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What if I told you intuition isn't a rare gift, but a natural sense. We all have one that can guide you to your true self, show you what you want, which direction to take, stop second guessing and make you more confident and life feel easier. This week we're breaking intuition down to the basics Today, what it is, wednesday, how it comes through and Friday, what to watch out for. After I finished recording Friday's episode, I realized there really is no time like the present. So this week we're diving into intuition. We're going to take it in three parts, starting with today's basic overview of what it is from three different perspectives the scientific, personal development and spiritual. Will we cover everything this week about intuition? Absolutely not. Intuition is a broad topic, but my goal is to lay some framework for you and hopefully clear up a few myths about what intuition is and what it isn't. So let's start with the scientific point of view, because intuition is too often only talked about in mystical or like woo-woo terms. I know that's how I certainly thought about it before. I spent the last decade learning about it. You know, I think for too long it's's been placed solely in that bucket, when it's also widely recognized by the scientific field. Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize winning psychologist and author of Thinking Fast and Slow, distinguishes between two modes of thought system one, which is fast, automatic, intuitive, and system two, which is slow, deliberate and analytical. Intuition, as I just said, is essentially system one. It's decisions made quickly through pattern recognition, experience and subconscious processing rather than explicit reasoning. Gary Klein, another psychologist who studied firefighters, soldiers and ER doctors, who often make like split-second, life-saving decisions. He describes intuition as recognition-primed decision-making. It's, you know, rapidly matching current situations to stored patterns. In his book Sources of Power, he explains that intuition isn't guesswork, it's unconscious expertise. It's the brain running simulations without us even realizing it. So to sum up, a more scientific view intuition is the brain's ability to quickly process patterns, emotions and memories outside of conscious awareness. Now let's shift to the personal development lens.

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Take Tony Robbins, one of the most well-known motivational speakers. He doesn't usually use the word intuition. Instead, he talks about an inner compass. He emphasizes clarity of vision, emotional mastery and decisive action. That inner compass shows up as a gut-level certainty when your choices align with your deepest values. A gut level certainty when your choices align with your deepest values. In short, intuition in this context is the decisive clarity that comes from inner alignment. I bring this up because intuition is definitely a term that falls in the rose by any other name category. You know there's a lot of different terms for it Inner compass, or knowing, higher guidance, gut feeling, divine insight, sixth sense, higher truth, messages from the soul, inner truth, unconscious insight, you know, kahneman system, one thinking, klein's recognition, primed based decision making. I mean, all of these are just different ways of talking about intuition. And finally, the spiritual lens.

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I want to bring in Cindy Dale here, because she is a well-respected intuitive and teacher. She's been connected to her intuition since she was a child, though, like many of us, she shut it down for a few years before welcoming it back along with all of its gifts. She describes intuition as simply being more aware of energy. Everything is energy, she says, and so does science, by the way. It's just a matter of how dense it is. Intuition, then, is about tuning into the subtle layers of energy that are all around us. This is also what my mentor, dr Paul Douglas, says, and it resonates deeply with how I connect with intuition myself.

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One of the most important lessons I learned during my biodynamic craniosacral therapy training is that energy exists in layers at all times. What we perceive whether we perceive it at all depends on our level of familiarity and practice. Think of it like social cues. You know, some people are quote unquote socially dense. They miss subtle signals that someone is uncomfortable in conversation. Others seem effortlessly attuned. You know they know exactly what the other person needs to hear. That is intuition. In action, it's a heightened awareness of subtle energy. Sure, sometimes it might just look like someone is socially skilled or awkward, but you could also argue that part of it comes from a finely tuned subconscious ability to recognize patterns, what Kahneman would describe as intuition. Or you're deeply aligned with how you want to show up for other people, as Tony Robbins might suggest, or that you're picking up on the other person's energy, as Cindy Dale might say.

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From my perspective, this connection happens through what many traditions call the higher self, though there are many ways to describe this right the soul, inner voice, higher consciousness, divine self, inner wisdom. At its core, intuition is about quieting the other voices in your head, your parents, society, your own inner critic, so you can clearly connect with who you truly are. When you do this, you naturally align with actions that support your highest, happiest, most authentic self. One of my favorite yoga and spiritual teacher teachers, karen Kenny, used to always say in yoga classes your calling is not supposed to be a conference call. In other words, who you are is meant to be guided by your own inner system, your own intuition, not external expectations.

