Soul Attentiveness
Staffa, Scotland—photo by Susan Izard
Dear Soul Friends,
Some years ago, while on a pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland, my group and I took a boat to the Isle of Staffa. Bundled up in wet weather gear to protect against the freezing spray from breaking waves of the North Atlantic, we sat with our faces stretched toward the sky, soaking in the sunshine. After a few days of rain, it was a perfect afternoon to be on a boat ride.
Created sixty million years ago, tall vertical basalt columns frame the exterior of the tiny island and its scattered inlets and caves. Famous for the melodious Fingal’s Cave, Staffa entices visitors to hike along the edge of the Isle using the tops of the columns as stepping-stones. Brave souls will even venture to the back of the cave to experience the acoustics as breaking waves against the rock create a melody. In 1829, Felix Mendelssohn was so moved by his visit that he composed his famous work, the Hebrides Overture. If you can, listen to it sometime. It is soul music!
Staffa is also known for the puffin population that nests in the caves along the high cliffs each spring. After climbing to the top of the Isle, a few of us trudged along the boggy land to the area where puffins nest. We hoped the puffins would leave their safe harbor on the water and fly up to their nests in the caves. We had been told puffins need people for protection from attacking seagulls and often flock to their nests when people visit.
It was a long wait, but just as it was time to return to the boat, puffins began to circle in the air, fly up the side of the cliff, and settle in their nesting places. Before we knew it, puffins were popping up all around us, poking their heads out from their cave openings and hopping onto the grassland just below us. One looked like a sentry standing regally, staring at the ocean on the lookout for predators. Two others knocked beaks with each other, seemingly sharing a moment of affection and giving thanks for their partnership. Others gathered in groups of two or three, chatting gleefully. Although I was mesmerized by all the puffins, my attention was drawn to the pair shown in the picture above. One seemed to be sharing intimate thoughts while the other bent its head as if to listen in deep concentration. It was enchanting to witness such a tender heart-to-heart conversation.
When I returned home and printed the photo, I was struck by the image. I named the photo “Holy Listening” and have kept it near my desk as a reminder that our souls listen with the same attentive concentration. In return, we are invited to listen for our soul’s wisdom with equal concentration. That is where we encounter our inner light and inspiration.
In his blessing for old age, O'Donohue writes,
May you have great dignity,
And a sense of how free you are,
Above all, may you be given the wonderful gift
Of meeting the eternal light that is within you.
As you journey through your week, may you be blessed by a soul conversation. May you receive the gift of being clearly understood and may you return the favor with intentional, compassionate listening for another.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
