Greetings, Sunny Optimist buddies,
With a cup of tea in hand this morning, I contemplated what to do this week for your delight and delectation. My eyes glanced over to my bookshelf. I love books - the touch of them and the smell of them is wonderfully evocative. I take such pleasure in the commitment of the author to share their insights with me. It feels like a personal connection. I appreciate how they have reached out to make a difference in my life by sharing what is important to them. I celebrate the diligence they have shown to bring their book into manifestation.
I also appreciate the people that helped them along the way. I always savour the acknowledgements page of any book I am reading. This is where the author says 'thank you' to those who guided and supported them in this endeavour. It is often a delightful window into the author's life and their co-creative process.
Today my eyes rested on a little book called The Seven Whispers by Christina Baldwin. I don't remember where this book came from, but as I opened the acknowledgement page, there was an interesting dedication. It felt like a sign.
To Ann - Oh joyful pleasure.
There was my first name. Who is this other Ann? I wonder what part she has played in Christina's life to warrant such a poetic dedication. I take heart that there is another Ann out there who is so loved. I feel the reflected sunshine of this affectionate moment.
The Seven Whispers as a Practice
This beautiful little book is about consciously opening a portal to let the voice of Spirit come in. I appreciate the word whisper, defined as ‘to speak softly or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand’. It implies intimacy and secrecy which requires a degree of quietness for the listener to hear the words.
Christina’s writing has an elegant simplicity that makes each of the seven whisperers meaningful and accessible. The book abounds with wisdom and sincerity as she seeks to help us to be happier and more fulfilled. Every chapter offers insight, guidance and a series of little practices for each of the whispers below.
Maintain Peace of Mind
Move at the Pace of Guidance
Practice Certainty of Purpose
Surrender to Surprise
Ask for What You Need and Offer What You Can
Love the Folks in Front of You
Return to the World
I have spent the last week holding each of the whispers in my awareness for 24 hours. I read the chapter at bedtime and then set the intention to weave the information into my night dreaming. In the morning, I made notes in my journal. Then I gently flow with the whisper during my day and make notes at night.
I was surprised at how easy it was to remember each whisper. It has been a gentle and fun process. There is so much I could share, but for this week, I decided that there was one learning that stood out for me.
Be a Moderator of your Inner Committee
In the chapter on the whisper ‘Maintain Peace of Mind, one suggestion captured my imagination. When talking about the challenges to finding a quiet and receptive state, Christina said;
‘Unfortunately, our minds are not trained for stillness. Our thoughts are more often occupied by a highly opinionated, contentious committee of interesting and annoying characters….. the irrepressible child, the overbearing critic, the whiny victim, the encourager, the doubter, the judge and so on’….’
I laughed out loud when I read this. YES! My Inner Committee can be a truly unruly bunch. It can be a real challenge to calm them down and establish order. Have you ever had that experience of thoughts dancing around and arguing amongst themselves? It is not always easy to get their attention to settle them down. They seem to have a life of their own.
She then talks about our Moderator voice which has the authority to bring this committee to attention. I have heard about the Observer Self and the Witnessing Presence. But what I loved about the concept of the Moderator is that it is not passive. It is action-orientated that seeks to integrate all the voices within me. This approach is a great metaphor to play with when the voices begin to rise again.
Too often, we can become overly preoccupied with the strident or needy voices. I like the image above because it shows that many committee members are helpful. I love the loud hailer as a way to bring the committee to silence—big smile.
Questions for this Week
I really enjoyed learning about my Inner Committee and here are my questions for you this week. Enjoy!
Do any of the Seven Whispers resonate and call you to listen for Spirit’s voice?
Are there members of your Inner Committee that are particularly helpful?
Are there any members of your Inner Committee that are particularly disruptive?
What strategies does your Moderator employ to bring harmony within your Inner Committee?
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
The Seven Whispers
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece. I find it’s so important and revelatory to be listening within as much as it is to listen to the external world and what others have to say.
Ann, thank you for sharing these whispers! Sometimes when things are hectic, refocusing to gain an internal serenity is perfect!!! So much love to you ♥️♥️♥️♥️