It’s lovely ‘hearing’ where everyone is called to, I agree LesleyA I tend to go to a favourite wood in my head or meditate on a picture (like the lovely photos on ppcat’s blog of puzzlewood, I love that place!) if I can’t get there or if I need to calm down.
I have heard it mentioned a few times, maybe its for another thread but do people like wild swimming, I saw a book when I bought the cool camping kids book on places to go swimming in the UK but have never swam in the open but always wanted to, even the sea, I’ve always seen it as too dirty or dangerous.
I am so blessed to live next to a sacred site, but in Summer it is a very busy place. We also have wonderful beaches nearby, and my favourite is about 10 mins away - huge surf comes roaring in and out. Yes, that is my place. When I meditate or relax I am invariably on a sandy beach with rocky outcrops sculpted by the waves. Xx
I grew up wild swimming. Not that I knew that’s what it was called. There’s a resevoir between two valleys behind Dunford Bridge in South Yorkshire, all the local kids called it the Secret Dam, because it’s not as veiwable from the road and it’s a trek across fields to get to it. We picniced and swam there a lot. There is another res called Windscar Res, but we never swam in that because that was the main res and it was a popular place for tourists.
We never swam alone, we always went as a group. I’ve also swam in deep ponds in the River Don, in fact one of my fondest school memories from primary/junior school is Mr Shaw taking us on a walk and then we swam in the river, and I remember him floating on his back and singing “Yellow Submarine”, with his huge leg stuck up in the air and slowly he sank beneath the water. :D
And whenever we went to the seaside i was straight in the sea.
I suppose as a child I didn’t worry so much about danger and if the water was dirty or not..although the Don back then was clear and it had fish etc swimming in it, and I tend to work to the premise if the water is clear and there’s waterlife then it’s probably ok. We never swam in big ponds though because these tend to have a lot of water weeds which a swimmer can get tangled in… plus they were favoured by the geese and ducks so were dirtier…. mind saying that, I did use to swim in the stream/pond at Cannon Hall back in South yorkshire too… I don’t think you’re allowed anymore though.
I used to swim in the boating lake at a local stately home, never thought anything of it. Also the sea. The only time I panicked was when we were on honeymoon in Bali, swimming out in the sea and suddenly remembered this was tropical waters and possibly sharks about. Never swam back to shore quite so quickly!! Best place for wild swimming though must be the beautiful lakes in Finland! Definitely clean enough there.
Haven’t really encouraged the boys yet, as only Ds1 is a strong enough swimmer to be out of his depth for so long.
Lovely post, I feel connected when just being outside amongst the natural world, forests, mountains all call to me at times. However for me it’s the coastline and sea and has been since I was little and is the main reason we moved to the South Coast years ago, I always knew I needed to live near the sea. There are some lovely beaches around, some near, some far and cliff coastlines I love to be near. A couple of lovely bays nearby are where I love to go as they are only really known if you live here so are quiet and secluded and it’s so peaceful.
A campfire built by myself, and my Bell Tent does it for me every time. There’s nothing like sitting out of an evening with some music (preferably someone with a guitar, but my iPod with the volume set low enough to hear the pop and crackle of the fire will suffice if not). I get no greater satisfaction than relaxing (and I mean REALLY relaxing) in front of a campfire. I find it so hard to switch off these days that I long for the opportunity to get back under canvas and JUST CHILL TFO!!!
Another place I feel a strong connection with is Glastonbury. The town itself and also the festival. DH and I met there 9 years ago and there is something about being in the stone circle field as the sun is coming up that feels so magical, and nearly everyone else there feels the same (shame it gets trashed by so many though, that breaks my heart).
Haven’t had the opportunity to take the Bell Tent to Glasto yet but I just know that when I do I might die of happiness; either that or just never want to leave!
Sorry for the double post but just thought of something to add and didn’t want to detract from the sentiment in the above post.
In NLP and coaching we have anchors - thanks Sarie for this thread as you have made me realise one of mine. I can now put up a photo of “Rainbow’s End” (the name of my Bell Tent) somewhere in my house and look at it whenever I’m feeling down and I can use it to anchor me to my happy place
Thanks to you all xxx
P.S. I have to laugh at your NMA post - once upon a many moons ago I used to know Moose when he was in The Damned
My heart lies in the forest a beautiful green, dark forest, it’s where I feel most settled, re-connected and sometimes I just have to go and find me a forest or wood and walk and ground myself It’s made all the better if it has water running through it
I walk my doggy through a lovely bit of woods/forest every morning and it has a great river running through it , i must admit i feel quiet relaxed after and it gives me time to think , and when i take the children we often forage for blackberries etc for puddings the kids love our walks .
Funny I just found this post last night and thought it was lovely and now it has been added to again!
My heart takes me to two places. One is a sandy beach beside Loch Morlich with a forest and mountains as it’s backdrop. I recently told my DH i would like my ashes scattered there! (no plans for going anytime soon, but had been to a lovely humanist funeral of a friend)
The other is Ireland. Funnily enough the place that most pulls me is a castle beside a Lough. My great grandparents were Irish and I have always had a pull towards it, as does my mum. As a result I have been numerous times and worked there for two summers when younger.
Thank you for bringing back lovely memories and peaceful thoughts.
on Dartmoor I feel alive and refreshed, in a wood I feel at one with nature, and by the sea I can breathe easier and meditate, I feel insignificant next to the power and greatness of the sea, I know my place in the world and am happy with it. I am connected to the maker I feel loved.
I used to live where I could see the sea out of my front room window, I loved it! We have moved and now look over fields in complete peace which is so calming. I will return one day to the sea, and grow old under its watch, knowing the circle of life reassured by my maker x
I haven’t found just one spot that has it all, but somewhere with oak trees, willows, a river, rocks and hills, an empty horizon, wind and somewhere warm and friendly to retreat too. Around the Lake district I’ve come pretty close.
I’ve just found a new happy place and am so glad to say that it’s the town I have moved to (Westcliff-on-Sea)! I have moved from my awful miserable 2 bed ex-council house in depressing Basildon to a beautiful (if in need of a little TLC!) 4 bed Victorian house that’s 2 minutes from a bustling high street full to the brim of local businesses. I’m a 15 minute walk to the beach, I haven’t seen a single mum at my local children’s centre bottle feed their baby (where it was the other way around in Bas) and one of the first Mamas I have met is a fellow babywearer and is delighfully also a governor at Jake’s new school!
I’m so bloody happy that I wish I had moved here years ago *does the happy dance*
