by Nancy Robbins
The art of listening is the skill of giving full attention to others, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully, forming the foundation of effective communication and strong relationships. Listening is more than hearing words. It involves active engagement with the speaker, including interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues, recognizing emotions, and understanding context. Unlike passive listening, which may involve merely hearing words without comprehension, the art of listening emphasizes being present in the moment, attention, and empathy. It requires us to open our heart to understanding, avoiding judgment and forming opinions, an open mind that is discerning but does not hold preconceived ideas, so that the speaker has a safe space with which to share the message. Mastering the art of listening requires intention, mindfulness, and patience. By actively applying these principles, individuals can communicate more effectively, nurture stronger relationships, and create environments where dialogue is respectful and impactful.
To begin any relationship, it is best when you start as a sovereign being rooted in your own wisdom, with a full heart, inner strength, and energetic protection to avoid any lower energy interference. In this way you contribute the best you have to offer, and you are not sharing burdens or lower energy. It’s not always easy, but a good goal to keep in mind to be aware of what you are giving in the exchange, as well as receiving.
A helpful image to aid mindful listening is to imagine that you tell your left brain – the part of you that wants to analyze, judge, organize, and take action to be still for a while, put it in a box, or tell it to take a nap. This is the mission of your right brain – that is receptive, nurturing and heart-centered, can use imagination to understand, and can access the spiritual dimensions. As a medium, I have come to learn that a guiding principle is that your focus is to receive information through your senses, with your heart’s wisdom, and not to interrupt that process with logic, analyzing, and springing into action. That can come later. If you allow your left brain to jump in too soon, you disrupt receiving information and you start forming opinions, and then you are no longer really listening fully. Extend your “feelers” and receive information through your senses and allow yourself to be surprised by the magic and wonder you may receive.
The art of spiritual listening is a broader topic, because now we are creating relationship with beings in the spiritual world – that can be invisible to our eyes, and of a higher frequency. Just as you would with a friend or family member, you would apply the same guidelines for active listening with mindfulness. The key is to be heart-centered and receptive. The heart is the key to all connection and relationship. It is an extension of the heart that literally forms a “cord”. The heart is a multi-dimensional portal where you can easily connect with higher frequencies with the wisdom of the soul. In order to receive, you need good receptors, and those are your five senses. Your ability to take in information with hearing sound, touch, sight, taste, smell, and intuitive knowing. They are your feelers extending out into the world to receive information, and send information. In order to tune in to the information you are receiving, you need to be in stillness to quiet all the internal noise that distracts your attention so that you can really perceive with your senses.
Often, we approach spirit guides in whatever form they take – an ascended master, angel, nature spirit, passed loved one, ancestor, star being, or other higher dimensional beings – as beings that give us guidance and information. This is only a part of what they can offer. Just as in any friendship, you don’t want to abuse the relationship with constantly asking “What can you give me?” We often ask “What should I do? Give me a sign. What is going to happen? Tell me whether this is right.” We don’t want to treat Spirit like a cosmic advice service. Sometimes the best exchange is just sharing.
What if instead we asked: “Who are you? How can I know you? What would you like me to notice? How can I spend time with you? What can I learn from simply being present with you?” It’s nurturing a friendship when you get to know each other, spend time together, listen, share experiences, and learn their language which may be unspoken. You begin to recognize subtle ways of communicating and you develop trust, strengthen the relationship and move into Oneness.
When you make a connection with Spirit open all your senses to receive information, it may not be just a message. Feel the vibrational signature of their energy. Everyone has a unique vibrational signature and it connects directly to the heart. What then do you notice within yourself? What does your heart quietly tell you? What do you suddenly become aware of that you weren’t aware of before? Is there something Spirit would like you to notice? What emotion is shared? What new thought comes to you? Allow yourself to experience the vibrational world of life around you. Allow this magical connection and the quiet knowing and joy that it can bring. You may gain sudden profound clarity, the loving sense of communion, and that you are not separate from the life around you – you are a vital and unique energetic being within that network.
