Welcome to Everything Speaks if You Listen with Jen CobbleWorks where we befriend our humanity and the Sacred through story, soul questions, and every day life.
In this week's episode, I share a real-time example of my own inner listening and reflection practice. So often, I think these practices feel stodgy or dogmatic or ideological, like we have to do them the "right" way or else. In my experience, that's just old traditions and my fear and wounding talking. In every day life doing this practice, the examen truly arrives as a friend with unconditional support and acceptance.
This practice feels alive to me, like it has its own energy and spirit to it. When I say it bounded out the door after me when I was out for a walk and really worn down by heavy emotions, concerns, and worries, I mean it. The practice felt like a mystical wind, a spiritual friend that hustled after me when I stumbled/stormed out the door, came alongside me, and gently started to ask me questions to help me process and cope.
The practice always feels this loving to me, but I sometimes forget that when we are in relationship with Spirit and with our practices, we can receive them as much as we can go to them. It's not just about sitting down and committing to a practice. It's also about being willing to let the practice find you, come to you, and then open up to its invitations when it does.
We don't listen within and reflect to connect to ourselves and Spirit because it makes us "good". We do it because it helps us cope with our inner and outer worlds. We do it because it's a friendship, something that shows up for us as we show up for it. An ongoing spiritual practice is truly a friend in this way. And I'm sharing this real life experience of it in case it helps you notice how Love, how Spirit, how the Divine comes alongside you, how your own practices come to you when they know you need supportive love.
I'm Jen Cobble Willhoite, a contemplative storyteller, spiritual tool designer, and life-long soul seeker. My path is formed and framed by questions more than answers. I'm more comfortable wondering and wandering about things spiritual than I am in ideology, religion, or dogma.
My soul language and connection with Spirit is primarily grounded in Celtic Spirituality, science, nature, seasonal cycles, myth, folklore, and stories of all kinds. I do have roots in progressive Christianity that I sometimes speak from. My tap root, though, is ordinary life. I believe enlightenment is rhythmic, unfolding, and found in our everyday experiences and selves. I also offer tools and courses on my modern interpretation of the examen: a daily ritual of looking back, looking within, and looking ahead to cultivate a rapport with your inner wisdom and the Sacred as you understand it.
Every week, I share an episode from my own spiritual explorations, offering invitations for you to explore these themes on your own. Thanks for journeying with me!