Probably one of the most important practices you could do, whether budding naturalist or not, is to have a "sit-spot," or a place in your landscape that you go to regularly and frequently, sit in active or meditative awareness, notice the sounds, sensations, take notes in your journal, etc.
I've started to combine this practice with my own inquiries into participatory dynamics of giving/receiving, especially relating to my artistic interests in dance and, more recently, song. If you are also interested in place-based song and dance, here is a 4-day-long invitation to you to join me in this inquiry. Really, you can repeat the days and have it be a much longer exploration.
Day 1: Listening. In your place, focus on listening. Can you invite every single cell of your body to open into a listening state? Introduce yourself to the place, the beings, the spirits, state your intentions if you haven't already, observe your sensations and what you're curious about. Listen some more.
Day 2: Sing/Dance for. Let your dance or song be a gift for this place or beings you are meeting there. An offering. You create it for them. Notice if you can sense whether any beings seem more interested to receive or witness this gift than others.
Day 3: Sing/Dance with the place. Like you are part of the same chorus, taking cues from each other, collaborators, sharing the lead. Or choose one being in particular to have a duet with.
Day 4: Let yourself be moved/be sung BY the place. Let your body be a vessel, that the place itself might dance through you. If you are familiar with Butoh practices, they are especially suited for entering into this particular state of surrender. Wait, and allow yourself to be moved by the qualia, essences, resonance patterns, voices, beings, etc.
Reflect on your experiences with each of these versions. Write me a note if you do this and want to reflect together!
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