| You may have seen people on TV or elsewhere who | | | | dangerous water. You know you need to save your |
| say they are able to communicate with spirits or | | | | pennies for a rainy day. You clearly know right from |
| people who have died. Others who are psychic seem | | | | wrong, why would you want to get so close to the |
| to be able to attune themselves to receive answers to | | | | edge? It would be better for you to just forget all |
| questions about themselves and others, and some are | | | | about this and stay with what you've been taught. If it |
| able to receive helpful information about the future. | | | | was good enough for mom and dad it is good enough |
| Perhaps you have noticed how they seem to be | | | | for me. Just work hard. If it sounds too good to be true |
| tuning in to something that no one else can see or | | | | it is." There can be strong voices that appear to be the |
| hear. In this article you will learn how to attune to | | | | voices of conscience, but which are actually the |
| reliable inner guidance yourself as well as what some | | | | voices of our parents or others, and may not be |
| of the most common sources of inner voices are and | | | | relevant to the situation you find yourself in today. |
| how to discern what you are receiving. | | | | The third source of responses is stored emotions. |
| In addition to receiving psychic and intuitive impressions, | | | | Emotions have a feeling charge that can bring a voice |
| the skill of inner listening is and important part of your | | | | in your mind. For instance a voice might say, "I've really |
| spiritual practice. A major part of your spiritual path is | | | | had it the way that person keeps treating me. They |
| to listen to the inner guidance that comes from your | | | | have no right to do this. How dare he mess with me. I |
| higher self and divine source. Sometimes this inner | | | | should sue him." The inner voices of anger can be |
| guidance is referred to as "a still small voice." The | | | | very destructive and only set in motion the energies |
| nature of attuning to the subtleties of the inner voices | | | | that create what is so strongly resisted. |
| requires practice to discern the voice you want to | | | | Related to this are also the voices of what is called |
| hear from the other voices that chatter in your mind. | | | | the shadow self. These are the parts of us we tend |
| The biggest obstacle is hearing extraneous messages | | | | not to want to look at, so we keep them in the |
| or more than one voice. This can create confusion and | | | | shadow below our conscious awareness. This fourth |
| cause you to give up the process and end up | | | | source of thoughts is the darkest and potentially most |
| confused. | | | | destructive of all voices. It may be composed of all of |
| The clearest messages come out of stillness, rather | | | | the previous elements of analysis, memories and |
| than through analytical thought, so it is important to | | | | emotions but they are bent in a most negative and |
| quiet your mind as much as possible first. Close your | | | | destructive posture. You may hear an inner voice say, |
| eyes and put the palm of one of your hands over the | | | | "I'll kill that person for not doing what I want. How dare |
| upper center of your chest. This helps bring your | | | | they do that to me. They should be made to suffer. I |
| attention to your spiritual center and helps you tune into | | | | feel so miserable maybe I should just take a bottle of |
| your higher self. Take several slow deep breaths and | | | | pills and end it all myself." |
| relax your mind. There is nothing else that you need to | | | | Some of these voices come from a fifth area of |
| do or think about while you are tuning in, so it is safe to | | | | what is sometimes called the collective unconscious, |
| let other thoughts go for a little while. This part of the | | | | which houses the passions, drives, archetypes, beliefs, |
| process may take several minutes but it is quite | | | | and overriding attitudes of mass consciousness. This |
| important to let go of anything your mind has been | | | | includes all the hatred and prejudices of the masses, |
| occupied with through the day or you will find those | | | | but it also houses the needs, loves and desires of the |
| thoughts contaminating the guidance you are seeking. If | | | | masses. So it is a real mixture of drives that have an |
| you need additional help with this be sure to read my | | | | overall affect on virtually everyone. Depending on how |
| article on meditation obstacles which gives suggestions | | | | your consciousness is oriented will determine how in |
| on how to diminish and eliminate mind chatter. | | | | tune you are with these energies. Some people are |
| The Secret is in Carefully Wording Your Question | | | | affected very little by these energies, and others are |
| One you have settled in to a meditative state then ask | | | | greatly influenced by them. |
| a question. You may find it helpful to ask questions that | | | | Many of the inner voices are very defensive for they |
| can be answered "yes" or "no" at first. After doing this | | | | arise from aspects of the ego. This sixth source of |
| for a week or two, move on to simple questions such | | | | inner voices combine to form sub-identities or |
| as choices of what to do in any particular | | | | sub-personalities which form most of the inner voices |
| situation-such as what to eat, what to purchase, or | | | | you hear throughout the day. The voices utilize many |
| where to go. At the beginning of your day resolve to | | | | techniques all designed to keep you safe. If, for |
| trust your inner guidance for the decisions and choices | | | | example, you are inquiring about your relationships or |
| you will make that day. You undoubtedly have multiple | | | | lack thereof, you may hear voices saying things like, "I |
| decisions that must be made every day, so utilize your | | | | want to be loved, but relationships are risky and can |
| intuition to guide you. Such questions as, "Which shirt | | | | bring pain, so I'll let people get just so far with me. I'll feel |
