Soul Murmurs: Poetry, Prose and Musings for the Spirit

There are these moments in life, that touch you without sensation. Moments where the divine and mundane intersect and stir something deeper within.

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You know those moments when the hairs on the back of your neck stand erect? A little warning perhaps that all is not right? Those are soul murmurs.

And those instances of inner stillness, in an almost breathless state of being when you feel tingles all over, are a wonderful confirmation from your intuition? Those are soul murmurs.

And those days when despair and unrest do battle with your psyche, leaving you feeling unable to cope, but then the telephone rings or a social media post pings with just the right message to guide you through the day? Those are also soul murmurs.

Soul murmurs are nudges from the Divine — messages from Source, intuitive wisdom — all sent to us innumerable times each day.

What we need to do is learn to listen for, and be aware of, these messages. When we begin to notice them, it brings a sense of peace, calm, and joy to our daily lives. We smile inwardly in private recognition and gratitude for this Divine assistance. To the awakened soul, aware of being tied to this heavy, physical body, it is a delight and a comfort to know that we are never alone through all the challenges of life on earth.

That help from Spirit is always on hand to remind us that we are eternally connected to Source (whatever name we may give It: God, the Divine, Allah, Krishna, Christ, Universal Consciousness, and so on).

My awakening was a gradual affair, albeit abruptly begun a decade ago through ill health. I believe this is quite a common occurrence, to awaken because of a challenging time of extreme crisis in life. There are frequent accounts of people who, for example, have had near-death experiences and then awaken. Reborn. Twice! Once, in the physical body, and twice in the realization that they will never be the same again, blessed as they are thereafter with the knowledge of the soul’s true identity and purpose on earth: to find our way back to God. This self-realization was awakened through ill-health.

At first, I perceived this as an extreme time of physical and emotional trauma. Now, with the grace of hindsight, I can see it as the most wonderful spiritual gift, imbuing me with compassion and understanding for others, two spiritual qualities which I sorely lacked in my previous life pre-awakening.

Self-realization is a wonderful journey. As I walk further along this path full of twists and turns, pitfalls and detours, I know that it leads my soul on a gradual return home.

I especially cherish having a stronger connection to the Universal source of knowledge and intuition. This poured forth the inspiration for the poems, prose, short story, autobiographical vignettes and affirmations in my new book, Soul Murmurs: Seasonal words of spiritual wisdom to enlighten the soul.

I love the book’s peaceful wisdom and keep it beside my bed. I can do this with no trace of ego since the inspiration for it was gifted to me in those moments of inner stillness, during meditation, during peaceful walks in nature, and so on.

I see it as a loving joint venture between the little soul (ego) and the true soul (connected to Source).

I have structured the book under seasonal headings to echo the eternal cycle of life and my own spiritual journey.

Here are some extracts from Soul Murmurs, taken from the section on Summer:

Refuge of Solace

I have episodes of anxiety and depression. I liken it to ‘falling down a well’. Usually I can get on with my daily life, although the well is always in the peripheral of my vision. Sometimes, though, I find myself at the bottom of the well. This can be a scary, lonely place where the mind is full of fear: “Will I manage to get back out?” I know now that of course I will, for every low mood or depression will pass like storm clouds, leaving me refreshed and renewed. So, instead of viewing the well as a prison, I see it as a temporary refuge of solace, a quiet place of safety which allows me to ride out the storm. If you are affected by anxiety or depression, find a safe place in your mind, use distraction techniques and ask people for help. Much love.

I sit by the well

Enjoying the shade

On this hot summer’s day in July.

I hear its liquid contents

Drip to the pool at the base;

The base with the seat

Inscribed with my name.

For this is my domain

When I fall down the well:

The place where depression dwells.

I can see the clouds above

And the sun peeking through behind

And I know that this too shall pass:

It’s just a storm in my mind.

So, I distract myself –

Counting bricks and all my blessings,

Finding faces among the mosses

Which cling to this temporary home:

My refuge of solace

Till the storm clouds move on.

The Flowers Are Singing

The title for this poem arose from a character in a television drama (Versailles), at the point of her death, saying that she could hear the flowers singing. I thought this was such a beautiful, comforting image, and so this poem took shape. If we can suspend belief in the Universe being all there is and our body-mind being all we are, then the other realm after death becomes a magical place of wonder and joy. I no longer fear death, which is a wonderful gift in itself, because I long to return to Spirit when my time comes.

Slow, like the breeze

On a hot summer’s eve,

Billowing their beauty for us all to see.

Roses and lavenders,

Heady perfumiers

The flowers are singing

In this realm of make-believe.

Their joyous refrain

Bides us sweetly to their domain

Of love, of tenderness and peace.

Their floral charms

Soothe and disarm us

To venture, untethered,

From pain to release.

I long to hear the flowers sing

And feel their perfume

Uplifting my soul

And carrying me home.

I long to join their floral song

In a choral crescendo of love.

I long to belong.