Bayard
Dodge Rea
Summary
by Ruby Gillion,
Edgar
Cayce Institute of Intuitive Studies
Although
intuition is a difficult subject to study and validate,
recognition of the benefits have overridden this aspect.
Two prominent fields that have taken advantage
of these benefits are medicine and business. Clinical
psychology, a profession that one might expect to embrace
the use of intuition, seems to have ignored, or at least
failed to acknowledge its use.
One reason for this lack could be the desire of
psychologists to be viewed as a part of the “serious”
scientific community. For whatever reason, most psychologists
seem to prefer methods of therapeutic intervention learned
through years of study--methods that have been studied
and proven to be effective.
These methods, however, have in some cases led
clients to view their therapist’s behavior as an automatic
response to their issues, or to see the therapist as either
arrogant or critical at the same time stating their preference
for someone who is supportive and empathic.
Unconscious
means of receiving information is a basis part of being
human. Cognitive functions that are used in everyday life
such as making an assumption, playing bridge, or interpreting
dream symbols draw upon unconscious resources--the same
unconscious resources responsible for intuitive information.
Combining intuition with the clinical methods now
in use would not only assist in changing the way therapists
are viewed but could result in achieving clinical goals
more quickly.
Research
has been done which indicates that intuition is an unconscious
process that it is faster, more accurate, and more complex
than analytical thinking. Although therapists may have
“gut feelings” when working with clients, many times they
don’t know how to apply these feelings in the therapy
setting making it easier to ignore them; or they choose
not to recognize the feelings as being separate or different.
This is a one of the many reasons that recognition and
use of intuitive information are important. However, along with learning to recognize and use this extra sense,
there is also a need for awareness of things that can
interfere with the process.
Two
of the research projects that were used to study unconscious
processes were indicative of the complexities involved
with this type of functioning.
These projects were the matrix scanning procedure
that identified patterns and the artificial grammar study
that dealt with learning rules of communication.
Both of these studies indicated that unconscious
processing is not only faster but weaves interconnected
information together to produce a result that is superior
to those produced through conscious means. In the artificial
grammar study, the determination was made that results
from the unconscious processing could be expressed but
not as quickly or with the depth as the knowing itself.
Also, this study found that talking about the impressions
as it appeared interfered with processing intuitive information.
As mentioned
previously, research has been done which verifies that
intuition does exist; but the disadvantage to this type
of research is an inability to recognize intuitive information
when it is being received as well as not knowing how to
implement recognition and methods to improve access to
intuition. A research project by Claire Petitmengin-Peugeot
addressed these issues. Twenty-four participants, including
eight psychotherapists, who had intuitive experiences
in the past, were involved in this study. One outcome
of this project clearly indicated that intent to
be open to intuition does enhance one’s ability to use
this sixth sense. Four phases were identified by Petitmengin-Peugeot
as being common elements in the intuitive process of the
participants. These phases were: letting go, connection,
listening, and the intuitive moment:
(1)
Letting go is a method of quieting the mind, slowing the
breathing, and releasing tension in the body; in addition
to these characteristics, the participants noticed a shift
in focus to the back of the skull. A feeling of unity
and receptivity was also described.
(2)
Connection comes from the feeling of unity and a sense
of joining with the object of the intent whether it is
a person, a question, or a situation. The participants
reported experiencing this connection through the heart,
hands, stomach, or the spinal column. This connection
was perceived through seeing, hearing, and sensing.
(3)
Listening was described as turning the attention inward
to become aware of what happenings within the self in
regard to the thoughts and feelings connected to the other,
whether the other is a person, a question, or some other
type of objective. Being
receptive to information coming in is the key rather than
consciously seeking to find a solution.
(4)
The intuitive moment describes the manner in which information
is received. Intuition was found to come through one of
the senses--images, sensations, sounds, tastes, or smells.
It was perceived either with only one sense or a combination
of the senses. One common element reported by all twenty-four
participants was a feeling of being receptive and/or passive
during the process. Prematurely “trying to figure out”
the message interfered with the its development.
According
to this study, participants responded in three different
ways to intuitive impressions. They reported repressing
the impression because of fear or doubt, instantly attaching
some emotion or meaning to it, and patiently observing
the intuitive process as it developed without attaching
emotion or judgment to the impression. Of the three responses,
only patiently waiting for the outcome produced valuable
insights.
Some
of the more experienced participants stated the belief
that intuitive information is present and available at
all times that only inattentiveness kept it from being
perceived. Petitmengin-Peugeot’s conclusion as a result
of this study was that the intuitive process is an internal
one and by quieting the mind and allowing the sensations
to surface without premature analysis, one can stimulate
the perception of unconscious information.
Conclusions
drawn by the author of this article concerning the use
of intuition in a clinical setting were:
