Can intuitive abilities be developed/cultivated or are they inborn, a gift given only to certain people? Many of us are aware of powerful and well-known intuitives such as Edgar Cayce and Caroline Myss. Is it possible that our own intuition could function at such a level?
Interestingly, in both Cayce's and Myss's view, the answer is a resounding yes. Myss is clear that intuition is not a gift, but rather a skill—and a hard-earned one at that. Many leaders is the field of intuition state unequivocally that each of us can expand our intuitive capacities, like any other of our physical or mental capabilities, with training, practice, intention, and commitment. Many of the great intuitives emphasize the importance of learning to trust yourself. In fact, Myss believes increasing intuitive ability is directly correlated to one's own sense of self-esteem. It takes practice and commitment to trust and act upon our own intuitive insights.
At the same time, can everyone become a professional intuitive who radically transforms the lives of millions with their powerful abilities? No. Each of us has our own calling in this life—some will manifest their intuitive skills in ways that are far-reaching, while others are called in a different direction. The truth, though, is that each of us can increase our ability to tune in to our own inner guidance, trust what we receive, and use our intuition to create a better life for ourselves and those around us.
In order to allow our intuition to flower, many of us have to learn a new relationship with life—with our bodies, minds, hearts, and environment. Most of us are deeply conditioned to relate to life through the flow of thought in the mind; in fact, our human species is identified with the mind to such a deep level that many are unaware of the difference between the movement of the mind and reality itself. It requires a clear commitment, the willingness to open to the unknown, and a deep passion for knowing what is true.
Additionally, we must be able to respond clearly to the many different and even conflicting voices inside us. As we set aside the rational mind and move into deeper levels of knowing, we will likely experience states of confusion and fear. We must be prepared to experience these fully, without turning from them, to penetrate the seeds of wisdom they contain.
One of the main obstacles we must face in our development of intuition is the limiting of information we are able to receive to what we want to hear, what we desire or "think" is best, or that which fits neatly into our limited, conditioned views of reality.
Specific Ways to Develop Your Intuition
1. Prayer and meditation. Studies over the last few decades show a strong correlation between meditation and the development of intuitive abilities. Through meditation practice, we learn to distinguish between old patterns of thought and fresh insight. Meditation can help us to synchronize body and mind, thus allowing a free flow of intelligence throughout the entire organism.
Scientists have learned that the regular practice of meditation creates better communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which may allow for more direct access to the creativity and insight thought to be housed in the right hemisphere.
By cutting our identification with the thinking mind as our primary means of interacting with our bodies and the environment, meditation naturally opens us to receive higher-level cognition, insight, and guidance—not limited to the confines of the individual, separate self-sense.
In a similar manner to meditation, a regular prayer practice allows us to quiet our thinking minds and open to a more subtle flow of intelligence and presence. Much research has been conducted showing the benefits of prayer to relax the body, calm the mind, and connect those in prayer to deeper levels of awareness and brain activity and to states of profound peace, love, and oneness. These states are conducive to receiving intuitive guidance as they offer a doorway beyond the rational mind and into the transpersonal.
See Sounds True's Meditation channel for free exercises and teachings on meditation and how to start your own meditation practice. 2. Working with the chakras. The chakras are energy centers located in the subtle body and are responsible for the quality of our life experience. When the chakras are "balanced," "tuned," and "open," we are able to experience reality as it is. In such an open and balanced state, we more naturally receive intuitive guidance and direction.
An exercise to discover your intuitive gifts through the chakras here » 3. Dreamwork. Becoming aware of one's inner dream life is a centuries-old practice used cross-culturally and throughout all of the great wisdom traditions and indigenous spiritual systems. More recently, through the teachings of depth and transpersonal psychology, various schools of dreamwork have emerged that allow direct access to intuitive insights and guidance. The dream itself is said to be a storehouse of intuition, and the more attention we can give to our dream lives, the more our own intuition can flower.
An exercise in lucid dreaming to cultivate deep levels of inner knowing here » 4. Shamanic techniques. The ancient shamanic systems of exploring the inner worlds appeared long before the teachings and practices of institutionalized religions. These techniques involve the use of rhythmic sound and other tools such as entheogenic plants to enter into what is referred to as nonordinary reality. When in nonordinary reality, or a shamanic state of consciousness, one is naturally connected to intuitive dimensions where information and insight is received and brought back to the community for the benefit of others.
Learn a simple shamanic journeying technique here » 5. Bodywork and other grounding techniques. When we are more grounded, centered, and our awareness is in our physical form rather than in the habitual flow of the mind, we are more naturally connected with our intuitive faculties. Techniques and practices such as the various systems of bodywork, tai chi, qigong, yoga, and breathwork help us to return our attention to the present moment, to what is happening now, in the physical body. Even a simple walk in nature can reconnect us to the flow of intelligence in the body, what modern-day mystic Eckhart Tolle refers to as "the inner body"—a doorway into presence and intuitive guidance.
6. Various forms of experiential therapies. From Gestalt to EMDR to art, play, music, or sandbox therapies, opening to the unconscious and unprocessed material in our bodies and minds naturally opens us to the flow of intuition. As we become better able to experience reality, not from our past charges and conditioning, but fresh in the moment, free of all unconscious influence, intuitive insight dawns organically in our lives.
7. Writing (automatic and journaling). Automatic writing is a process of bypassing the rational thinking mind and using the tools of pen and paper (or computer keyboard) to access deep levels of your being. You can simply begin writing with no particular focus, or begin your session with a question as to specific guidance you are looking for.
The practice of journaling works in much the same way. As you begin to write, if you do not edit what you are writing and do not limit what comes through, you may gradually move through more surface thoughts and feelings into deeper levels of your unconscious, into the pure intuitive realms. Journaling can help you to gain new insights and creative ideas that you can apply to your daily life.
8. Surrendering to the mystery. When all is said and done, you can tune in directly to your intuitive abilities as they are an inherent part of who you are. Let everything go and open yourself to all that you are; allow the intelligence and beauty that is responsible for beating your heart, growing your hair, and hanging the stars in the sky to move through you and reveal directly to you what you need to know.
