We, humans, like most animals, do not have earlids. We are hardwired to perceive sounds incessantly. Reportedly, people confined in a laboratory-generated silence, so called anechoic chamber, felt driven mad, and broke out free before no longer than 45 minutes.
What we really need, is the reassuring and restorative background of natural sounds: whoosh of wind in the canopy of trees, the trickle of a creek, wash of waves, chirp of birds, the sound of another person's voice in a meaningful conversation.
We have built a sonorous hell of industrial sounds, from the clank of machines to loudspeakers blaring out what we don't need to listen to. This noise of civilisation is so overwhelming, that we've got used to calling the absence of this burden - silence. The silence we need is not a sonorous empty space. It is the space where we fill comfortable, and therefore safe, with the perennial sounds of Nature.
Great point Jacek, the natural restorative background sounds that you mention are the perfect accompaniment to silence and are indeed what many people would include in the silence of the natural world - with the absence of machine noise the key factor in silence.
This also brings to mind a fundamental distinction between "natural silence" (like I experienced on the mountain and "artificial silence" (such as ear defenders or the lab-based silence you mention). Artificial silence can indeed drive one mad (hence we try to sure deafness) but natural complete silence has a different quality and can be immensely refreshing.
Another beautifully crafted piece, Hadden. Wrongfully avoided and always under appreciated, you are so right that “silence is a gift.” I hope to make it to retirement one day so I can search for it and occasionally disappear into its restorative embrace.
Good stuff Hadden! Here in the states, we can't even fill our cars with gas without video screens and loudspeakers built into the gas-pumps screaming ads and 'news' at us. For those of us in urban environments there truly seems to be no escape... I was also reminded of the words of St. Isaac the Syrian: "If thou lovest truth, thou must love silence. This will make thee illuminated in God like the sun and it will deliver thee from the idle thoughts of ignorance; silence will even unite thee with God...". If we are to believe the wise saint, it sounds like silence is worth searching for! Thank you for reminding us of this.
Thank you, Hadden, and not simply because of the reminder of the one who in silence watches over Keswick!
Silence is Soil is Silence. It has occurred to me over and again of late that as soil is destroyed so is silence. This weaves your thinking together :) (Silently :) )
(A huge part of my own ‘research interests’, tied in with McGilchrists hemisphere hypothesis)
"Silence though, presents us with a mental clean slate. "
Unfortunately, in my youth I spent an inordinate time listening to loud music. I also, without ear protection, shot guns. In so doing, I damaged my ears so that I now have constant ringing that has destroyed my ability to escape into silence. In my old age, when many other distractions of youth no longer intrude, I have become aware of the value (the necessity) of silence. But I have sold my birthright, and at a price far cheaper than a bowl of stew.
As I write this I can hear a low pitched hum coming from somewhere outside and it is immensely annoying - but this pales into insignificance compared to what you have to endure on a daily basis. I can't imagine how distressing the constant ringing in your ears is.
Thanks Lydia, glad you enjoyed it - and thank you for your kind words.
That is annoying about the Tip jar link, it works for me (but perhaps that's because I have access to the dashboard). But this link will hopefully work https://buymeacoffee.com/haddenturner
A few weeks ago I walked out of my office (on a University campus in the middle of a very large city), it was oddly silent, and I was struck by it. It was a beautiful moment where I contemplated the quality of the light on my walk home and stopped to look at a tree, but it was the silence that made me stop and take it all in. It can happen even in the metropolis, and is deeply precious.
I find silence, and absence more generally, one of the most compelling aspects of life. I've always found it interesting that artists are able to represent silence quite viscerally, Hopper being probably the most famous example.
Thank you for this reminder. I feel as if I need reminding every day. I visited the Lake District in 2014, and did some walking with friends from Northumberland, who knew the fells. I'd love to go back some day (tho' it's a long way from my home here in South Africa). It was also a foggy day, and I was sorry not to be able to see the further peaks, although the fog and the wind was beautiful in its own way. Have you heard of Gordon Hempton? He calls himself a sound ecologist, and advocates for natural silence. His website is "One Square Inch of Silence," also the title of a book he wrote on the subject.
Thanks Elijah, enjoy the Lake District! It is such a beautiful place. I visited Buttermere for the first time last year and loved it, felt more remote (off the tourist trail).
We, humans, like most animals, do not have earlids. We are hardwired to perceive sounds incessantly. Reportedly, people confined in a laboratory-generated silence, so called anechoic chamber, felt driven mad, and broke out free before no longer than 45 minutes.
