Listening with Darkness

Christine Hvidt

 

Listening with Darkness first found its form and manifestation as a contribution to the book SlowTechnology Reader, Edited by Carolyn F. Strauss and published by Valiz. The below text was the foundation for a Listening with Darkness session in Copenhagen, February 2024, with Bureau for Listening and Carolyn f. Strauss. Parts of the text grew from the thesis “Some Principles for Symbiotic Practices” (C Hvidt, 2023).

The listening with Darkness sessions

explores ways of listening

with and to

what is and appears

in the darkness

with Darkness

 

The literal darkness — the absence of sunlight —
and the personal, internal darkness
— those suppressed, ignored, overlooked
or just slow or less loud
emotions, sensations,
feelings, experiences, thoughts and more
inhabiting your body for the time being

 

I invite you to give attention and space for
what reveals itself to/with you when listening
Internally
Externally

 

Inspired by the animistic Norse shamanic traditions
for seeking advice or guidance
from spirits of the larger community of life
during the dark hours
like the Sitting rituals ( in Danish “udesidning”),
these methods brings into attention
the other depths of ourselves and other creatures
The other dimensions of life and the worlds that holds it

 

In the darkness beings and creatures
shape shift and show themselves
through other appearances
than our daylight conceptions suggest

 

I invite you to listen to the soundings and expressions
of known or unknown unfamiliar natures

 

The unknown is a twin to opacity
a concept conceived by Martinique activist philosopher Eduard Glissant

 

Opacity is understood as that which cannot be grasped

Impenetrable

That which is the opposite of the transparent

reductionist Western continental way of understanding —

that which requires solid measures

of things and quantities(1)

 

Transparency principally
is a tool for an oppressor
demanding of the oppressed to reveal themselves
To let them be ‘known’

 

Opacity means to accept the differences
and relating to the others’ differences
“Without creating a hierarchy
I relate it to my norm”(2)

 

We are granted access to
a limited
somewhat fragmented glimpse of it all
We must accept the nature of limited access
to the world from our perspective

 

I invite you to relate the Darkness and

shadow textures and creatures to your norm

 

Most parts of electricity-based societies
function independently of the natural cycles
and offset biological rhythms
with sound, light and chemical pollution
Here darkness is unwanted and we seek ‘enlightenment’
And transparency of phenomena
And comfort and convenience of technological advancement

 

I invite you to embrace Darkness and challenge your habitual rhythms and thresholds of comfort

 

Listening
As an act of internal and external sonic attention,
Listening
as a gesture of lending your somatic and mindful awareness
to the place you attend to
Listening
is to give attention
and time

 

Giving attention to
ourselves
and a place
A place with the beings and creatures
that makes it a place
giving attention to our kindred spirits
and to other non-kindred creatures
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity “
Simone Weill once expressed

 

Notes:

1) Glissant, “For Opacity”, 190 // full reference : Glissant, Éduard.”For Opacity.” In Poetics of Relation. Translated 1 by Betsy Wing, 189 -194. United States of America: The University of Michigan Press, 1997.
2) ibid. 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LISTENING WITH DARKNESS
Duration: 3 hours (or less of more. The time that you can/want to give and find relevant)

Equipement and preparation: Clothing that make you feel comfortable in your body for the time you plan to sit out. Fast a few hours before the session. Put you phone on silent mode and don’t look at it during the session.

—

Settle into a place
Find a place that feels inviting and welcoming to you

 

Sit comfortably on the ground or where it makes sense in this place
Let your body and mind settle into the place in a comfortable position

 

Make rounds of body scans with attention to the different parts of the body

 

Listen to what feelings, sensations, emotions, or thoughts arise
Be with it. Acknowledge them. But dont dont go deep into it, let it be and move your
attention to next point.

 

At some point, when you’ve settled into the place, direct your attention to the external world, and
be open to what comes to you — sensations, expressions or thoughts of the place

—

Modes of listening with Darkness
For the rest of the time, listen to what is present with you and appears in the darkness — listen with Darkness with focus on the following aspects:

1) Internal listening to your personal darkness

 

2) External listening to the exterior community of alive beings in the darkness and Darkness itself

 

3) Listening — to the sonic or even musical aspects of what expresses itself

 

4) Listening — attuning to and being available to what expresses itself to you and giving these expressions attention with your full being

 

You might intentionally shift focus or let yourself be carried by what come to your attention. It is open, and there is no right or wrong way to do it.

 

I invite you to listen in the same position in stillness and explore what appears to you through these different modes. I invite you to explore sensations of discomfort. However, to a certain limit: it’s important to listen to your body, and if it’s too extreme or unbearable for you, do what you need to go through the session. Get up and move, drink water/tea, eat.

 

After listening for the desired time, give thanks for the experience and company to the Darkness and the place along with the beings there. Free write or record your experience immediately after. Keep your notes to explore how your relation with darkness/Darkness develops.

 

The best of luck with your encounters
I thank you for your attention