Standing Strong by Fiona McCallum Page A

religious and political views should not be openly discussed, she’d also learnt that a high percentage of country people still went to church each week. It was important to have faith in something – even if it was yourself, your ability to get through what life tossed your way or that the universe – or God, if that was your view – would have your back. This she did say.
    Jacqueline explained that intuition was the little voice deep inside or a feeling that makes you pause ever so briefly. When you keep going without acknowledging the intuition or acting on what it’s telling you, chances are it will turn out to be hindsight that kicks you in the butt.
    â€˜Like sometimes you might think briefly, hmm, I probably should fill up with fuel, but dismiss it. You don’t have time, can’t be bothered. Then the next thing you know you’ve run out and end up having to walk miles thinking, if only I’d just filled the damned thing up. That’s hindsight kicking you up the butt, my friends.’
    The ripple of tittering and head nodding told her plenty of people here related to her example.
    She went on to explain that these days, with people keeping so busy, it’s easy to not hear the great voice of intuition. Didn’t she know that all too well? She paused for breath and a sip of her water. She certainly wasn’t going to use her blunder with Damien as an example. Though it was a bloody good one.
    â€˜We need to stop regularly and sit quietly for a while to calm the mind so it can pass on messages that keep us safe,’ she said. ‘It’s important to not let all the other noise drown out the voice of intuition and the subconscious – it’s possibly the most important tool we have.’ She was verging on sounding melodramatic, but she didn’t care. It was what she believed, what she was passionate about. If more people stopped to listen to their kind inner voice (not the negative one that put them down – that was a whole other thing) and acted on what they heard and felt, they would have a much happier and calmer life. It wasn’t hard, it just took some concentration and effort in remembering what to do.
    â€˜Your intuition and subconscious know everything. You just need to give them a chance to show you, to tell you. Like, say you went into a room to get something, but because you were in a rush or thinking about other things, you get there only to wonder why you had come in in the first place. Who hasn’t done this plenty of times in their life? Me, certainly. Anyway, if you clear your mind and go back the way you came, you’ll remember what you went in for. It works every time if you still your mind enough to let your wise inner voice come through loud and clear.’
    She ended there and was rewarded with hearty applause. Mrs Bishop appeared beside her and when the chatter and applause had died down, invited the audience to ask questions.
    There weren’t many, and those who did put up their hand did so to offer up their own experiences of listening to their intuition. On a few occasions, the room erupted into laughter and chattering and had to be brought back to order by Mrs Bishop. Finally the time had come to wrap things up and Mrs Bishop asked for one final question.
    It came from right at the back of the room, from a tall, well-presented woman Jacqueline guessed to be in her sixties, with grey hair cut into a rather severe chin-length bob.
    â€˜Is it true that you’re now seeing one of your patients – in a romantic sense – and is this really ethical?’
    It took all Jacqueline’s strength to keep her expression neutral and not let her mouth drop open. She willed her colour not to rise, but didn’t need to worry; she had just felt her blood drain away.
    â€˜No. I did see a former client socially on a few occasions. And, no, a practitioner can’t have a personal relationship with a current