Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The power of air is the power of silence, of clearing away the buzz of constant distractions so that we can listen to what is truly important both inside us and around us. In this session participants hear about acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, who, in the process of recording the sounds of nature, has become an activist preserving silence — places where there are no human-made sounds. Through both practicing silence themselves and by listening intently to the sounds around them and sounds drawn from nature, participants learn about the cost of the incessant noise of our modern world and how we can create spaces of peaceful silence.

Goals

This session will:

• Cultivate an awareness of the potentially damaging effects of constant exposure to media
• Develop strategies for creating quiet time for reflection and concentration
• Affirm that "encouragement to spiritual growth" can happen through creating a quiet place in which we can listen to the promptings of the spirit.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Respond to the story of Gordon Hempton and the One Square Inch of Silence project
• Notice sounds that are present in their everyday environments
• Test their ability to identify sounds drawn from nature
• Experience creating a personal "square inch of silence" through meditation.