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 answer two questions I get A LOT: Why do I use so many different names for God/Spirit/Sacred/The Divine? (see? I did it again :D ) and How do I engage with and use spiritual cards such as: prayer cards, oracle decks, and Tarot?
In talking about why I use so many different names for Spirit, we consider how language is an act of creation itself which involves both expansion and contraction, growth and winnowing. In my experience, Spirit is so massive in its concept, energy, shape, size, history, and diverse expression, as well as so mysterious and paradoxically, intimately known, one or two consistent words for it feels too small, both in trying to name the unnameable and in honoring our unique experiences with the sacred.
We talk about our voice and language as a threshold itself and the first step in co-creating, in that alchemical and logical process of moving the intangible into the world of the tangible.
Secondly, I hear from a lot of people that they are curious about prayer cards, oracle cards, and tarot cards as a spiritual support in their daily life and larger soul journey, but that they were told they are dangerous, possibly even immoral or evil. I share my own experience with each of these kinds of spiritual tools, note the lineage (as I understand it) from them, and share how I engage with them in a relational way. As someone who has co-created/channeled/received/made at least two oracle style decks, I share my intention and process with you. We talk about how all of these tools, in my understanding are fundamentally invitational and not prescriptive or foretelling.
I mention Lindsay Mack as a tarot teacher I trust. You can learn more about her work and podcast in the link below:
I also mention Jeff Hinshaw as a trusted teacher in this arena. Their link is below:
My Love + Hope Halloween Journal and Mini Course is available. If you would like to engage with underworld and Halloween themes as a (surprising!) entre to deeper self-love and deeper communion with Spirit as you understand them, this is a lovely and compassionate way to begin that unearthing and deep listening practice. The course is $19 and the link is below:
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!