Kyle Echemendia: Under the Ice

The other day in class on October 9th we were talking a little about silence and how it can correlate with a sacred ritual. When reading Landscapes of the Sacred on page 89 about the passage Under the Ice the author talks about a certain Eskimo ritual. In order for an Eskimo to capture and eat a seal they must sit in silence over their breathing hole to wait for the opportune moment to strike. "Only through incredible sustained silence will he bring food home for the day." The Eskimo are training themselves to sit in absolute silence almost like a prayer it becomes a spiritual exercise. Finding oneself in absolute silence can make one separate themselves from the outside world and close off their mind to hear the voice of God or whoever or whatever one believes in. I just find it interesting how a little bit of silence can make someone find peace.