The woman who found her home in a tree

Is home on your mind like it is for me? Solstice in the northern hemisphere gathers the dark days around her like a cloak, sending gusts of nostalgia around us. Yesterday, I followed this flow onto a night hike with my sisters. We invited the darkness to mirror our minds so we could reflect meaningfully on the wild life we’re all riding. We crested a hilltop clearing, where I introduced my sister to Grandma Oak, who guards the open space with her heavy knotted branches. Surprisingly, my sis didn’t share my enthusiasm for oak tree at all. She backed away from it. “Ugh, Grandma? Do we have to?”

We never felt at home with our grandma, who could be coarse and dismissive. But we love us some trees. So after some exploration, we acknowledged that the tree is also our ancestor—we just have to trace our roots farther back than a few generations to unearth that feeling of home. The apprehension gave way to giggles and we returned with a deeper sense of belonging—to nature, to each other, and to ourselves.

This is the power of nature connection. It’s more than a natural treatment for anxiety. It’s a way back home. I hope you find a piece of home this season, too. So here’s one of my favorite practices you can use to get there—wherever you are!

Sit spot practice in 4 easy steps

Step 1

Scout out a place in or around nature that you can easily access daily or weekly. Consider the time and energy it takes to get there, the weather fluctuations, and availability of flora and fauna. If mobility or weather is a consideration, you can do this inside or on your front stoop—anywhere you have a view of the sky, a plant, or other natural element.

Step 2

Next, decide when you can visit. Plan for at least 15 minutes of actual sitting time, in addition to the time it takes to get there and back. If you have a busy schedule, make sure you schedule times when you know you won’t get pulled away. It’s perfectly fine if you arrive tired, since this can be a rejuvenating practice that’s suitable before sleep. Add the time to your calendar, at least 2 times is ideal.

Step 3

When it’s time to visit your spot, sit comfortably for 15 mins or more, and just let the mind wander. Breathe easily and notice what you notice. There’s always something to notice in both inner and outer landscapes. And that’s really all there is to sit spot! In a busy world, you may find that this sounds much easier than it is in practice. I hope it goes smoothly for you, and think you’ll find it deeply rewarding.

Step 4

When you’ve returned home feel free to journal on the sit spot experience. Consider journaling each time, preferably right after your sit spot session.

To experience this practice and many others with soothing audio and nature videos, join our free course, Nature + Mental health. Enjoy!