“How monotonous our speaking becomes when we speak only to ourselves! And how insulting to the other beings – to foraging black bears and twisted old cypresses – that no longer sense us talking to them, but only about them, as though they were not present in our world…Small wonder that rivers and forests no longer compel our focus or our fierce devotion. For we walk about such entities only behind their backs, as though they were not participant in our lives. Yet if we no longer call out to the moon slipping between the clouds, or whisper to the spider setting the silken struts of her web, well, then the numerous powers of this world will no longer address us – and if they still try, we will not likely hear them.”
― David Abram, Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology
Sometimes it seems like humans have forgotten how to listen. We are constantly talking- out loud and in our minds- to ourselves and anyone who will listen. What if instead of telling the world about our day, we listened to hear about the world’s day?
For today’s activity find a piece of cloth to use as a blindfold. Go to a quiet natural space and make yourself comfortable. Blindfold yourself and begin to let go of your need for vision- which is probably your strongest sense. Open your ears and tune in. Listen to what the natural world has to say. Try your best to do this for your 30 minutes today.
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