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One more lens we can also look at the HeartMath Institute, which sits at the intersection of all three of these perspectives. Really, they conduct peer-reviewed scientific research on heart-brain coherence and the physiological effects of emotions. Yet their work resonates with spiritual traditions too. They speak of the heart as a source of wisdom, intuition and connection, and their programs are presented in personal development terms. You know, tools for resilience, stress reduction and better decision making. You know HeartMath research even found that 80% of repeat entrepreneurs rely on their intuition.

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They define intuition as having three different types. So there is implicit knowledge, something learned in the past that we don't consciously remember. Energetic sensitivity, the ability to sense environmental signals, like feeling someone stare at you across a room, and non-local intuition. That's knowledge that can't be explained by the other two, for example, a mother sensing her child is hurt while they're at school. So whether we view intuition as pattern recognition, subconscious knowledge or a connection to the divine, it ultimately comes down to just deep inner knowing.

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Next, let's go over some common misconceptions. First, you either have it or you don't. I used to believe this myself. I mean, I equated intuition with being psychic visions, prophecy speaking to the dead. I know that many people think it's a rare gift reserved for a chosen few. The truth is, everyone has intuition. It is a natural human capacity, like memory or imagination. Sure, some are more practiced at noticing it, but it can be cultivated by anyone. I am proof positive of that. I did not have an inkling at all of my intuitive abilities until I hit my mid-30s. That's when I started meditating, started clearing my energy system and then, all of a sudden, there they were.

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Point two intuition is always loud, dramatic or mystical. I wish that were the case. If only it came as a flashing neon sign. I mean, many expect booming voices or crystal clear visions that make total sense from the moment you have them, but more often it's subtle. It's a quiet, nudge, a gentle knowing or a bodily sensation that is really easy to dismiss. Intuition whispers more than it shouts, which is why it's important to notice how your intuition shows up. More on that in the next episode.

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Misconception three intuition is irrational or untrustworthy. It's sometimes dismissed as flaky, but in reality it's your subconscious and nervous system integrating data your conscious mind hasn't caught up with yet. When balanced with discernment, intuition can be a remarkably reliable guide. That said, we can get it wrong, and that's what I'll be talking about on Friday, so stay tuned for that. But for now, pure intuition is always right. Now, at least a few of you are feeling a little skeptical, Am I right? Great, be skeptical. Keep that healthy sense of rationality. Wednesday's episode is going to push you a little bit and I hope you show up for it, because expanding our understanding and our comfort with the unknown is how we grow, and it is really worth it to explore this topic.

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When you cultivate a strong connection with your intuition, life just flows more easily. You're not constantly second-guessing decisions, wondering if a situation or a person is right for you. Instead, you become adept at pausing, checking in with that quiet inner voice, inner compass, and letting it guide your choices. There's a calm that comes from trusting yourself, a sense of clarity and alignment that makes even challenging decisions feel more manageable. The more you practice tuning in, the more effortless and grounded your life becomes.

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For today, I just want you to start thinking about intuition. Do you believe in it? What's your definition? Do you work with it regularly or have you never even thought about it? Remember, we've explored intuition from three angles Scientifically, as your brain's rapid pattern recognition system. From a personal development angle, as Tony Robbins might put it, it's your inner compass, guiding choices aligned with your values. And spiritually, as a connection to subtle energy and your higher self.

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Cultivating your intuition isn't just interesting. It helps you live more aligned with who you really are, make clearer decisions and move through life with greater ease and confidence. So take a moment during this week to notice. Notice the small nudges and the whispers in your daily life and see what happens when you start listening, and the whispers in your daily life and see what happens when you start listening. If you have questions about intuition, now is the time. Email me at rootsoftherise at gmailcom. I will be answering them this week. Until next time, remember, know who you are, love who you've been and be willing to do the work to become who you want to be. Just a quick reminder this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist and nothing shared here is meant to replace the guidance of a physician, therapist or any other qualified provider. That said, I hope it inspires you to grow, heal and seek the support you need to thrive.