I had an interesting Zoom call last week with my group in which our guide Peaches brought up an incredibly important point. We spend so little time sometimes in silence, actual silence with ourselves.

We actively avoid it and rush to fill it with some sort of noise or distraction. I have seen this in myself. In avoiding silence we avoid ourselves. If I sit in the quiet, the real me can speak.

I now understand how important it is to shut off all electronics and keep that last hour sacred, and upon waking keep that hour sacred too.

As we drift off to sleep at night and wake in the morning there is a window. Our brainwaves are slowed down and we can come into a calm presence where inspiration can flow in. I have realised now that if I want guidance I have to turn down my noise.

Silence is the key. Relax into the body and as Peaches said, come back to yourself. This was very illuminating to me.

I hadn’t realised the myriad of different ways I’d jump to a distraction instead of sitting with my own self.

Avoidance of self came with scrolling, listening to music, Netflix, alcohol… these things destroy our awareness and keep us in a trance if misused.

I have gotten into the habit lately of long mindful walking, no headphones. It’s crazy how much more you experience. We must watch that we don’t cut ourselves off from ourselves with technology.

“Silence. All humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room,” said Blaise Pascal and, “The quieter you become, the more you’re able to hear,” is from Rumi.