Sit Spot :: The Original Practice
I can tell you a practice your grandmother did at least once. Your grandfather’s grandfather did it. And his grandfather’s grandfathers. And your 100 times great ancestor. There’s a practice humans have been doing since the beginning of the beginning.
You’ve done it too, remember?
Remember that time you sat on the beach until time fell away. You felt the wind on your face, heard the cry of the gulls, smelled the saline freshness on the air. Or the time you pulled your car off the overlook to sit at a picnic table and take in the view. Watching the hawks soar on updrafts over the valley you shared their freedom. Recall when you flopped down exhausted on a blanket in the backyard to watch glowing fireflies and count blinking stars.
Since the beginning of beginning we’ve come to Nature. We’ve stopped. Taken a seat on the Earth; watching, listening. For rest, for settling, for wonder, for awe, for answers we’ve come. And since the beginning of beginning we’ve found all of that. And, we’ve found home. We’ve found belonging in the great circle that is Life.
I found out a few weeks ago that my nature coaching mentor, Michael Trotta, passed away quietly in his sleep. To mark his passing I’m keeping a 40 day vigil in his primary practice: Sit Spot.
What is Sit Spot?
When I’ve shared about Sit Spot in the past I’ve chosen an easy description for it. I’ve called Sit Spot an outdoor meditation practice. But, as I’ve been keeping vigil and folks have asked me about it, I find that that description doesn’t really speak to what Sit Spot actually is. Nor does it describe HOW to enter this essential human practice.
In his book Sit Spot and the Art of Inner Tracking, Michael describes Sit Spot like this: “Sit Spot is the simple act of finding a particular place outdoors where you sit quietly and observe. By taking yourself out of your regular daily routine and reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world, you begin to recalibrate and reconnect with your own true nature.”
Elsewhere he says: “It is a place where your roots may sink deep into the Earth and soak up the life-giving lessons of nature…” and later “Sit Spot can change you forever. With each sit.. you discover the true meaning of deep listening as you penetrate deeper and deeper into the fabric of the Great Mystery. The relationships you build along the way begin to follow you wherever you go, and in time, you begin to feel at home wherever you are.”
“You begin to feel at home wherever you are.”
From the Beginning
Our shared human ancestors evolved in the cradle of Nature. Our human brains haven’t changed much since then. They definitely haven’t changed like our world.
Our minds developed with the patterns of nature as the only patterns they took in. No screens, no modernity. The visual, the auditory, the kinesthetic, the proprioceptive all the patterns of the Natural world imprinted on the beginnings of humanity. Nature is the original pattern for the human mind. So when you go into Nature to observe it’s like doing a reset on your brain.
So while some of the great practices created by humans can get complicated or convoluted Sit Spot is incredibly simple. It cuts through all of that noise to help you be present, and sense what it is to be alive, to be a part of the bigger whole, to belong.
Blending and Belonging
To me, Sit Spot feels like stepping outside to blend back into Nature. The blending is a homecoming. No matter how separate you feel from the great circle, Sit Spot reminds you of your belonging. You are an animal, and as animal you belong in Nature.
The astounding part is that Nature ABSOLUTELY responds when you step out for Sit Spot. First, it responds by acknowledging the disruption. Then it responds in other ways. As you watch Nature, she watches you back through the eyes of squirrel, or rabbit. Some days she invites you to play. You probably don’t believe me, but ask me about it the next time you see me… or better yet, try Sit Spot yourself.
Try Sit Spot
Choose a safe place outdoors that is within 50 steps of your door
Go to the same place once a day and sit quietly for a specific amount of time
Do your best to be completely still. Stillness helps Nature trust you
Open your eyes and all your senses: smell, taste, feel, listen, watch, 6th sense
When you forget your senses, come back to them.
When you finish, make a note of what happened or didn’t happen
Simple Not Easy
This is a deceptively simple practice. Don’t be fooled.
Practice is still practice. Resistance will always show up whenever you start a practice. (it’s too hot/cold, too early/late, I don’t feel like it, I don’t have time) That’s why your Sit Spot should be close to your door. Pick a beautiful place that’s an hour’s drive away and you’ll never get to it. Sit Spot is meant to be a daily practice. So you’ll have to make a commitment to get ahead of your resistance and stick to it.
Your mind will always have something to say about it, and you’ll doubt yourself, your reason for practice, or that you’re doing it right. You’ll also probably get bored or feel restless if you’ve never done a quiet sitting practice. Again, your commitment is important otherwise you’ll pop up out of your seat almost the minute you sit down.
And. You can’t bring your phone. If you are addicted that that glowing box then you cannot bring it to your Sit Spot. Sitting outside staring into a screen is nowhere near the same thing as observing Nature. There is a lot of research about how just having your phone nearby makes a big difference in your experience. And this isn’t a photo op or social media stunt. I recommend you find another way to keep time, or don’t keep time at all, and leave your phone indoors.
(Those who’ve seen my vigil on my social media, know that I do my sit, then go get my phone to make my videos. The Sit Spot is separate. I’m intentionally making videos now to stay connected with other students of Michael, and to invite folks into this practice in his honor.)
The Gifts
Just like any other practice, Sit Spot asks something from you. It also gives back. In quiet ways in awe inspiring ways Sit Spot creeps in and rearranges your experience of life.
After my first month committed to Sit Spot I noticed that the low-level anxiety I didn’t even realize I had, disappeared. I felt such ease and lightness. I laughed more often, felt more joyful.
I also had a reawakening to the seasonal world. Sit Spot was a front row seat to the blooming of flowers, fledging of birds, dropping of leaves, arrival of darkness. Settling myself into seasonal rhythms has brought a peace and ease that I don’t get out of modernity.
And Sit Spot brings surprises that can’t possibly be expected. You’ll just have to tell me when they happen for you.
See you Out There
Spring is coming where I live. I’ll be out there watching and being watched, welcoming and being welcomed. If you’re wanting to experience a little more aliveness, a little more hopefulness too in what feels like such a dark world I invite you to join me in Sit Spot. My vigil will last until April 4. Choose a stretch of a few days between now and then and sit “with” me. See what happens. Tell me about it.
My hope for you is that you too can remember your place in the circle of Nature. That you too “begin to feel at home wherever you are.” If I can invite you into that, then I am doing a great honor to my teacher as he sails into the Great Mystery.
If you have questions, need to troubleshoot, or just want to share about your Sit Spot experiences, shoot me an email anytime. I am honored to hear how you and Nature are getting along.
If you want to build more relationship with Nature I can recommend a lot of books but this one will help with practices that go along with Sit Spot: Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, & Evan McGown (I’d send you to Michael’s book, but I don’t know that it’s available right now. )