Warrior Women: Tuning in for Deeper Listening
Day 27 of 100 days of blogging
At the Warrior Women Empowerment and Wellness Retreat this past weekend in Pennsylvania, I led a workshop called Tuning into Deeper Listening.
Here are a few of the key points from my talk:
*You were born with all of the answers you will ever need inside of you. They are encoded in the cells of your body. Throughout your life, you have experiences that wake up the cells that hold the desire and the information. We live our lives one moment, one hour, one day, one month, one year at a time. When it is time, you will receive the answers and know what to do and be next.
*We gather in groups, read books, listen to speakers, go to conferences and retreats and hire coaches so that we see, hear and feel things that wake up the cells and prepare us for the answers.
*We need the connection with each other to wake up.
*Deeper listening requires a process of emptying out and filling up. An example of how to do that is to take a walk. The first part of the walk you let go of all of the voices, the shoulds, the “to-do’s on your list”. Walk and release. Walk and empty. Let it all go. During the second part of the walk, you fill up. You breathe in the energy from your surroundings; the leaves that are changing on the trees, the sound of birds or in a city, the sounds of the subway, the feel of the wind on your face. Listen, notice, breathe.
*Deeper listening guides you to the people, places and things to create and carve the new pathway.
*Everything is happening at the perfect time. Louise Hay’s book, “You Can Heal Your Life” was published when she was 58 years old and she started Hay House, Inc (also when she was 58 years old.) Every experience leads you on the pathway for each decade. In your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s, 100’s and beyond…
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A few of the tools I suggested to turn off your brain and access deeper listening:
Tool #1: Coloring books. (Hurrah! They are in style again! So many coloring books to choose from for your pleasure)
This is a perfect activity for a doer, type person. You are “doing” something while turning off your brain. Notice the colors you are drawn to and breathe in the colors.
A few coloring books I love!
1. Coloring Feeds the Soul and Keep Calm and Color
Pati Woodard: https://www.etsy.com/shop/patimakescoolstuff
2. The Big Girls Little Coloring Book
It has 21 Mandalas, each with an Affirmation and medARTation page.
The book is a journey through insights that are about topics like the power of the Mind, the role of Nature for healing and empowerment, how to identify Patterns in out life and many more.
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Girls-Little…/dp/1582706212
3. Coloring My Days by Kristen Webster
http://www.amazon.com/Coloring-My-Days-Kristen-Webster/dp/0996757430/
4. The Mindful Journey: Color~Create~Journal by Zan Packard
http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Journey-Color-Create-Journal/dp/1470077450/
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Tool #2: Oracle Cards or Spirit Cards.
Doreen Virtue has created some of my favorites. Search on-line for a deck that resonates with you.
Randomly pick a card and focus on the photo, the words, the colors. Close your eyes and sit in silence for a few minutes. Let it stir something inside of you. Let go of your thoughts and feel.
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Tool #3: Get a small notebook and write down 5-10 clues and signs that cross your path every day. The things that light you up or bring curiosity and excitement. Some ideas:
1. Books
2. Words
3. A conversation
4. A phone call or Facebook message from an old friend
5. Colors, nature, music
6. A dream
Then, in a few weeks, go back and look at the trends. What topic repeats over and over? What do you feel and notice? Listen for the inspired action.
What helps you to go into deeper listening? Share with us in the comments section.
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Andrea Hylen believes in the power of our voice to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, an organization that inspires women and men to heal a story, reclaim personal power and step into greater leadership. Andrea discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to live life fully after the deaths of her brother, son and husband. In addition to serving as Heal My Voice’s Executive Director, Andrea is an Orgasmic Meditation Teacher and Sexuality Coach.
She is following her intuition as she collaborates with women and men in organizations and travels around the world speaking, teaching and leading workshops. Her passion is authentically living life and supporting others in doing the same. To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com and www.healmyvoice.org.