening to and trusting intuitive insights is also a key aspect in its development.  The more we use intuition, the stronger it gets.

Intuition can also be suppressed or ignored.  When we defer to outside "authorities" to dictate what is true for us, or go to others for verification or approval, we loose confidence in ourselves and loose the connection to our inner voice.  When we choose to focus our attention only on the physical plane and follow intellectual or ego-based laws, we block our intuitive gifts.

Children are born very connected and aware of the spiritual world because this is where they come from.  Babies rely more on their intuition to figure out the world around them.  They also see angels as well as people's energies easily.  If intuition is encouraged in the family environment, children will retain these psychic gifts.  But if intuition is not accepted nor encouraged, children will learn that they need to rely more on the physical world, on spoken words, and other people in order to "connect" and "understand" the world around them.  Around the age of 5 is when children's brains are making the inner connections that decide what will be easier...looking within for answers or looking outside themselves. 

The voice of intuition talks to us through four main channels of communication:  Clairsentience (clear feeling), Clairvoyance (clear seeing), Clairaudience (clear hearing), and Claircognizance (clear knowing).  We all have access to these four spiritual senses, but usually we have 1 or 2 primary means of receiving divine guidance.

          1.  Clairsentience (clear feeling) - This is the way most people receive guidance.  Insights are felt through emotions and physical sensations.  The two main areas where this guidance is felt are the heart and  the stomach region.  For example, you meet someone new and you feel your stomach tightening accompanied by a feeling of "I shouldn't trust this person" or your feelings might be the opposite, your heart might swell with joy and a feeling of "I like this person" may be felt within.

          2.  Clairvoyance (clear seeing) - You get intuitive messages through your spiritual vision as pictures and visual mental images.  These messages come to you as single snapshot images, either in your mind or outside your mind.  Or you may see mini-scenes, as if from a movie.  These images can also be symbolic, such as seeing a STOP sign in your mind's eye as a signal that you should take a rest, slow down, or stop what you are doing.

          3.  Clairaudience (clear hearing) - You literally hear the intuitive messages.  The voice may sound like your own or it may sound different.  It may emanate from within your body, within your mind, or sound as if it's outside your head.  The voice of your intuition is always loving and supportive, even when it warns us of danger or wrong turns.  For instance, you approach a green light as you are driving your car, when suddenly you hear an inner voice say, "Stop the car NOW."  As you put on the brakes, you see a car in front of you who went through his red light!   You just missed what could have been a bad accident.

          4.  Claircognizance (clear knowing) - When you receive through this channel, it's like downloading the information to your mind as a KNOWINGNESS.  You don't know how you know, you just do.  Men are frequently claircognizant and may not even realize that they are naturally receiving intuitive messages.  For example, you are at home playing with your children when the phone rings.  You just know it's your friend from high school whom you haven't heard from in years.  You pick up the phone, and "you got it!"

There are also other psychic abilities or "spiritual gifts" that can be tapped in to when we develop our intuitive awareness.  Some of these abilities are:

          - Telepathy, which is mind to mind communication without the use of words or physical means.  It is sending and receiving energy as thoughts, like knowing who is calling before picking up the phone.

          - Precognition, knowing beforehand what is going to happen.  For example, having a vision or a dream about something that actually comes true days, weeks or even months later.

          - Psychometry, the ability to pick up information through holding or touching objects.  For example, holding a ring and receiving personal information on the owner or holding a book and being able to "read" it without opening the covers.

          - Telekinesis, the ability to transcend physical laws of gravity, time and space, like moving objects by focusing intention and thoughts.  Even being able to appear and disappear at will, or be in more than one place at the same time.

          - Spiritual Healing, the ability to heal physically, emotionally, or mentally upon touch, thought or through words.

These other psychic abilities are all ways to work with energy.  But for this energy work to be used for its highest purpose, it needs to be focused with the intention of Love.  Our heart-based intuition guides us towards inner peace, joyful and fun experiences, loving and supportive relationships, creative expressions, physical safety, and even better business and financial decisions.  In general, it helps us improve the quality of our lives!

There is a difference between divine guidance and ego-based thoughts or wishful thinking.  True divine guidance comes from our soul/Higher Self, our Creator, and/or our heavenly helpers (spirit guides, angels, Ascended Masters) through the heart.  Divine intuitive guidance is always loving and supportive.  It leaves us with a feeling of well-being and acceptance.  On the other hand, ego based thoughts come from a place of fear, limitation, and lack.  The ego is judgmental and seeks to separate.  Sometimes making us feel special at the expense of others.  Wishful thinking also leaves us with feelings of doubt, while divine guidance feels right within our heart.

Intuition lets you see the Truth.  It allows you to see with all your senses and interpret this information for your highest good.  It reminds you of who you really are.  It guides you to find what you really need to be happy, peaceful and joyful.  Intuition opens your eyes to see others' inner Truth.  It tells you if someone is being honest and is trustworthy.  You will know what you can expect from others and from a situation because your soul will let you know.  Trusting your intuitive insights will lead you to your inner power.  Trusting your intuitive insights will lead you to KNOWING that you are divinely supported and guided in your life journey.

* Throughout this article/website the words Creator, God, Goddess, Spirit, Source, and Inner Teacher are used to describe the same source.  These words are only labels and attempt to describe what each of us knows in our hearts, our souls.  Let these words mean whatever your beliefs are.  Feel free to change them to suit your beliefs.

By Dumari Dancoes, ATP

Last Revised: May 2006