In A Still, Small Voice, famed psychic Echo Bodine turns to a subject she knows deeply and is passionate about: intuition. Using humorous anecdotes and a positive, readable style, this sequel to Echoes of the Soul explores what intuition is, where it’s located, what it sounds like, and how to cultivate it. The author, who comes from a family of psychics, exposes the various internalized voices that can mask one’s intuition. These include the voices of parents, grandparents, peers, therapists, significant others, religious figures, and society, along with such emotions as anger, fear, guilt, and despair. The book challenges the notions that psychic abilities and intuition are the same or that they are in some way suspect. One chapter is devoted to the many practical benefits that come from listening to intuition; another looks at the “faith-building times” in life and how to cope with others’ negative reactions to one’s setting off on a spiritual path.
Such a lovely tiny book, written with love (it literally emanates from the pages) and from a bona fide psychic.
Yeah, I remember the case of 'Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand', well, that's not the case here. So, I got my new fav under the guise of this tiny volume.
The title, it really well summarizes the gist. The most important one-liner I've ever seen.
Q: Why? I have come to believe that it's because intuition is that part of us that is connected to the divine. When our souls were created, the source that created us took a part of its energy and breathed eternal life into us. This part of us is commonly referred to as our Higher Self or the God within.* This voice of God, which the Bible refers to as a "still, small voice" (I Kings 19:12) is our guide, our compass, our way shower, our intuition. (c) Q: It's not a chatty voice or an intellectual voice and, in fact, it doesn't really come in the form of sound. It's more like a thought that comes from inside your stomach. It's usually quick and to the point. (c) Q: By listening to my internal voice regarding all my business decisions, I've always ended up in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people and doing the right thing. (c) Q: Many of us go to church or synagogue every week, do the rituals we've been taught, say the memorized prayers at the appropriate times, and believe that the hour per week we spend "worshipping God" is all that we need to have a fulfilling intimate relationship with our creator. But look at it this way: If you're trying to have a relationship with someone but only see them once a week for about twenty minutes (we're subtracting time here for weekly announcements, choir time, collection plate time, greeting and good-bye time, and so on), it's absurd. (c) Q: God's number isn't 911. If we truly want to walk a fulfilling spiritual path we have to develop a deeper relationship with God. We can't just turn to God in times of crisis. (c) Q: Your intuition will guide you with all questions concerning your love life - where you'll meet the next significant person in your life, who you should and shouldn't date, who you should and shouldn't marry, when it's time to break off a relationship, and when you should stay with it. … If you want to meet someone significant, you need to tell God you're ready and then you need to pay attention. Your inner voice will give you a nudge to call so and so, or maybe direct you to go to a certain place, or join a specific dating service, or put an ad in the paper. It nudges us through our gut feelings to take the steps we need to in order to meet that certain someone. (c) Q: No one has ever argued with me about salary. (c) Sounds fun! Q: My fears got in the way as well: What if I couldn't read him, what if no healing energy came out of my hands, and how on earth could I lose thirty pounds and a face full of wrinkles by 4:00 PM.? (c) Q: Any and all financial decisions can be made through your intuition. It's like having your own personal banker in your front pocket at all times, except this one loves you unconditionally, knows what's coming up for you, and doesn't charge a monthly fee for all that advice. (c) Q: I clearly heard my inner voice ask, Are you going to listen to the fears of the world or are you going to get to work? (c) Q: The trouble is that most of us have so many different voices inside that it's hard to know which one is God's. Over the course of our lives, we internalize the voices of so many others parents, siblings, friends, our inner child and we deem them conscience. There are all the voices from society, the church, our teachers, the government, our bosses, the neighbors, our significant other, that tell us what to do in any given situation. And then there are all the internalized voices of the various emotions we experience, such as fear, anger, or sadness. All these voices can mask what the inner voice is trying to say. (c) Q: When the inner voice speaks, no matter what it has to tell us, it's always calm and without emotion. Even when a message appears to be negative, if you can calm yourself down and really listen, you'll sense the calmness in the voice and know that your intuition is speaking. (c) Q: Sometimes when there are too many voices and too much pressure, you just have to take a walk and ask God to clear you of all the chattering voices and help you see what's best in this situation. Just focus on your gut and ask, "Should I buy this vehicle? Yes or no?" You'll get a feeling, an inner knowing, when you ask and pay attention to the answer, and it will always feel like the right thing to do. God knows what your future finances and responsibilities are going to be, knows if you're going to get a raise or lose your job. He/She also knows if there's a better price or better vehicle somewhere else. Or perhaps He/She has a different plan entirely (which will always be for your highest good). And by the way, God would never tell you you don't deserve something. It's not in God's vocabulary. Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive." He didn't say, "Ask and you shall receive if you deserve it." (c) Q: Listening to your intuition isn't selfish, it's wise. The people around you may be disappointed when you change your plans, but in the long run, they will understand that you are following your guidance, and you will serve as an example to them, perhaps even an inspiration, showing them how to live by listening to their intuition. (c) Q: The mind sees things from a limited three-dimensional viewpoint; intuition is based on higher, more comprehensive reasoning. As hard as it is to accept sometimes, it helps to remind your mind that your inner guidance knows what's going on at all times. Talk to your mind tell it that if it would just cooperate with your divine intelligence, the two would make a truly great team. (с) Q: In order to see future events, a psychic has to be able to be emotionally detached from their life and to not care what's coming. That can be very hard to do in one's own life. (c) Q: Remember: Clairvoyance is seeing pictures, visions, and images. Clairaudience is hearing thoughts from different sources the living, the dead, the spirit realm. Clairsentience is sensing information. Intuition is inner knowing. (c) Q: Ask for guidance from your guides as you would ask a friend for guidance. Don't make it a formal prayer, or a prayer of any kind. Guides don't like it when you pray to them they are friends to your soul, and they are not God, and not to be confused with God. If you want or need help with major issues in your life, go directly to the Source, and pray to God. If you want daily guidance and companionship, talk to your guides and you'll never walk alone. (c) Q: How do we get a dialogue going with our personal God? By talking. Talk while you're driving the car or riding your bike. Talk in the shower, in the garden, working around the house, walking the dog. Talk, knowing He/She is listening. Talk to Him/Her like you would to a best friend, a confidant, a loving parent, the source who created you and loves you unconditionally. Your conversations with God don't have to be formal, or structured. Talk about your day, about your thoughts and feelings. Share who you are, and what your dreams are. Ask for advice if you need it. Talk things over. The part of the relationship we often call prayer is simply talking. The other part of the conversation is just like any other: Listen. Give God time to respond. Don't expect a deep thundering voice from on high. Listen for anything, as attentive as you can be. (c) Q: For the rest of our lives, we walk hand in hand with this presence, always knowing that no matter what happens to us during our lifetimes on Earth, we're here for our highest good and our experiences are providing us with invaluable life lessons. (c) Q: "Please clear my mind. Please clear my mind." Now, continue to take these relaxing breaths and ask the Universe to please clear your body. "Please clear my body." Next, ask it to please clear your soul. "Please clear my soul." If you need to do it again, then do it. The point of this is to get rid of the day's "stuff" so that you can go into that secret place without being distracted by the day or by thoughts of other people. Now you're ready for the meditation. Sit wherever you're comfortable, take everything off of your lap, uncross your legs and arms, take a couple more relaxing breaths, relax your shoulders and forehead, and with your eyes closed (hard to do that and read a book, I know!) focus on your solar plexus. Use your imagination and visualize a white light, similar to a flame on a candle. Just sit for a while and focus on it. Now imagine that the light is growing with each breath you take. Imagine it has a light, playful, creative, loving feeling to it as you focus on it, and continue to see the light growing and growing, until it becomes so big it envelops your whole being. Just let yourself be in this presence, and whenever your mind starts to wander, bring it right back to focusing on the light within you and around you. Every living creature has this light within itself, so you're not creating something that isn't there. After a while, when you come into this secret place, you'll automatically see the light and know it's for real. Keep your focus on the light, and, at some point, ask yourself if you sense a voice within the light. If so, listen to what it has to say to you. (c) Q:
The wonderful thing about Echo Bodine's books, despite the simpleness and emotionality , is the easiness to devour them all without intimidation or complications that might hold you back from even trying. She provides practical instructions that guides her readers into forming a valuable connection with their inner-wisdom.
A light, quick read on trusting your intuition and your connection to God. Author Echo Bodine has a gentle, friendly voice making this book a nice introduction to the topic, particularly if you come from a Christian background and are new to this topic (don't worry, there's no heavy handed preaching here, her faith is just a part of her everyday life, and dogma or Christian doctrine are definitely not found here). An uplifting, positive read. Nothing new here for those already familiar with the topic, but an enjoyable book nonetheless.
I was glad to read this after I finished "Remembering the Future," by Colette Baron Reid--it seemed to go deeper into using intuition. Also, the message felt very similar to "Faithfully Religionless," by Timber Hawkeye, as far as making love based decisions (intuitive) verses fear based decisions. I'm sure my intuition led me to every one of these books, but "A Still, Small Voice" made me feel more excited than any to develop my openness to my intuition. "What should I read next?" :)
I love A Still, Small Voice. I’ve read it three times and will continue to read it whenever I need clarity with my intuition. Echo Bodine inspires to go within for a relationship with God by listening to his/her still, small voice. Ms. Bodine reminds us “This voice of God, which the Bible refers to as a “still, small voice” (I Kings 19:12), is our guide, our compass, our way shower, our intuition.” In her book, she explains the difference between God’s will and our will and how to live your life by the Divine Plan.
