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” . . . And it is the deep intuition that knows what is good for us, knows what we need next, and knows it with lightning speed . . . if we will just take down its dictation.” Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.
Years ago, I was on a road trip with friends through Sequoia National Park when we stopped for a quick bathroom break at Lost Grove. As we prepared to head to our next destination, my five-year-old son asked if he could ride in the van with the other kids. I walked him over, watched as he climbed in, and off we went, caravanning down the mountain road.
About twenty minutes later a strange feeling washed over me—an unexpected urge to be with my son. It was a quiet, steady tug that I chose not to ignore. I turned to my friend who was driving and asked if she could pull over so I could check on him. She’d already shown such kindness by letting me and my two kids ride in her van. It wasn’t the right moment to ask for more—but something inside me insisted.
When I reached the other van, my heart sank. My son wasn’t there. With fear starting to creep in, we immediately turned around and headed back toward Lost Grove. Before long, a car approached from the opposite direction, signaling for us to stop. A warm-hearted couple had found my son walking along the road and brought him back to me. Angels?
In the days that followed, I kept returning to that quiet, insistent feeling, reflecting on the weight of what I’d experienced. At the time, it was just a whisper, a gentle nudge. Only in hindsight did I grasp the full power of that intelligence—tapping me on the shoulder, urging me to pay attention. It’s easy to dismiss such feelings. Intuition doesn’t announce itself with logic or reason. I could have easily brushed it off, but I didn’t—I was awake and followed my gut feeling. That moment became a powerful lesson in the value of presence—tuning in rather than tuning out.
The Intelligence of Feeling
Intuition is an inner compass that knows exactly the best way to move us forward in the direction that will serve us best.
The doorway to this intelligence is through imagination—where intuition speaks. It doesn’t hand us a step-by-step plan. Instead, it whispers through feelings, flashes of imagery, sudden insights— bypassing logic and landing directly in our awareness. When we trust those messages, we’re tapping into the same creative energy that brings every invention, idea, and solution into being. When imagination is honored, intuition steps forward.
“Intuition is the wisdom of your Soul, and imagination is the world your Soul dances in. The two go hand-in-hand.”
Juna Mustad, Intuitive Coach
By reclaiming imagination as an essential tool for navigating life, we open ourselves up to the subtle wisdom that intuition offers. We begin to trust what arises from within us, appreciating its value as a key component in transformative living—taking charge of what is right for us in the most practical of ways.
Trusting What We Feel
The language of this inner intelligence is feeling. It’s the tug in your chest, the unease in your gut, the calm certainty that arises when something is right, and the tightness or discomfort that signals when something isn’t. These subtle cues are not just emotional—they are directional, guiding us toward alignment and away from harm.
The tricky part? Intuition doesn’t shout. It doesn’t arrive with neon arrows or Hollywood-level drama. If we’re expecting a booming voice from the heavens, we might miss it entirely. This guidance is subtle—so subtle we can easily mistake it for nothing at all. When we learn to trust what we feel—without second-guessing or brushing it aside—we are investing in the strength of our inner authority.
Stay Awake, Stay Connected
Intuition is not a gift reserved for a few “special” people, it’s built in—invest in yourself. The more we listen, the clearer it gets. The more we act on what intuition instructs us to do, the more life flows—sometimes not in the way we would expect, but always in the way we need.
We’ll never have all the answers, and honestly, we don’t need them. What we do need is to stay awake, stay connected, and keep tuning in to that quiet intelligence that’s been here for us all along.
Your heart whispers.
Your body nudges.
Your mind often talks too loud.
Intuition won’t compete with the noise—it waits for you to notice.
The "Inner Yes/Inner No" Practice
A daily check-in to build intuitive clarity
- Sit quietly: early morning or before bed works best.
- Close your eyes: take three deep, slow breaths—inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth. Let your attention sink down into the belly.
- Ask and feel: bring to mind a simple inquiry or question. For example:
“Would a long walk in the hills be better for me right now, or going for a short run?”
“Do I want to join friends for breakfast tomorrow morning, or would I be better off focusing on my project deadlines instead?”
Say each option quietly in your mind, one at a time. Then notice what arises in your body—not what you think, but what you feel.
Does your chest lift or tighten?
Do your shoulders soften or tense?
Is there a sense of ease, or a subtle contraction?
- Make it a daily habit:
The more you tune into these inner signals, the clearer they will become. Over time, you’ll start to recognize your unique “yes” and “no” feelings, buiding confidence in your relationship with intuition. Utilize this practice as a daily habit—engaging the marvels of intuition!
