by Joel L, Western Australia
I have heard the term ‘Responding to the Call’ in a few different settings…..
A leadership group I have been a part of used it; I have heard mainstream religions use it; I have also heard the term used at Universal Medicine. It has been my experience with the latter where I started to truly feel what this is asking of me.
Before Universal Medicine, ‘responding to the call’ meant to do something that someone asked of me from within that group. If an alumni of the leadership group called me, I would be obliged to ‘respond to that call’ because of our shared alumni status, regardless of whether I knew them or not.
But I am learning that these ‘calls’ I used to get from people (often latterly phone calls) are quite different to ‘the call’ that comes from that much deeper place within. Responding consistently from that deeper place within is now my daily study. I find it’s not about waiting for ‘the call’ to do something big or grand, but about discerning if those things I feel/think just ‘have to get done’ are coming from that deeper place within, or if they are coming from a neediness within me.
Writing these blogs has been a particularly interesting exploration of this learning.
In moments of stillness I have some insight into what ‘might be’… it’s not ‘a voice in my head’, or outside me for that matter… it’s like a seed from within – a feeling – that if I don’t second guess what it needs to be, becomes its own flower. And, if I don’t get excited and try to open the flower bud before its ready, it opens in its own time and in a magical way… For me, this is how I experience the call. Not just in writing, but in most things.
Recently, I was reading some of the comments from one of my blogs and thought, ‘I’ve got to write another one’. But this was coming from a neediness within me to replicate what I had done (dare I say recognition played a part). It was not a true call. In that moment, I decided what the flower would be and I wrote and wrote and wrote until I forced it open… and, when I finally stopped – what I read and felt wasn’t nice.
I am learning that when I act from my own ideals and ‘needs’ I somehow minimise the potential of any given exchange, expression and experience before it has even begun. At the same time, I cannot just ‘leave it to the fate of the universe’, because then I take me out of the equation. There is something about being neither the controller nor the victim of life – being willing to express what I feel in each moment, combined with not forcing or second guessing what is there to be expressed or created. The result is not always fireworks or brass bands, but joyful and beautiful nonetheless.
So, when I respond to the call within and am able to navigate away from my own needs or beliefs about what life should be; then I am witness to magic… not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world.
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
So true ‘it’s not about waiting for ‘the call’ to do something big or grand, but about discerning if those things I feel/think just ‘have to get done’ are coming from that deeper place within, or if they are coming from neediness within me.’ Simply put and a beautiful reminder and something I was just writing about appreciating that even clearing or throwing things out is responding to the call as it is making way for more space for what is needed to come through.
Learning to be aware of responding to the call from the heart and not from the head calls for an ever deepening connection within.
I love this Joel
‘Responding consistently from that deeper place within is now my daily study.’
There is such a deep space to connect to and just allowing that through is my daily commitment and study. I actually don’t have to do anything but just be and the rest follows naturally. It is so liberating to give up the control I thought I had to have in life. This is another lie we have fallen for, that we constantly have to be doing something to keep ourselves occupied when actually the reverse is true.
For me, responding is to respond to an impulse that the body receives, it’s automatic there is no hesitation, it just is and the something gets done, and then wait for the next impulse. If we second guess or try to own it then we have gone into self, its not about self, as soon as self comes in then the impulse is lost.
“it’s like a seed from within – a feeling – that if I don’t second guess what it needs to be, becomes its own flower. And, if I don’t get excited and try to open the flower bud before its ready, it opens in its own time and in a magical way…” Life is a constant lesson in simplicity, there is everything to be (instead of everything to do), and we can give space to everyone and everything around us – instead of getting tangled up in it all.
I love your writings, Joel, and this is such a gorgeous sharing of how you do what you do. Not the owner, nor the creator, but the midwife – this actually means that we all equally have something to bring through, and that is the bit we want to shy away from, and wanting to make someone special instead.
Thank you Fumiyo for highlighting again the bit about being the midwife, in that we all have something to bring through that we are all responsible for, whatever it is that is needed for humanity, and whatever it is, it is very precious.
