{"id":75917,"date":"2024-01-29T20:52:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T18:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/?post_type=magazin&#038;p=75917"},"modified":"2026-09-27T15:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T13:59:49","slug":"seven-days-of-silence","status":"publish","type":"magazin","link":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/silence\/seven-days-of-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven days of silence: a self-experiment in a silent retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<div class=\"cover--lead-in has-spacing--none\">\r\n\r\n    \r\n    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__content typo--tiempos\">\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine-category\/silence\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Silence<\/a><\/div>\r\n        <h2 class=\"cover--lead-in__headline headline-size--s\">\r\n            Seven days of silence: a self-experiment in a silent retreat        <\/h2>\r\n\r\n                    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__text\">\r\n                <p>A week without a single word: what it feels like to fall completely silent \u2013 and where your own limits lie.<br \/>\n<strong>By <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/nele-cumart\/\">Nele Cumart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n            <\/div>\r\n        \r\n                    <div class=\"cover--lead-in__author\">\r\n                \r\n                    \r\n                            <figure class=\"cover--lead-in__author__image\">\r\n\r\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/nele-cumart\/\" target=\"\">\r\n                                \r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-68x68.jpg\"\r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-68x68.jpg 68w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-52x52.jpg 52w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nele-Cumart-thumb.jpg 406w\"\r\n                                    width=\"68\"\r\n                                    height=\"68\"\r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n\r\n                                                                    <\/a>\r\n                                \r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                                    <\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in__author -->\r\n        \r\n    <\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in__content -->\r\n\r\n    \r\n        <figure class=\"cover--lead-in__image cover--lead-in__media cover--lead-in__media--image\">\r\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\r\n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2.jpg\"\r\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-1400x2100.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-1050x1575.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-670x1005.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-420x630.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-350x525.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/oezge-OZGE4417-2-150x225.jpg 150w\"\r\n                width=\"1500\"\r\n                height=\"2250\"\r\n                alt=\"Reddish plastic flowers are tangled in front of a young woman\u2019s face, symbolising a restless mind.\"\r\n                style=\"object-position: 37.5% 56.67%\"\r\n            \/>\r\n        <\/figure>\r\n\r\n        \r\n    \r\n<\/div><!-- .cover--lead-in -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--s\"><sup>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/ozgesebzeci.format.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00d6zge Sebzeci<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n    \n    <div id=\"quote-block_e953ae2bc0e178ac6e73aff0c5d18915\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\n            <blockquote>\n                <p><strong>I cried a lot on my walks in the forest<\/strong> \u2013 my body probably had no other outlet for processing all those emotions.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\n\n            <figcaption>\n\n                            <span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n            \n        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\"><strong>Seven days of silence. <\/strong>No phone or laptop, no human interaction. Meditating, eating and sleeping are allowed: what sounds like a punishment is sold as a spiritual retreat. A week-long silent retreat costs at least \u20ac900 \u2013 with no upper limit. Money that most 21-year-olds hardly have to spare for keeping quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">Dutch dancer Samina Soull had neither the money nor the privilege of travelling when she first thought about a silent retreat. At the time, the 21-year-old was living deep in the Swedish forest, on the campus of a dance school not far from Stockholm. In February 2020, a project week there gave her time to try something new. Her tutors didn\u2019t mind exactly what she did \u2013 as long as she could get something out of the<br>project for her personal development. Samina spontaneously decided to go silent on her own. No high costs \u2013 but also no professional support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--xs\"><strong>What were your days like during the silent week?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">In the morning I meditated and had breakfast. Then I went for long walks in the forest. After that I danced and played without music in one of the dance studios. Like a small child, I took balls and sticks and just played. Later I ate again, meditated and wrote. I wrote gratitude lists, things that add value to my life, or my goals for the future. I often went to bed as early as eight and then woke up again early in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>How did you feel in the first few days?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">At first I was busy obsessively sticking to the rules. Time passed incredibly slowly. I was overwhelmed by all the time I suddenly had. Especially in the evenings, I noticed how often I usually sit in front of some screen or other. I cried a lot on my walks in the forest \u2013 my body probably had no other outlet for processing all those emotions. On top of that, I was alone with my thoughts and kept getting more and more in my head. I had to realise: even when everyone is gone, it doesn\u2019t get quiet. I didn\u2019t find peace in the first few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>What were your rules for the seven days?