Spiritual Intelligence:
Living with Intention, Connection, and Openness
by Paul Robear   ©2025
Spiritual Intelligence is more than a concept — it’s a way of being. It weaves together wisdom, awareness, and interconnectedness into the choices we make and the way we show up in the world. For me, it often feels like a compass, quietly orienting me toward what is meaningful and life-giving, especially in times of uncertainty.

One aspect of Spiritual Intelligence is living with intention. When we act with clarity and purpose, we begin to recognize that our thoughts, words, and actions carry energy that shapes not only our personal lives but also the collective field we all share. Ritual and embodied practices can serve as anchors in this process, drawing us into deeper presence. In states of expanded awareness — whether through meditation, trance, or silence — intention sharpens and aligns with a higher sense of purpose.

Another dimension is recognizing that everything is connected. This insight runs through indigenous traditions, mystical teachings, and even modern science. It reminds us that we are not separate from nature but woven into its rhythms. Altered states of consciousness, like those found in shamanic journeying or ritual embodiment, can dissolve the illusion of separation, giving us direct experience of unity. I have found that in those rare moments of synchronicity or ancestral presence, the boundaries of time and self feel thinner, as if life itself is whispering that we belong to a larger whole.

A third quality is openness. Transformation rarely happens when we cling too tightly to fixed beliefs or rigid perspectives. Instead, Spiritual Intelligence invites us to listen deeply, to suspend judgment, and to welcome the unknown. Often it is in these moments of openness that intuitive knowledge arises, pointing us toward new ways of seeing and acting. This kind of openness makes space for solutionary thinking — insights that don’t just benefit the self, but ripple outward into community and even the world.

When these three principles come together — intention, connection, and openness — Spiritual Intelligence becomes a lived practice. It provides both grounding and guidance, helping us navigate a world that is increasingly fragmented. At the Cuyamungue Institute, we engage these principles through ritual body postures, trance, and ancestral wisdom traditions. These practices remind us that Spiritual Intelligence is not just an idea to think about but a capacity to cultivate — in the body, in community, and in relationship with the greater mystery of existence.