In a world flooded with noise, we have become skilled at hearing but less practiced at truly listening. Our days are filled with voices, messages, notifications and the hum of constant activity. Yet, beneath all of this, there is a quieter language that speaks not in words but in sensations, images, feelings and the knowing that lives in our bones.
Shamanic cultures across the world have long honoured this deeper way of listening. They understood that to truly perceive the world, one must listen with the whole body, the heart and the spirit. This is not metaphorical. It is a lived skill. One that invites us to tune into the subtle realms where meaning moves in silence, symbols and synchronicity.
In the Toltec tradition, this deep perception is central. It is not limited to hearing but involves sensing with all the faculties we possess. The Toltec path invites us to refine our awareness so that we may engage with life as a sacred dialogue. We begin to perceive patterns in the natural world, to recognise intuitive insight and to trust the invisible threads that connect us with the unseen.
Modern life, in its rush and noise, has dulled this natural gift. But it has not been lost. It is waiting to be remembered. And when we slow down, become still, and learn to listen with presence, the world begins to speak to us once more.
Practices to Begin Listening with More than Ears
- Sit with Nature
Find a place outside where you feel safe and at ease. Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Feel the air on your skin. Notice what you hear, but also what you sense beyond sound. Is there a shift in temperature, a tingle, a thought that arises unbidden? This is the beginning of deep listening. - Tune into Dreams
Keep a notebook by your bed. On waking, write down anything you remember from your dreams, no matter how small. Shamanic cultures consider dreams as sacred messages. Begin to pay attention to the symbols that recur. They may be guiding you. - Track Sensations
When you have a gut feeling or a sudden wave of emotion, pause. Ask yourself what it is telling you. Where do you feel it in your body? What situation or thought triggered it? Over time, this practice builds trust in your intuitive knowing.
At Embracing Shamanism, the Toltec training is rooted in the belief that perception is sacred. The course is not about adding more beliefs but about stripping away what dulls our natural awareness. You are invited into a living tradition that holds space for mystery, for intuition and for direct experience of the sacred.
Training in the Toltec way supports this rediscovery through personal practice, group work and ancient teachings. It reconnects you with the quiet intelligence that has always been within you. The part that listens deeply, senses clearly and walks in harmony with all of life.
If you feel called to move beyond the surface of things, to listen not just with your ears but with your whole being, the Toltec path may be for you. The world is speaking. Are you ready to hear it?
Learn more about our Toltec Training HERE