Your Inner Voice

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

ShorTerM	20 Feb 2003
Hey guys, well I have been having problems interpreting anything meaningful in my tarot readings, and I feel that part of the problem is that I can't shut off my inner voice when I am thinking, it is pretty much impossible for me right now to come up with any thoughts without hearing this voice chattering in my head (ie. even right now, the inner voice is dictating what I am typing)... I was wondering if anyone else is aware of this, has this problem, and/or has a suggestion to remedy the problem... I am thinking meditation could help, but that is extremely difficult right now and I haven't the slightest clue where to begin with that anyways... Many Thanks for any help you can provide...

Woof	20 Feb 2003
A great book to help you get started in meditating is Mindfulness in Plain English by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana. I have found it to be very encouraging. It is a how-to on Vipassana or mindfulness meditation, in which you concentrate on your breath to help quiet all the constant inner chatter. Woof

ShorTerM	20 Feb 2003
hey thanks for the tip, I am probly gonna head down to the bookstore today, so I will give that a looksee :D

Umbrae	20 Feb 2003
Perhaps shutting off the inner voice is exactly what you should NOT be doing… Cultivate it… Buy a book and repeat what someone else says? True, an uncultivated inner voice will provide garbage, just to get your attention…so cultivate it and learn to work with it…in the long run – it will provide more wisdom and guidance than you currently can imagine.

Mimers	20 Feb 2003
Well, I have to agree with Umbrea in this case. I own a lot of books and would never burn them, but in this case I don't think it is necessary to buy a book. My mother has studied yoga as long as I can remember. I asked her recently 'how' to meditate or if she had any good books, or knew of any classes. She kind of chuckled and gave me some very simple instructions.(Umbrea would love my Mom, she has no books either.) Think of nothing but your breath. Hear it come in and hear it come out. If your mind starts to wander, just gently tell your thoughts to leave and refocus on your breathing. That is all there is to it. Before I read my cards, I do what is recommended in many Tarot books, and is just plain good for you. I do the breathing for a few minutes and then what I do is I visualize God's light, as I breath in, coming into me through my head and filling my body. I see this light as Gods love, wisdom and knowledge filling me up. Then I start to visualize, I don't know, like a root, coming out of the soals of my feet travaling deep into the earth. As I breath in I draw in the earth's strength. As I exhale I visualize God's light and the strength from the earth mixing and coming out from my heart, filling the area around me. I just enjoy this for a time and when I am ready to come back, I ask God that the wisdom, love and knowledge and the strength I drew from the earth to guide my reading. I also feel wonderful afterwards. This didn't turn out so simple did it? Needless to say, I don't think you need to spend money on a book on meditation just so you read more clearly. Think of the deck you could buy with that money :) . I also think Umbrea is right that perhaps you should be listing to your voice. If it seems like chatter, relax, breath and ask it to be more gentle, more slow. I hope this helps you. It does take practice, so don't be hard on yourself) Mimers

Woof	20 Feb 2003
I think I may have given the wrong impression. The book doesn't so much recommend silencing your inner voice so much as learning to control it and to silence the inane inner chatter that often goes on as background static in your mind. It tries to get you to focus on one simple thing at a time and really dwell in that moment. The simple thing you are using as practice is your breath. You can then transfer this mindfullness to other things you do. Like you, ShorTerM, I left each attempt to meditate very discouraged. The author of this book is so supportive; he goes over all the pitfalls you may encounter. I found I was so much more patient with myself thanks to this book that it is worth every penny twice over. Give meditation another shot on your own. If you still have trouble try this book. It has helped me stick with it for over 3 months now. Woof

Umbrae	20 Feb 2003
Perhaps it was not the book that helped. Perhaps you were ready to listen when you picked it up. Perhaps it spoke in a voice to which you finally listened to. Often, when we read a book – it tells us something that we already knew – but it serves as a reminder – it shows us what was already inside us that we were in denial about (until someone else told us we were right). We are surrounded by so much doubt – our lives filled with so many external voices directing us to listen as they are the knowledge and wisdom… Rarely does anyone tell us to turn inward – and listen. You all already know what is right good and true…learn to listen to your heart and not your mind. My house is filled with books, I read an average of three to five books a week (wait…that’s not an average…). Most are trash. I just finished “A Fine Balance” by Rohinton Mistry, truly remarkable. I am also reading some Patrick McMannis (from a stack of his collected works…), “Mythical Trickster Figures – Contours, Contexts, and Criticisms” edited by Hynes and Doty, and “The Meaning of Masonry” by Wilhurst. I am an avid reader, and heartily advocate the reading of books. However…one should never attempt to read a book that attempts to tell you HOW to listen to your own heart and soul. I eschew most tarot books because they do not mesh with MY reading style. Most folks think that the ‘psychics’ who uses grand generalized statements to deliver ‘psychic readings’ are scam artists. Then they turn around and memorize little paragraphs for each card and become the thing they despise. So toss your books if you want to learn to listen to your heart. Start a fire with those that tell you how and why you should feel. Ya know ShorTerM…I do believe you will find the answers you seek in “Dune” by Frank Herbert…enjoy. BTW: From: Interview with Ma Deva Padma Did you read books or take courses, or did you teach yourself? "Life was the teacher and Osho was the guide to help me trust that life is an infinitely wise and compassionate teacher and that in time, life lived totally with passion, conviction and awareness would be enough." http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/articles/interview_mdpadma.html#question1

