In Step 62 “Today I will learn to listen to life” of Steps to Knowledge, we were told to listen, to be present, to listen without judgment.  After the review period of Step 63, Step 64, “Today I will listen to another,” goes a little bit deeper into the nature of listening.

The step doesn’t seem to be asking for what the therapists call “active listening.” I’m not being asked to share what I believe I’m hearing.  The step doesn’t seem to be asking for what the neuro-linguistic programmers call “matching” or “mirroring.” I’m not being asked to do anything in particular to build rapport.

Listening for a melody

I feel I’m being asked to not just listening to the words someone says. I feel I’m being asked to listen to the total package of what they saying by their manner.  I’m listening for a melody.  Sometimes people say things as if the words they were saying were the last words of a patriotic song.  Sometimes people say things as if they were confessing their failure to protect their children.  When I did Step 19, “Today I wish to see,” I recalled this quote from American botanist George Washington Carver (1864-1943):

“Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also – if you love them enough.”

I consider Step 64 to be a listening version of Step 19.  I consider Step 64 to be a listening exercise in loving people.  The step considered the possibility that the person I was listening to might be taken by surprise, and give up one of their secrets. “You will find that they have a greater communication for you than you might at first have anticipated.”

If I am listening for a melody, will I hear the bending of the musical staff in Makrokosmos by American composer George Crumb, the music shown above?  I don’t know, but I know I’m going to try.

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