Ever wonder about where "intuition" comes from, and how to get more of it? Especially those game-changing insights so powerful, they seem to come from some other, very special place?
I thought I’d share some of my intuition journey, in case it's helpful to you.
I thought I’d share some of my intuition journey, in case it's helpful to you.
The Yellow Bird
Photo by Aaron J Hill I’d been working with a client; let’s call her Jennifer. In an IFS session, I kept getting the urge to ask Jennifer a question that was definitely NOT part of the standard IFS canon. Yet, much as I asked my parts to step back, it felt like this question really really wanted to be asked.
Finally, I said “I have an unusual question, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. It might be just a part of me that wants to be clever. How do you and your parts feel about me asking it?”
Almost immediately Jennifer said “Go for it.”
I replied, “You know, that ‘yes’ might be coming from compliant parts. Can you double check that it’s ok with all of your parts?”
Jennifer took a few moments, and then gave me a “yes” that felt fully Self-led.
So, I asked: “Are you noticing something yellow in the space you’re in now?” [See what I mean about this not being in the IFS canon?!!]
“Oh, how did you know?” Jennifer replied. “There’s a yellow bird here, and I only noticed it now. Wow! It’s really happy I noticed it.”
Recalling Dick [Schwartz, IFS Founder]'s guidance to “trust Self” and “ask the part,” I suggested: “If it feels right, check in with the bird and see what it might want for you next.”
“Oh,” said Jennifer, “it wants me to follow it into a different space.” So, Jennifer did that…and, the course of the work we were doing jumped to a higher level.
Finally, I said “I have an unusual question, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. It might be just a part of me that wants to be clever. How do you and your parts feel about me asking it?”
Almost immediately Jennifer said “Go for it.”
I replied, “You know, that ‘yes’ might be coming from compliant parts. Can you double check that it’s ok with all of your parts?”
Jennifer took a few moments, and then gave me a “yes” that felt fully Self-led.
So, I asked: “Are you noticing something yellow in the space you’re in now?” [See what I mean about this not being in the IFS canon?!!]
“Oh, how did you know?” Jennifer replied. “There’s a yellow bird here, and I only noticed it now. Wow! It’s really happy I noticed it.”
Recalling Dick [Schwartz, IFS Founder]'s guidance to “trust Self” and “ask the part,” I suggested: “If it feels right, check in with the bird and see what it might want for you next.”
“Oh,” said Jennifer, “it wants me to follow it into a different space.” So, Jennifer did that…and, the course of the work we were doing jumped to a higher level.
Trying to Replicate that Success
I was really excited by that breakthrough. I wasn’t at all sure how I’d come up with that question, but it certainly seemed to be a powerful one. So, as you might imagine, when I was doing work with other clients, I’d see if there were similar questions to be asked.
I prefaced my questions with the same caveat I used with Jennifer, so asking didn’t seem to disrupt our process. But none of the questions I’d come up with landed in a useful way. Hmmm, maybe “I” hadn’t come up with that question in the first place!
I prefaced my questions with the same caveat I used with Jennifer, so asking didn’t seem to disrupt our process. But none of the questions I’d come up with landed in a useful way. Hmmm, maybe “I” hadn’t come up with that question in the first place!
Guides and IFS Level 3
Generated from DALL-E It happened I had a level 3 training coming up. Those are a room of experienced IFSers and Dick, exploring whatever the group agrees to. When I had the chance, I shared my “yellow bird” experience, and asked Dick if he had any insight.
“You uncovered a guide,” said Dick. “You might think of guides as very Self-led parts that have no agenda or fears of their own; they’re only there to assist the person whose system they’re supporting—what some people might call a ‘guardian angel’. They often have useful information and insights, and are also very respectful of free will. In most circumstances, that means you have to ask them for their help; they only rarely volunteer it.”
I’d actually had a few guides show up in other client sessions and some of my own, but I realized Dick knew oodles more than I did about working in this realm. I asked if he could spend some time on it in the Level 3. Others were also intrigued, so we did.