MeeWah	20 Feb 2003
ShorTerM: Some very good advice & suggestions thus far. Meditation is a discipline where one quiets the mind & its tendency to chatter incessantly or inanely. The mind is like a cluttered attic, full of things/thoughts just waiting to express themselves. Like the errant child who decides gaining one's attention is a matter of life or death when one is on the phone, in the bathroom, so on, so does that other side of self seek to distract. In a sense, 'tis a tug-of-war between one self & another; between one level of consciousness (spirit) & another (physical). Setting a specific time or period of day & sticking to it will teach discipline & form a "habit". If the mind wanders, bring it gently back to the one focus, such as the breathing or an affirmation. Even if the whole of the session consists of bringing the focus back, keep at it to teach the errant self one means business. After a time, it will come easier & not be filled with interruptions. After some more time, one will be able to automatically drift into that consciousness when reading cards or intent on any activity that requires directed focus. Reading a book or two on meditation would not be amiss: however, I am with Umbrae. Read, read, read--anything & everything that catches the attention or fancy (I also read cookbooks, a habit from childhood)! Reading books provides mental exercises for the mind. The idea is to fire the imagination, to expand one's mental boundaries. Meditation augments the expansion & is the bridge between conscious awareness & unconscious awareness.

Alex	20 Feb 2003
some more about this "inner voice", what it is and how you perceive it? Alex. Quote: Originally posted by ShorTerM I feel that part of the problem is that I can't shut off my inner voice when I am thinking, it is pretty much impossible for me right now to come up with any thoughts without hearing this voice chattering in my head (ie. even right now, the inner voice is dictating what I am typing)...

Khatruman	20 Feb 2003
There are several inner voices we have. It is important to cultivate the right one. Does your inner voice seem scolding and correcting, like a parent? Or mocking and sarcastic, like someone in your life who put you down? then DON'T cultivate it. that voice gains power by your agreeing with it, and it likes to shut you down. The voice you want to cultivate is your intuitive voice. That voice is usually quiet, unassuming. It gives you info in a matter of fact manner, non judgmental, and doesn't tell you what to do..but it's the best advice. It lays it out there, for your benefit, and lets you do with it what you will. If you take it, it will give you more, and better, and the voice will grow louder. If you don't take the information, it will say, oh well, not press its point, and just get quiet. The trick is to find the quiet, intuitive voice and ignore the scolding one. Peace

MeeWah	20 Feb 2003
Khartruman: Very important point--& thanks for expressing it so well :)

Mimers	20 Feb 2003
I need to start by saying I did 2 things wrong in my previous post. One is that I made the assumption that Umbrae never read any books, which was wrong. He very tactfully corrected me. Thank you. The other is that my post made Woof's advise of a certain book seem like a useless idea and I apologize. I am renowned for putting my foot in my mouth and am not proud of it. I truely did not mean it that way. I think everyone's thoughts here are valuble and worth considering. That is why I joined. Umbrae, I have some thoughts about your last post here. About reading anything that tells us how to think and feel. I have the same ideals, as long as they don't limit our opportunities to learn and grow. However, don't we all learn from other people? Whether it be from a book they wrote, or from life experience that involved them. We learn from our parents, from people we admire. I have learned a lot from your essays. If I take what you have shared and make it my own belief, am I not letting you tell me how to think and feel? Of course not. Because always my inner voice sends me that feeling. That feeling that this is right, or there is something dreadfully wrong here. I trust it to do so. I know it will be there for me. In my youth, my teens and early 20's, I looked into so many different religions. Many were just what you are advocating against. It was always that inner voice that would say to me, that is not right. I can remember being in a paticular church where the guest speaker reaked of falseness and I got up and walked out. Had a few debates over this with others and eventually found a different Church. OK I am rambling again. I think you will understand the point I am trying to make. I would be interested in other's impressions on this. Mimers

