Rev. Mark Gallup,
An important part of my spirituality is experiencing myself as part of Nature. One way that I do this is through a daily routine called the Sit Spot. The term was coined by Jon Young of the Wilderness Awareness School and is well described in his book What the Robin Knows. It is an important part of the learning that White Pine Programs—where I serve as an elder ministering to kids - provides as part of its Nature education program for children and adolescents.
The Sit Spot is an outdoor place to which I consistently go every day regardless of weather. I sit comfortably, coffee in hand, for about thirty minutes. I quiet my mind, undergo a breathing exercise to align my body, mind, and soul, and observe and listen. I attune to the natural world and observe with my full vision and listen intently to the sound of Nature, with “owl eyes” and “deer ears” as Young puts it. I sense the Life Force that is all about me in the trees, the birds, the animals, all things seen and the spirits unseen.
In this difficult time of economic instability, COVID-19, and structural racism in our society, the Sit Spot has become an increasingly important refuge in a turbulent world where the Life Force sometimes seems absent or overwhelmed by the poisonous power of the overculture. This is important. I need that Life-Force recharge I receive at my Sit Spot. It empowers me to hope again. With that hope I can take the Life Force with me out into a world dominated by toxic patriarchy and work with others to bring political, economic, and social justice for all.
So I encourage all of you to find a place outdoors where you can spend time in Nature, say fifteen minutes to start. It doesn’t have to be wilderness to do this; your backyard or nearby park will do. And time of day is immaterial, especially if you have a full time job, though I find that morning is best. Bring a journal and a beverage and move your spiritual practice outside for some or all of your days. You will find that it makes a difference.
The Rev. Mark Gallup is a Pagan high priest, interfaith minister, spiritual seeker, mystic, and diviner of the Natural World. Mark has been a practicing Pagan for over thirty years. He is a graduate of the College of Wicca and Old Lore as well as being trained in Feri. Mark was ordained in 2013 as an interfaith minister by the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. Along with his wife, Mary Gelfand, he leads Earth-centered spiritual events and serves as an elder and a member of the board of directors for White Pine Programs in York, ME.
