Intuition Is Embodied Wisdom -- Reconnecting Through Practice - Episode Hero Image

Intuition Is Embodied Wisdom -- Reconnecting Through Practice

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TL;DR

  • Intuition, or "hidden wisdom," is stored in embodied patterns within the brain, limbic system, brain stem, spinal cord, and gut neurons, not just as conscious recall.
  • Trauma can be stored in the body's tissues via serotonin's impact on nutrient and oxygen flow, suggesting a physical basis for emotional distress.
  • Disconnection from intuition manifests as repeating negative patterns in decision-making and relationships, overthinking, anxiety, and rigidity in thinking.
  • Modern life's disconnection from nature, technology, and an overemphasis on logic over intuition hinders access to inner wisdom and a sense of purpose.
  • Engaging in physical activities like yoga, spending time in nature, and creative practices such as drumming and art can help reconnect with intuition.
  • Near-death experiences, terminal lucidity, and dark retreats suggest the mind or psyche may operate independently of physical matter under duress.
  • Practicing gratitude and focusing on positive inputs primes the brain to notice more good, while focusing on negatives amplifies their perception.

Deep Dive

Dr. Tara Swart's work posits that intuition, or "hidden wisdom," is an embodied process stored not only in the brain but also within the body's tissues, influenced by experiences like trauma and grief. This challenges a purely rational, brain-centric view of decision-making and understanding, suggesting that modern life's disconnection from nature and over-reliance on logic hinders our ability to access this innate wisdom. The implications are profound: a diminished connection to intuition can lead to chronic stress, lack of direction, and a failure to evolve from repeating negative patterns, while re-engaging with it offers a path to deeper self-trust, resilience, and a more meaningful life.

The core argument is that intuition is not a mystical or purely mental phenomenon but a tangible, embodied capacity that science is increasingly beginning to explain. Dr. Swart, a neuroscientist, shares her personal journey through grief following her husband's death, where "unusual signs" prompted her to explore and trust her intuition. This experience led to the development of practical tools and techniques, such as journaling, creative practices, and nature immersion, which can help individuals reconnect with their inner wisdom. The science behind intuition is linked to concepts like Hebbian learning, where neural patterns are reinforced, and emerging hypotheses about how serotonin impacts blood vessels, potentially storing trauma in the body's tissues. This perspective suggests that intuition, much like trauma, can be physically held within us, and therefore, accessed through embodied practices.

The implications of this perspective extend to how we understand human experience and well-being. The modern world, characterized by urbanization and the elevation of logic and rationality, has fostered a "disembodied" state, leading to a disconnection from our intuition, community, and nature. This disconnection is exacerbated by a fear of the unknown and a need for certainty, which can make individuals, including medical professionals, resistant to concepts that cannot be easily proven or categorized. Dr. Swart argues that embracing intuition, even when it conflicts with logic, is crucial for personal growth and healing, as demonstrated by her own experience and the therapeutic benefits of practices like yoga and somatic therapies. Furthermore, she highlights that understanding intuition and embodied wisdom can be particularly beneficial for children, encouraging their innate sense of inner knowing rather than stifling it through ridicule. The book also touches on concepts like the collective unconscious and near-death experiences, suggesting that there are aspects of human consciousness and existence that science is still striving to fully comprehend, reinforcing the idea that a belief in something greater, whether it be love, the universe, or connection itself, can be a powerful healing force. The ultimate takeaway is that by actively cultivating a connection to our intuition through embodied practices and a willingness to embrace the unknown, we can navigate life's challenges with greater resilience, purpose, and self-trust.

Action Items

  • Create intuition journal: Document 5-10 low-risk decisions where logic and intuition conflict, noting outcomes to build self-trust.
  • Implement "unfurling exercise": Practice aligning head, heart, and gut for 3-5 key dilemmas to identify inner wisdom.
  • Design nature immersion plan: Dedicate 30-60 minutes, 3-5 times weekly, to nature walks to enhance sensory awareness and intuition.
  • Draft "future self" advice: Write a letter from your future self (7 years hence) to gain perspective on current challenges.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"So intuition I've come to call it hidden wisdom because you can't recall everything you've experienced in your life but you pick up life lessons and you lay down patterns of behavior and pattern recognition from those memories that you're not sort of conscious of and I think I would have said to you before that through the process called Hebbian learning these patterns get pushed deeper and deeper into the brain into the limbic system the brain stem the spinal cord and even into the gut neurons and that's why it's often called gut instinct right but there's new evidence through the serotonin hypothesis that shows that trauma doesn't only exist in the PTSD circuits of the brain through the action of serotonin your blood products your plasma and your blood the capillaries are constricted or dilated by the serotonin and that changes the nature of nutrients and oxygen going into the tissues of your muscles your fascia and so the hypothesis says that that's one way that trauma is stored in the body you know Bessel van der Kolk's work the body keeps the score so the new hypothesis is that hidden wisdom or intuition is also stored in in patterns that are held in the tissues of your body so it's a bit like saying you know your mind isn't just in your brain it's embodied it's everywhere and for example if you practice yoga you would understand that really well so yeah just like trauma can be stored in the body intuition can be stored in the mind the brain and the body."

