Salice's Poems - going back home

OPENING TO OUR INNER WISDOM

by Salice Dawson

"No-one gladly obeys a guide he does not trust,
but this does not mean the guide is untrustworthy.
In this case, it always means that the follower is.
However this too, is merely a matter of his own belief.
Believing that he can betray, he believes that everything can betray him.
Yet this is only because he has elected to follow false guidance.
Unable to follow this guidance without fear, he associates fear with
guidance and refuses to follow any guidance at all."

From "A Course in Miracles" T-7.X.5:8-13

What is Inner Wisdom?
Inner Wisdom is that part of us which is beyond our rational, logical and conscious mind. We are generally brought up to believe the mind is our primary source of information with regard to the world and we learn little, if anything, of our "other" nature. This "other" nature is our inner wisdom and is reached through our deeper intuition, instinct, hunches and the validity of our feelings. This is our inner voice, our inner wisdom.

We connect with our inner wisdom in a variety of ways, often without even knowing that we do so. Have you ever picked up a book, opened it at random and read a sentence that has a powerful effect on you? Or perhaps the whole book does. Someone may say something in conversation that strikes a deep cord in you or you may experience a profoundness from watching a beautiful sunset or walking in nature. However, we can greatly increase our ability to contact our inner wisdom and this includes our being aware of some of the obstacles which normally prevent us from doing so.

1. Be still. Create a space where you can be relaxed. Turn the telephone off, lock the door, make yourself comfortable and quieten your mind as much as possible. Rituals are not necessary although they may help in settling you. If you are open, the answer can come at any time, in any place or situation. It may help to jot down what you sense or receive, even if you think its coming from your conscious mind. Just look at it and see what insights it has. The mind "loses control" when you connect within and can react strongly causing you to feel disturbed. The mind will try to distract you and draw your attention away with excuses of all kinds from having a sneezing fit, feeling you must do something else such as one of the many chores that always need to be done to even getting sudden aches and pains in the body. The mind does not want you to listen within. 'A Course in Miracles' states "It is only because you think you can run some part or deal with certain aspects of your life alone that guidance of the Holy Spirit is limited". T-14.XI.8:4

2. Have no investments. Let go of any need, desire or investment to hear or sense an answer. Sometimes we do not realise we have already formed an answer and we simply will not hear anything. Or we may be afraid or feel too "unsafe" to hear the truth. What is the price if we "let go"? Does it mean a breakup in our relationship, changing our job, moving to a new place? If you get frustrated or angry, it is a clear sign you have an investment. Your mind is in charge and you need to let go.

3. Open yourself to hearing, feeling, knowing. Willingness to hear is the only thing necessary. "A Course in Miracles" states "If you cannot hear the Voice for God, it is because you do not choose to listen." T-4.IV.1:1 Remember, the Voice of God can come in any guise. Guidance is always there, we just don't know it is. We do things we don't want to do as we don't know we don't want to do them. If we push our mind thoughts away of what we "should" and "ought" to do, the truth is there underneath. This can be threatening as it may mean doing something which requires us to empower ourselves. This may feel uncomfortable and it may upset others around to you. However, if we stop to check our energy and really touch in to our inner selves, we may pick up that we feel flat to our "oughts" and "shoulds" and that our surface enthusiasm is false.

4. Listen with assurance, acceptance and trust. As the conscious mind is who we think we are, an inner voice may be felt or seen as crazy. Giving up our attempts to solve problems with our conscious mind is very threatening to our ego which wants to remain in control. Trust what you get if it feels right. The answer may be challenging and even frighten your mind but go beneath that layer and get a sense of how it feels at a deeper level. You will know if it feels right, even if it is not what you want to hear. If the guidance does not "make sense" from our mind's point of view but still feels right, we may have to trust and go forward not knowing what the next step will be.

I once heard a very clear and firm voice as I was going to sleep one night. I was working in London at the time and wasn't even trying to connect with my inner wisdom. I suddenly heard a voice saying very clearly "You will be living at Findhorn". I couldn't comprehend what I heard. Although I had visited the Findhorn Foundation in northern Scotland the previous year, I had no intention or desire whatsoever to return there. The voice then repeated "You will be living at Findhorn." I then felt a deep reaction in my solar plexus - a knowing which could not be denied or distorted - but nevertheless, my mind tried to do so! I remember saying to myself "No, no I won't" and the voice replying with such gentleness and patience, "Yes you will". For 24 hours, I thought of every possible objection, and there were many, as to why I shouldn't leave my job, friends, where I was living etc. and all the time knowing that I would. It only took 24 hours before my mind stopped fighting and with this acceptance, came a sense of peace, delight and anticipation. It felt right, I knew it was right even though it was a huge step to take in so many ways.

