To Discern or Intuit?
When to employ your abilities
With the New Age movement impressed upon us, I hear the word intuition used pretty recklessly. So much so that intuition and being psychic have blended together. Intuition has kind of been glamourized at this moment. Sensationalized, even. Doesn’t everyone have intuition at certain levels? Is it a gift or is it something a person can practice and get better at? With all that being said, how did discernment disappear from forethought? Can’t I just use my discernment to figure something out or is that too Age of Pisces-ish? LOL. Let’s dig in!!!
Discernment is defined as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend.” Well, anyone can do that. How about this one; “an act of perceiving.” Ok, we’re using our perception now. This is the one that I want to focus on:
“keenness of intellectual perception, insight, acuteness of judgment;”
There’s a level of intelligence or thinking that involves discernment. The Mind is at play when using your discernment. My question is when do I use it?
Religious Discernment
I’ve heard a number of people associate discernment with the Bible so much so that it’s spoken of in a religious context only; “The discerning of spirits.” Check out 1 Corinthians 12:10 in any translation, as a reference. Distinguishing between good and evil is the basic understanding here. According to the Bible, God is the one that gives one the gift to differentiate.
Let’s look at Surat Al-Baqarah 2:120, in the Quran; “Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance.” Same message. Based on my previous definition, my God-given intellect can produce these results, right? I don’t have to summon discernment from an outside source. I have it already. I’ve always had it.
If I meet a person for the first time and something “seems” off about this person immediately, am I discerning the energy of this person’s state of being (spirit) at the moment using my keen perception and mental aptitude or is my intuition telling me this person is no good instantly via extra-sensory functions or is it a force outside of me that’s clueing me in and warning me?
New Age Intuition
This is my starting definition, regarding Intuition; “The ability to decide without rationally knowing.” Meaning, no use of logic. No intellect. No conscious reasoning. In this sense, we’re going to use unconscious reasoning.
New Age is an umbrella term to encapsulate a variety of old practices. That being said, within that realm of thought, Intuition has been normalized to represent supernatural abilities. We’re all equipped with Intuition. It is NOT a supernatural ability such as astral projection, mediumship, prophecy, clairvoyance, divination, telepathy, and so on and so on.
Thus, the confusion. Going with your “gut” instinct when you have no logical reason to do so should not be looked at as a super power. Observe the children. They use their intuition by default. They have no reason not to. Well, until you force feed them to worldly-ways and books.
Timing
Ah! We’ve hit the critical juncture. These abilities are fine and dandy, but WHEN do we use them? This is the million dollar question really. This is the heart of this post. Not if, but when? When do I identify when to tap into either or both? Here’s a clue; One is instant and makes no use of thought. The other uses thought. Both involve decision making or subjective judgement.
It’s one-o’clock in the morning and you’re walking in a dark parking lot. You see a shadowy figure in the vicinity of your automobile. Should you continue to your car/truck alone? Did something in your gut already tell you what to do? Are you aware enough to know? Are you confident enough in yourself to follow your internal advice.
You are a manager at a corporation and you’re interviewing candidates for a new position on your team. Your afternoon two-o’clock appointment shows up ten minutes late, smells of heavy alcohol, and looks to have poor hygiene. You continue with the interview because you believe in giving everyone a legitimate chance in life. The interviewee seemed to sober up as the interview progressed. Do you call this person back for a second interview? What does your immediate discernment say? No, not what did you think about that person after you had some time to dwell on the interview. What did your immediate discernment say, once the interview ended?
Mutually Exclusive?
Again, are these abilities mutually exclusive? If not this, then that?? I’m of the opinion you can train yourself to use them together. Register that immediate feeling. Acknowledge your gut-reaction in all you do. Cross-reference similar gut reactions and use your discernment (of those instances) in relation to your intuitive moments. Meaning, what was the circumstances surrounding a similar gut-reaction? What was the result? Team work makes the dream work!!
Discern your Intuition. Use them in tandem.
Awareness
I wrote about this here. Awareness is the food of consciousness. With no awareness, what would you be conscious of? Through experience you gain awareness. With awareness, your consciousness expands. What does this have to do with intuition or discernment? Great awareness lends to strong intuition. Superior awareness enables stronger mental functions. How? Being aware of your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical bodies helps you differentiate between all of the feelings received by your central nervous system as you walk through existence.
Conclusion
I would argue that discernment and intuition ARE natural components of your being. The level of these abilities in each person will be different though. The level would not be based on age, sex, or otherwise but based on active practice of each.
If you rely on other people or outside sources to make immediate decisions for your, then your confidence in making your own quick decisions would be low. Get a journal and start tracking your life experiences. You probably use intuition way more than you thought you did. Build on that knowing.
END
