Three keys, a quote and an invitation
Intuition has been defined through various lenses, some quite narrow, from being an irrational impulse we shouldn’t rely on, to something ‘woo-woo’ that hasn’t been backed by science. In between these extremes there’s a growing body of research that shows how fundamental intuition is to our intelligence and ability to take better decisions and actions. See my TED Talk for more about this.
For about 15 years, I’ve used the Icelandic concept InnSæi to remodel our understanding of intuition, so that we can see and understand it more holistically. This was developed during the making of the documentary film InnSæi – the Power of Intuition, shown worldwide on Netflix, and most recently in my book about InnSæi, published in all continents and 12 languages in 2024 and 2025. For my readers in North America, InnSæi is coming out with HarperOne/HarperCollins on 6. May.
Innsæi is Icelandic for intuition. If you look innsæi up in the Icelandic dictionary, you will get a similar explanation as in the English dictionary for intuition.
But when we’ve explored the word itself, and how it was created and put together, we came up with InnSæi.
Inn means inside or into. Sæi means ‘to see’ and evokes ‘the sea’ (sær).
InnSæi is helping us remodel our current understanding of intuition from the most recent scientific discoveries, research, practice, and timeless wisdom, through it’s following threefold meaning:
One
InnSæi means ‘the sea within’ and conjures up the borderless nature of our inner world, the flow of our (un)conscious mind. It is constantly moving and making new connections. It goes beyond words. It is a world of vision, feelings, imagination and connecting dots in a flow state.
The sea within is home to the undercurrents of emerging directions in life, a sense of alignment and hints about important decisions even before we can express them in words. The ‘sea within’ cannot be put into boxes or silos, because then it ceases to flow.
Understanding how intuition is developed, informed and formed is key to learning how to harness it.
Two
‘To see within’ is to see inside yourself. To see within refers to self-awareness and metacognition and helps us harness and hone intuition.
Seeing withing is to know yourself well enough to witness your own creativity, core beliefs and humanity, including your imperfections and strengths.
To see within helps discern intuition from biases, fears and wishful thinking. When you see within yourself, you are more able to take good decisions and actions, empathise, speak your truth and live authentically.
ThreeAnd finally, ‘to see from the inside out’ helps you be aligned with your inner compass as you navigate the world.
In a world that is full of uncertainty, opportunities, speed and ceaseless attempts to numb our senses and hijack our attention, a strong inner compass gives you clarity, focus, resilience and a solid ground to stand on. It enables you to better navigate your individual path across the ocean of life.
A quote
“InnSæi beautifully reveals the innate power of intuition as a guiding force in our lives, offering a unique perspective that resonates deeply with me as both an entrepreneur and a neurotechnologist.
In a world driven by data and logic, this book reminds us of the extraordinary insights that come from within—an essential resource for innovation, decision-making, and resilience. It’s an inspiring read for anyone looking to harness the full spectrum of human potential and reconnect with their inner wisdom.”
— Tan Le, Founder & CEO of Emotiv, and author of The NeuroGeneration
An invitation
Wisdom is asking the right questions. Clarity comes with presence and heightened awareness about how and to what we pay attention.
My invitation this week is for you to tune into your intuition by answering the following questions:
Make sure you journal these reflections so that they come to the surface of your mind.
- Notice this week how your intuition speaks to you and make sure you journal about what you notice. If you think these might be biases, fears or wishful thinking, make sure you write those reflections also.
- Where in your body does intuition speak to you?
- How does it affect your thoughts, actions and interactions when you pay this attention to your intuition?
- What are you learning about yourself and intuition?
Thank you for reading, as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions. If you are enjoying reading this, are curious to find out more and think others might be, please do share!
With love & respect,
