Is Silence Becoming Extinct?
“Silence is not the absence of sound, it’s the presence in everything.” –Gordon Hempton
I recently had the privilege to listen to a podcast with Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist, interviewed by Krista Tippet. Gordon Hempton has spent his life recording the last few known silent areas of our beautiful planet. He has recorded inside Sitka Spruce logs, lightening across the Kalahari Desert, and untouched forests deep in the Amazon jungle.
Spending time in nature is imperative to initiate healing, create well-being, and everyone knows the feelings that arise when you walk into the woods. Forest bathing is a beautiful art of immersion in the forest that was first recognized in Japan. This practice has been scientifically proven to heal and improve overall health. It is miraculous when you start looking at all the jungle has to offer us. Gordon captures this beautiful phenomenon with audio recordings. He travels to all the remote locations of the world and records incredible soundtracks of places that are truly silent. The places where “noise” interferes the least. The result is astounding. When listening, it feels as though you are there. You can imagine touching the leaves and feeling your feet on the earth. You feel close to the wildlife and rivers nearby. The sounds are heavenly and bring a state of peace. Deep down you can notice a feeling of inner knowing, like you are coming home. You are connected to Mother Earth, and all the worldly desires and stresses of life seem to melt away.
Gordon says that silence is an endangered species. When we really stop to think about what he is saying here, isn’t it true? I notice the younger generation is always plugged in to electronics, listening to their air pods, and not aware of their surroundings or the beauty passing them by. With the hustle and bustle of city life, jobs, and family, hardly anyone spends the amount of time they should in nature. My passion is and connecting to nature and plants. Connecting with and admiring the plants around me, exploring the world of the psychonaut, and learning about medicinal plant medicine from around the world. I love listening and feeling into plants. There is a desire and a purpose that’s calling me to the forest. I am not the only one; there is a collective push to wake up; To be more in tune with nature and the plants she is providing for us all over the world.
Silence is part of this equation. Gordon says, “Silence is essential to our survival.”
He takes us to all the quiet places left on the planet and invites us to listen. To be present. Are you listening? What would it take for you to really hear Mother Earth? To understand her. To nurture her. She is always willing to give us love offerings to fulfill our needs. I believe we should be more open to listening, with our ears and most importantly our hearts. Life isn’t about money, or how much stuff you can acquire. Marketing campaigns, industrialization, pharmaceutical companies, and government paradigms are behind this huge drive for money, and they don’t want you to know that you have power. We have the power to choose how we live our lives. We can choose to live a meaningful life, where we help each other and contribute to sustainable living. We can eat healthy food, and support conservation organizations. We can choose to make a difference in our children’s lives, and for generations to come.
Gordon Hempton’s work is original and full of passion. He is inviting us to go into the silence, be present, and absorb the beauty of the natural musical score of the planet. It is an invitation to find yourself in silence. Will you except this invitation? Will you be willing to listen to silence, the naturally occurring symphony that has the power to heal your soul? The more I study nature, and invite plant medicines into my life, the more connected I feel. I long for more of this connection, and I feel grateful to be able to share what I am learning. I am hopeful that all souls will be reminded of their ancestors and where they come from. We all have the power to come home and be healed, nourished, and protected. What will you choose?