“Times are urgent, let us slow down.” - Bayo Akomolafe

In a world of overwhelming crisis and stimulation, that pulls our attention in a thousand directions, there is medicine in choosing to slow down. To sit. To listen.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways to reconnect with the living Earth is through a practice known as the sit spot. It requires no special tools or training—just a willingness to slow down, be still, and come into presence with a particular place in nature, again and again.

What is a Sit Spot?

A sit spot is a place you return to regularly to simply be in relationship with the land. It can be a spot beneath a tree in your backyard, a boulder or a patch of wilderness in a city park. What matters most is that it’s accessible, relatively quiet, and somewhere you can visit often.

This is not a practice of doing, but of being. It’s not about meditation or analysis or even trying to relax. It’s about entering into an ancient conversation with the more-than-human world—with birds and breezes, stones and soil, light and shadow—and learning to listen.

Why Do It?

Modern life has desensitized many of us out of our natural attunement to the Earth. We move through urban concrete landscapes or see ourselves as individuals walking on top of the Earth—often unaware of the vitality, animism, intelligence and presence that surrounds us. The forest becomes a “green wall” where you can’t distinguish individual trees or plants—rather than a sentient being filled with thousands of interconnected species communicating with each other. A sit spot reverses that trend. It reawakens our capacity for intimate connection, for deep knowing, for reverence.

With consistent practice, you begin to notice patterns—how the air or light changes at certain times of the day, how certain birds come and go with the seasons, how your own energy shifts depending on what’s happening around you. The longer you return, the deeper the relationship becomes. The land begins to recognize you. And you begin to remember your place within it.

How to Practice

Choose Your Spot

Find a place that feels safe, quiet, and easy to access. It could be a secluded corner of your garden, a trail you frequent, or even a balcony with a view of the sky and trees. Try to avoid places where you’re likely to be interrupted.

Go with Curiosity, Not Agenda

Leave behind the need to achieve or understand. Show up with presence and humility. You’re not there to get anything but to be with the place—to listen, to witness, to belong.

Settle and Soften

Take a few deep breaths. Notice the ground beneath you. Let your body settle. Bring your attention to your senses: the feel of the air, the sounds around you, the quality of light, any smells or textures. Let your awareness expand gently, without strain.

Listen with Your Whole Body

This isn’t just about hearing with your ears. Listen through the pores of your skin, your heart, your hair, the soles of your feet. Attune through all of your senses. Let yourself be moved by what you notice and feel. Keep returning to be in presence with the place.

Stay for 10–30 Minutes

Start with whatever time feels manageable. Even ten minutes of genuine stillness can open something. Over time, you may find you want to linger longer. Try going at different times of day, in different weather, and across the seasons to deepen the relationship. 

Close with Gratitude

Before leaving, offer a simple thank you. You might place your hand on the Earth, leave a small offering (like water or a flower), or just breathe your gratitude into the space. Honoring the reciprocity of the relationship is part of what makes it sacred.

What Happens Over Time

With regular visits, your sit spot may become a sanctuary, a mirror, a teacher and a friend. You may find insights arising without effort. You may feel the subtle companionship of the Beings around you. You may be reminded that the Earth is not a backdrop to your life but a living community of which you are a part.

In times of crisis or confusion, your sit spot can become a place to return to for clarity and guidance. In times of joy, it becomes a place to celebrate. And always, it is a place of practice—a practice of humility, reverence, and remembering.

Find a sit spot. Show up. Sit down. Let the Earth speak. She has been waiting.