Silence
15th December 2014
15th Dec
Silence
Winter's hold may still be gentle, but due to unseasonably warm weather, winter's true character can only occasionally be felt. On these infrequent occasions the snow and cold winds blow across the mountains leaving sparkling white skylines. These winters days hardly ever seems to get light, so bright days that are accompanied with snow clad mountains are a boon.
Regardless if the weather is characteristically winter or not, the world is slowing down. There is a silence that can almost be felt and seems to emanate from the very heart of the earth. A silence that can grab you if you are unawares leaving you feeling disorientated. The general hubbub we are used to, that we subliminally use to understand our surroundings and our place in it, is gone. The small amount of wildlife still out and about is keeping its self to its self, conserving energy.
The last few days I have been over the Fells of High Street and Thorthwaite Beacon, then across to Ingleborough in the Dales. In both cases I hardly met another soul and the world was sublimely silent. I do not mean silent in that there was absolutely no noise, as there was the sound of the wind, the crunch of my feet on the snow and the odd song of a bird as accidently disturbed it's foraging for food. The silence is the result of stillness and is more profound as it seems that time is suspended and everything is holding its breath, waiting.....waiting for the sun and life to return.
It is only a few more days to the shortest day. The day that the balance between dark and light struggle for dominance. A day where it seems the dark will persist, especially if the weather is poor, but gradually the sun gains ground and I will see my first swallow again.
However, for the moment, I take great joy in the quietness of the world and embrace the silence, as it reaches down deep.
Silence
Winter's hold may still be gentle, but due to unseasonably warm weather, winter's true character can only occasionally be felt. On these infrequent occasions the snow and cold winds blow across the mountains leaving sparkling white skylines. These winters days hardly ever seems to get light, so bright days that are accompanied with snow clad mountains are a boon.
Regardless if the weather is characteristically winter or not, the world is slowing down. There is a silence that can almost be felt and seems to emanate from the very heart of the earth. A silence that can grab you if you are unawares leaving you feeling disorientated. The general hubbub we are used to, that we subliminally use to understand our surroundings and our place in it, is gone. The small amount of wildlife still out and about is keeping its self to its self, conserving energy.
The last few days I have been over the Fells of High Street and Thorthwaite Beacon, then across to Ingleborough in the Dales. In both cases I hardly met another soul and the world was sublimely silent. I do not mean silent in that there was absolutely no noise, as there was the sound of the wind, the crunch of my feet on the snow and the odd song of a bird as accidently disturbed it's foraging for food. The silence is the result of stillness and is more profound as it seems that time is suspended and everything is holding its breath, waiting.....waiting for the sun and life to return.
It is only a few more days to the shortest day. The day that the balance between dark and light struggle for dominance. A day where it seems the dark will persist, especially if the weather is poor, but gradually the sun gains ground and I will see my first swallow again.
However, for the moment, I take great joy in the quietness of the world and embrace the silence, as it reaches down deep.