Your Intuitive System Settings

Intuitive practices, and I include creativity as an intuitive practice, often regard form as something restrictive, and that any rule applied to their process limits their creative freedom. I often hear people describe their intuition as necessarily without structure or system. I used to approach my intuition and creativity this way, and I believed the ensuing chaos and dysregulation was simply a part of it.

To be creative was to be wild, free, and a bit of a mess, right? 

_{(me launching my career as wild, free and a bit of a mess)}

To be sure, this does not need to be the case. In fact, I discourage it. 

Your intuition is a tool for exploring, understanding, and interacting with the world.

It is on par with rational/logical thought as a way of measuring what is so, and historically, it was our preferred methodology. We weren’t always so loosey-goosey with our intuition and creativity—in fact, cultures around the world engaged their intuition much like we now engage with algebraic formulae and the scientific method. They explored, tested, documented, and iterated in the same way we do research now. And it worked. They learned things that helped their society stay safe and develop. 

Intuitive Storytelling is an intuitive practice that connects the storyteller with important subtle information that people might miss.

We are bombarded with 11 million bits of information every second, but only 30 or 40 bits are consciously experienced and cataloged, and much of the rest is often dismissed. Peripheral information, as well as our somatic responses to our environment tend to be relegated to our subconscious mind, and this makes sense. It's a lot of information—too much for our neo-cortex to handle. But this does not mean it is not important. In fact, subtle cues in the periphery or sensations in our body can protect us from danger or invite us to opportunity without involving the conscious mind. It is quite common to yield to our  “gut feelings” or inclinations when making decisions, even when we don’t know why. 

This is our intuition. We are using our intuition when we are wary of certain strangers or feel a pull in a certain direction, or choose to introduce ourselves to someone at a party. This is not due to something random or esoteric—it is due to honoring subtle cues you have received. It is connected to good information that you collected without involving your conscious mind. You used your intuition whether you want to admit it or not. So doesn’t it make sense to develop, strengthen, and better understand your intuition?

Using Intuitive Storytelling involves a system of intentions, protocols and protections because the storyteller opens themselves to forces that they can’t understand or control. We make sure we only invite forces that will be a beneficial part of the system.

I have made many decisions “intuitively” and on the whole they have worked out well. But I have also intuitively interacted and engaged in relationships without a system of intention and protection and some of those interactions have been disastrous. 

This has happened to you as well.

When you perseverate over an experience long after it took place, you are suffering from a lack of intuitive protection. When you harbor a resentment or regret about something that happened, it is often due to a lack of clarity about who, what, and why that thing happened. Intuitive system settings will help you get clear about who is involved, why it is happening, and how to protect you from unwanted discomfort, complication, and confusion. It is not a coincidence that highly creative people often describe uncomfortable or even unhealthy dynamics in their thinking. The creative mind can accompany traits and dynamics that would be considered mentally ill in certain circumstances. Intuitive system settings do not heal mental illness, but they will make the creative and intuitive process far less chaotic, complicated, and uncomfortable. It will attract flow and ease and a confident assurance. Doesn’t that sound nice?

In systems thinking, a system is defined as a set of interconnected elements that behave as a whole, and it behooves the systems thinker to consider how these interconnected elements interact and influence each other over time, and then specific dynamics and patterns can emerge and become interesting.

We can see systems in the human body where the different organs work together and create life. We see it in an ecosystem where the plants, animals and minerals contribute to maintaining life. There is the system that is in every business where the business plan, the marketing plan, the sales protocol and all the people involved determine or at least impact the success of the company. Economies have systems. Communities have systems. Families have systems. And intuitive practices have a system. 

Here is a storytelling deck that shows how to use a storytelling system. Click on the image to go to a version of this post where you can download it.

Stakeholders in any intuitive practice can include family members, friends, teachers, and colleagues who influence your creative process. Your intuition is also influenced by a variety of nonphysical forces or entities, depending on your experience or belief system. If you believe in God, then God is a part of your intuitive system. If you believe in fairies, then they must be counted. If you believe in the psychic influence of extra-terrestrials, well, then they need to be considered as you move forward. These nonphysical forces will do their best to fulfill whatever intention or request you make of them, but they need clear instructions. There are also plenty of forces out there that are happy to get involved and hijack your process unless you are clear that they are not invited. Narcissists, marketing firms, government officials, demons—whatever you believe can undermine your healthy intuitive development—all need clear boundaries and communication.

This is why the first intuitive system setting is focused on intentions.

As Intuitive Storytelling is about integrating subtle information into your stories (or any communication), then setting intentions and goals must be clear. If I want to tell a story or have a conversation or deliver a lesson that changes the behavior of the listener then I must be clear about what I want the outcome to look like.  I need to know, quite specifically, the objective. I need to identify how this serves the listener and anyone else in the system. I clearly articulate the desired outcome and why.

Journaling Exercise: Mapping your intention

Storytelling is the most powerful form of communication we humans possess, so it is imperative that we know why we are going to tell a story.

Choose a person in your life that you believe needs help. Describe below what sort of help they need and how you would like to help them.

Imagine that you were able to tell a story that would deliver the desired outcome. What would it look or feel like?

This person is a part of a system, whether a family or class or community. Describing this outcome would benefit the system. What changes would it bring to their community?

Now focus on yourself and be honest. How would this outcome benefit you? No one will read this so it is best to see how you benefit from the outcome and change you desire. No judgement, just clarity. 

With every story, there is a system of stakeholders: the listeners, the people connected with the listeners, as well as the storyteller and the system connected to the storyteller. Seeing the effect a story might have on the full system helps you make choices around how you want to proceed and what changes you wish to encourage. There are also the variables of time, place, duration and all the elements in the “Coherent Container” mini-book which gives storytellers a resource for setting intentions. Find that book here.