A Still, Small Voice

Listen. Be still. Just be.  Transformative concepts, and yet if you are a "thinker" like me, hard concepts to get into!  Over the years, I've read so many books, and have heard so many teachers tell me that if I got quiet, and just listened, went still, in that place I would hear the still, small voice of the soul, that inner guidance innate within each of us.  But how do you get quiet in a world that is anything but?  I struggled with different techniques and meditations for many years, and mostly my too-active mind would jump around like a 5-year-old hopped up on Halloween candy, while I tried to be calm, centered, focused, or I would simply fall asleep. 

So I looked at what made me feel closest to God.  For me, getting out in nature has always grounded me and brought me back to myself, and music has a truly soul-opening effect that has left me crying uncontrollably at rather in-opportune times.  This was good, and I knew I was getting close, but somehow I still didn't get it - what is it really like when your soul talks to you??  Was this it?  This wave of emotion and feeling of limitless joy that could come through a day in the woods or a bit of a symphony?  Then oddly enough, the thing that finally made it click, was not working at it at all.  I found that when I least expected it, wasn't really even paying attention, I would get a flood of inspiration, and that little voice would come.  Journaling, much as I seem to avoid picking up pen and paper, has been a big help in channeling the guidance waiting to come through.  The fear always was "I have nothing to write", and the idea of chronicling what I had for dinner each day was decidedly uninspiring.  But the point IS to not have anything to write about.  When we have an agenda, that is exactly what we get - our agenda blocks out anything else that might try to come through and nudge us in another direction.  By letting go of expectation, by just beginning to write whatever comes, we allow our soul to speak to us through the pen.  Let go and let the only effort be in not stopping the flow by thinking too much.  Not always easy, if, like me, you are inclined to correct spelling and grammar as you go!   Just as when we wish to hear the longing or guidance of our own souls, stillness, quietness, softness are all the qualities that allow the voice of one soul to be heard by another, and when that opening is permitting to happen, the most remarkable things happen.  This is heart of communicating with animals.

This last month, the first month of the new year in Jewish calendar and a time of endings and beginnings in many traditions, has been a time of listening for me.  A time to begin to become quiet, and see where my soul wishes to take me.  Lots of exciting things are happening, and I can't wait to begin to share them here over the next few months.  My animal communication work is changing dramatically - I am shifting away from dealing directly with behavioral, emotional, or physical "issues" to a practice based on energetic soul clearing and alignment.  Rather than trying to dialogue about a problem, or "think" through a solution, this process is about helping the animal to re-connect to their own soul and Divine Source and to begin the healing process from there.  I'll be sharing many more details soon, but recent clients are getting a sneak peak at this new model, and I'm looking forward to getting feedback from those who've had sessions so far.

Major changes are coming to my life, and I'm learning that the best way, the only way, to move forward in Certainty is to listen well to that still small voice within.  One of my goals in starting this blog was to provide a place where I could share some of the amazing resources I've come across over the last few years.  As with many things, I'm still working on the format for this, but my first suggestion is this - if you're looking for a little inspiration for your soul, click on over and check out my dear friend Shelley's fabulous new business Soul Musings.  Shelley and her partner Mare have created the most gorgeous note cards, with inspired photography and thoughtful affirmations that are sure to get your soul singing, and are a beautiful way to spread a little joy around. 
Enjoy...and listen!