Creative Sacred Living Magazine Summer Solstice 2015 | Page 19

Nature has a beautiful way of presenting itself which is not only visually appealing, but also appeals to our auditory senses. People who appreciate the splendor of Nature, frequently like to go on nature walks so as to explore locations that are known to stimulate the mind and body. Sights such as a mesmerizing waterfall or an ice capped mountain peak simply invigorate a person because of their exquisiteness. Similarly there are various sounds of nature which can have a multitude of effects on an individual's mood.

Early every morning, when everything is silent, one can hear a soft breeze blowing as well as the resultant rustling of leaves. If one tries to breathe in sync with the winds it could be quite a relaxing experience. On the other hand, the same winds can sound quite violent during a storm, causing one to feel apprehensive or disturbed. Sailors however take advantage of audio effects, such as thunder, that accompany a storm as they can roughly calculate how long it would be before the sea storm approaches the location of their ship.

While a tempest has quite a rousing effect on our mind; nature has a huge store of sounds that are quite pleasant and are often recorded and then played during meditation classes so as to soothe the mind. The pitter patter of rain, the flowing of a river, or the crashing of waves against the shore are all known to subdue powerful emotions - irrespective of whether they are positive or negative - so as to stimulate calm and focused thoughts.

Similarly, the sounds of various birds and animals can cause different feelings and have various effects on us. A koel rises early and tweets in its characteristic fashion which serves to relax us, whereas a rooster is an excellent alarm clock. Lions on the other hand, are famous for their voracious roars. If a lion roars too much it signals trouble in the jungle, therefore it is an effective warning for nomads and wanderers. Another example is that of a cat's soft purring, which is said to soothe people who are experiencing increased stress and anxiety. Cats are reputed for being a good pet for youngsters as their purring induces an element of natural calm and composure in children.

The sounds of nature can be very unique and are often heard from the most unexpected sources. For example, upon placing a sea shell (especially a conch shell) on one's ear it sounds as though the ocean and its raucous waves are rising and falling within the shell itself.

The most beneficial purpose of all the different sounds of nature is that blind people can use them as a reference to develop strong spatial orientation which ensures they are able to maneuver themselves effectively. In addition to this, there are a multitude of other uses that humans derive from the sounds of nature, and we often tend to take them for granted. It's time we appreciate all the bounties that nature has blessed us with.

By Tarresa J Muffet

Research student pursuing M.S. in Computer Science from The Montana Tech University. When not studying, I enjoy writing and sharing my knowledge with my online followers. I have worked as a Copy writer for a number of publications and have been associated with academic content writing for the past seven years. I have written and gained expertise on a plethora of topics and am currently working on academic blogging. I usually use social networking platforms to share my knowledge and writing journey and for maintaining quality.

The Sounds of Nature And The Purposes They Serve