I always love Joel’s blogs, what he shares is always magical in one way or another, and now he has shared more of how he allows that magic to happen.
“So, when I respond to the call within and am able to navigate away from my own needs or beliefs about what life should be; then I am witness to magic… not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world.” This expresses so well the balance between doing it oneself and leaving it to the Universe, neither of which results in magic.
I have had the feeling recently of being a dandelion spore, a feeling of being taken along on the breeze. Not in a weak or defeated way but in a very surrendered way. There are great things for each and every one of us to do, and we reach those things much quicker if we put aside our own small pictures of how things should be, and what it is that we think we should be doing. For a long time I have held a picture of what it was that I envisaged I should be doing, and yet recently I responded to a call to do something that I have previously resisted. And now I am absolutely loving my new job and have never ever felt more purposeful in all my life.
I really enjoyed reading this. It takes all the trying out of life.
It’s a complete fallacy that we have to try to be anything. In fact any amount of trying will actively take us away from who we already are. Who we already are being all we ever need to be and yet with scope to always be more.
Love the analogy of the midwife supporting what is needed without any imposition.
Me too, it is a very accurate and beautiful picture, ‘ I am witness to magic… not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world.’
Responding to the call requires us to first unplug ourselves from the disharmonious way we have been living so we can start to reconnect to our essences, so the call comes through load and clear without the reinterpretations of our wayward spirit. Our essence being that Soul-full aspect that has always resided within, and will always be felt as a Harmonious, Loving, Joyous, True aspect of the Love we all are.
Very important sharing Greg, saying no to what is not love and truth, whilst connecting to our essence and allowing that to move us, ‘unplug ourselves from the disharmonious way we have been living so we can start to reconnect to our essences, so the call comes through loud and clear’.
True Lorraine, and adding to what you have shared about Love and the deepening aspect of being Loving as it gives another the space to find there own truth at their own pace and thus no imposition.
“I am learning that when I act from my own ideals and ‘needs’ I somehow minimise the potential of any given exchange, expression and experience before it has even begun.” It’s very true, this is how it is for me also, and responding to the call comes from a settled body with a deep connection to myself. From this place I know I am the everything and it’s a joy to bring through what’s needed. When I’m out of connection I feel like I need something back, recognition etc!
How we live affects our ability to read if it is a true call, and if so to respond to it, ‘responding to the call comes from a settled body with a deep connection to myself.’
You are definitely a great example of somebody who responds to the call.
Agreed Viktoria, and are we all not reflecting the same brotherhood in the most Loving apprenticeship or students, as examples of those who have answered the call!!!
‘if I don’t get excited and try to open the flower bud before its ready, it opens in its own time and in a magical way…’ love this example, it feels like we don’t even really have to do very much…just being present, observing and allowing, the magic happens.
Getting ourselves out of the way whilst being ready to respond to the call is all that is required.
Which in turn keeps it simple, ‘just being present, observing and allowing, the magic happens.’
Joel your sharing is very honest, I appreciate the way you observe yourself to discern where your impulses are coming from. There is no guilt, regret or trying hard just a clear reading about where you are at in any given moment. I can imagine how amazing this society would be if we all would operate in this way in our daily life. Responding to the call from a deeper space inside us.
‘Responding consistently from that deeper place within is now my daily study.’ is a beautiful focus Joel, that lets the magic happen.
Yes Rosanna, I agree with you. This sentence is very profound in itself and takes me to a new and known space where I can also stay to explore myself while offering and learning from what is there to be shared at each time. It’s really beautiful to be available and ready to serve from that deeper place..
Responding to the call can bring up a lot for me. It can sometimes bring a tension within my body but the tension is there to support me to respond to what is needed. The tension exposes a holding back from surrendering to the call within.
A great distinction is raised here. We can do things from our own neediness or from a genuine call, and it’s an exploration and learning as shared here in distinguishing these. The more we’re willing to be honest, the more we can see which is which.
I love that we can be more of a ‘midwife’ to the Magic of God impulsed-moments for Heaven to be experienced right here on Earth.
