Writing here, in a journal of silence studies, strangely, however thankfully, silence appears to me to be a mental abstraction. In my view, an experience of silence signals deep trouble. Is there not inevitably some thought arising in the mind? Such inner verbalisation is hardly an experience of silence. Beyond arising thought, at the least, are there not the birds singing, or the trees...
Engaging in silent witness within structured art and mindfulness practices allows for a variety of benefits. Silent witness involves the absence of verbal response—withholding commentary, including communications of judgement, criticism, or (mis)interpretation. Thus, it enables a liberating learning space for spontaneous self-inquiry and measured risk-taking. This conceptual article explores a...