The intersection of mindfulness & intuition

One of the ways in which I often describe intuition is the emergence of stored knowledge, puzzled together in new ways. But we all know that just because knowledge is available, it doesn’t mean that we are (a) aware of its existence or (b) paying attention to it. If the voice of our rational mind is too loud - and for most of us, most of the time, it is because we have been trained to use and listen to it so much - it drowns out the signals of intuition. 

So in order to access the intelligence of our intuition, we have to learn how to quiet down the (rational) mind, tune in to ourselves and listen to the knowledge that is there. 

This is where mindfulness comes into play. In my view and experience, mindfulness practices are an amazing tool for gaining access to and sensitivity for one's intuition. 

The practices have certainly helped me in developing a sensitivity for the signals of my intuitive mind. Case in point: I “wrote” my entire PhD defense in my head during the deep relaxation at the end of a yin yoga session. Then I cycled home and wrote it all down (I got full marks, in case you were wondering :)

This is not an isolated incident. In his book, The Intuitive Mind, Eugene Sadler-Smith writes:

"Some of the most insightful and creative ideas come in states of relaxation, reverie or dreaming, when the analytical mind is in neutral gear and the intuitive mind has more freedom to roam and make novel connections. [...] When intuition becomes insight the solution emerges into the spotlight of consciousness and it's possible to 'join the dots'." [p. 97]

Regular breaks for quieting the mind, tuning in and listening. 

So in order to really integrate intuition into our toolbox for making strategic decisions and coming up with creative solutions, we need to make sure to create the circumstances in which that can happen.

"Through non-activity, doing-without-doing, the space is created for insightful connections to occur and for the voice of the intuitive mind to be heard. The solutions to 'out there' problems can come from 'in here'." [p. 96]

That is why our upcoming Intuition Lab is centered around the principle of listening - to ourselves, to each other and creating helpful conditions for listening to our individual and collective intuitions.

But mindfulness practices don’t only increase a sense of self and connection to oneself, they are also an effective and proven method to build emotional intelligence - the skillful means of responding and regulating one's emotions in a helpful capacity, instead of following automatic habits of reacting that we may have acquired throughout our lifetimes.

Why emotional intelligence is another part of the fruitful ground on which intuition thrives is something I will discuss in an upcoming article.