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The signs: a scientific exploration of Intuition and meaning.

Introduction

The Signs, written by neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart, explores how science and spirituality can coexist and even compliment one another. At first, readers may feel sceptical about what the book promises. Yet, by the final chapter, it becomes clear that Swart’s insights are grounded in both neuroscience and her own personal experience. Her message is that we can receive signs - from the universe, God, or whatever name we prefer to give to a higher intelligence - and that this process is explained, at least partly, through the workings of the human brain.


Swart begins with her own story: losing her late husband and then beginning to see a cascade of ‘signs’ she could not ignore or call a coincidence. These experiences  led her to question how science might explain  connection after death, consciousness, and the power of intuition.



The Science Behind Signs

Throughout The Signs, Swart discusses the importance of intuition and tuning into our gut feelings. She draws on measurable neuroscience to explain how to become more in touch with our inner signals, recommending journalling, meditation, and immersion in nature as ways to strengthen this mind-body awareness.


Before diving deeper, she acknowledges the scepticism - addressing the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, also known as the frequency illusion. This occurs when, after focusing your attention on something (like a car you’re thinking of buying), you suddenly begin noticing it everywhere. Swart explains this as a neurobiological process driven by the Reticular Activating System (RAS), a network in the brainstem that filters information so that we notice what feels relevant or emotionally significant to us.


However, Swart makes a key distinction: frequency illusion is a form of selective attention, whereas receiving signs is a deeper, intuitive experience. Frequency illusion is about what we consciously notice; the signs emerge when our internal state aligns with the external world. This is when intuition, emotion, and neural pathways begin to work in harmony.



Memory, Intuition, and the Body’s Wisdom

One of the most fascinating parts of the book is when Swart connects neuroscience to spirituality through epigenetics. She writes about how our bodies may “remember things that our minds have long forgotten,” meaning that emotional and physiological responses can be inherited or stored deep within us and our genes. She describes how this can happen through ancestral memory and modern biology.


Swart also mentions how practices like forest bathing (the japanese practice of immersing yourself in a forest to de-stress and improve well-being by engaging all the senses), tarot reading, and even certain therapies that exist that include the use of psychedelics (under professional guidance and caution) in traditional settings have long been ways for humans to access intuition and receive guidance from ‘beyond’. Swart is clear to mention that whether or not one believes in these tools, it is best to try them with an open mind.



A Transformative Read

Ultimately, The Signs is about much more than handling grief. It’s about transformation, being present in the moment, and learning to read the messages that are constantly around us. Swart pushes the boundary between science and spirituality by inviting readers to see them, not as two separate things, but as a means of understanding existence.


For anyone navigating loss, seeking direction, or curious about the neuroscience behind intuition, I would highly recommend The Signs. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking read that challenges readers to think beyond what they believe they may already know as the world and science even after you’ve turned the last page. 



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This article was written by Hafsah Khan and edited by Rebecca Pope, with graphics produced by Hafsah Khan and Eve Cottenden. If you enjoyed this article, be the first to be notified about new posts by signing up to become a WiNUK member (top right of this page)! Interested in writing for WiNUK yourself? Contact us through the blog page and the editors will be in touch.

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