Now is the Time: Take a Soundwalk

In these days and weeks of isolation during the COVID pandemic, we can begin to lose focus and get caught in the anxiety and stress of headlines and social media.

Now is a better time than ever to take a soundwalk. A “soundwalk” is a long walk in which you spend time listening to the world around you. Using your ears becomes the most important of the sensesr, less so than our vision, taste, touch, or smell. Deepening our listening practice can help bring us back to the moment, getting in touch with what’s important in life.

Here are some tips for how to deepen your listening during self-isolation:

   Soundwalk for Mindful Listening

• Perhaps you are feeling dissociated or disconnected from yourself. If you have even ten minutes to spare, take a moment to take a soundwalk.

• Go outside and begin walking. What do you hear? Listen for:

  • The rhythm of your own steps

  • The sounds of people

  • The sounds of machines

  • The sounds of nature

  • Any ambient sounds

• Do some sounds feel alarming to you? Do some sounds feel relaxing? Do some sounds remind you of anything? Why do they remind you of those things?

• If you could change anything about your sound environment, what would it be? Can you make the change by moving to a new location? Would you rather be in a quieter or a louder place?

• How has the world of sound changed in recent weeks? Do you notice anything different? Is there anything you like or dislike about this change?

• What can you hear now that you couldn’t hear before?

• What do you notice about the sounds of your own body and breathing within this new soundscape? Are you moving more slowly? Are you breathing more deeply?

• Feel free to spend some time writing, making music, or creating art about this experience once you come home.