September 24, 2014 

Greetings Fellow Healer!

The Healer's Life! Silence SEP 2014        Dr. Elisabeth Crim & Moonstone Center

     Recently, I experienced an unscheduled and forced pause in my usual routine.  A space typically filled with much interaction became quiet and much less active. I initially found it agitating and even disorienting.  I questioned if I was losing valuable time and productivity. I experienced frustration and a moment of panic.  But after some time in this less active and definitely quieter state, I settled into a space that incorporated calming and submitting to the different energy that silence affords.  I eventually relaxed and it became not only acceptable but appropriate for what was going on for me, both in that day and in my life in general.  I felt more grounded, mentally clear and emotionally calm.  I discovered and experienced feelings that were probably the source of some of my initial agitation.  As I surrendered to the silence, I eventually discovered a stronger sense of confidence and my spirit hit a higher note of hope.  Once I had moved into acceptance and settled there a bit, I discovered something unexpected.  I discovered fresh energy, mental clarity, and renewed interest in the tasks and events before me.  I found myself in an easy flow of action and felt joy for tasks that previously had a sense of forced or frantic energy.  

Silence even while in motion can sync us to ourselves and God.  Inviting us inward, silence both allows and reveals the layers of thought, insight, and awareness that are available to us within ourselves as we go through our daily lives. It can ground us with Spirit within our spirit and body, mind and emotion. In choosing silence, we can awaken to the existence of a state that is simply not as present when we are hectic and noisy.  Silence allows interacting with others from a more centered and stable space from within ourselves and within the field between us and other(s). Honoring the space for silence within speech and action often yields more genuine self and self-with-other experiences for us in our personal and professional lives. How wondrous is that!

One of my favorite scriptures from the Bible is "Be Still and Know that I am God." Regardless of your understanding or beliefs regarding spirituality or religion, I think this scripture can still apply...Be Still and Know....Be Still and Know that I am.  For me the full scripture applies.  I have a relationship with God and need Him and Her as my Divine Other and Spiritual Source. Becoming still and quiet, I often find profound connection to that Source and Relationship, resulting in my operating in other relationships and situations at both a deeper and higher level. 

I often equate stillness with quietness.  Maybe this goes back to a childhood game that my Kindergarten teacher often played with our class in order to create a moment of calm among a room full of energetic 5 year olds. As I write this, I am struck by the humorous truth and appropriate application of that childhood game of "Still Mouse, Quiet Mouse all around the Cuckoo House!"   Sometimes life can feel a little chaotic, hectic,and yes, a little "Cuckoo!"

Stillness can be a critical part of silence. However, silence need not be equated with stillness.  I have often practiced silence and discovered its incredible energy while active. Each is its own valuable state with its own gifts to offer.

Sometimes moving into silence includes or even requires quieting the environment in which you find yourself.  Turn off the t.v., close your computer screen, turn off the music, set down your iPad and iPhone. When driving, turn off the radio, take off your blue tooth.

Sometimes moving into silence requires that you quiet your restless, angst-ridden, and busy mind and expand the quiet within mentally, emotionally, and spiritually even while the world outside clamors on.

Every state we find ourselves in has its own energy. Each level of mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational activity has its own vibration.  In a musical score, the rest notes - where there is no sound played, where a space in the cadence of the score is held for no music notes to be sounded, often has profound effect on the experience of both the previous notes and the next note or run of notes played.  These rests in the score allow each note to be heard and felt in its uniqueness.  I think this is a parallel for our own lives and our own relationships.  Our own life cadence and musical score includes action and stillness, words and silence.  The pauses in our own lives allow us to more fully experience each moment we live.

On your next break between patients, clients, or students or between one activity and the next:  Take a moment, a full minute or five or 30 and be silent. Try both sitting or standing still and continuing in quiet activity.  Mindfully allow the deep energy of silence to fill you up.  Observe what happens.

Before next month, Invite yourself to take more than a minute, 5 or 30.  Try part or all of a day....

Be Still and Know...

 Silence...

Shhhh...

 Until next month,

Peace...and Quiet,

    Elisabeth

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