Ohikulumisen

Ohikulumisen is a fictional sociocultural concept used in Finnish-language speculative fiction to describe a ritual practice intended to recalibrate social energy within a community. The term is a neologism formed as a compound of elements that suggest stepping aside and letting attention wane from constant activity; it is not an established real-world term. In the imagined setting, ohikulumisen arises in response to urban sensory overload and the pressures of rapid communication.

Definition and practice: The core idea is a deliberately timed pause during communal events in which participants refrain from casual conversation, digital messaging, and task-oriented dialogue for a designated period—commonly several minutes to a quarter of an hour. The pause is typically followed by a quiet reentry, with preferences for observing surroundings, listening to ambient sound, or sharing brief reflections. Post-pause interactions often emphasize listening and empathy rather than productivity.

Contexts and variants: Ohikulumisen appears in diverse settings within the fiction, including schools, neighborhood gatherings, and workplace meetings. Variants may change the length, the form of the pause, or whether participation is voluntary or collective.

Purpose and themes: In narrative terms, the practice is used to explore themes of attention, burnout, communal resilience, and the dialectic between individual autonomy and collective well-being. Debates within the works concern its inclusivity, potential for performative signaling, and its practical effects on group dynamics.

Note: This article treats ohikulumisen as a fictional concept created for speculative fiction and does not describe a real-world practice. See also mindfulness, ritual, and social practices.