make space for internalizing, checking in, listening into the middle

tune into yourself

at end of chunk of delivery in presentation, pause to allow questions & insights to surface

slow down to increase awareness, be conscious of how to enter back in

deepening

shift energy

access mystery

privileges different ways of knowing

allow to shift gears

often tremendously useful at points of synthesis

short and long are different, brief pause vs. hour of meditative reflection

access different capacities

            bells used to punctuate

could still be doing activities during some silences, e.g. free-writing

            group do collective task together but in silence feels different than aloud

sometimes becomes a ritual

            or can be invoked when needed

often good at OPENINGS, CLOSINGS

transition point, to shift the energy

and used for accessing mystery, connection with spirit

transcends language

silence when i withhold, choose not to offer feedback, silence in and of itself is neutral, so can be used to nourish or to punish

silence in individual & collective are different

helps us find emergence in the collective & helps us hear individual voice inside

as a regular practice, builds group’s capacity for equanimity both in groups and for individuals meditating

discipline associated with, especially when done as a practice

if silence happens unexpectedly, how go with it?

CAUTIONS & CAVEATS

silence can be invoked oppressively, if the only time a facilitator invokes it is after an expression of anger then it sends message that anger is not acceptable

if internal chatter is too much, then people will likely resist, then may not fit the culture (Peggy’s experience with lawyers & journalists)

very culturally dependent

can be invoked as a balancing FEEDBACK loop, when maybe what’s needed is amplification

couple who don’t talk to each other anymore, silence can be deadly

Santa Rosa Creek Commons meetings shifting from boring/quiet to energetic and engaged