What we really need, is the reassuring and restorative background of natural sounds: whoosh of wind in the canopy of trees, the trickle of a creek, wash of waves, chirp of birds, the sound of another person's voice in a meaningful conversation.
We have built a sonorous hell of industrial sounds, from the clank of machines to loudspeakers blaring out what we don't need to listen to. This noise of civilisation is so overwhelming, that we've got used to calling the absence of this burden - silence. The silence we need is not a sonorous empty space. It is the space where we fill comfortable, and therefore safe, with the perennial sounds of Nature.
Great point Jacek, the natural restorative background sounds that you mention are the perfect accompaniment to silence and are indeed what many people would include in the silence of the natural world - with the absence of machine noise the key factor in silence.
This also brings to mind a fundamental distinction between "natural silence" (like I experienced on the mountain and "artificial silence" (such as ear defenders or the lab-based silence you mention). Artificial silence can indeed drive one mad (hence we try to sure deafness) but natural complete silence has a different quality and can be immensely refreshing.
Another beautifully crafted piece, Hadden. Wrongfully avoided and always under appreciated, you are so right that “silence is a gift.” I hope to make it to retirement one day so I can search for it and occasionally disappear into its restorative embrace.
Good stuff Hadden! Here in the states, we can't even fill our cars with gas without video screens and loudspeakers built into the gas-pumps screaming ads and 'news' at us. For those of us in urban environments there truly seems to be no escape... I was also reminded of the words of St. Isaac the Syrian: "If thou lovest truth, thou must love silence. This will make thee illuminated in God like the sun and it will deliver thee from the idle thoughts of ignorance; silence will even unite thee with God...". If we are to believe the wise saint, it sounds like silence is worth searching for! Thank you for reminding us of this.
It is indeed "worth searching for".
Thank you, Hadden, and not simply because of the reminder of the one who in silence watches over Keswick!
Silence is Soil is Silence. It has occurred to me over and again of late that as soil is destroyed so is silence. This weaves your thinking together :) (Silently :) )
(A huge part of my own ‘research interests’, tied in with McGilchrists hemisphere hypothesis)
"Silence though, presents us with a mental clean slate. "
Unfortunately, in my youth I spent an inordinate time listening to loud music. I also, without ear protection, shot guns. In so doing, I damaged my ears so that I now have constant ringing that has destroyed my ability to escape into silence. In my old age, when many other distractions of youth no longer intrude, I have become aware of the value (the necessity) of silence. But I have sold my birthright, and at a price far cheaper than a bowl of stew.
I am so sorry to hear that Jesse.
As I write this I can hear a low pitched hum coming from somewhere outside and it is immensely annoying - but this pales into insignificance compared to what you have to endure on a daily basis. I can't imagine how distressing the constant ringing in your ears is.
Thank you for such a beautiful piece of writing. If I don’t regularly get time in silent wilderness I start to go crazy.
Very intense and captivating. I enjoyed your style of writing.
Fyi The tip jar app is crashing.
Thanks Lydia, glad you enjoyed it - and thank you for your kind words.
That is annoying about the Tip jar link, it works for me (but perhaps that's because I have access to the dashboard). But this link will hopefully work https://buymeacoffee.com/haddenturner
A few weeks ago I walked out of my office (on a University campus in the middle of a very large city), it was oddly silent, and I was struck by it. It was a beautiful moment where I contemplated the quality of the light on my walk home and stopped to look at a tree, but it was the silence that made me stop and take it all in. It can happen even in the metropolis, and is deeply precious.
Great post, thank you.
I find silence, and absence more generally, one of the most compelling aspects of life. I've always found it interesting that artists are able to represent silence quite viscerally, Hopper being probably the most famous example.
Thank you for this reminder. I feel as if I need reminding every day. I visited the Lake District in 2014, and did some walking with friends from Northumberland, who knew the fells. I'd love to go back some day (tho' it's a long way from my home here in South Africa). It was also a foggy day, and I was sorry not to be able to see the further peaks, although the fog and the wind was beautiful in its own way. Have you heard of Gordon Hempton? He calls himself a sound ecologist, and advocates for natural silence. His website is "One Square Inch of Silence," also the title of a book he wrote on the subject.
Beautiful as always. Will be in the Lake District soon, so looking forward to climbing the wrong fell but enjoying the rising silence!
Thanks Elijah, enjoy the Lake District! It is such a beautiful place. I visited Buttermere for the first time last year and loved it, felt more remote (off the tourist trail).
Lovely piece. You might enjoy this as a companion https://open.substack.com/pub/michaeldriver/p/what-is-propaganda?r=nzesm&utm_medium=ios