I’m learning to listen to my intuition, which is why I’ve read her book so often. I highly recommend A Still, Small Voice for readers looking for spiritual guidance and their soul’s purpose. This is my favorite quote from the book. “Once we become aware of that still, small voice within, we not only connect with our inner guidance, we live our lives in harmony with the whole universe. The universe responds by supporting us in innumerable ways...”
I have never read a book by a psychic before, I was a little worried about it honestly, but I found this book very informative, help and down to earth. It sounds like her experience and upbringing were not that different from me.
A well written book that is fast and easy to read., Unlike some spiritual/ self-help books that are more of a textbook that you have to really study, this one reads smoothly and is interesting throughout. It addresses using your intuition on a day-to-day basis which is always helpful.
I learned about Echo Bodine from another book I read. I immediately purchased this book and devoured it. It is a common sense approach to discovering what we already have. I highly suggest this book.
I picked this up randomly at a library book sale. I’ve been wanting to read more about intuition, and the title fit the bill. This book is framed by Christian faith, but could be used by anyone. I enjoyed the detailed personal accounts in this book and the information on following or developing your intuition.
It is what it is. I don't know how successful it was at "Awakening Intuition" but I don't doubt that I now have an adequate understading of what Bodine means by A Still, Small Voice. Perhaps some exercises would have been useful. Or more anecdotes from Bodine's personal experiences.
I don't think this book really says anything that isn't obvious or that we all haven't heard before, but most inspirational writing is that way. Sometimes people just need to be reminded of why they're here or that life won't always be so painful or hopeless or dreary or, simply, of their own divinity.
Since everyone is different (thank God for that small truth) I don't see anything wrong with these types of books that try to reinvent the fundamental principles of life and grace. We have yet to devise a universal(non-mathematical) language. Until then, our only answer is to keep telling the same stories in as many ways as we can because sometimes when you're listening, it doesn't speak to you and sometimes when it speaks to you, your not listening. What a rare, but transformative, experience it is when you are luckily enough to be listening when it speaks to you and to actually understand what is being said.
Personally, this book didn't speak to me in the language I prefer to be spoken to in but I do see the value in it. It was uplifting even if a bit repetitious and rudimentary.
A Still, Small Voice is easy to read. Echo Bodine cuts to the subject with easy to follow instructions about our intuition. In simple, conversational language, Echo gently guides the reader towards uncovering his or her inner knowing. This book is one you'll probably reference back to many times. Echo's book demonstrates her ability to relate to human reasoning and makes the subject about learning, listening and using our intuition for our best during our life journey, understandable. In fact, I was impressed by her illustrations of how intuition can be used at any moment during an ordinary day and needn't be reserved for 'life altering decisions. This book is so down-to-earth and non-judgmental that reading it feels like being in conversation with a gentle, caring, friend.
I Love Echo Bodines books. This is the second book of hers I have read and I just couldn't get enough of it. The first one I read of hers was Echoes of the Soul right after my father past away and at the time that book was much needed in my life and really confirmed somethings in my life at the time and certain beliefs and feelings I have always had from the time I was a little little kid and still does to this day and well this book did the same thing and for some reason her books come into my life at the right time. I will always cherish her books.
I would rate it more as 2 and a 1/2 stars but leaning more towards the 3 than 2. I picked this book up as to learn more about how to listen to one's own intuition. It's alright, I guess... I can't say I learned too much from it. It's a pretty small book and can be finished in a matter of hours, but is a good introductory read into the subject. I would rather recommend Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette as a better comparable.
This book was a whim, and it turned out really good. I found it was a quick read that touched on things to look for when considering intuition. It didn't get procedural like other books with regard to how one works on becoming intuitive, but it still offered comprehensive ideas for becoming more skilled in the subject.
Echo writes on a very simplistic way that makes you feel like an old friend is talking with you instead of a world-renowned psychic medium. Even the last few sentences make me feel whole and like I have begun the healing process of shutting off the many voices in my head and relying on my own inner strength (intuition) to help guide my life.
Weirdly, I thought this was by John Reed, who wrote two pretty trippy books. But then, as it turned out, this book was by someone else, and Reed's book, with the same title, was a civil war book!
This book is a good starting place for anyone receptive to making the break with a strictly rational way of thinking. Its easy to read with many entertaining descriptions of the author's personal experiences.
She does give decent information about listening to your inner voice and using you institution the way it was intended to be used. It's not a must read but it's a decent read.