Today's Mozen: The Power of Intuition.

Words and photo by F LoBuono

In a conversation with a friend the other day, the word intuition came up. He mentioned that he had recently read a most interesting article that described a study to discover if there was an actual process that can explain what we call intuition. For most of us, generally, it means a feeling that we know something even when the physical parameters normally used to make an accurate judgement are lacking. It happens all of the time. All of us have either navigated towards or away from something without actually knowing the REAL reason why. We say, well, it just felt right. Or, perhaps, it didn't. And, often when further information lacks, that's enough. Afterwards, we must trust in our intuition.

However, even feelings are triggered by actual events, information, and a process. It involves neurons, synapses, as well as chemical and electrical interactions. Thinking is totally connected to feeling and vice-versa.  And nothing happens without process. So, what then, is involved with the creation of the feeling of intuition? According to the study, despite the rather nebulous connotation often associated with the word itself, it is a rather logical one. With every encounter, our brains begin working immediately (at least they do for most of us!). We are taking in tons of information from our senses. We see. We hear. We smell, etc.. Then, we put them all together to begin to form a response. However, as our brains are taking in all of that sensory information, that little thing called the subconscious is also working overtime. Behind the scenes, our brains are filling in all of the the missing details, based on our prior experiences. Everything that we know from the past is included in the decision making of the present. This certainly makes sense on a scientific level. When our subconscious creates a feeling stronger than the one our conscious mind is providing, we get intuition. That's why we often call it our 6th Sense. It lies within the realm beyond logic. Some might even call it mystic. We know without really knowing.

Some of us are more in touch, if you will, with our subconscious. For some reason, they seem particularly attuned to what we also call our "inner voice". We all hear it, but only a few truly listen to it. Most of us prefer to make our conclusions based on "real" things - things that we can taste, or smell, or hear, or touch. But, for some,what they feel is as important as what they know.

One such person is my mother, Stella. I have often written of her exploits here, in my blog. In fact, I have so often that I'm sure many of you who have never met her may feel like they actually know her anyway. I do so because I find her to be such an exceptional person in so many ways. And none of her powers are greater then that of her intuition. It is so strong in her that it is much more than natural. It is supernatural. It fact, it's downright spiritual.

Here's a classic example: The other day we were riding together in my car when our conversation wound to an old family friend. I had not seen her in a while. I asked if Stella knew how she was doing. Stella's response was that she was doing fine and, despite tragedy in her life, was still as pleasant a person as she was as a little girl when we first met her. We discussed how that tragedy, (losing a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS) must have been a devastating loss. Stella then went on to tell me something that she never really shared with anyone. When the baby was born, a boy, as a courtesy, our friend brought him to meet Stella. Of course, Stella's strong maternal instinct was to hold and cuddle the boy which she did with immediate joy. However, upon receiving the boy, Stella felt something deep within her. Her intuition told her that something was wrong. Very wrong. Stella described the sensation to me: Frankie, the second I held that baby I knew that we was not long for this world. It was like he was not even there. He had no weight. No presence. It was like he was an angel! Like an angel . . . There was no fear in her voice when she described how she felt. It was more of a deep level of understanding that some things are meant to be and some are not. She could not explain why it was to be that way with this baby boy. She just knew it. And she accepted it. Within a short period of time after that encounter, that baby boy was gone.

Stella has never told my friend what she experienced. She has always felt that it would be too painful. I'm not so sure. Stella was so secure in her intuition that he was not to be of this world, at least at that time, and she had no fear. Her intuition told her that it would all be all right in the end. And it was. My friend has gone on with her life and raised three, beautiful girls. But, that's Stella. She has always taught me that if right thinking is in place, i.e. that your thought PROCESS is always honest and laced with integrity, you should always trust you intuition. And I do.