Dear Beloved Community,
As we enter October, we are invited to explore the theme of Deep Listening—a practice that asks us to slow down, be present, and open ourselves fully to the voices around us, within us, and beyond us. This is also the theme of this month’s Soul Matters Sharing Circles.

In a world filled with noise, constant movement, and distraction, deep listening can be a radical act. It requires not only our ears but our hearts. It asks us to quiet our inner dialogue and truly hear what others are saying—not just their words but their emotions, their silences, and their truths. When we listen deeply, we open ourselves to empathy and understanding, cultivating compassion for the struggles and joys that others carry.

But deep listening also calls us inward. It beckons us to listen to our own inner voice—the still, small voice of our conscience, our intuition, or even our soul. What do we hear when we stop and listen to the quiet spaces within us? What truths are waiting to be acknowledged, and how might they guide our actions in the world?

In this time of autumn’s changes, nature itself offers us a model for deep listening. The rustle of leaves, the whisper of wind, the quietness of a slowing season—all remind us that there is wisdom to be found in the stillness.

This month, as we gather in community, I invite us all to practice the art of deep listening—with one another, with ourselves, and with the world around us. It is through this kind of listening that we build deeper connections, find healing, and create space for transformation.

May this month be a time of quiet reflection, deep connection, and profound listening.

Blessings,
Rev. Anthony