Hello October! This month, we’re talking about noise. And I’ll start by asking the question: what’s noise? I believe many would answer that it’s a loud or disruptive sound. Whether once off or repeated. That causes a surprise, disturbance, irritation, or frustration. In essence, some sort of unwelcome sound. And while this may be accurate; an important emphasis has been omitted.

The Oxford Dictionary defines sound as “vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ears”. Vibrations being “a person’s emotional state, the atmosphere of a place, or the associations of an object, as communicated to and felt by others”. Understand this. There’s no sound heard on earth that doesn’t carry meaning. Read that again! All sound has meaning. It’s “intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed”. Whether the sound of a man talking, humming in the air, music playing in the park, screaming next door, birds chirping, dogs barking, stomachs growling, rain drops falling; etc. Even the sound of crying. Think about it. There’s happy crying; sad crying; scared crying; confused crying; frustrated crying, and so on. The meaning’s not in the doing itself, but in the message communicated by the doing. I’m crying because I’ve given up. I’m crying because I’m angry. And so on. And while the sound may be loud, being “with a great deal of volume”; it’s still communicating something. Because it still carries meaning. So, noise can’t just be the occurrence of a loud sound. It can only truly be noise when that loud sound is heard in its volume, and you – the individual – don’t understand its meaning. So, all you receive is the volume. Which would mean that even the softest sound can be noisy. Simply because noise is determined by something else.

Let’s unpack this further.

The Oxford Dictionary defines noise as “a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance”. Disturbance is defined as “the interruption of a settled and peaceful condition”.  Put differently, disturbance is “a state in which normal mental and physical functioning is disrupted”.

The starting point is to understand that everything, living and non-living, speaks. Because for sound to carry meaning, it must have a voice. Thus, everything (living and non-living) must have a voice. Every creature – which means everything created by God and man; has a voice. You heard me right. All of it! Interestingly, voice is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the sound produced in a person’s larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song”, thereby limiting its application only to human beings. Kind of how the definition of sound limits hearing only to human beings and animals. Now, in a third dimensional world, which is where most live; this may be true. Because that’s the reality. But since higher realms do exist, with differing vantage points of sight and hearing, and consequently other realities, these definitions can be challenged. But that’s not for today. However, it doesn’t stop there. Not everything that speaks produces a sound. That is, not every voice produces a sound. It’s possible to speak but not say anything of value. Because meaning is in the sound and not the voice. While you can’t have a sound without a voice; you can have a voice without a sound. It turns on the nature of vibrations produced; with the vibrations produced by voices differing from the vibrations produced by sound.

Now. Follow me keenly.

Whether you believe it or not: the birds in the air, trees in the field, cars on the streets, dogs in their gardens, and so on; all speak. Even the chair you’re seated on; the house you live in; and the shoes you wear. I could go on. The assumption that the rest of creation doesn’t speak because they don’t have voices according to the prevailing third dimensional definitions is incorrect. Man isn’t the only one speaking on earth. Every creature has a voice. And produces vibrations based off that. Because all creation has a language. This means that in paying attention to what is said by human beings only, and heard by human beings and animals only, the greater part of creation (living and non-living) that’s also speaking and hearing on a daily basis isn’t heard by man. And as a result, so much is missed by man every day. And how do I know this? Because every day, many are hearing from all creatures what the majority are completely oblivious to. And that’s the truth.

But back to the current discussion. As mentioned above, noise occurs when sound causes a disturbance. Either because it’s loud or annoying or for whatever other reason. Which means that sound which doesn’t cause a disturbance isn’t noise. Even if it’s loud. The issue being the disturbance caused by the sound and not the existence of the sound itself. Seems obvious. But I’m going somewhere. If you catch the meaning associated with a sound, even if it’s loud; that sound isn’t noise to you. It may be loud. But it’s not noise. However, if all you hear is the volume of the sound, without picking the meaning; then it’ll be noise to you. Even if it wasn’t very loud. Thus, the problem isn’t the bang that caused you to fall off your chair; or the dog barking incessantly next door and disturbing your peaceful rest; or the screeching tyres on the street that could pop your ear drums; or the loud cackle of a person roaring with laughter in the cinema. The problem’s that you don’t understand what’s being communicated by these sounds. As a result, you’re confused. That is, with “uncertainty about what is happening, intended or required”. In “a state of being bewildered or unclear in one’s mind about something”. So, you write it off as noise.