“when I respond to the call within and am able to navigate away from my own needs or beliefs about what life should be; then I am witness to magic… not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world”.
An inspiring blog Joel. To truly heed the call (impulse) from within, we first have to ‘get our individual selves out of the way’ and let things unfold in their own true timing. Forcing this for gaining results does not work at all.
“At the same time, I cannot just ‘leave it to the fate of the universe’, because then I take me out of the equation.”
Responding to the call is saying yes to me and the bigger picture in each moment and not having any expectation or attachment in the unfolding.
By our actions (be that our thoughts, what we say or our movements) the majority of us say ‘yes’ to who we are not. But equally we can also say ‘yes’ to who we inherently are by choosing a different quality of thoughts, speech and movements. So at any point in time we are either saying ‘yes’ to who we are in truth or yes to who we are not. The choice is always ours and it’s a moment by moment choice.
Beautiful Joel, for me responding to the call means not knowing the outcome, not trying to steer something a certain way and not necessarily understanding what it is but knowing that it is, which means we are not the creator or the driver we have surrendered our body to naturally align to what is next.
Absolutely Sally, responding to the call means getting myself out of the way, and what I think the outcome needs to be.
Responding to the call first requires listening to the call, and listening to it requires a willingness to see where humanity is at, allow oneself to feel it, recognize it for being less than who we as sentient, sensitive and divine beings are, and from the place of love that we know to be true and the love we feel for people we rightfully need to reject it for the lie and harm it is and does to people, then we can truthfully respond to the call with and from the love that is the one truth for all.
A great point and comment Alex when listening to the call it is important, to feel where humanity are, and what they are asking for.
This was good to read and to be discerning as to how and why I respond to certain things ‘Responding consistently from that deeper place within is now my daily study. I find it’s not about waiting for ‘the call’ to do something big or grand, but about discerning if those things I feel/think just ‘have to get done’ are coming from that deeper place within, or if they are coming from a neediness within me’ and that there is no rush or impatience with this.
This is magical to be aware of .. just what it is your response is to what is front of, knowing that how will your response be if it includes all of humanity and the universe. It opens up the state of play to not just your ‘lunchbox playground” and brings purpose. Small or big if it is a moment of being in response either going deeper or confirming what is already there I reckon is a great start to responding to the Call.
Your blog Joel is leaving me pondering on how much we either try and control life, or get trapped in the blame, unfairness or victim role that is so easy to get caught in.
Yes it also left me pondering about the beauty of daily study that Joel expressed and how I could embrace this more.
Well said Vicky for that daily reflection of assimilating what we have learned is really important for our health and well-being.
The call, ie. what is called for (by humanity) may not even be in the awareness of the ones making the call, they may even argue that they don´t relate to it, dislike it or resist the response that offers them everything they deep down wish for but deny to know for themselves. Responding to the call may not be appreciated by those who have put out the call and actually are in need of a true answer/reply. That´s when the messenger is ‘killed’ in order to ignore the message.
I really appreciate this idea that we are the midwife of what is needed in any given moment as it takes the need for ownership out of the equation. It ensures we are working to a common purpose.
“not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world. ” when self gets out of the way, what we can birth forth can be truly inspiring for all humanity.
“being neither the controller nor the victim of life”, it is more of a surrender within ourselves, humble and true, no big parties but joyfuly being the midwife.
I love your last sentence Joel, how we can’t own anything and yet we are witness and apart of the birthing of the next moment. Here we are totally surrendering to the fact that we are a vessel for the magic to come through. Something we can not own or control.
We are taught to value recognition from young so it is no wonder that this is what we strive for whilst dismissing what is true which comes from within.
There is a deep Humble-Appreciative-ness in what you have presented Joel and so many can take a leaf out of that book!
Thanks Joel, that things have to been given the time is a good one to learn, but also not use it as an excuse to not do what is needed. I guess feeling is the key here, to go within and feel.
It feels like there are two types of calls. One that is calling us to be individual, conforming to life and its demands and another that calls us to be grander, more of who we truly are, and responsive to the fact that everyone is this grandness also.
