One of the most important things that we as humans can do if we really want to be able to hear and communicate with other species is to BE QUIET.
Our human world is NOISY. Our human language is NOISY. Our internal world is also often NOISY, with thoughts, worries, and ideas.
If we can learn to be quiet, to cultivate inner and outer silence, we will create space where we can hear and understand other species, and where they will be able to be comfortable with us.
Many animals have communicated to me over the years about how NOISY they feel humans, and the human world are. When the human world shut down during the pandemic, many animals shared that their lives improved greatly because of the reduction in human activity and noise.
Cultivating quiet does not have to be hard, and it does not necessarily mean that you need to meditate for hours on end. What is needed is to create enough space in our lives where we can slow down, be present to all of the life around us, and be still.
Here are some ideas for cultivating more quiet in your life:
Turn off phone, notifications, and background noise such as TV or music for periods of time throughout the day. Use this time to sit quietly with an animal, a plant, a tree…whether indoors or outdoors.
Find a place in or near your home where you can be free of distractions. This might be in your garden or yard, in a nearby park, or in a quiet room. Communicate with those you live with that you need some quiet time and request that you not be disturbed, even if just for a few minutes.
Be aware of too much talking. Often we humans are uncomfortable with silence, and so fill the space with unnecessary chatter. This is actually a habit–and it’s one that can disconnect us from the rest of the world, including all of the other species who do not share our human language. Notice your urge to talk, to fill the space, and choose to do something different. Engage your family and friends in this practice if they are open to it. Notice the sense of quiet and peace when the talking stops.
Notice your INNER noise. Learning to quiet our minds, our internal voices, our thoughts, worries, list-making…all of the things we are in the habit of doing…can take practice. The first thing is just to notice it. And then, with a lot of gentleness, simply bring your focus elsewhere. You could focus on your breath, or on the sensations of your body sitting in the chair, or on the bird feeders outside your window. Cultivate opportunities to allow your mind to settle and become quiet. A formal meditation practice can help with this–but it is not the only way.
Allow your other-than-human friends to help you.
- Sit with your back against a tree
- Walk your dog without a phone or other distractions
- Sit quietly with your animal, doing nothing else but simply being with them
- Spend time in nature alone, with the plants, animals and trees, without doing anything that adds noise to the environment.
If you can make time in your day, even in small moments of a few minutes at a time, to cultivate quiet, silence, and peace in your inner and outer world, you will find that your connection and communication with animals and all life begins to awaken and blossom.
