Have you ever felt like your gut just knew the truth before your mind caught up? Or maybe you’ve had a dream that later played out in real life, heard your name whispered when no one was around, or caught the scent of perfume tied to a loved one who passed away.
These aren’t coincidences — they’re your intuitive senses at work. In the intuitive world, we call them the Clairs(from the French word “clair,” meaning clear). Just like you have physical senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell — you also have spiritual senses that allow you to perceive guidance from your soul, your spiritual team (angels, guides, ancestors), and the universe itself.
Everyone has access to all the Clairs, but most of us have a primary Clair — our strongest intuitive channel. Think of it like your natural superpower. Once you know what it is, you can strengthen it, trust it, and even expand the others so you become fluent in your intuition.
In this post, we’ll explore the six main Clairs:
Clairvoyance (clear seeing)
Clairsentience (clear feeling)
Clairaudience (clear hearing)
Claircognizance (clear knowing)
Clairgustance (clear taste)
Clairolfaction (clear smell)
By the end, you’ll not only understand which Clair is likely your strongest — but also how to nurture it, trust it, and deepen your connection with your intuitive superpowers.
Clairvoyance is the ability to receive intuitive guidance through mental images, symbols, or visions. It’s often described as “clear seeing” — insights appear in your mind’s eye (the third eye) or through signs in the physical world.
Common Signs You Might Be Clairvoyant
You see vivid dreams or mental images that later come true.
You notice repeating numbers (like 11:11, 444) or visual signs (feathers, coins, butterflies).
You experience flashes of light, colors, or auras around people.
You imagine outcomes in your mind’s eye before they happen.
You get visual nudges — like seeing yourself take a different route while driving.
How to Strengthen Clairvoyance
Practice third eye meditation: visualize light at your forehead and breathe into that space.
Use a clear quartz crystal on your third eye to activate and balance your pineal gland.
Try a candle-gazing exercise: softly stare at a flame, close your eyes, and notice the lingering images.
Keep a dream journal: write down dreams immediately when you wake — before they fade.
Pay attention to symbolic imagery (numbers, colors, animals) and record patterns.
Real-Life Examples:
When my clairvoyance first opened, it often came through my dreams. I’d wake up with vivid details — names, places, even historical scenes — and when I shared them with others, they confirmed they were accurate. Later, I realized my spiritual team also used numbers as signs, especially repetitive sequences like 11:11. Over the years, clairvoyance has helped me navigate everything from relationships to avoiding traffic accidents — once I kept seeing an image of myself exiting the highway, ignored it, and minutes later was stuck in hours of traffic. That was my lesson in trusting the vision the first time.
Clairsentience is the ability to sense intuitive guidance through emotions and physical sensations. It’s often described as “clear feeling.” Instead of seeing or hearing, you feel the truth in your body and heart.
Common Signs You Might Be Clairsentient
You feel a sudden knot in your stomach or a rush of warmth when something is “off” or “right.”
You walk into a room and immediately sense the mood or tension.
You confuse other people’s emotions with your own — absorbing their sadness, anxiety, or joy.
You get goosebumps or chills when you hear truth or spiritual confirmation.
You’re deeply empathetic, often called “too sensitive,” and may attract people who need healing or rescuing.
How to Strengthen Clairsentience
Practice energy clearing: sage, Florida water, salt baths, or white light meditation.
Learn to differentiate your emotions from others — ask, “Is this mine, or someone else’s?”
Keep healthy boundaries to protect your energy (especially in relationships or caregiving roles).
Use your body as a truth detector — notice how it reacts before your mind makes sense of it.
Journal your feelings daily to see patterns and intuitive insights emerge.
Caution for Empaths
Clairsentients are the “nurse energies” of the world — natural helpers, healers, and empaths. But without strong boundaries, this gift can lead to exhaustion or illness. Learning to say no and care for your own energy is essential.
Real-Life Examples:
I often tell my clients a story to illustrate clairsentience. Imagine you’re at a party, and a friend points out someone “perfect” for you — handsome, successful, charming. But your gut twists, telling you something is wrong. A week later, you discover he was already in a relationship or not who he seemed. That gut feeling was clairsentience — your body warning you before your mind had proof.
I’ve also seen many clairsentient clients in the medical or therapeutic fields — nurses, doctors, counselors — who are natural feelers and helpers. They thrive when they honor their gift, but often burn out when they don’t protect their energy.
