Listening To That Voice

and where it can lead...

Maybe you will resonate with what you’re about to read… maybe you won’t. Over the course of many years, I have heard and followed the guidance of what I can only term an inner voice, something greater than any of the identities I may be, it knows with conviction what path to take, where I will find the carpark I need, that course of action that others might shy away from and so forth. On many occasions I have been most fortunate to have received and each instance has resulted in a deepening of gratitude that is humbling as much as it is, at times, beyond belief.

More often than not, there has also been another voice that has sought to overshadow the good, the true and the beautiful, and lead me astray. Discerning those instructions from the light of me and those that are from the old programming - what is leaving - has been a great challenge resulting in numerous unfavourable consequences, as my seeming choices in life have often been viewed as brash, impulsive and reckless - especially by those nearest and dearest.

So, how does one distinguish the right, true and beautiful message from the false one? For me - I say me, because we are all different - the right, true and beautiful sounds and feels different, the message is short with no added fluff or lengthy dialogue, and more often than not it surprises me.

Here’s a recent happy and potentially humourous story, depending on your take…

*Photo Credit: Christina Anne Costello

A dear friend gifted me a lemon from her tree... it was organic and smelled delightful. A few days later, when the weather was warm, I decided to make a Green Goddess Hummus Dip to go with my homemade sourdough crackers. I prepared all the ingredients, had poured the tahini into the bowl of the blender and then turned to slice the lemon in half only to discover that at the centre and extending one end the flesh was dark brown and didn't smell too wonderful either. I was miffed, didn't want to get in the car and drive into town just for one lemon, no longer had the bicycle I'd been borrowing - that had been returned the week before - and then that voice instructed me to go for a walk. 'What?' 

'I don't have the right shoes on,' I protested. 
It's not far, I heard.
Grumble. Grumble. 
Off I went, out through the gate to the road, turned left and was about to turn left again when it felt wrong. So I turned right and grumbled some more because to go that way would be longer! 😂

At the next street I walked on the shoulder between the grass and the bitumen, appreciating the sun but still mumbling under my breath as I looked ahead... 'I can't see a basket of lemons on the verge'... 'There haven't been lemons put out for months!' Sure enough, as I reached the house where I'd previously seen lemons in a basket, it didn't exist. I was about to turn around when I decided to see if the next basket, that hangs from a tree trunk, had any. Much to my astonishment it did! Not only were there lemons, the woman resident of the home was out the front weeding and I called out to thank her. 

On my walk home I found myself apologising profusely, aware of 'eating that humble pie' feeling, and thanking that inner voice and nature for providing me with what I needed in that moment. 

Do you listen and take heed of your inner voice?
If so, where has it led you?

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Recent Wanderings…

Last weekend I was hosted by a children’s book author in Tarwin Lower, Victoria, Australia. The mornings were snap fresh, however, I couldn’t resist an early walk to capture these serene moments, and visited a local farm gate where I picked up some delicious organic produce.

Long table, jetty, bridge and reflections from the mirrored Tarwin River - once a boundary for the original Aboriginal inhabitants, the Bunurong Tribe lived to the West and the Brataualong Tribe of the Kurnai people lived to the East.

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Latest Community Garden News…

Local Hastings resident, Andrew Price, recently crafted professional signage for our reformed apple bins and veggie boxes, and also provided the means for the plants to grow underneath some netting... I was super delighted with the outcome as passers-by will now know it is a community garden where everybody is welcome to pick what they need or pick and replace or donate to grow more. A watering schedule and working bees have been documented on a calendar, and coupled with a solid dozen or more enthusiastic team members and local business support, the garden will continue to grow from strength to strength.

I hope these past weeks have been kind to you. Thank you sincerely for being here.

Love in Harmony,

Leanda Michelle ✍️📚