Life as a Cacophony

Many of the words we use in the English language find their roots in Greek. It’s estimated there are over 150,000 such words. One of those is “cacophony”. The Greek root words are “kak”, which is a prefix, and “phone”. When combined, they mean “bad sound”. Contrast this with the word “symphony” which comes from the Greek root words “syn” and “phone”. When combined they mean “together sound”. As such, cacophony is appropriately referred to as a noisy word!

When we consider the sounds that make up our lives, they are without a doubt a diverse tapestry of loud and soft tones that seem ever present. Dancing through our lives each day, surrounded by this confusing din in the background, it can be a trying experience. So many competing sounds all vying for our ears; seeking an audience. The solicitors are often made up of musicians, politicians, ministers, news reporters, co-workers, friends, family, teachers, YouTube personalities, pod casters, and even strangers.

In addition to these sounds in our lives, there are the less obvious undertones. The sound of traffic, air conditioners, alarms, construction machinery, bells, lawn mowers, cell phones, and doors opening and closing. When we really stop to consider it all, it can easily become a cacophony.

This speaks to the need in our modern-day world for practices in our life that help us stay grounded when we are bombarded by so many jarring and disagreeing sounds. I have found that practices that turn our attention inward are the most effective. Whether that’s a formal meditation practice, yoga, nature walks/hikes, or knitting, the key is to silence the mind long enough to hear the soul’s voice which lies within. When we fail to do this, the cacophonies of this world can swallow us whole, leaving us confused, disoriented and distracted from our true path.

Written by: Urban Shaman