Quoting Silence, September, 2026:
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A post throughout each week of the month, offering quotes and resources linked to one contemporary author who writes about silence and its role as a spiritual discipline. |
Different weeks of the month offer different resources, as below:
- first week: a short, image-backed quote with links to associated resources in the accompanying text
- middle weeks: a short, image-backed quote taken from a longer one by the author, found below the image
- last week: a short quote and questions to encourage reflection on all the month's quotations and images
Elizabeth Mills, our author for September, has decades of engagement with silence as a spiritual discipline and over the years has written many reflections and poems to communicate some of her encounters with silence to others.
You can find out more about her book, In the Stillness: Poems, Prayers, Reflections (Inner Light Books, 2018), from which this month's quotes are taken, by clicking here. Originally, Elizabeth had planned for the book to be called In the Silence.
You can find out more about her book, In the Stillness: Poems, Prayers, Reflections (Inner Light Books, 2018), from which this month's quotes are taken, by clicking here. Originally, Elizabeth had planned for the book to be called In the Silence.
Audio resources
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For a 5 minute audio guided meditation to use with each week's short quote, click play on the image. To pause and restart click the same place.
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An audio guided Lectio Divina for the longer quotes. Click play on the image above. Allow 10-15 minutes for this. For a text version, click the button.
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Monday 7th September, 2026
Elizabeth Mills, In the Stillness (Inner Light Books, 2018), 33.
Image: Jason Mavrommatis, Petra, Greece, unsplash.com/@jasonblackeye
To read more about Elizabeth Mills' book, from which this month's quotes are taken, click here.
This month, we have what is the very occasional privilege of our author writing their own bio to begin the month for the 'Quoting Silence' series. Elizabeth writes:
After obtaining a first-class honours degree in Early Childhood Education, I taught children with special educational needs. Throughout my life, I have been involved in a variety of caring roles, including working with the frail and elderly; and working as a University Chaplain and subsequently as a Hospital Chaplain. Listening has always been an important part of all these roles.
First drawn to stillness and silence in my mid-20s, I have sought a contemplative path ever since. I have maintained this practice both alone and with others, forming deep friendships along the way and always grateful for the guidance and support of others. I have led quiet days and offered Taizé services, seeking to offer opportunities for people to experience and explore this way of quiet reflection and meditation. My hope is to encourage and support others on this path, believing all of us to be ‘beginners in prayer’.
I am a member of the Retreat Association, the Quiet Garden Trust and the Association of Christian Writers. I have had two books published: In the Stillness is published by Inner Light Books and Our Lord’s Prayer for Children was published by Veritas, but sadly they ceased trading last year, so the book is no longer available.
In addition, I have written for Quaker journals and magazines, including Quaker Voices and Towards Wholeness as well as for local churches. I have been a regular contributor to The Julian Meetings Magazine over many years. I self-published several booklets, which have had wonderful support, including from Father Laurence Freeman and Rev’d Philip Roderick. They are Reflections for the Journey;The Beauty of Stillness; Beside the Still Waters; and many years ago, Reflections for Lent.
Two pieces from In the Stillness have been set to music by an amazingly talented female, black American composer, B. E. Boykin. For her website, see here. The first piece, titled from the book, was premiered at St Mark’s Cathedral and sung by the Cathedral Choir as part of their 'O' Antiphons Advent liturgy in December 2024: see here.
The second piece, 'The Space Within', was premiered by Slippery Rock University Choir in April 2025: see here.
I am on Instagram and WordPress both under 'The Contemplative Path, Lighting the Way': see here.
Monday 14th September, 2026
Elizabeth Mills, In the Stillness (Inner Light Books, 2018), 45.
Image: ChatGPT 5.5 generated, from an original by Håkon Grimstad, Sweeden, unsplash.com/@grimstad
The short, image-backed quote, above, is taken from this week's longer quote, below, on page 45 of Elizabeth Mills' book. To read more about her book, from which this month's quotes are taken, click here.
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Listen to this week's longer quote:
To listen to the longer quote, below, being read, click the play button on the small version of the image next to or below this text. To see the image full screen as you listen, click the expand screen icon in the corner. |
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There is a joy in silence
When there appears to be nothing going on
From the outside
Inside there is a party
A celebration
A reunion
There are no words to describe this joy
It can only be known
Experienced
It may not come easily
But persevere
For the Joy is there
And waits to welcome us into
The Warmth of its Embrace
Come and feel
The immediacy of this Love
And the effervescence of the Spirit
Overflowing with sparkle
And delight
At the intimacy of meeting
And the presence of Love within
This day and every day
Amen
Monday 21st September, 2026
Elizabeth Mills, In the Stillness (Inner Light Books, 2018), 20.
Image: Anh Nguyen, Brooklyn, NY, unsplash.com/@pwing/collections
The short, image-backed quote, above, is taken from this week's longer quote, below, on page 20 of Elizabeth Mills' book. To read more about her book, from which this month's quotes are taken, click here.
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Listen to this week's longer quote:
To listen to the longer quote, below, being read, click the play button on the small version of the image next to or below this text. To see the image full screen as you listen, click the expand screen icon in the corner. |
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Go deep into the silence
The silence that heals
The silence that listens
The silence that Loves
All that is found in the silence is unconditional
All that is offered in the silence is free
It is the Great gift
There — for the taking
Only we must avail ourselves of it
And become still
In the silence of the heart
God speaks
And so it is
And always shall be
This day and every day
Amen
Monday 28th September, 2026
Elizabeth Mills, In the Stillness (Inner Light Books, 2018), 56.
Image: Fethi Bouhaouchine, Algeria, unsplash.com/@titouhwayne
The last week of each month offers some questions to help you reflect further on its quotations and images, and how they resonate with your own spiritual journey and relationship with God.
You can engage with these using the written or audio versions of the questions, below.
You can engage with these using the written or audio versions of the questions, below.
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Listen to the reflection questions:
To listen to the reflection questions, below, being read, click the play button on the 'Reflect ...' image next to or below this text. To see the image full screen as you listen, click the expand screen icon in the corner. |
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Reflection questions:
Before reflecting on this month's quotes and images, take time to re-ground yourself in your body.
Perhaps take a few slow breaths, feel your feet on the floor and be aware of how your body feels in this moment.
1) Read back over or listen again to this month's quotes and spend time looking at their associated images. As you do so, note a phrase or image that draws your attention. If this is a phrase, you might like to write this out in a journal or on a piece of paper where you will see it regularly. Consider reading aloud several times what you have written to help the words sink more deeply into your heart. If an image resonates with you, let your gaze rest lightly on it for a couple of minutes, allowing it to speak to your heart. Consider using it as a screensaver for a while, or perhaps print it out and place it somewhere that you will see it often.
2) What emerges as you sit with the phrase or image that attracted your attention? Does a new insight or a question, emotion or sensation arise? Take some time to write down and ponder on whatever you notice.
3) Where can you see hope in the midst of what is emerging in you, for yourself, your neighbour, your community, or the planet? How might this impact your daily life and those with whom you share it?
4) In the days and weeks to come, how can you stay open to what you have discovered from your reflections?
Take some time to give thanks for the hope that you have found in this month's quotes and images.