Student
Pd. 9 British Literature
4/9/01
Chaucer Correlated Writing

INTUITION REVEALS INNER TRUTH

Clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience.  All of these terms relate to the basic notion of intuition.  While many assume that the brain’s main purpose is to serve only as a location to store factual information, new research proves otherwise.  “While the major division in the brain is that of the cerebral hemispheres . . . sections of the left hemisphere . . . is useful for . . . the rest function for parallel operation, which underlies spatial abilities and intuition.” (Ornstein, 138)  Intuition, also known as insight or consciousness, has been referred to as “clear seeing, clear vision, clear hearing and clear sensing.” (Pohle, Selover)  This notion of the ability to experience or “feel” something before or if it actually occurs dates back to ancient Egypt.  “Many still believe that the . . . symbols of this ancient civilization are charged with magical properties and that their presence will aid them in their own psychic quest . . .” (Roland, 10)  Many of the structures that they created were ornately decorated with their “knowledge . . . [to ensure] . . . perpetual fulfillment.”  The wisdom of ancient Egypt was only the beginning of vision and intuition.  Today, intuition is still a part of modern life, even helping professionals better serve customers.
Intuition can also span into the realm of visions and prophecy.  There were several cultures other than the ancient Egyptians that had a complex record of their visions and mystical beliefs.  The ancient Greeks believed in a strong connection between gods in mythology and spirituality.  In one work, Hermeticum, there are lengthy discussions between students and teachers where God is spoken of in visions.  It was believed that one of the characters, Poimandres, experienced a vision of God, or “a holy Word.” (Roland, 19)  However, there are other societies that discount this belief.
As time progressed, more questions of the origins of vision of the past and future were considered and studied, especially with regard to religion.  King Solomon, a figure in Judaic history, supposedly had special knowledge because of his “command over, and communion with, dark forces led by the demon Asmodeus.” (Roland, 20)  He also supposedly had magical powers, which were a part of his knowledge of the Kabbalah, “the mystical aspect of Judaism.” (Roland, 20)  He wrote thousands of proverbs expressing his religious visions during his time which were incredibly influential.  The Middle East also had a mystifying ancient history involving prophecy.  Zoroaster, born in Afghanistan, is considered to be “the first prophet in history and certainly the first to preach a monotheistic belief.” (Roland, 22) 
As man became more knowledgeable about prophets and his own inner wisdom, fascination with visions increased.  Specifically, there was, and still is, a desire to learn how to rekindle one’s own intuition for practical use.  According to Robert Ornstein, author of The Evolution of Consciousness, the key to adjusting our thoughts is to create “conscious control” and to simply “shift the mind into place.”  He says that we possess a “third kind of evolution” that allows us to have conscious selection and from there, we can further develop other parts of the mind.  Once we have conscious selection, we can implement conscious intuition to help us use the correct part of the brain to make a decision or contemplate an idea.  Ornstein suggests meditation as a powerful way to separate oneself from the daily pressures of life in order to listen to one’s inner wisdom.  Additionally, he promotes self - observation, which he says can “enhance the capacity for change of mind.”    
Today, some members of the medical community are taking the power of intuition into the examining room.  Though many disagree with the effectiveness of this treatment tool, Lori Wilson, M.S.W., says that medical intuition “traces the nature and roots of conditions that have manifested themselves in physical discomfort and disease within a client’s unique energy field.”  This form of treatment gives medical professionals important insight that can be vital if a patient’s case has been undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.  Medical intuition actually draws on an ancient art.  For many years, healing practitioners and psychics have used the powers of consciousness and intuition to determine the answer for themselves or others.  Today, using the same ideas, some specially trained medical professionals use a “Medical Intuition Body Scan” to gather information.   The ancient art has often proven effective when performed by a knowledgeable authority.  Perhaps professionals in other fields will follow the trend to better serve their clients in coming years.
One final question that still fuels debate is the issue of whether males or females have a keener sense of intuition than males.  Seymour Fisher, author of Body Consciousness, says that “the average woman is relatively more aware of her body than is the average man.”  Because of this, he says that women are generally more motivated to make decisions based upon body feelings.  This may account for the negative stereotype that women are “more emotional and less logical that men.”  The question of whether females have a stronger sense of intuition than males still remains an unresolved debate.  It is believed that females tend to make decisions and are drawn to things that satisfy body feelings, as opposed to male reasoning.  However, there is no one correct way to make decisions.
In closing, intuition is a powerful form of inner wisdom that we all possess.  Dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and religious prophets, intuition and vision have been implemented to gain important knowledge and get a clearer understanding of what the future will hold.  To many, this skill seemed magical, something that was unreachable by the average person.  However, experts have made it clear that we all have the ability to use “conscious selection” to help us make decisions or understand a deeper level of thought.  The message that experts and doctors continue to send is to work with one’s intuitive skills.  Meditation and self - observation are both effective tools to allow a person to escape daily concerns in order to listen within.  It can help one make better decisions and feel more in - tune with his or her own mind.  As Francis Bacon noted on the learning process, “Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.” 

WORKS CITED
Fisher, Seymour.  Body Consciousness:  You Are What You Feel.  Englewood Cliffs:  Prentice -   Hall, Inc., 1973
Ornstein, Robert.  The Evolution of Consciousness:  The Origins of the Way We Think.  New York:   Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1991.
Pohle, Nancy C., Selover, Ellen L.  “Awareness & Intuition.”  Innerself.com  Online.  America   Online.  25 March 2001.
Roland, Paul.  Revelations:  The Wisdom of the Ages.  London:  Carlton Books Limited, 1995.
Wilson, Lori, M.S.W.  “What is Medical Intuition?”  Grandmotherweb.com  Online.  America Online.  26 March 2001.