Man wishes to attain the goals he sets without the help of his peers, and he would find another man's opinion inopportune; but he supposes that the woman speaks to him in the name of other values, in the name of a wisdom that he does not claim to have, more instinctive than his own, more immediately in accord with the real; these are the 'intuitions' that Egeria uses to counsel and guide; he consults her without fear for his self esteem as he consults the stars.