Developing Intuition


Intuition could be seen as a form of sensitivity, and clairvoyance is highly developed intuition with an inner visual component very similar to imagination. 

First let’s talk about sensitivity.  It has several interesting definitions.  Being sensitive means:

  • having perception through the senses
  • readily or excessively affected by external influences
  • having acute mental or emotional sensibility; aware of and responsive to the feelings of others

In our society, sensitivity has traditionally had a negative connotation, especially for men.  But electronically speaking, ‘it is the ability of a device to react to incoming signals, or the magnitude or time of response of an instrument, circuit, etc, to an input signal, such as a current’.  In other words, the more sensitive the instrument, the better it works. 

It’s true that over-sensitivity interferes with clear thinking and sound judgment, just like a hyper-sensitive piece of equipment might be too delicate to ‘play well with others’.  There are also a lot of upsides and, in my opinion, awareness and responsiveness to self and others is an essential ingredient of a civilized society.  Lately sensitivity and intuition have been getting their due as ‘Emotional Intelligence’.

So what is imagination?  Simply, the ability to form a mental image, to think or believe.  Like sensitivity, it is a faculty beyond the 5 senses but still a natural part of our make-up. 

That is why intuition is often called the 6th sense – it is the ability to sense what is undetectable by our other 5 senses, and I think part of it’s function is to interpret and give meaning to the information picked up by the 5 senses.

Clairvoyance – the French word for “clear seeing” –  can be understood as highly developed intuition, with an inner visual/imagination component.  It is an ability to perceive energy and its manifestations through color, light, symbolic imagery, replay of past events, etc. 

Accurate clairvoyance means the ability to not only see, but also interpret or understand what is being seen effectively.

[Clairvoyant is the same as ‘psychic’, but we prefer the word ‘clairvoyant’ because its meaning is straightforward and down-to-earth, while ‘psychic’ has an air of the supernatural or occult, as if it were some super-ability, inaccessible to mere mortals, or something eerie and possibly dangerous.]

Most clairvoyants would agree that anyone with the desire and dedication to do so can develop the same skill to some degree.  We tend to:

  • believe that anyone can work toward a healthy relationship with their own intuition
  • encourage others to access this inner knowing to help guide them through life

Yes, some people are naturally more sensitive than others.  The capacity to feel things deeply is closely linked with intuition and creativity both.  Very creative people use their imaginations a lot and tend to also be more sensitive and intuitive than the average person.

To develop intuition or even clairvoyance simply takes trust in what you ‘see’ with your inner knowing and imagination and what you feel with your sensitivity. 

To develop accurate clairvoyance also requires having a healthy balance between the sensitivity and imagination. 

In other words, a person who is very emotionally vulnerable, or with a lot of their own limiting beliefs, grudges, etc. will have a hard time looking at another person’s energy without projecting their own ‘stuff’ on to it.  (See article: What to look for in a Psychic, Clairvoyant or Energy Healer? )


Some tips for developing intuition:

Use your imagination.  What is possible to imagine, to see with your inner eye?  If you have trouble visualizing, start with a memory – what does your bedroom look like?  Can you get a picture of it in your mind?  Now put a rainbow over your bed – can you see it?

Observe a person you don’t know.  Can you pick up on how they feel in this moment from their body language or expression on their face?  What does their posture tell you?  Does this person like themselves?  If they’re talking with someone else, do they know each other well?

Contemplate a project or dilemma before going to bed.  Silently request that your Higher Self/inner being/essential self provide a solution – something you haven’t thought of on your own.  When you first wake up pay attention to any ideas you have.

Also, I recommend reading Jole's soul blog post Baby Genius for insight on how inspiration and intuition come from being present.

Remember, intuition is not some woo-woo, out-there phenomonon.  It's a natural human faculty because it is something you need to survive and thrive.  Every time you have a good idea – that’s your intuition talking.  The question is, are you listening?