“Your intuition is not a gift for a few — it’s a birthright for everyone. The more you practice trusting it, the more it will guide you with clarity and confidence.”
Claircognizance is the intuitive ability of clear knowing. People with this gift often receive information as sudden ideas, solutions, or insights that appear fully formed in their minds — without logic or reasoning leading up to them.
Common Signs You Might Be Claircognizant
You get random ideas “out of nowhere” that later prove true.
You instinctively know if someone is lying or trustworthy.
You dislike small talk and prefer deep, meaningful conversations.
You can figure out how to fix things or solve problems without needing instructions.
People may have teased you as a “know-it-all” because you always seem to know answers.
You’re highly intellectual or analytical — often drawn to IT, science, business strategy, or systems.
You tend to be skeptical of “woo-woo” intuition, yet your best insights often come as instant downloads.
How to Strengthen Claircognizance
Practice automatic writing: sit with a journal, breathe deeply, and let words flow without overthinking.
Meditate daily to quiet mental chatter so genuine insights can come through.
Pay attention to repeated “aha” thoughts or inner nudges — write them down before you dismiss them.
Ask for guidance from your spiritual team, then notice what thoughts arrive.
Balance your crown chakra (visualize white light at the top of your head).
Caution for Claircognizants
Because claircognizance works through thoughts, it can be hard to distinguish intuition from overthinking. The difference? Intuitive downloads feel instant, calm, and matter-of-fact — whereas ego-based thoughts feel anxious, repetitive, or doubtful.
Real-Life Examples:
Many of my strongest business decisions have come from claircognizance. I’ve received names of people to call, instant solutions for complex problems, and even guidance on how to fix things like plumbing or tech issues — all through sudden inner knowing. At first, I dismissed these flashes, but when I acted on them, they were consistently right.
Claircognizants are the visionaries, inventors, and problem-solvers of the world. Their gift isn’t about “woo-woo” intuition — it’s about recognizing that those inspired thoughts are higher guidance coming through.
Clairaudience is the intuitive ability of clear hearing. This isn’t about hearing with your physical ears — it’s about perceiving subtle messages, tones, or words from the spiritual realm, your higher self, or even telepathic impressions from others. Messages may sound like your own inner voice, or like someone gently speaking outside your ear.
Common Signs You Might Be Clairaudient
You hear your name called when no one is around.
You receive words, phrases, or song lyrics in your head that deliver the exact guidance you need.
You’re highly sensitive to noise, off-key music, or disruptive sounds.
You prefer waking to gentle music instead of loud alarm buzzers.
You sometimes hear high-pitched ringing (not medical tinnitus) during quiet moments — a sign of frequency downloads.
You often overhear conversations, radio shows, or TV segments that answer your question at the perfect time.
During emergencies, you may hear a loud, clear warning voice that protects you.
How to Strengthen Clairaudience
Practice deep listening — not just to people, but to silence and subtle sounds around you.
Meditate with soft instrumental music, tuning in to every note.
Keep a journal of phrases, songs, or words that pop into your mind repeatedly.
Balance your throat and ear chakras (visualize blue light around the throat and ears).
Ask for clear guidance in the form of words — then notice what you “hear” inwardly.
Caution for Clairaudients
Clairaudience should always feel loving, calm, and supportive. A true intuitive voice never berates or instills fear. If you hear something negative, that’s ego chatter — not guidance.
Real-Life Examples:
Years ago, when I was deciding where to send my daughter to school, I asked the universe for clarity. While standing in line at a store half an hour from my home, I overheard two women in front of me talking about the very school I was considering. One was a teacher there, and the other had a daughter the same age as mine. Their conversation gave me the exact confirmation I needed. That was clairaudience in action — guidance delivered through “chance” hearing.
Another way my clairaudience developed was when I prayed to discern the difference between my ego voice and my intuitive voice. Soon after, I began hearing guidance in my grandmother’s voice — distinct from my own thoughts, with a biblical tone of language like “thou.” This taught me how to separate intuition from my mental chatter.
Clairgustance is the intuitive sense of receiving messages through taste — even when there’s no physical food or drink present. These tastes can arrive suddenly and often carry symbolic meaning or direct guidance.
Signs You Might Be Clairgustant:
You taste something metallic, sweet, bitter, or distinct without eating anything.