Let’s go deeper.

Wikipedia defines noise as “unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arises when the brain receives and perceives a sound”. This definition draws a distinction between noise and sound based on what the brain is able to receive and perceive as sound. If no sound is received in the brain, it’s noise. But if a sound can be processed by the brain, it isn’t noise.

And that’s the point!

Every sound carries meaning. While some meanings may be insignificant, the sounds are still communicating something. The problem’s that when the meanings communicated are not heard, it may be concluded that the sound is noise. Because it’s not understood the way it should be. And get this. If several sounds emitted in the same place are not understood, they collectively produce an even greater noise. Meanings may be communicated by the individual voices, through the different vibrations emitted; but the hearers are unable to pick them. In the same vein, several voices in the same place that don’t sound will collectively produce an even greater noise. Because they carry no distinction or signification amongst them; the same vibrations are heard from all of the voices. Imagine a room filled with people talking at the same time. The reason it can produce noise isn’t because they’re talking over each other. Rather, it’s because no meaning is communicated by the individual voices. So, they collectively produce an even greater noise.

As human beings, while each of us voices every day, not all of us sound. That is, for some; what’s communicated doesn’t carry any weight or significance in any realm or dimension. It isn’t of any value; often because what’s said is exactly what everyone else is saying. So, it’s boring, predictable, and common. Nothing spoken excites or moves one in any particular direction or carries the potential or power to define anything big. The voice being just one of the masses. However, those who sound communicate meanings; and what’s communicated can be enough to change the whole world and define the direction tomorrow will take. Impacting many and lasting through generations. Because it’s distinct, unique, and set apart. The man may be speaking amidst a myriad of voices. But his voice is heard and understood different to the rest; simply because a unique sound reverberates through the atmosphere from his vibrations, causing all creation to pause and listen to him.

Now, if you’ve understood me to this point, well done! Then, I believe two things are needful.

Firstly. You must ensure that you not only voice, but that your voice carries a sound that communicates a clear and distinct meaning to all creation. Such that when you speak, you’re uniquely heard and understood; causing all creatures to respond to you. You must define your sound and resist the comforts that come with being a voice amongst the masses. Which means your voice will be located in the noise. Nothing personal will translate from your vibrations. However, this will require that you take the time to carve out your individual space. And this is a process. One that requires using your voice with wisdom. But that’s a whole other discussion.

Secondly. You must learn to pick meaning from the sounds emitted by all creatures around you. Because if you don’t, you may miss something important. The next big idea. The solution to that mountain you’ve been circling for many years. The cure for cancer. Guidance on the life changing decision you’re about to make. The wisdom you need for your next level. And so on. You could literally be derailed or thrown off course simply because you disregarded and discounted as noise what was a clear instruction for you. And unfortunately turned left when you should’ve turned right. How many have lost so much (time; key relationships; answers; and even their lives, etc.) simply because they didn’t receive the sounds sent to instruct them at the time they should’ve! And we could literally pause here and go even deeper…

But moving along. We live in a world of many voices. Some of which carry distinct sounds. And every day, learned men, who are attuned and trained to hear and separate sound from noise are picking meaning all around and defining many things. New inventions and innovations. Exploring new realms. Breaking barriers. Unlocking wealth. Changing policy direction. Influencing the development of law. Shifting political and economic agendas. Commanding nations. Challenging philosophies and ideologies. And so on.

Tsim & Bibi should sound. You should sound. And I should sound. But what’s spoken? This blog is my attempt at explaining this thought in its simplicity. But don’t be deceived. This isn’t a simple conversation. And I’ve said many things. But if you can remember one thing. Let it be that what’s noise to you may literally be music to another. Wake up!

Yours in baking,

Chi