| should I choose to wear today? What choices should I | | | | safer if I keep people at arm's length." These voices |
| make today for lunch? What foods would be best for | | | | indicate some relationship fears, and this represents |
| me today? Should I have a sandwich or soup? Which | | | | the areas where a person with these voices will find |
| phone call should I make first? What type of car | | | | the greatest chance of being confronted and |
| should I buy? Does this serve my highest purpose? | | | | challenged as well as the greatest possibilities for |
| Should I go to bed at 9 o'clock or 10 o'clock?" Make | | | | growth. If the person deals with these voices their |
| the choices you feel prompted to make. If you are | | | | relationship experiences will deepen and become rich, |
| unclear on your guidance keep asking questions that | | | | but if the source of the voices are not cleared they |
| will give you deeper insights into the choices to make. | | | | can represent the greatest potential area for |
| The more clear and specific your questions, the more | | | | relationship failings. |
| clear and specific will be the answers you will receive. | | | | The seventh source of inner voices can be spirit |
| Wait for the answers to arise out of the quietness | | | | entities. I am not going into this subject in this article |
| rather than paying attention to a cascade of rambling | | | | because it is an extensive subject, but it is a factor to |
| or conflicting thoughts. If you receive more than one | | | | be aware of as a possible source of voices. |
| response ask which one can you trust the most. The | | | | There is also a voice in the heart. This is the eighth |
| more you practice this with lesser items of importance, | | | | source of inner voices. The voice of the heart and soul |
| the greater will be your trust and confidence when | | | | or divine source will usually come in through the heart |
| faced with more important choices and decisions. | | | | center, although there can also be the voices of grief, |
| Once you are practiced and comfortable with | | | | betrayals and pain in the heart. |
| receiving and trusting guidance on these lesser | | | | What to Do with What You Hear |
| important issues, you will find you are also able to | | | | The voices that I am speaking of may not actually |
| receive insights and direction on more important issues. | | | | come in the form of a voice as you know it. You are |
| You will become more sensitive to the inner | | | | not likely to hear these voices like a person talking out |
| promptings of your higher guidance and your life will | | | | loud to you, because it is in inner hearing. Sometimes it |
| begin to flow with greater ease. | | | | comes as a knowing, a realization, an image or an |
| Do not underestimate the importance of staying with | | | | experience of sound or sensation. The voice of the |
| practicing these simple questions for several weeks. If | | | | soul or divine source will resound with the qualities of |
| you immediately jump into asking more complex | | | | trust and love and bring a deep completion and |
| questions without successfully mastering discerning | | | | comfort, and guide you into true safety and a |
| answers to the more simple questions you will end up | | | | deepening awareness of truth. You will receive |
| frustrated and will probably quit. I have been teaching | | | | messages of the reality of love, mercy, and kindness. |
| this subject to many people for over 30 years and I | | | | Multiple voices exist in nearly everyone, and there is an |
| know what works and what doesn't. Be aware that | | | | interplay within them at all times, and until you learn |
| this is a skill like learning a new language or a musical | | | | how to separate out the higher self and divine voices |
| instrument and you must practice to become good at | | | | and choose that over all the others you are under |
| it. Some experts say it takes 10,000 hours or more to | | | | constant pressure to move in the direction of the other |
| excel in any field, so be patient with the process and | | | | voices. This is a very important piece of knowledge. It |
| you will be richly rewarded. | | | | is helpful to label the voices as they arise. For instance, |
| How to Go to the Next Level | | | | the voices of doubt, criticism and blame. The voices of |
| When you have practiced getting good inner guidance | | | | inner needs and desires. The voices of pain and |
| on simple questions for several weeks, then you can | | | | struggle. The voices of spirit. As each voice arises |
| move to questions whose answers will give you more | | | | inquire with your intention that the underlying voice |
| information. | | | | reveal its needs and desires. What effect do these |
| For instance, you may desire to be shown the next | | | | voices have on your body, mind and emotions? With |
| important understanding that will take you to the next | | | | your intent bring healing light to the source of the voice |
| breakthrough or to your next level of spiritual growth. | | | | and hold the intent that the causes and needs that |
| You may have questions about business or | | | | underlie the voice be surrendered and dissolved in the |
| relationships. You may ask, "What would be helpful for | | | | light. |
| me to know at this time?" Additional questions that can | | | | Honor the voices of the feelings and awareness that |
| help open you to deeper insights into spiritual | | | | reveal themselves to you. When voices of doubt and |
| realizations are, "Who am I? What am I?" | | | | distraction want to take you away from beauty and |
| An effective technique to make this process easier is | | | | love return your focus to your heart center and repeat |
| to ask your questions as if you sitting across from an | | | | the words that deeply connect you with your spiritual |
| all-wise being who has all the answers. If you were | | | | nature and truth. This is one of the more effective |
| talking with a trusted friend you would calmly ask a | | | | ways of dealing with mental distractions. |
