One Response to “WRITER’S PROMPT: What if the world went silent for a day?”

1. Kelly Jean says:

   November 3, 2009 at 2:11 am

   Last weekend my world DID go silent for a day (or two) when I attended a silence retreat. It was an absolute gift to not have to speak or be spoken to for a short while, and to communicate with others without words. Deprived of the usual distractions – music, books, television, small talk, big talk, phones, computers etc – I naturally turned inward and began to listen and was able to hear a calm and loving voice, gently offering everything I needed to overcome the “problems” I thought I had. (They have since ceased to be problems at all – funny that).

   Throughout the weekend the group participated in various acitivities, mediations and exercises. A particularly profound although simple exercise was the “trust tunnel”, where the group formed a snake-like tunnel and each person, in turn, was blindfolded and guided through the tunnel by those on the outside. This was a deeply moving experience, both as a guide and as the one being guided. There was a deep exchange of trust and nurturing amongst the group and we all emerged a little more open and little more human.

   I spent the rest of the time becoming reacquainted with my creative self – drawing, writing and taking photos, walking through the gardens and being mesmerised by tiny details that would go unnoticed on a usual day.

   I’ll be making sure my world goes silent for a day much more often from now on and encourage everyone to try it.