Sit Spot

For your first optional exercise, find a Sit Spot you can visit regularly for some time. Try to sit daily, or at least a few times a week, even if it’s just for a short period of time. Try to ‘just be’ with nature, allow distracting thoughts to dissolve, and record what you notice. It’s amazing how powerful the insights can be, or alternatively how lovely the peace seems, when we take notice of the little things around us, and the passing of time at a different pace.

Try the nature connection exercises suggested by Leah and journal your results. What are you most attracted to, when it comes to connecting with nature – soil or trees, rivers or ocean, mountains or sky, fire or clifftops? Start to take note of your natural inclinations, including about the kinds of exercises you feel more drawn to – quiet, contemplative ones, or ecstatic dance? Mindful walking or creating ritual? All of this information will help you build your own supportive practice. 

Find a place in nature, preferably one where you could potentially bring clients as you feel more confident. Spend some time there, finding a spot where you are comfortable sitting or standing still.

Do you feel safe here? Ask this question of your body as well as your mind, so that you tap into your innate sense of knowing, which is connected to nature in a somatic way. What makes you feel safe? Is there anything that doesn’t feel safe, or can you envision any threat or annoyance that could happen here? Be sure to remain regulated as you ask this second set of questions; you don’t want to have your sense of peace and comfort ruined by allowing negative imagination to take over! But we do have to be prepared for anything in the great outdoors.

Before leaving, get back in touch with the sense of safety, comfort, peace and/or happiness that brought you to this place. Embed it in your body and consider journalling about your experience, so that you keep a record of places where you can experiment with your own relationship with nature, as well as working towards sharing that with others.