It’s been a combination of different things that have come up over the last couple of weeks that have reminded me of how powerful Inquiry is a Transformational Tool
One was a call from my shaman to open up and deepen into my inquiry of “What I am called to do in the world?”. There are times when I feel clear on the answer to this question and at others more uncertain. I view Life not as a linear path but more of an upward spiral. I find that as I grow and change, the answer to this questions shifts. Perhaps I am still moving toward to the deeper truth of “Who I am?”.
One thing I have learned is that it is in being open and willing to the practice of asking questions and deep listening that our inner wisdom and guidance emerges.
Knowing oneself is a key to transformation and healing.
Using a process of inquiry is seen in many spiritual traditions and cultures around the globe as a way access a deeper truth. There are many ways we can work with this. Some questions may be ones that we have answers to – that can help us to know ourselves more deeply and inform our healing process. Others may be quintessential questions that we may never have the answers to; and yet, by being willing to practice asking and listening, we allow ourselves to enter into the unknown, to perhaps expand into a bigger truth than our rational mind allows and to open to possibilities that we have not yet imagined.
Many shaman or indigenous healers begin with a process of questions when someone comes for healing. In my practice, I often use a combination of questions. Some come from the Bach Flower Essence System of Healing and others are more traditional questions that I’ve learned from my shamanic teachers.
I first learned the following four questions from one of my favorite teachers – anthropologist and author, Angeles Arrien. The questions she shared, which she found were universal questions used amongst indigenous cultures from all around the world as part of a journey of healing include the following:
- When did you stop singing?
- When did you stop dancing?
- When did you stop being enchanted by story?
- When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?
Our responses to these questions can be indicators of when we lost our voices, disconnected from our ourselves and/or may have experienced soul loss in some way.
Exploring them can also be a way to come back to ourselves!
Asking questions also helps to bring us more fully into the present moment and opens a doorway for expanding our conscious awareness of who we are and how we are experiencing life.
Be curious. Ask, explore ad listen for your inner wisdom to emerge!
And…Here’s a wonderful TedTalk with Angeles Arrien to help you explore…
If you feel you’d like support in exploring Inquiry as a Tool for Transformation or on your journey of transformation and healing at this time, I am available for one-on-one Holistic Shamanic Healing Sessions in person in Annapolis, Maryland, or virtually via Zoom. Connect to learn more…
