Photo by neotint

It seems as if all I ever do is write about messages, both publicly and privately. Asking for them. Looking for them. Getting them. Receiving them. Paying attention to them. What happens if you don’t pay attention to them…

It’s that last one that can get pretty dicey if you’re not careful. I probably write about the perils of not listening, or not paying attention to, or worse yet, not acting on messages I’ve heard and paid attention to (and perhaps even given lip service to – by what? By writing a blog post or two on the subject?) more than I care to admit even to myself. But here it is. Again.

Don’t get me wrong. I do my best to walk my talk and pay attention to the messages I receive daily. And yes, when I’m ‘tuned in,’ I get messages a lot. Every day. Indeed, I rely on my abilities to discern meaning in the seemingly mundane, and I devote a good amount of care and attention to paying attention, listening deeply, and noticing little things that might easily be overlooked.

Photo by Jeff Tidwell

Ummm, Don’t Drink It?

And I do this for and on behalf of my clients. And my friends. And my family. Every day.

So why in the world do I keep insisting upon writing about and seemingly harping upon the necessity for all of us to not only pay attention to the messages we receive but to heed them by acting upon them? Because it can be a real kick in the ass when we don’t.

One example? If you’ve read my book Owl Medicine (available as an ebook, too!), you know that my refusal to listen to the messages I was receiving ended up with a face-plant in a creek that easily could have killed me but luckily only resulted in a broken tooth, spectacular bruises, and many weeks of barely being able to walk without assistance.

And I’d like to spare you the pain if I can. Because as seasoned as I am in being a messenger, the responsibilities that come with being the messagee, and there are indeed responsibilities with that role, too, can be seductively easy to shirk. Yes, even for a messenger.

Don’t Just Sit There – DO Something!

So, don’t beat yourself up for not being perhaps the best listener to, or ‘receiver’ of, messages. Instead, make a point to take one step, every day, to not only pay attention and listen, but then also to act on a message you’ve received.

See what happens.

And if you know you’ve received a message, but can’t quite figure out what it means or how you might act upon it, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be glad to give you my perspective and help you figure out what the message might mean specifically to you.

Gratitude Goes a Long Way

One more thing: I don’t mean to imply that every message we receive requires an ‘outward’ or public action. Hardly. However, every message we receive does deserve acknowledgment and at least an inner appreciation that paves the way to receiving more messages. That’s why I tell all my clients: “If you receive a message, honor it. At the very least, acknowledge and appreciate it by writing it down. If the message requires further action on your part, then by all means, act. But even if the message is just an indication that you’re on the right path, that you’ve made a good choice, or that the direction of your thinking is ‘on track…,’ well, be grateful! Write it down! Show your Higher Self or your Guides, or whomever is communicating with you that you appreciate their efforts and you’re listening.”

Photo by Lisa Weikel

What do you think? Do you receive messages? And if so, do you make a point of demonstrating your appreciation? Do you act upon your messages? How could you be a better ‘receiver?’