What does intuition have to do with Taoism? Ever experience days when everything is falling into place effortlessly? It feels like you are in the flow. You might even experience serendipities that baffle you. According to Taoist theory, you are in sync with the Tao, or the Way of the universe. You are not fighting life, but allowing yourself to be moved by it. In racing terms, you’ve got “zero drag.” Your energy isn’t being wasted bumping into obstacles, then trying to get back on course or steering clear of blocks in the way. You are naturally flowing along, in tune, content and equanimous. There may be some bumps along the way, but it doesn’t fluster you. You trust that whatever way the river takes you, there is nothing to fear or resist. You are in the flow. How does this relate to intuition?
It is my belief that when we are in our flow, we are using minimal energy and the energy that is being used is being utilized efficiently. This state of being cultivates clarity and peace, the ideal condition to connect with our intuition. Consider that in the moment our intuition speaks to us it is as if a bell is struck, ringing out with a resonant tone. Perhaps it feels settling, or even inspiring. Either way, there’s just something right about the way it feels. Then imagine that the bell is surrounded by clutter. It will not make a clear sound and would likely go unnoticed because it is muffled. When our attention is distracted with inner voices criticizing the moment or striving for things to be other than they are, our headspace is too full to receive insight. And physically, our over-tapped sympathetic nervous system is taking much of the energy within the body in the direction of stress and survival. As much as we might want to live a life enhanced by intuitive insights, the environment we have created isn’t conducive for it. We are not living in sync with the Tao.
What helps you be in the flow and feel relaxed and clear? What hinders your flow and clutters your headspace? What if you dedicate one bit of time each week to clear your headspace and allow yourself to go with the flow? Maybe it’s getting out a pencil and a pad to draw, a walk in nature without your phone or even letting your body move in a way that just simply feels good. See what you discover when you give yourself space to just be, without any pressure for it to be a certain way.
~By Juniper Gwin