5. What other clues can help you to know if your inner wisdom is right?
Apart from feeling and knowing at a deeper level, you sometimes feel a warm glow, a sense of peace or relief. If we truly flow with our inner wisdom, things will fall into place easily and gracefully. Our needs will be met and often the way will be paved by other people helping you in unexpected ways.

Earlier this year, I was travelling with my partner in Europe. In between commitments, we had two free weeks and my partner thought it would be an excellent idea to go to Greece where we could relax, read and enjoy some sun. Normally such an idea would have enormous appeal to me. Greece has always been a somewhat 'magic' place in my mind. However, I felt no real desire to go, a definite flatness and disinterest which I could not understand. My partner was very keen to go and although I mentioned my lack of enthusiasm, I didn't really pursue it because it made such sense to go there. We duly visited a travel agent but found we couldn't get a flight on the day we wanted nor could we get a return flight when we wanted. Also we couldn't fly out of Hamburg but would have to travel hundreds of miles to another airport. Still, my partner insisted on going to Greece and it wasn't until some 4 or 5 days later that I voiced my concern, my lack of energy and my 'sense' that it just wasn't right to go there. My partner then 'checked inside', going beneath the level of his mind and discovered that he too didn't feel 'right' about it either. He had been holding on because he had planned what he wanted to do in Greece - have time to study, read and relax. However, our inner wisdom led us to proceed to Switzerland for the 2 weeks where we had an extraordinary time. Everything fell in to place. Some friends were able to get us an apartment where they lived and very cheaply. We were in a superb position near the alps and overlooking some lakes. And it was here, that we were truly able to relax, study and take some very necessary time for ourselves in perfect surroundings. We felt we were very 'guided' and we both suspect that if we had gone to Greece as planned, it would not have been 'right' for us. Our needs would not have been met in the way they were in Switzerland.

6. Which voice do you take notice of?
The wisdom from within is usually soft. We have to stop and listen to hear it. It will suggest and advise but never demand surrender of your free will. It will not conflict with your personal ethics and never asks you to attack or hurt others or force them to do things. It will never be offended if you ignore what it says or if you question it. This voice requires our willingness to want it. It is never forced upon us. The voice from the mind or ego is usually louder and more forceful. It may be confusing or contradictory and you may even hear a number of voices competing for attention. This voice or voices may seek to flatter and to appeal to glamour, specialness and desire for personal gratification. If you examine it, it will feel wrong unless you are attached to the answer in which case, you will find yourself trying to convince yourself that it is right. It may be that this voice will mimic the inner voice and even make sense. You have to look at the content.

7. What questions should you ask? It is better to ask specific questions of your inner wisdom such as "what should I do about this particular problem" rather than wide-ranging questions such as "how can I help heal the world". If you are unsure about what you get, or if it feels wrong, listen again to get a clearer sense. Often the ego speaks first but if you listen closely and with patience, a quieter voice will come. If there are alot of obstacles or difficulties in response to the wisdom within, it has probably been distorted by the mind. If we interpret something wrongly, it doesn't matter. How many times have we had a hunch, an instinct to do something but have not followed it? So we may have lost some time by taking a wrong turn but our inner wisdom has infinite patience and is always there for us. It will never reject us because we didn't take notice the first time.

Occasionally we may receive guidance for others but this is very rare and usually such guidance comes from the ego.

8. How often should we listen? Whenever we lose our joy or peace, we need to check within. Anxiety, fear, anger, pain, irritation or frustration are all signs that this has occurred. It is good to ask ourselves "why am I doing this"? Will it make me happy"? What is my motive"? However, if you find yourself asking within before every move, this speaks more of fear than of trust and is a way of avoiding our own responsibility.

Remember, be open to all sources. God's 'Voice' is everywhere.

Salice Dawson, August 1991
Salice died in 1995

Salice's Poems - going back home