if you are reading this post, odds are you listened to a little nudge that prompted you to learn more. this is a reminder that that nudge was more than just a coincidence; it was a cue from your intuition to guide you in the right direction. whether you are curious about what intuition is or how you can strengthen it, i have crafted this post to help you develop and deepen your intuitive connection.

what is intuition?

our senses allow us to receive information so that we can perceive and navigate the world which surrounds us. intuition can be understood as information obtained through your senses by feeling without conscious reasoning. in other words, intuition is the wisdom of your soul.

logic versus intuition

to know is, “to perceive or understand as fact or truth; apprehend clearly and with certainty.” while you might use the phrase ‘i think’ to describe how you learned something through logic, information obtained through intuition is expressed through the phrase ‘i feel’. while the two play equally important roles in guiding us towards our happiness and fulfillment, the mind is often a barrier to hearing what our bodies try to tell us.

as eckhart tolle says in the power of now: 

the beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity — the thinker. knowing this enables you to observe the entity. the moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated. you then begin to realize that there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought, that thought is only a tiny aspect of that intelligence. you also realize that all the things that truly matter — beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace — arise from beyond the mind. you begin to awaken.

logic often supports our survival, while intuition can promote our evolution. the constant push and pull of these two powerful forces is what guides us forward and backwards as we journey through life. our soul exists beyond the parameters that our mind has carefully constructed to make sense of the world and keep us safe from our fears. if you can consciously choose to be open and receptive to information that arises outside of the realm of logic, you may begin to notice guidance that will support the growth and expansion of your soul.

the 8 intuitive senses

the ‘clairs’ are the 8 intuitive senses which help you experience a state of clear knowing: clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairsalience, clairgustance, clairtangency and clairempathy. 

1. clairvoyance: clear seeing

have you ever had a dream that predicted a future event? clairvoyance is one of the most recognized intuitive senses and is when you know through seeing visions, images or symbols in your mind’s eye. psychics, mediums and fortune tellers are known for using clairvoyance to ‘see the future’.

2. clairsentience: clear feeling

have you ever made a decision based on your instincts? clairsentience is when you know by feeling sensations within the body. people who experience ‘gut’ feelings that prompt them to take action may do so as a result of clairsentience.

3. claircognizance: clear knowing

have you ever “known” something without knowing why? claircognizance is when you innately know something without having learned it. people who experience downloads of knowledge out of nowhere and seem to always have the answers to everything may be claircognizant.

4. clairaudience: clear hearing

have you ever ‘heard’ an internal voice respond when you are seeking an answer to a question? clairaudience is when you know by hearing inaudible, internal sounds, messages, words or phrases that are not within earshot. people who are naturally attuned to sounds or music may be clairaudient.

5. clairsalience: clear smell

have you ever smelled the perfume of a loved one and felt compelled to call them? clairsalience is when you know by smelling or perceiving scents that are not in your presence. people who experience scents that trigger their other senses to perceive information do so through clairsalience.

6. clairgustance: clear taste

have you ever tasted the favourite food of a loved one who has passed? clairgustance is when you know through tasting or perceiving flavours that are not in or near your mouth. intuitive eating, when your body innately craves something for nourishment, is a form of clairgustance.

7. clairtangency: clear touch

have you ever touched someone and felt a strong desire to give them a hug? clairtangency is when you know through physically touching a person or object. reiki practitioners and energy healers use clairtangency to identify and shift blocked energy within the body. 

8. clairempathy: clear emotion

have you ever stepped into a room and immediately felt that something was off? clairempathy is when you know through feeling the emotions and energy of others as if they were your own. empaths feel not just for but with others, as they both knowingly and unknowingly take on energy through clairempathy.

how to strengthen your intuition

one of the most common misconceptions about the 8 intuitive senses is that you have to be a medium or psychic to experience them. these senses are available to anyone - it’s just a matter of recognizing, understanding and developing their strength. you might feel more innately connected to some of the intuitive senses than others. for those which you would like to explore further, here are a few invitations to begin:

1. create space for silence

how does your intuition communicate to you? in order to feel it, you must first create space for silence. 

meditation is one practice through which you can learn to quiet the mind and tune in to the body. if you are new to meditation, know that meditation doesn’t mean you have to sit in silence for 60 minutes. here’s a resource we wrote to help you explore your practice.

if you are seeking an alternative to meditation, time in nature is also a great way to ground your thoughts and connect with the present moment. that might look like taking a walk in the woods or walking barefoot in the grass. as you do so, focus on taking one step at a time, slowing down the pace of your breath and surrendering the weight of your thoughts to the embrace of the earth beneath you through your exhales. this grounded state of connection with yourself and the environment will help awaken your senses. 

2. observe how you feel

once you have connected with your body, it’s time to explore what your intuition feels like. how we each experience intuition is unique so it’s important to discover how yours speaks to you. refer back to the list of 8 intuitive senses and consider which ones you feel most connected with. 

• do you experience gut feelings? 

• do you receive downloads of information?

• do you hear messages?

if you find yourself overthinking it, grab a pen and paper and write down the 8 intuitive senses. one by one, ask yourself: ‘on a scale of 1-10, how connected am i to my _________’ (insert each ‘clair’ in the blank). write down the first number that comes to your mind. anything over 6 indicates a stronger connection, anything under 6 indicates a weaker connection. you can then choose which senses you want to work on strengthening.

3. practice using your intuition

the most natural way to strengthen your intuition is to practice listening to it. like any language, it becomes more familiar through use.

one way that i return to this practice is through interacting with an oracle deck - to surface what i may sense, but not yet have the words for.

the golden wildlife oracle was created with this in mind: to support personal inquiry and inner dialogue. it offers images and language that invite interpretation rather than instruction, allowing your intuition to lead the meaning-making process.

if you feel drawn to working with an oracle deck, here is a simple way to begin: 

• choose a quiet space where you feel connected and at ease to use your deck.

• shuffle the deck. as you do so, think about a question that you’d like the answer to. avoid questions with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses. for example, instead of asking: ‘when will I receive a promotion?’ you can ask, ‘what do I need to know about when I will receive a promotion?’. the slight difference in phrasing will allow more space for guidance.

• spread the deck out in front of you. close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and lightly hover your hand over the cards. notice which card you feel drawn to and flip it over.

• reflect upon the meaning of the card within the context of your question. you are welcome to journal about it if writing helps you process your thoughts. once you have taken the time to formulate your interpretation, refer to the guidebook that came with your oracle deck to see how it compares and if it expands your perspective.

apart from oracle decks, there are many other tools that you can use, like crystals, pendulums and dream journals. however, the practice of using your intuition can be as simple as listening to your gut instinct and following through with what it’s asking you to do. you’ll realize that it’s there to guide you in the right direction.

remember: our intuition speaks in an unfamiliar tongue. at first it may not make sense but, as you learn the language of your intuition you will begin to trust and grow more confident with how it communicates with you. 

wherever you may find yourself on your journey of trusting your inner guidance, thank you for listening to your intuition to end up in this space. know that this is one of many steps that you will take to find the answers that you seek.

 

cover image captured captured by amber ellis of creating light studio.