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This month’s journaling prompt was inspired by the book, Be, Awake, Create by Rebekah Younger a book full of ‘mindful practices to spark creativity’. I picked this book up from a yoga studio years ago on a trip to Florida and have bounced through a few of the exercises, always with the intention of doing more and some how it falls back into the ‘need to revisit’ pile of books that is ever growing in the studio. But, its been calling my name again recently and this morning I finally made time to sit down with it.
The first chapter explores John Cage’s composition from 1952 entitled 4’33”. If you have not heard of or seen the performance, I invite you to watch it here before continuing on.
Being a fan of the more conceptual side of the art world, I personally find this piece so intriguing. I appreciate how it challenges what we think of as music and brings attention to the beauty and complexity that can exist, but is often overlooked, within silence.
As today is the longest day of the year, with nature buzzing all around us in celebration, I found the timing of the chapter to be serendipitous. What better time to get outside and listen to nature than on the Summer Solstice?! As such, make time to get outside today with your journal. Set a time for 4’33” (or an even 5 minutes even, if that is more your jam) and simply
l i s t e n.
Notice the sounds.
And then let the journaling muses take you away.
Or, if you prefer a bit of guidance, here are the questions offered at the end of the chapter from Be, Awake, Create:
- What do you hear?
- Where are the sounds happening?
- Where do you actually experience them?
- Is it in your body? If so, where?
- Or is somewhere outside of your body?
- Notice the sounds near you and in the distance.
- How far away can you hear?
- Are the sounds you never noticed before as you go about your daily life?
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