Here is a meditation to help you connect into mindful listening with Spirit.
The Art of Spiritual Listening Meditation
Imagine that you are wrapped in a warm soft rose-pink hooded cloak and you are walking through a beautiful white, snowy landscape in the moonlight. Tall pines flank the sides of the path like feathery pillars. The pine forest is still and quiet, blanketed in the pure white snow. The pine boughs sparkle with their crystalline adornment that makes the scene beautiful to the soul. The chill air creates a stillness around you that carries a soft scent of pine that is awakening. Occasionally a soft gust will stir the diamond sparkles to float through the air. The only sound is the soft crunch of the snow beneath your feet. You keep moving through the snowy landscape by the light of the moon that illuminates your way.
As night deepens snow begins to fall. The dizzying flakes fall like sparkling confetti and land in a hushed world leaving their glistening crystalline patterns on the ground and on your cloak. You examine the sublime and unique crystal patterns each flake provides. What magic! You find a log to sit upon wrapped in your cozy cloak and gaze at the magical world around you. It is silent except for a barely perceptible breezy gust, or the landing of snowflakes upon the ground. Or, a soft rustle of pine boughs that whisper in the chill air. All feels still, hushed, gentle, quiet. You find yourself becoming very still to match its presence, with the soft sound of your breathing and the mist of your breath. You watch the snowflakes falling softly hypnotizing you into deeper quiet.
You gaze more closely at the snow around you as it glistens and sparkles in the moonlight. The pure white snow is cleansing, calming, and nurturing to the soul. The beauty of it touches the heart. You close your eyes and move inward. You feel the warmth of your pink cloak enveloping you like the arms of love itself enfolding you in an embrace of unconditional love. You feel your heart is full and awake. You feel the warmth of love within and around you. The love of your soul, and the love of all around you. You are safe, strong, and protected within your own Light, and the wisdom of your heart. You are aware of your aliveness in this quiet world.
You open your eyes and the snow has ceased falling to reveal moonlight casting shadows and illuminating the landscape. Stars have brightened the sky with their own sparkle. You feel the presence of Spirit reaching out to you and you open your heart to the connection. Some intelligent being of Light is reaching out to you and you open your heart to listen, connect, and share. You extend your sensory “feelers” into the quiet around you. You ask yourself – “What information am I receiving? What does my heart tell me? What feelings do I have with this vibration? Do I hear any messages? Is it an emotion that is being shared with me?”
Reach out with your senses and spend some time just receiving.
When you feel you have received all that was meant for this experience, send a message, or just love from your heart, or gratitude for the connection. This is a relationship that you can carry with you and continue to develop if you wish. It is now in your heart and not found just in this location. The magic is in the stillness – in listening – and in receiving with your heart and senses. You have developed the art of spiritual listening in this magical landscape.
You stand and make your way back home as you quietly move on the moonlit path between the snowcapped pine trees. You hold in your heart the spiritual connection you just made, as well as the nurturing beauty of your moonlit journey through a pure and magical landscape of stillness.
This guided meditation will soon be on my YouTube channel: Nancy Robbins – Elements Design Collection. Look for it!
https://www.youtube.com/@ElementsDesignCollection
For further exploration into Spirit Communication here are some great tools:
Spirit Communication Crystal Meditation Kit: https://elementsdesigncollection.com/product/spirit-communication-crystal-grid-kit/
Spiritual Awakening Mist Kit from the Frequency Mist Collection:
https://elementsdesigncollection.com/product/spiritual-awakening-mist-kit/
Crown Light Mist Kit from the Frequency Mist Collection:
https://elementsdesigncollection.com/product/crown-light-mist-kit/
Communicating with Archangels booklet:
https://elementsdesigncollection.com/product/communicating-with-archangels/
10 Breathwork Techniques booklet:
https://elementsdesigncollection.com/product/ten-breathwork-techniques/