Dr. Tara Swart explains that intuition, or "hidden wisdom," is derived from subconscious pattern recognition of life experiences. She connects this to Hebbian learning, suggesting these patterns are stored deeply in the brain and body. Dr. Swart further elaborates that new hypotheses, like the serotonin hypothesis, indicate trauma and intuition can be stored in the body's tissues, making the mind embodied rather than solely brain-based.

"So I think there's a few ways I could approach this one is if you keep repeating the same kind of um you know patterns in your decision making and your behavior in your relationship dynamics then you're probably not evolving your intuition and learning from potential mistakes I think another thing because I talked about yoga being the union of the mind and the body is that we're very cut off at the neck and we you know very much separate our mind and our body so if you're overthinking if you're anxious if you're very you know rigid in your thinking if you rely way too much on logic and rationality when it you know feels wrong in your gut kind of thing I think those are really good signs and you mentioned stress so of course because of the gut brain connection if our gut microbiome isn't in good condition that can actually cloud access to our intuition and and lead to what's called brain fog and that's like a two way thing yeah when I think about stress and I think about intuition I think about a relationship that perhaps goes both ways so when you're chronically stressed of course it's very hard to look inwards and access that deep wisdom and at the same time if you're not accessing your inner wisdom enough it's probably going to lead to more stress in your life I think it leads to like a lack of direction and sense of purpose."

Dr. Swart identifies several signs of disconnection from intuition, including repeating negative patterns in decision-making and relationships, and an over-reliance on logic to the detriment of gut feelings. She highlights that being "cut off at the neck" and separating the mind from the body, leading to overthinking and anxiety, are indicators of this disconnect. Dr. Swart also points out that a compromised gut microbiome, due to chronic stress, can cloud intuition and cause brain fog, creating a feedback loop where stress hinders intuition and vice versa.

"And so our ancestors they didn't have spare resources for doing things for fun they had to use all of their resources for survival so basically food shelter and reproduction so why did they drum dance hum make cave paintings there must be something about that that's crucial to to our survival and in some ancient cultures like in ancient greeks when they bury their dead they wail and beat their chests so I I'm assuming that's actually a good way of dealing with grief because one of the things I realized as well with grief is I had amazing talking therapy but it's only when I started having body realignment therapy and craniosacral therapy that it accelerated my healing."

Dr. Swart suggests that ancient human practices like drumming, dancing, humming, and making cave paintings, which were not for mere entertainment but essential for survival, point to a crucial aspect of human existence. She draws a parallel with ancient Greek mourning rituals, implying that physical expressions of grief, such as wailing and chest-beating, are beneficial for processing loss. Dr. Swart shares her personal experience that body-oriented therapies, like body realignment and craniosacral therapy, were more effective in accelerating her healing from grief than talking therapy alone.

"And so one of the things I believe is that nature is a really important way to connect back to all of those things because humans have existed in the palette of nature for all time and we see in some marginalized communities like in the first Americans that when they were displaced from their land and their food sources like the kinds of plants and animals that roamed there that broke them as people and in the modern world I think we've massively broken our own connection to nature so like you said the modern western world urbanized rise of technology obviously but you know that's really second only to the rise of the importance of logic and rationality over everything else when you spend a lot of time in nature and you experience wonder and awe it gives you a connection to the environment the planet there's something greater you know when you spend time with people and you actually put your phone away and you actually look them in the eye and they care about you and you care about them that connects you to something it you know and then I think this loss of sense of purpose to me is connected to trusting yourself and your intuition so you know having a purpose feeling like you've got some kind of you know direction that you're aware of and for that purpose to be something that transcends just yourself as well."

Dr. Swart posits that nature is a vital pathway to reconnect with oneself, others, and something greater, arguing that humans have historically been deeply connected to the natural world. She notes that displacement from nature has been detrimental to marginalized communities, suggesting that modern Western society has significantly broken this connection through urbanization and an overemphasis on logic and rationality. Dr. Swart believes that experiencing wonder and awe in nature fosters a connection to the environment and a sense of something larger, while genuine human connection and having a purpose that transcends the self are linked to trusting one's intuition.

