The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice

by Kay Lindahl

Hearing and listening are two different things.Learning to listen—really listen—requires sacred practice.

The Sacred Art of Listening guides you through forty practices of deep listening—to our Source, to ourselves, and to each other.

Inspiring text and contemplative artwork combine to communicate the three essential qualities of deep listening—silence, reflection, and presence. They demonstrate that the key to healthy relationships and spiritual transformation can be as basic as practicing the art of listening.

You will learn how

Speak clearly from the heartCommunicate with courage and compassionHeighten your awareness and sensitivity to opportunities for deep listeningEnhance your ability to listen to people with different belief systems

Genres: Spirituality, Relationships, Nonfiction, Meditation, Psychology, Self Help

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tony Rogers Jr.]

Great book. I pulled this passage from p11

“Perhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we can give another person is to really listen to them, to listen with quiet, fascinated attention, with our whole being, fully present. This sounds simple, but if we are honest with ourselves, we do not often listen to each other so completely.
Listening is a creative force. Something quite wonderful occurs when we are listened to fully. We expand, ideas come to life and we remember who we are....the way we listen can actually allow the otherperson to bring forth what is true and alive to them.”

[Marsha Witt]

I highly recommend this book. It teaches listening with true intent. The artwork is lovely. I'll read the passages in this book over and over for guidance.

[Katelyn]

What a wonderful resource meant to slow down the heart, mind, and soul! Lindahl has created a beautiful work with short (daily, if you want) reflections paired with wonderful mandala-like artwork by Amy Schnapper. The forty reflections each focus on an aspect of truly listening to oneself, God, and other people (e.g. listening in silence, listening by reflecting, learning and listening from experiences, etc.). The reflections are short and simple, easy to read with deep implications for how we interact with others. For the reader who puts in the work of reflection and prayer alongside reading and studying Lindahl and Schnapper's works, this book is truly valuable. I'll be returning to it again and again.

[Terry Govier]

Listen, read and open your heart

Listening seems so easy, yet as you read this book, you have to question yourself. I know that my listening skills have been enhanced by reading one entry a day. I know that every day I will reread an entry to hone my listening skills and recommend that you do the same. This beautiful book is full of everyday AHA moments that will make you a better listener and a better person. Thank you Kay and Amy for this wonderful book. I will daily reflect with it.

[Christine Hiester]

Lovely little reflections on listening. Not much new information for me but definitely worth reading. The artwork in each chapter is wonderful, almost like a mandala coloring book within the listening context. More like a 3.5 star book for me.

[Thomas (Tom)]

Insightful, confessional, revealing, enlightening, and spiritually challenging. One of my congregation members has already asked to have a look at it, which is encouraging. I've decided it will stay on my office desk at church as a spiritual discipline, and reminder.

[Summer Green]

Great! 40 different practices to help you become a more thoughtful listener to God, yourself, and others.

[Betsy]

Recommended in the knitting way

[Josue Cruz]

Amazing read, super short but super impactful. The funny thing is you can keep coming back to it. Listening is a tool that needs constant sharpening

[Tami]

Have you ever been involved in a conversation where you really felt heard? Where you felt that the individual you were talking to actually understood what you were trying to say? Where you didn't feel the least bit judged, belittled, or ignored? Sounds a bit like a dream doesn't it?

Sometimes it seems like most conversations are a waste of precious time. Trying to fill in the uncomfortable silence with small talk seems to be a pastime for many of us. Then, when we actually have a real conversation, we end up waiting for the other person to shut up so that we can make our point. The thought never occurs to us that we are missing out on over half of the dialogue and all of the experience.

I don't think that real communication has to be a far-fetched fantasy. In fact, after reading The Sacred Art of Listening I feel that it within all of our reach to really connect and make good use of the words we share. The notion is simple- to truly listen when others speak. The doing will take definitely take some practice but the result will be well worth effort.

[Louis Spirito]

The Sacred Art of Listening by Kay Lindahl - I became aware of the book at an open mic night where Ms. Lindahl spoke. Her gentle wisdom moved me to buy the book and I'm glad I did. Veteran New Age seekers will recognize much of the wisdom in this slender but impactful volume. In forty short but moving essays, the writers explains how listening differs from mere hearing, and how learning to truly do so can be a life-altering event.

[Christine Hiester]

More of a 3.5 for me. Not much that was new, but beautiful reminders of the gifts that true listening can bring to both the listener and the one being heard. I especially loved the art associated with each chapter.

[Suzanne]

of course I still have a hard time slowing down long enough to listen but I am trying

[Suzanne]

helpful to put it in practice

[Angel]

still reading it, a chapter at a time. Sometimes I really see what little listening I do. I assume, I project, I make assumptions... The book gives you enough in one chapter to make a difference

[jheepi]

Not as good as I remembered... Maybe I bought the wrong one?

[Lorna squires]

This is a book that every time you read it, you find new meaning and wisdom in its words - a book I keep "within reach" - and one that has a shelf life of 'forever'.

[Leanne]

If you want to combine some meditation, spiritual journey and a deep understanding of lisenting this is a book written in simple lessongs

[Tommy]

deeply moving... makes me want to talk a whole lot less...

[Kerry]

Some definite gems, but too much repetition.

[Judy Moses]

Easy to read in small installments. Nothing really new here, but good, succinct reminders.

[Frank Ogden]

This is an excellent primer on the benefits of listening. I found it very meaningful and highly recommend it for anyone in the helping professions