An observation in the dark
3:00 a.m. If it's possible to truly dislike an hour of the day, this one gets my vote. I'm awake far too often at this hour. Is it my changing middle aged body clock? Is it habit? Is it just the delusion that I'm still young and can go without sleep without paying for it? I don't know.
I do know that this is a still and silent hour. Those are states that I normally embrace, but lately I've been running from them. I've always loved silence because in its emptiness, I heard what I needed to hear. Silence provided the conduit to creativity, to recharging my batteries, to connection with God/dess. Now, in the silence, I hear nothing but a squeaking treadmill of old, destructive thoughts. I'm convinced that escaping the contents of our minds is why we so often turn on the noise.
That distraction isn't working for me, and neither is silence. The challenge then is to find a new way to find what silence once gave me. I'm a creature of routine, an if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it kind of girl, and I don't want to admit that my silent ways of reaching my better self and my Creator are broken. I also wonder if even though I'm not turning on the noise, I'm still holding back from entering the silence.
One of my favorite meditation images has been floating in a beautiful pool of water. It's outdoors and surrounded by trees and other greenery. The temperature of both the air and the water are perfect, cool enough to be refreshing, warm enough to be soothing. There's a soft breeze, and it's blowing leaves onto the pool. Those leaves are my thoughts, and as they get closer to me, I gently blow them away until the water and I am still again. I think I've reversed the process. I'm inhaling, taking in and holding every thought, letting them choke me.
Through difficult times, I often have to remind myself to take a deep breath. Filling my lungs with fresh air gives my body part of its essential survival fuel. It's time to remember to exhale. Anything you hold onto either too long for the wrong reasons eventually turns stale and rots.
3:00 a.m. It's quiet and still, and I've been reminded to empty myself to renew myself. There has to be room for the silence to enter me. This night, this morning, this is an hour to enjoy.
This entry is cross posted at Women On.
I do know that this is a still and silent hour. Those are states that I normally embrace, but lately I've been running from them. I've always loved silence because in its emptiness, I heard what I needed to hear. Silence provided the conduit to creativity, to recharging my batteries, to connection with God/dess. Now, in the silence, I hear nothing but a squeaking treadmill of old, destructive thoughts. I'm convinced that escaping the contents of our minds is why we so often turn on the noise.
That distraction isn't working for me, and neither is silence. The challenge then is to find a new way to find what silence once gave me. I'm a creature of routine, an if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it kind of girl, and I don't want to admit that my silent ways of reaching my better self and my Creator are broken. I also wonder if even though I'm not turning on the noise, I'm still holding back from entering the silence.
One of my favorite meditation images has been floating in a beautiful pool of water. It's outdoors and surrounded by trees and other greenery. The temperature of both the air and the water are perfect, cool enough to be refreshing, warm enough to be soothing. There's a soft breeze, and it's blowing leaves onto the pool. Those leaves are my thoughts, and as they get closer to me, I gently blow them away until the water and I am still again. I think I've reversed the process. I'm inhaling, taking in and holding every thought, letting them choke me.
Through difficult times, I often have to remind myself to take a deep breath. Filling my lungs with fresh air gives my body part of its essential survival fuel. It's time to remember to exhale. Anything you hold onto either too long for the wrong reasons eventually turns stale and rots.
3:00 a.m. It's quiet and still, and I've been reminded to empty myself to renew myself. There has to be room for the silence to enter me. This night, this morning, this is an hour to enjoy.
This entry is cross posted at Women On.
posted by Cynthia at
3:54 AM
5 Comments:
It's definitely a delicate balance. Strange hearing that from someone who lives in a world of silence. Yet I know there are those moments the noise within your head won't quiet down, won't still those errant thoughts. I've found outside, cold, wind, nature...it doesn't matter. When I can't get rid of the noise, I find I have to be outside, somehow even in those early morn. hours it evaporates with the sunrise, sunset, wind, rain, within the beauty of nature. I have a feeling your finding your peace little by little. (Hugs)Indigo
I often wake at 4 a.m. Usually to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. Once I return to bed, I rarely fall back to sleep immediately. Often I try to clear my head and listen to the night silence. Sometimes in the silence I feel the presence of the creator who says that we will hear his voice in the silence.
I do believe poor sleep is tied to menopause. I am hoping it will end soon because when I lose 2 hours sleep and have to get up at 7 I am often tired for the day. Peace be with you.
The silence scares me. My thoughts always bring on anxiety and then that deep feeling of depression. So, I try to drown them out with the drone of a fan...or the most boring TV show I can find. Anything to avoid the silence.
I'm going to have to step out and learn how to embrace that silence somehow without all the things that follow it. Right now, I just dont know how to do it.
Sending you much love Cynthia...
Connie
I don't know that I've ever experienced silence in the way you describe. It seems my head is always full. Maybe a little silence would help me finally sort things out.
That`s a beautiful image you have, Cynthia.
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