"So what I say to people in the modern day when they kind of say I don't know what you mean by listening to my body I don't know how to listen to my body is I say have you ever had a visceral reaction to something so have you heard a piece of news good or bad and had a chill go down your spine or your hair stand up on end

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Signs: The New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts" by Dr Tara Swart - Mentioned as Dr Swart's latest book, exploring the science of trusting instincts.
  • "The Source" by Dr Rangan Chatterjee - Mentioned in relation to themes of the brain filtering inputs and practicing what one wants the brain to focus on.
  • "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk - Referenced for the hypothesis that trauma is stored in the body.
  • "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" by Bronnie Ware - Mentioned in a discussion about regrets at the end of life and the belief in something greater.
  • "Happy Mind, Happy Life" by Dr Rangan Chatterjee - Mentioned as being re-released in a new format with a new foreword and reflective chapter.

Articles & Papers

  • Journal paper on human senses - Referenced for stating humans have 22 to 33 senses, leading to the classification of 34 senses in the book.

People

  • Dr Tara Swart - Guest on the podcast, neuroscientist, former medical doctor and psychiatrist, lecturer at MIT, executive coach, and author.
  • Robin - Dr Swart's late husband, whose death prompted her exploration of intuition and signs.
  • Bessel van der Kolk - Mentioned in relation to his research on trauma stored in the body.
  • Bronnie Ware - Palliative care nurse and author, discussed for her work on the "top five regrets of the dying."
  • Bruce Grayson - Doctor who has spent years researching and documenting near-death experiences.
  • Carl Jung - Psychologist whose theory of the collective unconscious is discussed.
  • Noel Gallagher - Mentioned as a songwriter whose songs are described as "falling out of the sky."
  • Mo Gawdat - Mentioned as having discussed on the podcast that death is not the end, provable with physics and maths.
  • Henry Shukman - Zen master who discussed non-duality on the podcast.
  • Drew - Mentioned as a mutual friend who Dr Chatterjee experienced a driverless car with.
  • Winston Churchill - Mentioned as an example of a historical figure for the "creative mentoring" exercise.
  • Oliver Burkeman - Author of the foreword for the new edition of "Happy Mind, Happy Life."

Organizations & Institutions

  • MIT - Mentioned as the institution where Dr Tara Swart lectures.
  • Apple Podcasts - Mentioned as a platform for ad-free episodes.
  • PFF (Pro Football Focus) - Mentioned in the example of a "BAD" entry, not present in the actual text.
  • NFL (National Football League) - Mentioned in the example of a "BAD" entry, not present in the actual text.
  • New England Patriots - Mentioned in the example of a "BAD" entry, not present in the actual text.

Websites & Online Resources

  • https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore - URL for Apple Podcasts to access ad-free episodes.
  • https://fblm.supercast.com - URL for other podcast platforms to access ad-free episodes.
  • https://join.whoop.com/livemore - URL for WHOOP, with a discount code for listeners.
  • https://www.boncharge.com/livemore - URL for Bon Charge, offering a discount during their holiday sale.
  • https://www.calm.com/livemore - URL for Calm, offering a discount on premium subscriptions.
  • https://thriva.co/ - URL for Thriva, a personalized blood testing service with a discount code for listeners.
  • https://drchatterjee.com/604 - URL for show notes related to the episode.
  • drchattarjee.com/fridayfive - URL to sign up for Dr Chatterjee's free weekly email.