| question and then be quiet and wait for the answer. | | | | In time you will find yourself receiving |
| Listen, observe and be open with the intention of | | | | moment-to-moment inner guidance and revelations |
| receiving a response. This inner listening is what opens | | | | that will be helpful to you and others. Developing a |
| your receptivity to spiritual insights. | | | | relationship with your inner guidance will lead you to |
| If there is a question you are wanting clarity on or | | | | beneficial decisions and actions, as well as infuse you |
| more information on, make all of the other preparations | | | | with realizations and understanding of the nature and |
| for meditation. Be in a place where you will be | | | | qualities of your life and being. This will lead to a life |
| undisturbed and relax and quiet your mind. Continue | | | | unfolding around you that is inspirational and filled with a |
| breathing in a calm, connected and relaxed manner. Be | | | | deep level of love and trust. |
| in a place of openness and willingness to receive. Hold | | | | In Conclusion |
| no judgments on anything you receive, nor judgments | | | | Sometimes, if not often, the ideas and guidance that |
| on yourself if you don't receive a great deal in this | | | | come to you do not make conscious sense. This is |
| particular session. | | | | because your conscious mind does not have access |
| Ask your question and patiently wait effortlessly | | | | to as large a view as your higher self, and information |
| attentive and relaxed. Be positively expectant but not | | | | which is out of range of your five senses can be |
| having expectations. Your answers may come in a | | | | accessed only by the higher aspects of your |
| flash insight, or in the form of feelings or the arising of | | | | consciousness. You may not always understand the |
| new awareness. It is very important not to react to | | | | guidance and insights your are receiving. In time you will |
| what you are receiving, nor to invalidate yourself by | | | | come to trust the process and your ability to interpret |
| questioning or doubting yourself regarding the | | | | what you receive will become more sure. As you |
| information you do receive. This will only squelch your | | | | receive guidance and you practice trusting that |
| ability to receive clear messages. In time this will be | | | | guidance you will find that the accuracy of your |
| easy for you to do at any time, anywhere, but in the | | | | choices increases and deepens. This is the beginning |
| beginning it is important to follow these procedures to | | | | of living the miraculous life. |
| be successful. | | | | This process is a skill which requires your patience and |
| Sources of Inner Voices | | | | dedication to master and you may think it would be |
| You may find yourself thinking that what you are | | | | easier to continue through your day as you always |
| receiving is merely your normal inner dialog, and it is | | | | have. However, you would be missing out on much of |
| important to know that there are at least eight possible | | | | what life can be if you make that choice. |
| sources of responses. First, your own rational and | | | | Remembering to practice inner listening takes resolve, |
| analytical mind is likely to make its contributions. You will | | | | but it pays rich rewards. The inconveniences |
| notice that the nature of these responses is more like | | | | necessary to achieve mastery are worth the |
| thinking and processing the subject matter, rather than | | | | investments. |
| merely listening for the responses to arise out of the | | | | As you surrender your fixed opinions and control to |
| deep stillness. For instance, if your inner inquiry | | | | trusting your inner guidance, miracles start happening in |
| concerns whether to accept an invitation from some | | | | your life. You spontaneously move into universal |
| acquaintances or not, you may find this aspect of your | | | | harmony and synchronicity. Since the truth of you at |
| mind saying something like, "Well there you go again. | | | | your core essence is always at one with God, trusting |
| Do you think we should go out tonight or not. If we | | | | your inner guidance puts you in harmony with what is |
| don't what will our friends think of us, but if we do you | | | | true and this keeps you in the right place, at the right |
| know we'll regret it tomorrow. On the other hand, we | | | | time, doing the right things that are for your best and |
| do enjoy being with these people, but then again | | | | highest purposes at all times. |
| maybe this isn't the best way to spend our time and | | | | Over time your mind and its analysis will diminish |
| money at this time. If we go it could be a big mistake." | | | | because you will have come to a higher level of trust |
| The analytical mind will often get lost in loops of | | | | in the process and therefore you will not be as inclined |
| thought processing and judgments. | | | | to question and doubt. Your mind will learn that this |
| The second source of responses is from your own | | | | form of receiving guidance is superior to the |
| history. Stored within you are memories of things you | | | | questioning and analytical processes the mind has |
| have heard, seen and experienced and these may | | | | been used to relying on. You will come to have a |
| arise in response to your requests for information. The | | | | sense of being on track, living in trust, and knowing |
| voices of memories may be the voices you have | | | | what feels right and best for you. Your guidance will |
| stored from your parents or others you grew up with, | | | | lead you to what makes you happy and fulfilled. This is |
| teachers or authority figures, or even the casual and | | | | because you will in touch with your core essence |
| unthinking off-hand critical comments made to you by | | | | which is always in a state of perfect contentment, joy |
| friends or others. These type of voices go something | | | | and unconditional love. |
| like this, "This line of questioning can only go into | | | | |