Writer's Block: Shhhh!
Would you ever go on a silent retreat? How long do you think you could go without talking?
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In ninth grade we embarked on a year of hiking, running, skiing and generally all-round-fitness and bush/outdoors activies which culminated in a four day hike, a six day hike and a 28km (half)marathon. It was, no doubt, one of the best years of my life. It was a year without the distractions of facebook or iPods, which had only just emerged, because we didn't have any Internet connection or phones. We wrote letters home. We cut the wood to stoke to the boiler to heat our hot water.
In the the first and final terms, we did something called "solos," short for solo hikes. The first one was 12 hours - overnight - the second, 24 hours. As the name suggests, it was conducted on one's own. It involved some less than stenuous walking out to a predetermined (and assigned) campsite in a specific area, both of which were lovely little green seclusions, all mossy and ferned and wet. But lovely!
The point of this was reflection. You weren't supposed to take a book or music or your laptop; aside from all your camping gear, just yourself and your diary.
I have a point, and it is this: those 24 hours were probably the longest time I have ever been alone. Needless to say, it was pretty silent, but I have a rather unfortunate habit of talking to myself, and I'm pretty sure I had some intense D&Ms conversations with myself about god knows what. For that reason, I don't think I'd last that long at a silence retreat, but the idea is intriguing. I also really like to have music playing a lot of the time - since I got a radio for Christmas, I've taken to playing whenever I'm in my room at college; the first thing I do when I come up to my room is turn it (it's playing right now - Jai Ho!)
But I rather revel in silence. I love that when I go home, the only sound I hear at night - if at all - is my dog, or the pitter patter of rain on the roof (which I love). That I can hear a truck coming down the road or across the creek.
One time I went running with my family (oh yes, we run together, because my parents and brother are of a semi-fitness-freak ilk of I, proudly and gladly, am not). My mother fell behind, and my brother and father were ahead, out of sight, being faster than I. I was on the point of turning around to head home when I stopped, and realised it was silent. I lay down on the ground, and listened. Completely silent. It was beautiful and completely blissful, and one of the most spectacular and profound things I've experienced in my life. I couldn't even hear anyone running, or insects or sheep or birds or wind. Even when I was in Africa three years ago, and my family (all 17 of us) were taken out on the Makgadikgadi Saltpan to lie down, watch the sky and listen to the silence, it wasn't that quiet. It really was - as Simon and Garfunkel say - the sound of silence. And that is a beautiful thing.
I also really like the idea of retreating from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Rather like Walden for Henry David Thoreau (how sad that such places are so rare). So no, I wouldn't reject the idea of a silence retreat. I like to think I could last a few days. But whenever will I find the time?
x
JAG