Let Your Heart Take the Reins
In Biblical times, the “heart”
was actually one’s gut.
To “know in one’s heart”
was to feel in the region
of the solar plexus the nexus
of thought and emotion,
an ocean of intuitive knowledge.
If you get that pain
in the pit of your stomach,
stop. Listen to your
better angels; let your heart
guide you, provide you with peace.
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Kim Nelson at Poets United’s Verse First wanted a poem, in fewer than 13 lines, about our passions. Mine do not include brevity, so this was a good challenge for me!
Interpreting the Bible to relate to modern-day times is a passion of mine. So many folks use the Bible, as my friend Ben recently wrote, as a weapon… slandering gay folks, denying poor women health care. All the things Jesus decried when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself…” Loving God brings me closer to doing the right thing. It’s hard, having manic depression and PTSD, to find that quiet place, but the ache in the pit of my gut I always pay attention to! Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)
Too often our gut speaks and we don’t listen.. Love your advice to once again listen to what the heart is speaking.
K
I think that is one of the hardest lessons in life to learn…trusting your own instincts and listening to yourself. So much of our world tries to tell use what’s best about everything, it is sometimes so hard to remember and listen to those inner whisperings we get. I also loved that you added a touch of chakras into this poem as well. Whenever I notice one of those “you better listen feelings”, I tend to sense it strongly in my heart chakra….but maybe that is because my nerves and anxiety takes over trying to figure out exactly how to follow what I know feels right. Nice poem! Love it.
Poetic Clarity
Absolutely brilliant! I really enjoyed the line “region of the solar plexus the nexus of thought and emotion”. It is always better to listen to your better angels and trust your “gut”. It’s rather difficult to do something as simple as trusting our own feelings. Oh and thanks for the comments on my poem Shower, really appreciate it. Just added another if you want to check it out.
Suzy
The way of the gut or heart is the way to go. Whenever I’ve veered away from that gut feel, I’ve inevitably regretted it. Nice, I love the simplicity of your poem.
McGuffy Ann
Well said. I rely on my intuition.
Kim Nelson
Absolutely! As a yogi with great faith in God and his creations, this piece speaks volumes to me. The heart, the solar plexus, the truth. We know it. We feel it. We choose to heed or ignore the messages. I love your Christlike perspective on all things, Amy. I appreciate your immersion in the work, the love, the loving. You, and your writing, are superb examples.
kaykuala
Listen to your ‘gut feel’. Most probably that’s how the expression came about! The Book can be a most appropriate guide, certainly, Amy! Nice take!
Hank
Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
Very true and wise.
Susan
Hey! A teaching poem with very interesting images! I imagine heart and gut speaking is also the still small voice of God. Test it in community, but then follow, follow follow!
Lisa A.Williams
so true, one must follow one’s heart.
Mama Zen
That’s the best advice in the world!
I HAVE A VOICE
Applause ! Indeed the heart must be applied in all things! Great post!
Lindy Lee
Peace, yes, peace…
Laura Fedora
That made me think of hunger as well, yearning…..and then eating a big existential ice cream!
Very cool and thought provoking!
Mary
Amazingly wise, Amy. We do have to listen to ourselves, our thoughts,our bodies, our guts. When we get that inner message, we should heed it.
Sara v
True, true, true! Excellent intuition instructions 😉