“There is a very important distinction to be made between listening and hearing. Sometimes we listen to things, but we never hear them.”
“When you listen with your soul, you come into the rhythm and unity with the music of the universe.”
John O’Donohue
Listening with the soul was the week-long invitation to those who joined Wendy and me on the pilgrimage to Iona last week. What were we listening for? Whispers of the Sacred. The Sacred in the water, rocks, air, land, plants, sheep, Iona Abby, a well that has been prayed over for thousands of years, the unseen, and each other.
There is an artistry with listening in this way. The Oxford Dictionary describes art as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.” Listening with the soul engages the imagination and opens us to a world of wonder lying below our everyday awareness. Artistic expression, whether creating art, music, or movement, takes time – as does listening deeply. Retreating or taking a pilgrimage can help create a container for listening at the level of the soul, as everyday distractions are not getting in the way.
This type of listening is life-changing. A subtle veil lifts, and there is a softening into the sweetness of life. After a week of listening to the sacred on Iona, I can say that my life “timeline” has a new defining mark on it: pre-Scotland and post-Scotland. I believe everyone that joined us would agree.
However, I also believe we can cultivate this type of listening in our everyday life – and we begin with clearing the inner static, aka mind chatter. Engaging our senses with Nature in all her various forms is a powerhouse ally in finding the inner stillness required for listening.
Listening as a form of art also requires us to listen with our whole body. Listening in this way, we receive information beyond the audible. We begin to experience the sacred imagination within all life and the elements. This embodied listening asks us to “land” into the body – to feel our body, and take up the space within. We can start by simply feeling our feet on the ground.
To be masterful listeners, we must find the way to our hearts. And the qualities which we hold in our hearts make all the difference in the world. Openness, kindness/compassion, and non-judgment are the inner tools we wield to create transformational moments of truely listening.
Blessings to you in the life-changing art of listening!
With love,
Kathleen
