336: The Quaker Practice of Silence with Carrie Newcomer
Sep 17, 2024
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Carrie Newcomer is an Emmy-winning songwriter, educator, and poet known for her ability to find beauty in a broken world. In this conversation, she shares insights on the transformative power of silence from her Quaker practices. Carrie highlights how moments of stillness can enhance personal growth and discernment. They discuss the difference between vocation and career, encouraging listeners to pursue their passions. The importance of communal silence in fostering deep connections and maintaining balance during chaotic times is also explored.
Practicing silence enhances creativity and decision-making by allowing individuals to connect with their inner thoughts and emotions.
Quakerism emphasizes community through shared silence, fostering deep connections and active listening among participants.
Deep dives
The Power of Silence in Decision-Making
Silence plays a crucial role in enhancing decision-making and creativity. Practicing silence allows individuals to listen to their inner thoughts and emotions, helping to clarify their feelings and intentions. Specifically, the guest, Carrie Newcomer, emphasizes that her best ideas and songs emerge from quiet moments of reflection, where she connects with deeper spiritual currents. This practice of attending silent Quaker meetings underscores the importance of creating space to discern one's true path amidst the noise of life.
Understanding Quakerism and Its Values
Quakerism, or the Society of Friends, is rooted in principles of social justice and equality, particularly valuing women's voices. The communal aspect of Quaker practice involves gathering in silence, where participants can share brief messages that arise spontaneously from the silence, fostering a profound connection. Carrie shares that her initial encounter with Quaker meetings in Costa Rica revealed a waiting presence, highlighting a shared human experience that transcends verbal communication. This understanding of Quaker practice reflects a commitment to listening both to oneself and to others, deepening community bonds.
Vocation and Creative Tension
Vocation is described as the thing one cannot ignore, encompassing more than just a career. Carrie Newcomer explains that her journey into music has been driven by an inner calling, which persists despite challenges. This idea ties into the notion of active hope, where individuals must engage in daily actions to bridge the gap between what is and what could be. Carrie emphasizes that remaining true to one’s vocation involves recognizing and nurturing one’s passions, which can be cultivated through both personal reflection and communal support.
My guest today is internationally known as an Emmy-winning songwriter, recording artist, educator, activist, and poet whose work centers around finding beauty in a world that often feels broken. As a practicing Quaker, Carrie Newcomer's albums include Betty's Diner, The Gathering of Spirits and A Permeable Life, which has an accompanying book of poetry and essays. I'm so glad to speak with Carrie today on what we can learn from Quaker practice about silence, about discernment, and our next right thing. Listen in.