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">1. No talking or making noises<br>2. No using my phone or laptop<br>3. No interacting with anyone<br>4. No music, podcasts or audiobooks<br>5. Smoking only at a short, fixed time each day <br>6. Eating and cooking healthily<br>7. No sport<br>8. I was allowed to read only one book (Of Water and the Spirit) <br>9. I was allowed to write<br>10. I was allowed to meditate and go for walks<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n\n<div class=\"photo-grid grid-layout--2col-5 has-spacing--m\">\n\n            \n\n            <div class=\"photo-grid__image\">\n\n                <figure>\n\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \n                        src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-768x1024.jpg\" \n                        srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-1400x1867.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-1050x1400.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-670x893.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-420x560.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-350x467.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen.jpg 1500w\" \n                        width=\"768\"  \n                        height=\"1024\" \n                        alt=\"\"  \n                    \/>\n\n                                            <span class=\"photo-grid__image__title\">Samina Soull<\/span>\n                    \n                    \n                <\/figure>\n\n            <\/div><!-- photo-grid__image -->    \n\n\n            \n\n                    \n                \n\n            <div class=\"photo-grid__image\">\n\n                <figure>\n\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \n                        src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-768x1024.jpg\" \n                        srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-1400x1867.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-1050x1400.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-670x893.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-420x560.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-350x467.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Burai_Sarah_7TageSchweigen.jpg 1500w\" \n                        width=\"768\"  \n                        height=\"1024\" \n                        alt=\"\"  \n                    \/>\n\n                                            <span class=\"photo-grid__image__title\">\u00c5sa: Samina spent her week of silence right next to this forest in southern Sweden. Photo: Sarah Burai<\/span>\n                    \n                    \n                <\/figure>\n\n            <\/div><!-- photo-grid__image -->    \n\n\n            \n\n            \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n    \n    <div id=\"quote-block_ad0e901b5887f8157cbcfd3c011c237c\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\n            <blockquote>\n                <p><strong>I learned to take time out<\/strong> and listen to my needs.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\n\n            <figcaption>\n\n                            <span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n            \n        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--right\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>When did you find the project hardest?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">On the fourth day. By then I was so lost in my thoughts and so restless \u2013 I thought I was going mad. During the day I had panic attacks and couldn\u2019t stop crying. It was so frightening that I considered stopping the project. Instead, I got help. My flatmate sat with me in the living room. We didn\u2019t talk, but just having him there helped me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>What was the best time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">The very next morning, on the fifth day. I woke up and my head was completely calm, empty and peaceful. All that stress probably had to come out once for me to reach that point of calm. From then on I began to enjoy the project. The following days got better and better. Nothing threw me off balance; it was as if I was meditating all the time. That was the first and only time in my life that I have felt so calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>Did the week change your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default\">Yes, absolutely! I learned to take time out and listen to my needs. My friends have accepted that I sometimes just disappear now. They know it has nothing to do with them when I can\u2019t be reached. When I need my time, I take it! And the people who care about me understand that. Before my time of silence, I probably wouldn\u2019t have dared to stand up for myself and my peace like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default\"><strong>Would you do it again?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--none\">Definitely. I tried it again for a week the following year, but that time I had to stop. I\u2019m moving house right now, and in my own flat I want to keep silent together with other people for a few days in future. In general, I would recommend that everyone try a period of silence once \u2013 but of course only as intensely as you feel able to. You could start by being silent for a few days and adapting the rules a little. And there should always be an emergency contact nearby. You can\u2019t know in advance how your body, mind and soul will react to the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--s with-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-1400x927.png\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-1400x927.png 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-1024x678.png 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-768x508.png 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-1536x1017.png 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-1050x695.png 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-670x444.png 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-420x278.png 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-350x232.png 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2-150x99.png 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Soull_Samina_7TageSchweigen2.png 1568w\"\n                width=\"1400\" \n                height=\"927\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Samina\u2019s notebook with her gratitude lists from the first two days.