Sacred Art of Listening

Kay Lindahl, the founder of The Listening Center in Long Beach, California, is author of How Does God Listen?; Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening: A Guide to Enrich Your Relationships and Kindle Your Spiritual Life and The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice. She is coeditor of Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power (all SkyLight Paths).Kay Lindahl is available to speak on the following topics:The Sacred Art of ListeningThe Power of ListeningThe Transforming Nature of ListeningThe Lost Art of ListeningIs Anybody Listening?The Importance of Listening for Health Care ProfessionalsClick here to contact the author.

"The lost art of listening is found in The Sacred Art of Listening. The work of Kay Lindahl could assist you to find your spiritual path."—Pauline Oliveros, composer/performer and founder of Deep Listening®“This elegantly profound book will help lead us to a more enlightened time when the listening ear, not the penetrating eye, will be our primary symbol of understanding. The Sacred Art of Listening will help us create harmony within ourselves as well as with all around us.”—Brooke Medicine Eagle, author of Buffalo Woman Comes Singing and The Last Ghost Dance“This is a truly beautiful book, and a powerful one—opening us in an effective and practical way to wondrous new depths of human living. So much in so few pages, true wisdom.”—M. Basil Pennington, OCSO, coauthor of Finding Grace at the Center: The Beginning of Centering Prayer“I like the insight that life is too often defined by meetings instead of meeting. We need both at the same time. The Sacred Art of Listening, in its wise and reflective way, tells us how. Read, ponder and inwardly digest it.”—Malcolm Boyd, poet/writer-in-residence, Cathedral Center of St. Paul, Los Angeles“The Sacred Art of Listening unlocks multiple doors of separation and allows the reader to enter into realms of authentic and clear relationships.”—Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, Episcopal Bishop, Diocese of California; founder and president of the United Religions Initiative

• Part One: The BeginningYour Invitation 3The Circle of Life 6Part Two: Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening1. Qualities of Deep ListeningListening for essence 112. A Sacred ArtListening as spiritual awareness 143. Using SilenceListening to access your stillpoint 174. Learning from ExperienceListening for new possibilities 205. CommunionListening to communicate 236. RitualsListening for meaning 267. Dialogue or DiscussionListening for context 298. Seeking Common GroundListening to appreciate 329. Common ValuesListening for connection 3510. PresenceListening from your heart 3811. Conversations of the HeartListening for soul 4112. Creating Safe SpacesListening with love 4413. Self-ExpressionListening with humility 4714. Practicing PeaceListening to understand 5015. Creating HarmonyListening for integration 5316. Delving DeeperListening for insight 5617. Simple SharingListening for experiences 5918. Love in ActionListening as caring 6219. Hearing NuancesListening for each voice 6520. Slowing DownListening to reflect 6821. The Voice WithinListening for change 7122. AssumptionsListening for clarity 7423. Learning from PassionListening for vision 7724. Contemplative PrayerListening for guidance 8025. The Agenda-free ConversationListening with openness 8326. Cultural DifferencesListening without prejudice 8627. AttentionListening for perspective 8928. HospitalityListening as a gift 9229. FocusListening for the holy 9530. Engage FirstListening beyond appearances 9831. The Challenge of ChangeListening creatively 10132. RelationshipsListening for deeper connections 10433. The Gift of SolitudeListening to the silence 10734. Practicing ReflectionListening for the questions 11035. A Sacred Meeting PlaceListening through prayer 11336. Recognizing IntoleranceListening for your humanity 11637. PatienceListening with intention 11938. Harvest TimeListening with gratitude 12239. Being YourselfListening with authenticity 12540. Being CompleteListening beyond the past 128Part Three: In ClosingListening in Your World 133Principles of Dialogue 134How This Book Was Created 136How the Art Was Created 137Acknowledgments 138Source Notes 140