Jeff Kidman Contributing Writer
Legacy Discovery Shaman Jeff Kidman brings to you exercises you can undertake anywhere, at a time that works for you. For the man on a men’s team, in a men’s group or out there on his own. The intention of these exercises is to bring you into greater connection to something bigger, so that you can broaden your context, reach your highest potential and ultimately be more successful in the endeavors that matter to you and those you influence.
Part 4 – The Tool of Silence
Silence.
It’s so simple and yet eludes us now more than ever. Since I decided to write about the power of silence, I have realized how challenging it is for me personally.
My mind is actually very noisy. I have been driving to work most days with no radio on, no podcasts or playlists at all. Yet it is not always relaxing. I have to remind myself not to dwell on what will happen (what I think will happen) when I get to work. Not to dwell on any number of stressful interactions with my teenage daughter, still in high school and my son who is set to start college in the Fall. Not to make up more problems in my head than exist in reality. You get the idea.
You likely have some of these stories too. But when I am listening for the divine spirit – words here are difficult – we all have some definition – maybe just a feeling about spiritual connection – but when I am really listening – I begin to be calm. I often laugh. This joy is a sort of two-way spiritual path.
The divine is so happy that I’m finally listening. I’m so happy to be heard. all in the same moment. Nice, huh?
Sometimes the practice is to let all the busy stress thoughts run out, let them pour out one after another, not keeping them, just letting them run though my mind. Then there might maybe possibly be room for me to listen for that divine space.
So there is really only one step to inviting silence.
But many of us have a lot of habits and barriers to overcome before we allow ourselves to greet the silence.
I invite you to find ways to greet the silence. There are meditation practices; there are prayer practices, yoga, Chi-Kung and many other ways to lead ourselves to silence. Just watch that they aren’t part of the noise.
We can also simply let go of the noise in our heads.
After the volume of the noise of the mind decreases, see what there is to listen to. It might be the sounds of nature outside. It might be the sounds of all the other people. It might just be joy. They are all part of the divine as well.
Silence.
In reference to silence: My team went on an overnight Sat. I created a ritual call praying to the Deer God. We all walk around in bodies that need to pray during time of stress and celebration. When over whelmed with joy we say thank you God and times of stress we pray for help. During the night I set the men out in dry revein 130′ apart and have them to talk to the Deer God. The animals moving during the night around you scares and inspires thoughts from, the deer God. We’ve done this ritual 3 times, before animals and bugs were moving around us in the dark. I had a possum walk into my face. It scared and humbled me. This time was an exception. There was no noise what so ever. The sound of silence was a loud buzzing sound in my head. What i learned is that with out bugs and animals there is no Deer God and the sound of silence is loud. It was like being with the earth after everything had died. It was very humbling.
Boyles – so great to hear your name again! Thanks for sharing that excellent experience of silence!