When responding to ‘the call’, as you share Joel “being neither the controller nor the victim of life”, is heavenly.
Yes I feel this is an expression that is vital for physical and mental health because both have a very real consequence. Responding to the call takes practice and is an experiment well worth being a part of.
And with practice it becomes no longer an experiment and instead it becomes the way of one’s life.
This blog is both refreshing and inspiring Joel. It reminds me to walk in the space between my thoughts to allow what comes from deep within to surface.
‘So, when I respond to the call within and am able to navigate away from my own needs or beliefs about what life should be; then I am witness to magic… not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world.’ There is a true simplicity in this magic, or is it magical simplicity.
A great reminder that ‘responding to the call’ is a surrender to being moved by our love within, the impulse of our Soul, without knowing particularly why or the needing to know the outcome. As such when we are moved in this quality we serve humanity by bringing, expressing and sharing the love, the universality and multidimensionality we know we are and know we all are here to live together.
As soon as ‘me’ comes into why I am responding to ‘a call’ the integrity of ‘call’ is lost. You explain and illustrate this with great clarity and simplicity, Joel. Thank you.
Yes.. as soon as we try to own that magic and identify it as something we’ve come up with or have created, we reduce it and diminish the magic. Also love what you’ve shared here about not being the victim or life nor controlling it, but a vehicle for it. It is so simple when we let go and follow the clues from our bodies.
“and, if I don’t get excited and try to open the flower bud before its ready, it opens in its own time and in a magical way”. A wry smile came across my face when I read this today. Totally with you on this one….you can’t force a flower to open, no matter how hard you/I tried/try 🙂 You can do your part by preparing it (water, fertiliser,right spot etc…) and then you have to let the magic unfold in its own time.
Yes, this is such an apt analogy that is universal.
Joel, it was really revealing and inspiring to read your description of what it means to ‘respond to the call’. The analogy of the flower opening in its own time really sends the message home, and I could recall many times when I had forced something to open for the wrong reasons, usually to overcome some feeling of not being or doing enough in the world to help others. But what I am seeing and feeling now is how much less stressful it is to simply listen to my body and discern where the call is coming from and then respond accordingly.
Yes, the analogy of the flower opening in its own time is a beautiful example, ‘if I don’t get excited and try to open the flower bud before its ready, it opens in its own time and in a magical way… ‘
Answering a call and responding to the call are two different movements. The latter comes from a very deep place which we do not command.
Saying yes to the true impulse within happens in small and big ways, and each yes is a confirmation of the light we each are.
Beautiful Heather – indeed it is a ‘confirmation of the light we each are’, and the reflection though our movements thereafter serve as a divine reminder of this truth.
This feels so empowering. Allowing, welcoming, accepting, being ready.
Recently I clocked myself getting annoyed when being asked to do something. Even if it was a task within my job description, or I was the only person who knew about it, so they obviously came to the right person, my initial response was along the line of ‘Why don’t they do it themselves?’ or ‘Why me?’ and I do know the answers to those questions very well myself but I still try fighting and resisting and criticizing and blaming others for bringing this onto me. I would do it anyway, but my reluctance to comply and serve was just huge. If this is how I respond to the direct calls, I wonder how I might be already setting myself up so that I won’t even have to feel the subtle ones.
“..not really its owner, not its creator but more its midwife, welcoming it into the world”.. love the way you welcome to birth love Joel, as well as birthing these wonderful blogs of insight too.
Beautifully said Joel . . “There is something about being neither the controller nor the victim of life – being willing to express what I feel in each moment . . .” . . this is a constant surprise to me as I never know what’s next until it is there. This occurs when there is no thought before just a willingness to express whatever I have felt to express. It is sometimes like I am watching the words appear before me as I am writing or witnessing opportunities coming seemingly out of the blue as I am going about my day.
We are so controlled for so long that it is a whole process of building back the love within to feel the difference of when we get an impulse from heaven to do something or when it is from other planes of energy.
The best we have is our body, to feel when we speak, comes from our body.