Whether we are hearing from a ‘still small voice’ that is the Divine communicating gently rather than in some dramatic way (earthquake, lightning, eclipse), or whether it’s through an omen, or divination, we can miss the message. Around our house we often say that if the gods tap you on the shoulder and clear their throats, listen, or they will not hesitate to hit you with the “Cosmic Clue-by-four.”
You may be searching within to discover your true feelings about something, or asking for a clear sign, but I observe that we have to be willing to put in the effort to get the message.

My mother used to read her old books to us before bed, so before I ever saw Jiminy Cricket in the Disney version, I heard about the (very annoying) cricket in Carlo Collodi’s book, who was assigned to advise the freshly awakened puppet so that he could develop enough of a soul to be a real (good) boy. Disney left out that Pinocchio in the book got tired of the sanctimonious cricket’s advice and squished him against the wall with a hammer, thus cutting himself off from any source of wisdom. (19th century children’s books were incredibly preachy!) I think we all have been tempted to do that when our conscience reminds us of something we don’t want to hear.
Indeed, when it comes to wisdom from the gods I often can tell there is a message coming through, but feel “subtle I don’t mind, but obscure is irritating”. Have you noticed how many ancient prophesies are phrased obliquely enough that it is not surprising that the person wasn’t able to take warning from them?

But really, we have to put some effort in. If you don’t ask, you won’t get help. If you ask for a sign or message, but don’t listen for it, whether you are looking inward, or whether you are asking for help from your guides, ancestors, gods, or whoever, you have to slow down and listen to get the message. I have been both the reader for others, and, amusingly, the soothsaying client who, when I didn’t get a clear answer, kept rephrasing the question trying to get one. When I got the same freaking answer from the sixth psychic I asked I suddenly recognized what I’d been doing and burst out laughing. You have to listen, and work it out yourself. Getting angry because you don’t like the answer doesn’t help. Sometimes all the Universe can do is try to protect you while you learn the hard way.

Trust me, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and discomfort by really listening and accepting the message when it comes in. It doesn’t matter whether it’s from within or without, you still have to put in the effort to listen.