The Art of Intuition

February 1, 2011
To most people, the concept of intuition is a mystery. Best-selling Burnham looks at it another way: to her, intuition is an indelible part of being human. We all have it, she contends, and we all can find ways to nurture it. In fact, Burnham, who has worked as a psychic and medium, asserts that psychic abilities are as natural as the blink of our eyes and, with practice, can be cultivated. Spiritual awakening, she continues, brings a falling away of anxiety and fear. Writing in an appealing and accessible style, Burnham distinguishes intuition from fear, talks about various kinds of perceptions from clairvoyance to premonition, examines inspiration and creativity, and suggests that the latter can be interpreted as an aspect of intuition. She also chronicles the history of the aura and of spiritualism; and looks at such concepts and practices as divination, dousing, and magic. Throughout, Burnham includes brief exercises that encourage readers to develop intuition, from something as simple and universal as daydreaming to engaging in what she calls deep listening.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)