tihkuvana

Tihkuvana is a fictional ceremonial concept used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to describe a communal practice of deliberate listening and restraint during decision making. The term is typically presented as part of the language and culture of a hypothetical people, with etymology often given as tihku meaning quiet or still and vana meaning way or practice.

In practice, tihkuvana centers on gatherings where participants refrain from speaking for a set period. This silence is sometimes accompanied by coordinated rituals such as slow breathing, shared stillness, or measured movement before any discussion begins. After the silent interval, a facilitator may invite a single speaker or representatives from different groups to offer concise statements, with consensus or iterative rounds guiding conclusions rather than formal voting.

Purpose and significance of tihkuvana include promoting careful listening, reducing impulsive rhetoric, and fostering communal investment in outcomes. It is frequently described as a mechanism to elevate marginalized voices by structuring space for quiet reflection before contributions are made. In many in-world accounts, tihkuvana also functions as a test of patience, empathy, and self-control within political or ceremonial contexts.

Within literature and game design, tihkuvana is often cited as an example of a non-adversarial governance ritual or a cultural practice that emphasizes harmony and deliberation. Variants exist across imagined communities, ranging from short, routine pauses in daily governance to extended periods of silence during high-stakes negotiations.