For a couple of years, I lived out in the forests of southwest Portugal. Four kilometres from the nearest habitation and surfaced roads. My neighbours were a tiny field mouse that lived under the patio, a family of wild boar, a large white butterfly, a pack of stray dogs that found shelter out there in the middle of nowhere.
I would stay up late, just to sit outdoors watching the sun set, the moon rise, to hear the birds of the day give way to the birds of the night. And in the morning. Sometimes, in the night, as I still do today, I get up, walk to a window, and simply gaze out at the wonder of it all.
All of this play took place in silence. Held by its gentle presence, I fell in love with it. Eventually life moved me along, and I left my forest hermitage, but the silence didn’t remain behind with it. It was with me. Every step of the way. It is here still, as I sit writing to you.
In order to receive its blessing, we must fall in love with silence.
Not have some one night stand, nor a quick dance. We must fall head over heels in love with silence. So much so that we feel it with us throughout the day and the night. So much so that we literally fall into its timeless presence, returning to our own eternal being.
When we love silence this much, we love ourselves all the more. Because we are made of it — we are born from it, and will die back into it. Everything we need is contained within it.
Go ahead, fall in love — silence will take care of you.
Join me for silent sitting on Sundays at The Silence. Support Silentium as a paid subscriber, becoming a patron, or making a donation. Explore my other offerings at ando.life.
Thank you for this, Ando. I am rediscovering the beautiful healing depth of active silence. I love it. I crave it. I need it like the air I breathe. Pray for me, please. With much love, Jerrilyn
I love this ❤️