Umbrae	21 Feb 2003
No need to apologize…and I apologize for making you feel that your post was a useless idea…it was not. Sometimes I speak with a strong voice, often I step on toes when it is not my intention. You and I live in a world where intelligence is respected; intellect and wisdom are not. Our young are taught that their teachers teach wisdom, when instead they are fed canned pabulum. Teachers like Khatruman are rare. We are not taught to follow our hearts, or listen to our hearts. Should one look around among the ‘enlightened’ ones, even here, you will find many who follow their heads, because they do not listen to their heart. Many are around us who preach hatred disguised as ‘wisdom’. They ring false. You spoke from your heart. I spoke from mine…but here in an electronic medium our message was mixed on many levels. Much of the fault lies with me. I often tell folks to burn the books…although it is said in irony, I feel there is too much reliance upon the words of others when it comes to listening to our own hearts. Such is my opinion, and my path. I did not listen…perhaps you learned how to listen from a book…this is rare. Often after reading, the student wonders if they are following directions correctly, if they are doing it right…the seeds of doubt are spread. But you are wise, and owe no apology.

Alissa	22 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman There are several inner voices we have. It is important to cultivate the right one. ... The trick is to find the quiet, intuitive voice and ignore the scolding one. Peace This is so beautifully succinct, and resonates for me. You summed up two themes of my life, Khat -- first was to find the ability to shut off the voice of the Critic (who pokes his nasty head in and ran my life with eating disordered behavior for a long time, among other things, and really beat me up a long long while). Just beating that can sometimes be enough. Happily, the quiet, intuitive voice has always had a strong enough presence to make sure I didn't lose myself along the way. Now, I feel whole and beyond it and strong. And deeply intuitive (=authentic) again.

Eowyn	24 Feb 2003
4 years ago, I started hearing some voices in my head, so disturbing... telling me e.g how my friends hated me and stuff like that. It happened maybe several times before once it was so loud and the things "they" (?) were telling me were pure lies and garbage, but know that i think... maybe just reflections of my own fears. Well, anyway it is not the better way to understand your fears if they were so, but I just get very scared, I sat down, firmily asked the Masters to help me, I could only visualized master P. Yogananda and Jesus I think, and the F...ing voices silenced. Inmidiatly. For good (I hope). I dont need those. I have my inner voice or intuition so very developed since Im reading tarot, and hope i develope it more and specially learn to listen it, I mean like take it seriously. Those "bad voices" dont know were they come from, but if they are disturbing you, shut them. Or find the origin.

Alissa	25 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Eowyn Those "bad voices" dont know were they come from, but if they are disturbing you, shut them. Or find the origin. I felt I did exactly this in overcoming my eating disorder. My friend Joanne has been extremely helpful to me in developing my understanding of metaphysics (via the information she journals, when talking to her own Inner Teachers). She has had entire volumes of handwritten conversation about various metaphysical subjects, mostly those that were of use for her to know in order to advance herself beyond her own problems in her life. One thing that the Teachers explained in more detail than I can hope to convey is the concept of 2-dimensional "aspects" that can come to dominate a personality. These are manifested in behavioral patterns -- such as eating disorders, but also alcoholism, drug dependency, many other destructive behavioural lifelong patterns. The aspect, which can be helpful when kept at bay for a person to use, is only one part of the totality of what comprises one's mentality. They can be of use, so that's why they are around. However, in some cases these aspects gain a certain amount of energy behind themselves and begin to manifest in a more predominant way for the authentic person. Usually destructively. The Secret Language of Eating Disorders talks at length about recognizing the Voice of your eating disorder, which some have called their "evil twin," or just the nagging interior monologue, except this time it's gained way too much volume. And, it acts in ways to start "driving the vehicle" (i.e. taking over your life, mentally and physically) which is inappropriate. 2 dimensional aspects don't have what it takes to run the show, and the authentic person inside, if they have not lost the battle already (plenty of eating disordered people die, and alcoholics, and drug addicts, etc etc) then they have to find a way to identify the Voice as separate from who they *really are* and how they *really think*. This dissociation from the disorder is the first step. It's one I couldn't have made without a lot of reading, so I post about these topics in case it's of help to others who may deal with these (or similar) issues. For me, I had rooted out the source of the behavior (I knew it wasnt about being skinny, no matter what the behavior seems to say) I could face it and put it back in it's place. I took my power back, and gave it less and less each day, until later it finally went back in it's hole. I haven't banished it. It's still there in me. I can't forget that. But it isn't driving my life, my thoughts, or my actions anymore. That's reaching the other side.

The Your Inner Voice thread was originally posted on 20 Feb 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.