<\/span>\n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-spacing--default has-spacing--default\">\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n    <div id=\"lead-in-block_9a5f7d7153a96bc411c1388a8ee6d571\" class=\"block-lead-in typo--default font-size--xl has-spacing--s width--default\">\n        <p><strong>Recommended by the editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/collecting\/the-worlds-largest-playmobil-collection\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Collecting<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                The world&#8217;s largest Playmobil collection: 400,000 figures                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>It all began in a child&#8217;s bedroom \u2013 today Oliver Schaffer owns the world&#8217;s largest Playmobil collection, with more than 400,000 figures. A visit to his high-bay warehouse.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-768x614.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1920x1536.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/20241212_FR87726-Playmobilbauer-\u00a9Felix-Kaspar-Rosic_4000px.jpg 2000w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"614\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/masculinity\/being-gay-is-not-a-choice\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Masculinity<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                \u2018Being gay is not a choice\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Dirk and Thomas came out to their families only recently. Today they live together as a couple. In an interview with our author, they talk about their path to an open life.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/masculinity\/i-was-a-hitler-caricature\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Masculinity<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                \u2018I was a Hitler caricature from a bad Hollywood film\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>He used to march through the streets in a leather coat, carrying the Reich war flag, giving hate speeches and dreaming of the great revolution. Today Axel Reitz works in extremism prevention.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janek-Stempel_AxelReitz-1317-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/work\/wanted-travelling-shepherd\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Work<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Wanted: travelling shepherd                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Travelling shepherds are slowly disappearing from the pastures. Why there are still good reasons not to let the profession die out.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Badowski_Annica-Farina_02.jpg 2000w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"Two herding dogs stand alert in the long grass of a meadow, while on the right-hand edge of the picture a person\u2019s arm in a weatherproof jacket, holding a wooden staff, is visible. The scene conveys a working atmosphere in the countryside. Black-and-white photograph.\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/critique-and-debate\/what-some-people-see-in-a-picture-and-others-miss\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Critique and debate<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                What some people see in a picture \u2013 and others miss                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Transcultural perspectives show how differently people read images \u2013 and which hidden clues only some can see.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-768x826.jpeg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-768x826.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-279x300.jpeg 279w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-953x1024.jpeg 953w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-1400x1505.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-1050x1129.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-670x720.jpeg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-420x451.jpeg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-350x376.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-300x322.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2-150x161.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pha_2.jpeg 1414w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"826\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/guides\/portrait-ideas-for-stronger-pictures\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Guides<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Portrait ideas for stronger pictures: rethinking portrait photography.                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Strong portraits move us, shake us up and hold us spellbound. These creative portrait ideas and approaches from working professionals will help you achieve exactly that.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-768x674.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-768x674.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-300x263.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-1024x899.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-1536x1348.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-2048x1797.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-1920x1685.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-1400x1229.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-1050x922.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-670x588.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-420x369.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-350x307.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Portraits-China-Hopsen-150x132.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"674\" \r\n                                    alt=\"A selection of six different portraits, alternating between close and distant\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"btn-wrapper has-spacing--m\">\n        <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/\" target=\"_blank\">TO THE MAGAZINE HOMEPAGE<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":37028,"template":"","tags":[373,422],"magazinkategorie":[420],"class_list":["post-75917","magazin","type-magazin","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gesundheit-psyche-en","tag-religion-spirituality","magazinkategorie-silence"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Seven days of silence: a 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