Where do ideas come from?
Have you ever wondered where does ideas come from? Do you rememeber some time when you woke up and suddenly knew the solution to a problem you have been trying to crack for some time? Or you were taking a bath and an idea appeared for a creative endeavour you were so strongly drawn to you HAD to go and try to materialize it? One of the word we use, when we describe situations like these is: INTUITION. Obviously, not every idea we get is intuitive, though. When I have a craving to go and eat all the chocolate in my cupboard, or when I have obsessive thoughts about not being good enough – that is NOT intuition. What intuition is then?
In yoga-philosophy, we have five bodies: the physical body, the energetic body, the lesser mind body, the higher mind body and the blissful body (Judita Berková, 2022). The image of „body“ is for reference only, because we are trying to put into words what is beyond words and therefore nothing we say will ever really capture the real essence of what we are trying to describe. Our lesser mind – roughly equivalent to what we call ego – is here to make sure we stay here, on this earth, as long as possible. Together with our body and energetic body (chakras etc.), it creates what we experience as our individuality.
Sense and sensibility
In Jungian terms, it would be our body-mind unity – our conscious self and personal subconscious. Lesser mind is rational, analytical, practical, concerned with survival and making us safe. This is the mind that worries, concerns, can become stressed, whirls constantly and produces thoughts. It is very useful – it allows us to adapt to society and material world and find creative ways to express our individuality. Problems arise when we think this mind is all there is and let her control us.
Intuition is, according to yoga-philosophy, part of our higher mind. This higher mind synthesizes, looks at things from a distance, sees “round the corner” so to speak (again Judita Berková, 2022) and knows everything is intertwined and interconnected. Through this higher mind we can also eventually connect to the last level of our being – to the source, the blissful body. There we not only know, but feel with our whole body and mind, that we transcend our individuality, we are endless potential embodied.
As far as my understanding goes, the point is to be able to experience both realms – the physical and spiritual – at the same time. To develop our unique identity and transcend it as well. To cultivate our individual gifts and be aware that is not the end of us. To let the higher mind lead and the lower mind follow. The higher mind knows the proper direction, the lesser mind is expert on duality and material reality – it can serve us well in bringing our talents into physical shape.
Intuition is the soft voice whispering in our heart and the feeling in our guts. It talks in visions, hunches, and inexplicable pulls to unknown horizons. It knows we cannot be really hurt because we are everything there is. It knows we can feel pain and suffering and we will die eventually – but, from the point of view of endless eternity, it does not really matter. Intuition leads us exactly to where we need to be.
The path to knowing
Intuition knows the impermanence of everything here on Earth and does not build fortresses (literal or figurative) in order to protect ourselves. And here a problem arises. The lesser mind wants us to be safe! It hates risks and uncertainty. It despises change. It wants to find a way to be well in this word and then STAY THERE (preferably forever). It fears intuition.
So how do we know, which mind speaks? How do we recognize the voice of our intuition from the voice of our lower mind? The correct answer is: I do not know. I believe we all need to come to our own answers, but I want to share how I know. Maybe you will be inspired by it.
- Intuition is concerned with here and now. It usually (well, never, really) presents a plan with steps to be taken in next twelve months. It might see around the corner but typically does not share this knowledge. Following intuition means knowing only one step ahead. It means being able to trust (that I am led by something that is on my side).
- Intuition is often not logical. It often does not make any sense – because it goes against what has already been, what is known. It does not follow the path already treaded. It presents a vision, a feeling and it is the role of the LESSER mind to find logic in it, to make sense of it and to craft a detailed plan of next steps.
- Intuition is usually quiet. It is not loud. Though it can be very persuasive. It is a feeling I experience with my whole body. I cannot explain it, it does not make sense, but I just KNOW I must do this or that.
- It rarely leads to instant gratification. To sense of fulfilment, yes, to feeling of deep knowing: this is right, also yes. But because it leads to new horizons, it demands us to go where we have not been yet – and that is usually felt with displeasure, even pain, certainly discomfort. (But sometimes it DOES whisper: take rest, you are exhausted, have that piece of chocolate, it´s ok. 😉)
- Following intuition feels like dancing to a favourite music – you do not necessarily know what the next step is, but that is not the point. It means listening to a rhythm, but the specific steps are entirely up to me. It returns me to the present. It is very similar to meditation in a way.
- For me specifically, it brings fear, even dread with it. My rational mind is still pretty strong, and it resists intuition fiercely. So I know: when I am scared s.itless of some direction, it is very likely exactly where I will need to go. The point is to be gentle with myself. To give my lesser mind enough time to adjust, to soothe it like a fitful child, to be kind to myself. To not let my fear shut me down and squeeze me with anxiety but stay open and trusting (with the knowledge it does not mean I will be able to avoid pain). Or to not let it shut me down for long.
On my current path, that I share on YouTube, I have encountered my intuition right now, it seems. If it is her or something else can be really told only backwards, I think. I am scared very much but I am willing to follow. It´s quite an adventure. I am very interested myself to learn where it will lead me:
