It’s come to my attention over the last year that not all forms of intuition are the same. That is, knowing can arise from different sources, both very earth bound and more spiritual or universal.

What I think of as direct knowing (asking and receiving answers, channeling pure information) is slightly different than those emotional gut feeling we get about things, and it’s certainly different than “just knowing” what your spouse is thinking.

Biology and Intuition
Recently, I read The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, M.D. Lots of fascinating and helpful information about how hormones affect a woman’s brain throughout her life. For instance, Brizendine writes, “The areas of the brain that track gut feelings are larger and more sensitive in the female brain, according to brain scan studies. Therefore, the relationship between a woman’s gut feelings and her intuitive hunches is grounded in biology.”

That women are biologically predisposed to more gut feelings than men probably doesn’t come as a big surprise to many. I was surprised that Brizendine went on to call “being able to guess what another person is thinking or feeling” as mind reading. I once heard what a friend was thinking and that felt very much different from inferring what someone was thinking based on observable data.

Body language is observable knowing
To me, reading body language is a communication skill, whether or not you are aware you are developing it. Growing up as a highly observant child I intentionally developed my ability to learn from people’s words and actions. Some people seem to have personality traits that make “reading” others, pardon-the-pun, a no-brainer. On the other end of the personality spectrum are more self-absorbed personality types who rarely seem to wonder what others are thinking or feeling.

To me, this just is not intuition. It’s learning the language of the body and the personalities of people you encounter. It’s observable rather than something invisible that can be known directly.

Also, although not based on science (although I imagine that science probably exists to support this), it’s been my experience that children, male and female, of dysfunctional families can grow up being finely attuned to read subtle facial movements, mood shifts and general body language to a greater degree than your “average” male or female. Their survival — is dad in a good mood? — may have depended on it. As a result, such life learning tied to emotional experience may override biological proclivities and hormonal influence.

Gut feelings and emotional knowing
If I had to describe gut feelings, I’d say that gut feelings seem to be a knowing that arises from one physically picking up an energetic signal about a particular situation, decision or coming event. When I get butterflies in my stomach, I know that something good is on the verge of happening, but I don’t know what. For others, gut feelings are more likely to alert them to danger or give them pause so they stop and consider a decision. It’s the “I don’t have a good feeling about this” feedback.

I like the way medical intuitive Laura Alden Kamm describes gut feelings. In her learning CD series “Unlocking Your Intuitive Power,” she describes gut feelings as a psychic feeling centered in the body. It’s emotion based. These full body hits are centered in the third chakra in our solar plexus.

Intuitive insights provide data without the emotion
Kamm defines intuitive insights as “empty mind” data that streams to us without emotion. Such insights arise from our sixth chakra. As a medical intuitive, such pure data is of high value. If she was reading someone from her solar plexus chakra she’d have to figure out if the emotion she felt was hers or the person she was reading. From the third eye, emotion is not part of the picture she is receiving.

Intuition and spirit
I’m also in harmony with her belief that intuition connects our wonderful, agile mind to our spirit. As she says, “Intuition is the vehicle of your higher mind — the vehicle for insight and the insight itself.”

The spirit wisdom that you can access by the mind is endlessly fascinating and deep. Intuitive dream boards give you direct access to this intuitive wisdom. You don’t have to wait for night dreams to let your spirit unfold symbols and messages about your truth. You can practice learning the language of the soul using personal collage work.

Belleruth Naparstek, in her book Your Sixth Sense, recommends the following actions to help you develop your sixth sense:

• Focus intent and pay attention. Just by setting the intention to be more intuitive you will develop your intuition. As I always say: “What you notice matters!TM”
• Keep like company. This helps you to develop your intuition-accessing right side of the brain.
• Spend time in nature to receive inspiration and grounding at the same time.
• Meditate. Meditation is often cited as key to intuitive development.
• Partake in the arts. Being open to any creative endeavor seems to positively affect your intuition.
• Tell the truth. Naparstek writes: “Psychic awareness is about integrity — about being true to ourselves and our own inner experience.”
• Know yourself. You need to know your own intentions, motivations, dreams and desires before you can intuit those of others without distortion. My passion is working with clients so they achieve life-changing clarity that just makes everything more simple and magical.
Share and Enjoy:
• 
• 
• 
• 
•