There is not enough silence in this world.

There so few places where we can go these days where there is not a sound of humankind to be heard. It’s really hard to find a remaining place where nature’s voice still reigns supreme.

We are so afraid of silence that we fill it at every opportunity. As soon as there are no distractions, the headphones go in. I speak as a mountain guide, who sees this happen with so many of my clients.
Is this a learned behaviour, or is it a natural tendency of ours? Deep thinking, reflection and creativity come forth from silence, so if we stifle the silence in our generation, what will become of them?

The metaphor of waking up is an apt one. Only those who are awake have the courage to embrace silence.

One of the most difficult parts of learning meditation, is learning how to still our thoughts. How do we calm the constant chatter in our heads? Just take a few seconds now to examine how many thoughts are buzzing round your head. This is the biggest hindrance for beginners on the path of meditation, and indeed is so important that there are actually whole schools of meditation focused entirely on settling the mind and stepping into the void of thoughtless silence.
Yet it is not a skill that is impossible to learn. By listening to the silence of nature, we find that it is not actually as quiet as we had first imagined. Trying to hear the distant charter of bird song over the sound of the breeze in the tree tops can be very rewarding. Firstly, this kind of natural quiet is healing for our souls and calming to our minds. Secondly, deliberately listening to the quiet and subtle sounds in nature, such as far off bird song, is good practice for when we begin to move out awareness into the subtle realms of the unseen world, and listen for the still small voice of spirit.
This must be why nature is so often seen as a portal or doorway into the other world. We have only to develop our subtle senses in order to discover these doorways all around us.
Just beware, if you begin to raise your awareness to this level, that the first things you encounter may not seem nice. The Dweller on the Threshold is always waiting, seeking to deny access of the other world to those who are not yet ready to enter it. This is a natural and needed defence system to the subtle realms, and the key to overcoming it must be found within oneself.

Blessings.