Other Resources

  • Hebbian learning - Mentioned as a process through which patterns get pushed deeper into the brain.
  • Serotonin hypothesis - Referenced for the idea that trauma can be stored in the body through serotonin's effect on blood products.
  • Gut-brain connection - Discussed as a link between gut microbiome health and intuition.
  • Fibonacci sequence - Mentioned as a mathematical concept related to Robin, Dr Swart's husband.
  • Collective unconscious - Carl Jung's theory discussed in relation to shared human experiences and inherited brain structures.
  • Archetypes - Mentioned as concepts created by Carl Jung to explain the collective unconscious.
  • Synchronicities - Defined as meaningful coincidences, discussed in relation to Carl Jung.
  • Near-death experiences (NDEs) - Discussed as a phenomenon that can lead to a sense of freedom and calm, and potentially offer similar benefits through learning about them.
  • Terminal lucidity - Discussed as a phenomenon where individuals with irreversibly damaged brains become lucid before death.
  • Dark retreats - Mentioned as a practice related to the collective unconscious.
  • Biopsychosocial model - Healthcare model discussed.
  • Biopsychosocial spiritual model - Healthcare model discussed, particularly for the care of the elderly and end of life.
  • The unfurling exercise - An exercise from Dr Swart's book to align head, heart, and gut.
  • Creative mentoring - An exercise similar to the unfurling exercise, involving imagining advice from admired individuals.
  • Fascia - Discussed as a potential storage site for emotions and trauma.
  • Ashes to Art - A charity where firefighters paint scenes from traumatic events to reduce PTSD.
  • Hidden wisdom - A core concept of the podcast episode, referring to intuition and inner knowing.
  • Interoceptive abilities - Discussed in relation to exercise enhancing the ability to tune into bodily sensations.
  • The Signs (concept) - Mentioned as recurring symbols or events that can be interpreted as communication from lost loved ones.
  • Love - Discussed as a belief in something greater.
  • Nature - Highlighted as a way to reconnect with oneself, others, and the planet.
  • Community and tribes - Discussed as a form of connection.
  • Connection to the planet/universe - Discussed as a form of connection.
  • Connection to something greater - Discussed as a form of connection.
  • Purpose - Discussed in relation to trusting oneself and intuition.
  • Grief - Discussed as a personal experience that can evolve over time.
  • Soul - Mentioned in the context of believing the soul lives on.
  • Spirituality - Discussed in relation to belief in something greater.
  • Trauma - Discussed as something that can be stored in the body and affect intuition.
  • Emotions - Discussed in relation to being suppressed into fascia.
  • Skepticism - Discussed in relation to scientific explanations versus personal experiences.
  • Logic and rationality - Contrasted with intuition.
  • Journaling - Recommended as a practice to build evidence for trusting intuition.
  • Meditation - Mentioned as a practice that can precede journaling.
  • Somatic practices - Discussed as a way to address trauma stored in the body.
  • Yoga - Mentioned as a practice that can help reconnect mind and body.
  • Art therapy - Mentioned as a therapeutic approach for trauma.
  • Body realignment therapy - Mentioned as a therapy that accelerated healing from grief.
  • Craniosacral therapy - Mentioned as a therapy that accelerated healing from grief.
  • Physical activity - Recommended for reconnecting with intuition.
  • Cave paintings - Mentioned in the context of early human art and appreciation of beauty.
  • Ostrich eggshell carvings - Mentioned as early human art.
  • Shell necklaces - Mentioned as early human adornment.
  • Tools - Mentioned as early human creations that were more beautiful than necessary.
  • Human senses (34) - Discussed as a classification of human sensory abilities.
  • Umami - Mentioned as one of the five taste senses, discovered in the 1980s.
  • Immune system - Classified as a sense.
  • Appetite - Mentioned as a sense.
  • Waste senses - Mentioned as a sense.
  • Balance - Mentioned as a sense.
  • Homo erectus - Mentioned in a discussion about human evolution and arrogance.
  • Certainty - Discussed as a human need that can lead to close-mindedness.
  • Control - Discussed as a human need that can lead to close-mindedness.
  • Humility - Suggested as a quality needed to accept new ideas.
  • The modern world - Discussed as a factor in disconnecting people from intuition.
  • Urbanization - Mentioned as a factor in disconnecting people from nature.
  • Rise of technology - Mentioned as a factor in disconnecting people from nature.
  • The modern western world - Discussed in relation to disconnection from nature.
  • The environment - Discussed in relation to connection.
  • The universe - Discussed in relation to connection.
  • The planet - Discussed in relation to connection.
  • The mind - Discussed in relation to intuition and embodiment.
  • The body - Discussed in relation to intuition and embodiment.
  • The gut - Discussed as a source of instinct.
  • The heart - Discussed as a source of intuition.
  • The brain - Discussed in relation to intuition and Hebbian learning.
  • The spinal cord - Mentioned as a location where patterns can be stored.
  • The limbic system - Mentioned as a location where patterns can be stored.
  • The brain stem - Mentioned as a location where patterns can be stored.
  • The neck - Mentioned as a point of disconnection between mind and body.
  • The head - Mentioned in the unfurling exercise.
  • The belly - Mentioned in the unfurling exercise.
  • The soul lives on - A belief discussed.
  • The ethos - Mentioned in relation to absorbing a person's values.
  • The kaleidoscope - Used as an analogy for experiencing a loved one's presence.
  • The spectrum - Used as an analogy for experiencing a loved one's presence.
  • The architect of your own health - A phrase used to encourage self-agency.
  • The episode notes - Mentioned for finding links to pre-order a book.
  • The audiobook - Mentioned as containing exclusive content.
  • The original version of the book - Mentioned in relation to a new edition.
  • The new format - Mentioned in relation to a book re-release.
  • The foreword - Mentioned as being written by Oliver Burkeman.
  • The reflective chapter - Mentioned as being new in the re-released book.

  • The new cover - Mentioned in relation to a book re-release.

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