Intuition

British Astrologer C.E.O.Carter had this to say about intuition in his "little green book", An Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology:

"In a general sense intuition, or the power of perceiving certain truths without the ordinary process of investigation and reasoning, would probably come under Uranus and Neptune, especially in connection with the 9th house."

He goes on to warn that "truths" intuitively grasped are subjective - what may be a truth to one person can be a fallacy to another. He also says "The word "intuition" is often used when "instinct" is meant, as when it is said that someone is "intuitively" disliked". He considers that heavy afflictions to Mercury, and, in religious and occult matters, to Jupiter Uranus and Neptune, will cloud intuition "the native will only reach the truth, if at all, after many mistakes".

I suspect that there are various levels of intuition, ranging from a quite rational but rapid analysis of a situation or person, based on minute details subconsciously perceived by extremely sharp observation, processed in a nanosecond - that'd be at one end of the scale. At the other end of the scale, truly psychic insights arising from exceptional, almost clairvoyant skills. Both levels, and all those inbetween, will involve Mercury, that's for sure. A strongly placed Mercury, challenged by few or no difficult aspects must surely be a basic requirement. After that, I'd say a lot depends on the sign/element placements of Sun and Moon, maybe ascendant too. Water or Air are going to be the easiest elements in which intuition can blossom well. Earth and Fire seem too direct and outwardly active. Yet the analytical skills of Virgo might be instrumental in that first level of intuition, the kind arising from minute, almost unrealised observations.

C.E.O. Carter specifies Uranus and Neptune as other significant planets involved in intuitive ability. Easy aspects between those planets and Mercury will be a definite "plus", especially if one or both lie on or near to the angles (ascendant, midheaven, descendant and nadir) or conjoining one of the Moon's nodes. These are all extra-sensitive points in the natal chart.

Chatting about this subject with HeWhoKnows brought up the comment that females are generally more intuitive than males. HWK thinks this stems from a male dislike of being thought "limp-wristed" or feminine. I pointed out that intuitive ability can be masculine too. Any sportsman in a team, or in a sport involving others can, and probably many do, gain great advantage from using intuition - perhaps they just don't call it that. HWK reckons we all have the potential within us, but some people don't accept it, and therefore fail to use it. I agree, and I believe that astrological placements and aspects are probably instrumental in such lack of acceptance. Difficult aspects, in most cases, can be worked on and overcome, but the wish to do so must be strong.

As for me, I might actually have some lower level intuition. In my natal chart Mercury is near the descendant angle, in trine to Neptune and also, widely, to Uranus. All three are in Earth signs though, had they been found in Water signs I'd probably be a psychic phenomenon! I'm not psychic, but I do sense things from people and situations, and more often than not, my intuition(or instinct), is correct.

Intuition: going your way without inquiring about the way.(Source unknown)