It was amazing, and left me hungry for more. “Dick, that was great! Any suggestions for getting still more connection to that kind of wisdom and insight, and how to improve my intuition in general?”
Dick suggested I build clarity about what I wanted, and invite the universe to respond. I created some intention statements around gaining more intuitive access, and reviewed them every now and then to keep the inquiry alive.
“You uncovered a guide,” said Dick. “You might think of guides as very Self-led parts that have no agenda or fears of their own; they’re only there to assist the person whose system they’re supporting—what some people might call a ‘guardian angel’. They often have useful information and insights, and are also very respectful of free will. In most circumstances, that means you have to ask them for their help; they only rarely volunteer it.”
I’d actually had a few guides show up in other client sessions and some of my own, but I realized Dick knew oodles more than I did about working in this realm. I asked if he could spend some time on it in the Level 3. Others were also intrigued, so we did.
It was amazing, and left me hungry for more. “Dick, that was great! Any suggestions for getting still more connection to that kind of wisdom and insight, and how to improve my intuition in general?”
Dick suggested I build clarity about what I wanted, and invite the universe to respond. I created some intention statements around gaining more intuitive access, and reviewed them every now and then to keep the inquiry alive.
Gale and the 2013 IFS Conference
A few months later, I was presenting on Core Intention at the 2013 annual IFS conference…and Gale West, now my wife, was presenting as well on her work with Money. It turned out that our presentations were back-to-back. Gale was in my session…and then, I was in hers.
Gale asked for a demo volunteer. I was tired from presenting, so I certainly had no intention of volunteering. Yet, somehow, my hand was in the air…and Gale picked me.
We then did work concerning money and parts active around it. There were times in the session that Gale would not only ask great questions, but also comment on what she observed I was experiencing in my internal space. She seemed to know where one burden was located in my body without me even having to say anything. And, she also knew some of its characteristics (e.g., it was cold and white). How did she know that?
After the conference, I kept Gale’s card on the corner of my desk for a while, thinking there was something we were meant to do together—although I had no idea what it was.
After a few weeks of trying to figure this out on my own, I finally called Gale--maybe she’d have some idea about what we were meant to do next. Gale suggested that because the demo session was short by its nature, it might make sense to continue what we’d started at the conference. I volunteered a session where I’d lead her, to reciprocate.
The exchange went well. However, although I was convinced Gale had some magic up her sleeve that I wanted to learn more about, I still didn’t quite know what that magic was.
Some weeks later (January, 2014), it occurred to me that what Gale did might be useful to Jennifer, the client I’d had the yellow bird experience with. I asked Gale if she’d consider doing a session with my client…and, if the client were ok with it, could I listen in too? I checked in, and we were all in agreement.
Gale asked for a demo volunteer. I was tired from presenting, so I certainly had no intention of volunteering. Yet, somehow, my hand was in the air…and Gale picked me.
We then did work concerning money and parts active around it. There were times in the session that Gale would not only ask great questions, but also comment on what she observed I was experiencing in my internal space. She seemed to know where one burden was located in my body without me even having to say anything. And, she also knew some of its characteristics (e.g., it was cold and white). How did she know that?
After the conference, I kept Gale’s card on the corner of my desk for a while, thinking there was something we were meant to do together—although I had no idea what it was.
After a few weeks of trying to figure this out on my own, I finally called Gale--maybe she’d have some idea about what we were meant to do next. Gale suggested that because the demo session was short by its nature, it might make sense to continue what we’d started at the conference. I volunteered a session where I’d lead her, to reciprocate.
The exchange went well. However, although I was convinced Gale had some magic up her sleeve that I wanted to learn more about, I still didn’t quite know what that magic was.
Some weeks later (January, 2014), it occurred to me that what Gale did might be useful to Jennifer, the client I’d had the yellow bird experience with. I asked Gale if she’d consider doing a session with my client…and, if the client were ok with it, could I listen in too? I checked in, and we were all in agreement.
