The Spirit of Place
Reconnecting with the land
by Laura Hysen
We may travel to experience inspiration and the natural wonders of the Earth - the quiet beauty of the mountains, the ruggedness of the high desert, the simplicity of paddling on a serene lake. In these places, something deeper than visual beauty moves us. We are called to connect with the spirit of the Earth.
The spirit of place, or genius loci, transcends words and the mental plane. It is something we feel about a place and it may involve all of the senses in that exploration. Depending on one’s perspective, you may experience the multi-dimensional embrace of land guardians, divine beings and nature spirits. We may gain a deeper sense for how the plants, animals and elements synergize in mutual cooperation.
However, we need not travel too far to attune to the harmonics of the Earth, as we can connect with the spirit of nature in our own backyards and other local spaces.
“This is a place for joy. Share it with others.”
That is what the land said to me when I asked, “What is our work on this property?”
The land I’m referring to is a 40-acre organic farm near Corbett, Oregon and my husband and I have been the grateful stewards of it for nearly 20 years. It is a land of rolling hills and big sky views. It feels private yet quietly connected to the surrounding community. Its rustic beauty and modest structures reflect the intention to live in harmony with the land.
With a healthy mix of pasture-friendly livestock, we steward not only the plants, trees and wildlife, but also a small herd of cattle, sheep, two horses and some chickens. We have hosted retreats for individuals and small groups, as well as many farm visits with friends and family.
Farm life comes with large workloads and other challenges. However, the rewards we have experienced are truly beyond words: it is the deep privilege of sharing in the joy that others experience during their visits.
Joy and connection. In service to this purpose, I am honored to co-facilitate and host the Tending the Sacred program on this land. If you find yourself called to join the program, the spirit of this land supports our ability to feel grounded, to quiet our minds, open our hearts and listen.
The Earth has messages for us.
Wherever we are in the world, we can facilitate our own reconnection with the spirit of the land, even in our own backyards. It only requires a few moments of presence and connection with our breath, with our feet rooted to the Earth.
The land invites us to remember that we all belong to the Earth. All of the people, plants, animals, insects, microbes- all of us belong here. The Earth will help us rediscover that we each have something unique to contribute in service to life on this planet.
