May 2012: The Power of Silence
How many days could you keep silent? John Francis did it for seventeen years. In 1973, on his 27th birthday, this soulful Pisces decided to refrain from talking for a day. He’d been getting into arguments, and realized he wasn’t really listening to people. At first he struggled, tormented by imagined conversations. But then his mind quieted, and he became more peaceful. His one day of silence stretched into a year. When he reached his next birthday, Francis renewed his vow—continuing to communicate only through pantomime and sign language.
Devastated by an oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, Francis also gave up travel in motorized vehicles. For years, he traipsed through forests and other wild places, listening to nature and meditating. During this time, he walked to Oregon and Montana to obtain degrees, then on to Wisconsin to complete a PhD in environmental studies—all without saying a word.
As Joe Grindon reports in the March issue of Science of Mind magazine, Francis began talking again in 1990, on the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day. Speaking slowly at first, he stated that from that day forward, he would be a voice for the environment.
Now a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Francis recently released a book, The Ragged Edge of Silence. “In order to engage our souls,” he says, “we have to begin to listen. In listening, hopefully, we will move into that place where we can hear the silence. It’s sort of like peace. I envision peace to be very dynamic– anything but a stagnant space. We need to be in that moment, living in that dynamic.”
It may seem odd to sing the praises of silence while we’re on smart, chatty Gemini’s turf. But I was recently reminded of the power of wordless communion at my Gemini New Moon collage workshop, as we held silence while collaging our intentions for clarity, serenity and better communication. It felt so good to be free of idle chatter and let my mind be still—and everyone else seemed to feel the same.
The airy sign of the Twins encourages us to partner with Spirit to tap a deeper intelligence. And, the May 20 Gemini New Moon (4:48 p.m. PDT) is a solar eclipse, in which the Moon (intuition) eclipses the Sun (action). As they join, the luminaries square wordless, mystical Neptune. Couple this event with Venus’ recent retrograde in Gemini (May 15 to June 27), and you have a strong call to go inward—to turn down the volume of the outer world so you can receive messages from your higher self.
The May 20 solar eclipse occurs only two weeks before the rare Venus transit of the Sun (more on that in my next post), three weeks before expansive Jupiter’s entry into Gemini, and five weeks before the first exact Uranus/Pluto square. We are asked to let our intuitive, instinctive selves step forth during this time. Start by taking a vow to minimize verbiage and distractions at the New Moon. Practice silence however you can. Share nothing on Facebook (especially if you’re an over-poster). Write in your journal rather than calling a friend. Take a walk on a quiet road. Turn on soothing music and let your mind rest.
Watch my latest Animoto mini-video to see how I helped a local hair designer gain serenity by transforming the Knowledge gua (related to Gemini) in his salon. Contact me for help on doing the same in your home–only $50. And, here’s a Gemini New Moon ritual for embracing your truth from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.