The Akashic Records
Gladstone's Library, Wales So, Gale led a session with Jennifer. It created some new openings for that client, and I was very appreciative.
Gale also asked me what I thought of the session. I started with an answer from my head, which Gale listened to attentively…and then she asked “Mark, what is your heart saying about what you observed?”
“Well, honestly, my heart is feeling like we might have done work like this together in a past life.” (No, this was not at all a typical thing for me to say, especially at that time.) “And it’s also wanting me to come to Chicago to apprentice with you to learn how to bring more of what you’re doing to my work.” (I was in the Philadelphia area.)
It turned out that the next date free on both our calendars was a weekend that Gale was doing a Level 1 Akashic Records class. And learning how to reliably access the Akashic Records was exactly the opening to having more of the intuition I sought—kind of a Google of the hidden universe.
Since then, I’ve attended dozens of classes, and even got certified in the Records. (By the way, getting certified in IFS was a cake walk compared to the Akashic Records certification.) I use it implicitly in pretty much all of the coaching I do. When I have my Records open, “yellow bird” kind of insights show up more. It’s also more clear what’s coming from parts that want to be helpful, vs. real Akashic Records guides. Learning to discern that difference is a large part of Records training, and it’s a really valuable skill on its own. I also learned to ask better questions.
By now, there are more than a hundred clients and others who’ve asked me to open their Records directly (and/or Records of their business, a book they’re writing, etc.). It’s been an amazing gift! If you’d like to explore that yourself, follow this link to Gale’s upcoming Level 1 Akashic Records Class. It will tell you more about the Akashic Records, including information about the first training Gale’s offering since the pandemic, on November 8 and 9. Virtual, so you can join from anywhere!
Gale also asked me what I thought of the session. I started with an answer from my head, which Gale listened to attentively…and then she asked “Mark, what is your heart saying about what you observed?”
“Well, honestly, my heart is feeling like we might have done work like this together in a past life.” (No, this was not at all a typical thing for me to say, especially at that time.) “And it’s also wanting me to come to Chicago to apprentice with you to learn how to bring more of what you’re doing to my work.” (I was in the Philadelphia area.)
It turned out that the next date free on both our calendars was a weekend that Gale was doing a Level 1 Akashic Records class. And learning how to reliably access the Akashic Records was exactly the opening to having more of the intuition I sought—kind of a Google of the hidden universe.
Since then, I’ve attended dozens of classes, and even got certified in the Records. (By the way, getting certified in IFS was a cake walk compared to the Akashic Records certification.) I use it implicitly in pretty much all of the coaching I do. When I have my Records open, “yellow bird” kind of insights show up more. It’s also more clear what’s coming from parts that want to be helpful, vs. real Akashic Records guides. Learning to discern that difference is a large part of Records training, and it’s a really valuable skill on its own. I also learned to ask better questions.
By now, there are more than a hundred clients and others who’ve asked me to open their Records directly (and/or Records of their business, a book they’re writing, etc.). It’s been an amazing gift! If you’d like to explore that yourself, follow this link to Gale’s upcoming Level 1 Akashic Records Class. It will tell you more about the Akashic Records, including information about the first training Gale’s offering since the pandemic, on November 8 and 9. Virtual, so you can join from anywhere!
Calm Clarity and Conscious Co-Creation
I’d thought my journey around intuition was mostly complete, but then the universe gifted me again. I recognized the name of a speaker, Due Quach, in a neuroscience-based coach training program Gale had signed up for. Due and I had been colleagues at Monitor, the strategy consulting firm.
It turns out that after Due left Monitor, got her Wharton MBA, and had a stint as a leader in a private equity operation in Asia, she still felt something missing. She spent a year exploring her roots, and decided to return to (inner city) Philadelphia in order to find a means to bring healing to many people trapped there. As a result, she wrote the book Calm Clarity (one of Fast Company's 7 Best Business Books of 2018) and started a company of the same name.
