Where do you like to go to enjoy nature? Where is that special place for you?
In your garden perhaps, or on your balcony? Or maybe down by the seafront, on the Downs, or in the woods?
Practice for this week: Sit spot
This week we invite you to explore the practice of connecting with nature at your favourite “sit spot”. And if you don’t have one yet, then don’t worry, there is plenty of time to try out alternatives and choose one!
“...when we ‘lose our mind’ and ‘come to our senses’ in the fullest possible way, the chattering, texting, e-mailing, twittering mind will eventually quiet down and almost silence itself. This is a sacred and connected silence... It's like a deep, still pond reflecting the stars of the night sky.”
Jon Young in “What the Robin Knows”
A sit spot is a place we can go to just to look, listen, sense and feel the natural rhythms of nature. Tuning into these rhythms can be a great way to relax our body and mind, and open ourselves to all the surprises and treasures that nature offers.
Choosing a sit spot
How do you find a sit spot? A sit spot is somewhere you feel comfortable, where you can be relatively undisturbed, and where you can watch nature unfold. This could be your garden, the beach, a bench in the park, or a chair by your window with a view of the trees and birds — or many other places besides. Feel free to explore different spots if you want to before choosing one.
Choosing a sit spot that is easy and quick to get to (ideally within 5–10 minutes of your house) is very helpful for when you want to revisit the same spot. The sit spot is somewhere you are invited to return to regularly as a place to connect to nature and drop any worries and business for a little while.
How to practice with a sit spot
So how do you practice with a sit spot? Here is some guidance:
Go to your sit spot — aim to spend 5–10 minutes there at first. Once you feel more comfortable, you can try longer, but there’s no rush. Set a timer if you like so you can offer your full attention to what is here in front of you.
Make yourself comfortable, and put your phone on silent or turn it off if you can
Check in with yourself — How does your body feel? What emotions are you feeling? How is your mind right now? Just take a moment to say hello to yourself — no need to change anything.
Tune into your senses. Close your eyes to begin. Feel the weight of your body on the seat or ground, and the air on your skin. Listen to the sounds around you — the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the birds chirping, the waves rolling in and out. What can you can smell? — the musty earth, the salty air, or wood smoke perhaps? Now open your eyes and explore the colours and forms around you — take in the tiny details right next to you, and then the sights far away.
Get curious about the world around you. What can you see? What can you hear? What is making that sound? Are there any birds? Is the wind blowing? Where is the sun? Take time to recognise the plants, the animals, the rhythms, the movements of the world around you.
Towards the end of your time, take a moment to feel into what you have received. You might like to draw, write a poem, or gather a few eye-catching objects to deepen your connection to your sit spot and to give you a reminder of your experience to take home.
Finally, acknowledge and thank your sit spot — by pausing to enjoy it for a few more moments, by offering water to a plant or tree, or leaving a bit of food for the animals — whatever feels right to you.
We wish you many delightful and healing moments at your sit spot!
You might also find it helpful to listen to this podcast by the Inner Pathways to Sustainability project, which explains the sit spot practice and includes a guided practice that you can listen to when you’re there.
Don’t forget to share your experience with a friend or with the Grow community online on Facebook or Instagram — post your drawing, poem, a photo, or simply a few words about your sit spot experience! We would love to hear how it was for you.
