I recently discovered this special spot near my new home in southwest Nova Scotia, Canada. |
For many years my main priority, my passion, has been to experience as much nature as possible. Our connection to nature is not something that is nice to have, or extra. Our survival depends on recognizing our place in the web of life. A sit spot helps to do just that.
It doesn't matter what you call it, a sit spot, special place, secret spot, or medicine site, the benefits are the same. Simply put, a sit spot is a place to go to connect to nature in a deep and disciplined way. Everyone should have one or more special spots to visit.
Especially kids. The sooner you start, the better.
This spot is a good place to witness the throb of life in the Acadian Forest. |
There are a few things to consider when deciding on, and enjoying your particular spot, or spots. The most important is to make your chosen area easily accessible.
- Choose a spot outside, preferably at ground level and with a few of the surrounding area. If it takes longer than a couple of minutes to get there, it is too far away.
- Any spot will do - chair outside your door, a bench in the yard, or sitting cross legged in the grass. The easier it is to access, the fewer excuses you will have for not visiting it regularly.
- Once in your spot, rest comfortably. Don't move, breath deeply.
- Sit for a while. It can take several minutes for your body and mind to relax into it, so try from 10 to 30 minutes, or more.
- Be still, quiet, and aware of your surroundings.
- Observe. What do you see? Hear? Feel? What does it smell like?
- Visit your sit spot every day, or as regular as possible. An every day sit schedule is something to work toward.
- After a while, you might consider using a journal to record your discoveries, experiences, and ah - ha moments while in your special spot.
- Ask questions. What does it all mean? What is it trying to teach you?
- Help someone else establish their own sit spot schedule. It would be a most valuable gift.
I have always had special natural areas that I like to revisit often. They have been both around home, and some a bit farther away. When I miss out on sit spot visits I feel deprived. I can feel it in my mood and energy levels.
Ultimately, nature deficit disorder can lead to catastrophic results, including thinking that the economy is more important than the environment.
Ultimately, nature deficit disorder can lead to catastrophic results, including thinking that the economy is more important than the environment.
No terrorism here. No coups, no hate or ugliness. Those are the poisons - this is the antidote. |
All the answers we need to ensure our survival are already known, and they all come from nature. A regular sit spot schedule teaches the sitter a lot about themselves, and nature, of which we are an inextricable participant.
Spending time in nature teaches us all the lessons we need to know. It engages our empathy for all life, and reveals our place, and our purpose. It helps us to do as little harm as possible as we journey through this life. It can change the world.
Try 30 days of a few minutes in your special spot and see what happens. Its medicine can lead to a life time connection with your area, and everything in it, in a deep and intimate way.
It can change your life. It did mine.
Try 30 days of a few minutes in your special spot and see what happens. Its medicine can lead to a life time connection with your area, and everything in it, in a deep and intimate way.
It can change your life. It did mine.
Nice one, Gregg, and best of all it doesn't cost anything.
ReplyDeleteMadeleine.x
Yes - free, the way nature intended us all to live. How much do the crows pay for their food or entertainment?
DeleteI have had a couple of places in nature to meditate over the years. It's nice to feel the local qi and the surrounding environment gives useful clues. Trees with lots of moss suggest clean air, water is a good sign and different toadstools give a good insight to the feel of the area. Being surrounded by birch polypore is interesting. Some forests are a bad place to meditate, like the conifer plantations that are rotting away and replete with honey fungus. The coast line is good along with the mountains. Peace. Alex.
ReplyDeleteI miss sitting in the Rockies of Alberta, British Columbia and Montana. The Acadian Forest is new to me, but is turning out to be quite amazing. It is sad when old diverse growth forests are replaced with tree farms that are essentially mono-crops.
ReplyDeleteJust been reading up on the Acadian Forest, seems much has been destroyed. Nature always what's to renegenerate. It takes a while to get used to the feel of a new place. Alex.
Delete