Flavors suddenly remind you of a loved one, spirit, or specific memory.
You notice unusual tastes during readings, meditations, or moments of heightened awareness.
Certain tastes feel like confirmations from your spiritual team, much like a “calling card.”
Ways to Strengthen Clairgustance:
Pay attention to random tastes that appear when you’re tuning into someone’s energy or asking for guidance.
Keep a dedicated taste journal — note the flavor, the timing, and what or who it seemed connected to.
Practice mindful eating. Slow down and truly notice each flavor. This strengthens your awareness of subtle energetic impressions through taste.
Invite your spiritual team to use this clair when you’re open to receiving messages, especially during meditation.
Real-Life Example:
I once had a client who had been to several doctors with no answers for her mysterious health issues. During our session, I suddenly tasted metal in my mouth and intuitively saw rusty pipes beneath her home. I asked if she’d ever tested her water. Days later, she called to confirm that her pipes were corroded — slowly poisoning everyone in her household. That unexpected taste was clairgustance in action, delivering guidance when nothing else could.
Clairolfaction is the intuitive ability to receive messages through smells or scents that have no physical source. These fragrances often carry deep personal meaning and can be one of the most touching ways spirit communicates.
Signs You Might Be Clairolfactant:
You smell smoke, perfume, or alcohol with no physical source.
Certain scents instantly remind you of a deceased loved one or trigger an intuitive message.
You notice floral, herbal, or incense-like aromas during meditation or readings.
Scents appear as confirmations from your spiritual team — nudges to pay attention or cleanse your space.
Ways to Strengthen Clairolfaction:
Pay attention when a scent arises out of nowhere — pause and ask, What or who is this connected to?
Keep a scent log (just like a dream or synchronicity journal) to track when it happens and what it might mean.
Use intentional scents — incense, sage, essential oils, or Florida water — to train your awareness and create a stronger link between smell and intuitive messages.
Before a meditation, ask your spiritual team to send you a confirmation through scent, and see what arises.
Real-Life Examples:
During sessions, I’ve often smelled cigarette smoke or alcohol — even over the phone — only to find out the client’s loved one smoked or struggled with drinking.
Other times, I’ve smelled perfume that belonged to someone’s grandmother, confirming her presence.
Personally, I sometimes smell incense in my own home when it’s time to energetically cleanse my space — a gentle nudge from my spiritual team.
Your intuition isn’t a gift reserved for a select few — it’s a natural, soul-given ability that we all possess. The six Clairs — clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairaudience (clear hearing), clairsentience (clear feeling), claircognizance (clear knowing), clairgustance (clear tasting), and clairolfaction (clear smelling) — are simply different ways your higher self, spiritual team, and the universe communicate with you.
The key is learning to recognize which Clair is your primary intuitive superpower. Some of us are visual dreamers who see guidance through images or numbers. Others feel intuitive “gut” hits so strongly they can’t be ignored. Some hear divine whispers or downloads, while others simply know the truth before anyone else does. A few even experience intuitive taste or smell as subtle but powerful confirmations.
No matter how your intuition speaks to you, the most important step is to trust it. Practice tuning in daily — through journaling, meditation, mindful awareness, or simply pausing when you notice signs and synchronicities. Like any muscle, the more you use your intuition, the stronger and more reliable it becomes.
And remember — your intuition is practical. It can guide you in love, career, relationships, health, and everyday decisions. It’s not “woo-woo” — it’s your inner compass, hardwired into your soul, waiting to be fully activated.
✨ Ready to discover your strongest Clair? Take my free Which Clair Are You? quiz and unlock your personal roadmap to deepen your intuitive gifts. Once you know your primary Clair, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and the tools to strengthen your connection to higher guidance.
👉 Take the Free Quiz HereAbout the Author — Deirdre Abrami
Deirdre Abrami is a sixth-generation intuitive counselor & spiritual teacher with over 20 years of experience helping people break free from toxic cycles, release emotional blocks, and reconnect with their true soul purpose. After surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm in 2003, Deirdre deepened her intuitive gifts and created The Abrami Method™ — a unique 6-phase framework blending intuitive guidance, energy healing, and practical manifestation tools.
Through private sessions, group experiences, and her upcoming Intuitive Manifestors™ community, Deirdre empowers thousands worldwide to trust their inner voice and manifest the life they were born to live.
