Intuition and the Bridge of Perception

Finding balance between sensate and intuitive realities

L’Envoûteuse (The Sorceress) by Georges Merle

“Intuition gives outlook and insight; it revels in the garden of magical possibilities as if they were real.”

- C.G. Jung, “The Psychology of the Transference," CW 16

We often talk about intuition and its mysterious gifts, like the sudden flash of knowing that comes upon us without logical reasoning or a gut feeling that influences our decision making. Perhaps we see it as a sign from higher forces bestowing wisdom. Other times, as a baseless flight of fancy that we disregard and toss aside.

For me, the realm of intuition has been paramount. Like Jung mentions in the quote above, I revel in this garden of magical possibility. It has always felt more real than anything I can touch or see. Examining my life thus far, I can trace how each major path I chose to embark upon was led by this guiding force. And in the everyday, I sense its presence by the subtle whispers and images that dance through my psyche.

One might think this to be a charmed or gifted way of being. However, I prefer to stay grounded within the theory of Jung’s work which sees intuition as one of the four cornerstones of psychological functioning¹. With this framework in mind, intuitive perception is no more special than the logical prowess of thinking, the aesthetic fluency of sensation, or the refined relatedness of feeling.

There is one aspect of intuition that does set it apart from the rest. It is defined as perception by means of the unconscious. This is the part of us that has an open channel to the depths; where psychic energy flows in symbols and archetypal frameworks constellate to reveal patterns of meaning and insight. This is what gives the intuitive type their clairvoyant-like abilities, to see behind the veil, at things that are only hinted at. They are drawing from a hidden well of knowledge, the greater structure of the psyche.

This does not, however, guarantee that an insight is true or that the possibility sensed will come to fruition. At the core, there appears to be an eternal struggle between the limitations of the concrete world (what is) and the imaginal visions of potential (what could be). What I have learned along the way is that a bridge must be formed between these two seemingly disparate realms to maintain harmony.

A Bridge Between Worlds

Circe Invidiosa by John William Waterhouse

“To the intuitive type, earthly reality is the great cross.”

- Marie Louise von Franz, The Problem of the Puer Aeternus

As someone who leads first and foremost with intuition², I have received the boons of this function, time and time again. I have also felt the frustration of its shortcomings and been near-possessed by its unrelenting intensity towards a vision. There are several lessons I’ve come to learn about intuition, how it impacts my life, and how to create balance:

I. — It is harder to be in the here and now, in material reality, and in the body.

Intuition requires that we repress the sensation function, where we perceive concrete reality via the body and senses. This allows a portal of unconscious insights to open and for the contents to be received, even if it is not reflected in the outer world. Gone unattended, the split between soma and psyche can widen to an alarming degree.

• I experience this as poor spatial awareness, clumsiness, susceptibility to nervous system dysregulation, being accident prone, falling into daydreams or spacing out, and a general feeling of being disconnected from my body.

• Creating the bridge: Physical practices such as yoga asana, running and hiking. Somatic experiencing therapy. Breath work and body awareness meditations. Intentional eating and noticing when I am hungry or full. Dancing freely. Checking in with physical sensations. Paying closer attention to my surroundings.

II. — Perceptions and insights that come unbidden should be trusted, but only to a certain extent.

Intuition, by its nature, operates beyond the boundaries of conscious thought. While it can provide valuable guidance and insights, it's important to exercise caution and discernment in how we interpret and act upon intuitive impulses. Blindly following every intuitive inclination can lead to misjudgments and unrealistic expectations.

• I experience intuition as vivid mental imagery or striking inner symbols, a sudden connecting of patterns and insight, dreams that speak with intense clarity, picking up on subtle energies, realizations that feel prophetic or unequivocally true, and as an overwhelming force that comes into my awareness and imparts information.

• Creating the bridge: Sharing my intuitions as a possibility rather than a fact. Inviting others to contemplate the images/meaning/patterns and see if they resonate. Finding a symbolic vs literal interpretation. Patience to see if the intuition does in fact become true. Trusting the insight with room for fallibility or changes in meaning.

III. — Having an intuition is the first spark of potential; making it real is often a difficult and uncertain journey.

Intuition grants a vision of possibilities. Realization depends on various factors, including our actions, timing, tenacity, external influences, practical limitations, luck, etc. Commitment, adaptability and courage are essential in navigating this process.

• The visions and images of potential I sense are concentrated and unified, they do not shimmer with many threads of possibility, but rather coalesce to form a central picture that demands adherence. They provide direction, conviction and act as a guiding beacon.

• Creating the bridge: Noticing when my attitude and approach has become too rigid. Taking seriously what isn’t working in my attempts to realize the intuitions. Seeing crises of faith as an opportunity to reconnect with the core vision. Allowing the intuition to evolve based on external circumstances.

Join the conversation

1. What are your thoughts on the function of intuition?

2. Do you experience intuition in similar or different ways?

3. In what ways do you navigate the bridge between intuition and practicality?

1. In Jung’s volume 6 of the Collected Works, Psychological Types, he explores a quaternity of functions that uniquely structure our psyche and how it mediates inner/outer reality:

• Thinking seeks an objective, conceptual understanding that aims to approach reality in logical and rational terms.

• Feeling assesses based on personal or collective values, focusing on relatedness, agreeability and moral considerations.

• Sensation perceives the material world through the senses, emphasizing practicality, tangible experiences and somatic input.

• Intuition perceives via the unconscious, generating abstract insights, recognizing patterns, and making connections that go beyond the obvious.

For more reading on this subject, see: https://alyssapolizzi.substack.com/t/personality-type

2. In Jung’s framework, each of us are led by a dominant function, while the other three sit below at varying levels of differentiation and conscious access.