In my last post, I wrote about how I consider Co-Creative Conversation and Investigations as foundational practices for Mindful Digital Life. I mentioned I would write about an ongoing Mindful Digital Life Investigation I call Grow Your Sense of Place.
This might seem a bit counterintuitive considering Mindful Digital Life. It is. One of the basic moves you practice In the martial art of Aikido is Tai No Henko (translation: “body change” or “body change direction”)—the “turning” or “blending” exercise. When someone is coming directly at you, you meet their energy with strong grounded hips, and turn them in the direction you want to go. You change yourself and blend with their energy.
Watch the first few minutes of this video of Morihiro Saito. I especially appreciate when O’Sensei says “You must learn to move your body correctly against a strong power.” If you have time, watch a second video with Kaicho Bruce Bookman (2:04 mins).
Growing my sense of place is my approach to practicing Tai No Henko or “body change direction” to meet the strong power of the digital world that I engage with daily. This practice helps me to turn the digital realm in the direction of my choice.
David George Haskell is Professor of Biological and Environmental Studies at the University of the South. I’m reading his book, The Songs of Trees—Stories From Nature’s Great Connectors. He tells a great story of a chickadee encounter. Here is an excerpt.
I put fresh water in a hanging bird bath I’d abandoned this summer. I’m curious how long it will take the local chickadees to rediscover it. So far, it’s been empty of birds five days and counting. When I first filled the bird bath many months ago, the chickadees discovered it the same day.
I’m listening to wild soundscape recording pioneer Bernie Krause. Krause has recorded more than 4,500 hours of natural soundscapes. This first week of Fall here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have been appreciating a nightly stress-reducing aural massage by crickets through my open window. My friend Cynthia tells me it’s the western tree cricket—Oecanthus californicus. Her neighbors have been discussing it on the neighborhood Facebook page.
Small steps can strengthen hips.
How and when do your kids see you interacting with the natural world? I’d love to hear about your current Sense of Place and how you think you can grow it. Reply to this email if you feel like sharing.
Hiking in the Northern California hills with my daughter Zoe and friends
Visit my Instagram page for #TheReadingTable and #growyoursenseofplace.
