In an exquisite interview with Krista Tippett,
the late poet and writer John O’Donohue reminded me:
“There is a part of you that has never been wounded.”
How do we get there? What road leads us
to the softer center where pure wisdom can whisper,
reminding us who—and how unwounded—we really are?
The road is deep inner listening.
Beyond the valley of closed eyes (pratyahara),
where the traffic and street noise fades.
Past the feeling of self-reflection and
the long book of self-study (svadhyaya).
Deep inner listening is
a protected and purposeful path
to bring our souls home.
As with all countries of experience,
there are many roads.
Here is one:
1. Safety.
First, we bring ourself into a safe place where the armor and energy blockers can fall. This starts with physical safety: find a room, a soft blanket, a position that makes you feel held. Soon, it transcends: we feel safe in our own skin, familiar with our bones. We surrender.
To start, place your palms on your belly. Sense the support of your breath. Let your body be a comfort to itself.
2. Calm.
We dip further into the well of receptivity by letting the muscles release. One by one, we allow heels, elbows, and sacrum to soften into the steady unflinching support of the earth.
Send your breath through the body, like a wish. Start letting go of the memory of wounding. Feel the nervous system calm; your inner spaciousness widen.
3. Quiet.
When the body lets go, the mind follows. We hear the milder, sweeter, quieter cadence of the mind.
Listen to the space between your thoughts. Feel the inner volume of your blood, emotions, and history go down…down…and down. Judgement, just a dull roar.
Allow your mind to open out into a field of quiet, and walk in.
4. Listen.
In the silence of your heart, listen for the pulse, the voice of your unwounded self. Hear the hum of your natural power and the whistle of your clear intuition.
Spend time here. Listen in for the message.
You don’t need to write it down. You don’t need to answer back.
Just let the silence spill into your cracks and questions.
Let your soul speak.
Listen.