(bryanism on: Intuitive Experiences---> Intuition: Fact or Fantasy?)
Intuition: Fact or Fantasy? (story)
There was a time when I meditated twice daily in order to reinforce two distinct affirmations: that intuition only reveals higher-purpose and the other to align with the higher-self. Interestingly, when I independently decided to use affirmations in place of intuition development exercises found in books, I started having my most profound intuitive experiences. 
You might remember my dear friend Damien, a very talented magician and illusionist, mentioned in an intuitive experience entitled 'The Psychic and the Mentalist' (reposted in comments). 
Well, one day I walked into the coffee house and spotted Damien already seated at a table across the room looking preoccupied; so, I took my order to a another table near the window front. With my back to the windows and now absorbed in my own thoughts, I was pleasantly surprised to look up and see Damien leaving his table to join me. 
We did our usual exchange before diving into the forever promise of spontaneous, deep discussion; when suddenly my regular vision was overcome by a scene unfolding with me already in it -- a scene of extravagance with men and women elegantly dressed in attendance for Damien, who's in the center (also finely apparelled) performing the finest art of illusion any audience had ever seen. 
At first, I'm paying less attention to Damien who's still sitting directly across from me, for not wanting to disrupt the daydream; but after viewing so much of it, I suddenly realized I could pause the vision above his head and look Damien eye-to-eye to explain. And the look on his face definitely affirmed I was in several places at once. 
Although this was my first vision, I was familiar with the experience due to books I'd been reading, but still unsure of its significance, so I petered out trying to share it. Then Damien insisted that I just spit it out, and I finally did. 
"Damien, have you ever considered wearing more elegant dress, something tuxedo-like during performance?" 
With a coy smile, he provided only enough information to satisfy my non adventurous question saying, "Oh, I was just wondering how I'd look performing in tuxedo, before I came to join you." 
Even still, that was more than enough for me to fully describe the rapturous vision I'd just seen, specifically in context to what could be; and I wasn't sure if Damien was impressed with the detail or my saying, "Wait...let me view more of it," as if able to replay the loop for noticing what I had not the first, second, or third time around. 
Finally, Damien asked with great compassion, "Bryan, are you sure you're not seeing someone's future, but fantasy instead?" 
Although it was a fascinating question, I didn't know how to answer it, which obviously wasn't important to me as the whole experience was -- well, not at the time. 
Needless to say, the question WAS more important later on, when alone and contemplating why an intuitionist wouldn't know (the difference). 
Some days later, just before usual meditation, I recited one of my affirmations, "...that intuition only reveals higher-purpose...," which is when I knew how to answer his question -- perhaps, with a question -- one that never comes to mind whenever we cross paths. 
"Is there ever a time, Damien, that you'd let a fantasy/dream come true?"