Calm Clarity’s mission is to use neuroscience to develop the leadership capacity of human beings to co-create a world where every person thrives. Calm Clarity synthesizes science, mindfulness, and leadership development to provide a "user manual" for steering brain development that enables people to experience alignment, wholeness, and self-actualization. The ultimate goal is a scalable leadership development platform than can support people to harness their inner wisdom to improve their lives, their organizations, and their communities. I’ve written about Calm Clarity in prior blogs; in particular how to transcend our brains fear and craving circuitry to bring still more of our “inner sage” into play.
Calm Clarity is also exploring the notion of “conscious co-creation.” That is, tools and approaches that bring higher consciousness (including shared universal consciousness) to create transformation in a work setting. If you’re curious about that, see our Concept Paper.
A few years ago, I joined Due’s Board, and have been spending maybe 5-10 hours a week supporting the organization. Would you like to play with us too? The beginning step is to take Calm Clarity’s Foundation Workshop, “Lead in Alignment and Wholeness.” The next one starts Wednesday, October 9, and continues for a total of four sessions.
The workshop provides you with a "user manual” for steering brain development. It guides you to activate and strengthen the neural systems for attention, resilience, meta-awareness, and connection---critical neural systems that enable people to collaborate together to form high-performing teams that achieve impactful outcomes while enhancing well-being, innovation, creativity, and flow.
As these 4 neural systems get stronger, they enable you to feel more and more aligned and whole, and deepen your capacity to experience wisdom, fulfillment, joy, and many other qualities that enable you to rise to challenges, build meaningful relationships, and positively impact your communities.
It’s been life changing for those who’ve experienced it, and many have also benefited from the community program graduates create. After all, even the best of us have only a limited connection with our inner sage. It’s a lot easier to do that more often when you’re around others already committed to that intention, right?
It turns out that after Due left Monitor, got her Wharton MBA, and had a stint as a leader in a private equity operation in Asia, she still felt something missing. She spent a year exploring her roots, and decided to return to (inner city) Philadelphia in order to find a means to bring healing to many people trapped there. As a result, she wrote the book Calm Clarity (one of Fast Company's 7 Best Business Books of 2018) and started a company of the same name.
Calm Clarity’s mission is to use neuroscience to develop the leadership capacity of human beings to co-create a world where every person thrives. Calm Clarity synthesizes science, mindfulness, and leadership development to provide a "user manual" for steering brain development that enables people to experience alignment, wholeness, and self-actualization. The ultimate goal is a scalable leadership development platform than can support people to harness their inner wisdom to improve their lives, their organizations, and their communities. I’ve written about Calm Clarity in prior blogs; in particular how to transcend our brains fear and craving circuitry to bring still more of our “inner sage” into play.
Calm Clarity is also exploring the notion of “conscious co-creation.” That is, tools and approaches that bring higher consciousness (including shared universal consciousness) to create transformation in a work setting. If you’re curious about that, see our Concept Paper.
A few years ago, I joined Due’s Board, and have been spending maybe 5-10 hours a week supporting the organization. Would you like to play with us too? The beginning step is to take Calm Clarity’s Foundation Workshop, “Lead in Alignment and Wholeness.” The next one starts Wednesday, October 9, and continues for a total of four sessions.
The workshop provides you with a "user manual” for steering brain development. It guides you to activate and strengthen the neural systems for attention, resilience, meta-awareness, and connection---critical neural systems that enable people to collaborate together to form high-performing teams that achieve impactful outcomes while enhancing well-being, innovation, creativity, and flow.
As these 4 neural systems get stronger, they enable you to feel more and more aligned and whole, and deepen your capacity to experience wisdom, fulfillment, joy, and many other qualities that enable you to rise to challenges, build meaningful relationships, and positively impact your communities.
It’s been life changing for those who’ve experienced it, and many have also benefited from the community program graduates create. After all, even the best of us have only a limited connection with our inner sage. It’s a lot easier to do that more often when you’re around others already committed to that intention, right?
Please check out any links that interest you. And, if a fast conversation would be helpful, you can set one up here. (That will hold fifteen minutes for us to talk and a fifteen minute buffer.)
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