Summertime Travel Prompts IBasho
Places and People
In anticipation of my almost annual trip to Hampton New Brunswick my thoughts turn to the places and people I love. In this case, it is a sleepy, charming hamlet occupied by lively (an understatement) delightful and generous cousins and their friends who, over the years, have become my friends too. It’s hard to articulate the why of certain environments and the people who warm our hearts and make us feel that we are in “our place.” The place where we feel at home.
I have several places that feel like home: Calgary and my Wellspring colleagues, friends and members – more recently Edmonton, Red Deer and High River, who are now part of that community. Japan, Switzerland and Austria and of course Gabriola Island, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. All of these places and more conjure up memories, and when I return, I am immediately refreshed and at ease.
This sense can’t be forced. Whether it is awe or a significant recognition of a place or a person, or even a slow arising over time as familiarity warms our hearts.
Whatever it is, we know it in our bones.
And, not surprisingly, where I am right now – the third floor of my friend’s beautiful 100-year-old home in the Glebe in Ottawa. As I walk up the stairs, it feels like my own special sanctuary where I experience an immediate sense of well-being.
Ibasho is more than a place.
When I first wrote about this three years ago, I included the description from Nick Kemp’s book Ikigai-Kan, “it can be an object, a context, a community, a person, a particular walk, or even a favourite coffee shop. A situation where you feel safe, at peace, secure, accepted and where you belong.”
I have a favourite flower garden, at the nearby experimental farm in Ottawa. This garden is an annual ritual on my birthday where I wander around for a bit and then take an hour to just sit and daydream.
For me, beauty, the ocean, the mountains, and the night sky prompt awe. Poetry is a source of comfort and solace, as are paths through the forest and alongside a stream.
Ibasho is a state of mind
As mentioned, my Wellspring community is clearly my ibasho. Even though we see each other mostly online except for two-to three weeks each spring we have a close bond. I look forward to every Friday afternoon to spend a joyful hour with members and one or two colleagues. I leave refreshed, rejuvenated and at home.
And I can imagine that every one of you has kindred spirits with whom you love to spend time. And favourite spots where you like to sit and enjoy the view, read, have a coffee or listen to the birds.
Speaking of a favourite place to sit reminds me of what Forest Bathers call a “sit spot.” A special place where you go to just sit and observe. Joseph Campbell combines the idea of ibasho and yutori, a word I previously wrote about. Yutori means “a kind of living with spaciousness. For example, it’s leaving early enough to get somewhere so that you know you’re going to arrive early, and have time to look around.”Naomi Shihab Nye
Joseph Campbell, In the Power of Myth, adds this:
“This is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room, or a (spot) or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers this morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first, you might find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”
When I read his words, I read place and spaciousness. Ibasho and yutori. Anyone who works with language and cultural differences knows you can’t translate these concepts directly. They come laden with hundreds of years of history and are richly nuanced. But still, we can get the picture. And maybe it will pique our curiosity and set us off on our journey of truly paying attention to the things that can make our life feel worth living, and doing more of that.
NOTES
1)This card is new to me. My friend received it and knew I would enjoy learning about a “summer card.” The Japanese reads “Best wishes during this hot summer.” These cards are called Shochu mimai (暑中見舞い) and are traditional Japanese summer greeting cards sent during the hottest period of summer (usually July to early August) to check on friends and family’s well-being, during the heat. It looks refreshing, don’t you think, with the koi and the sense of a breeze. Thanks, Sheila.
2) The banner photo I took on an overcast day in the neighbourhood near the rowing club. I walked over the bridges and did a loop back to my car while I waited for my favourite rower. Thanks to Rob for the interesting flower. I’m not sure what it is. And to Gottfried for a “sit spot” in the lavender.
3) Thank you for reading my blog even in the glory days of summer. May you continue to enjoy your own social and health-promoting invitations (last week’s blog post) along with your regular medical treatments. We can create many moments of joy and meaning as we co-exist with the challenges of life. All my best wishes, Trudy
That flower is a canna lily! You often see them planted in parks and along city sidewalks. There are four planters of them on my balcony, in shades of red, pink, yellow.
Thank you Mary Ann. Now that you told me, I remember. 😊your balcony must be beautiful.
Warmly, Trudy
My Ibasho is Crescent Beach Nova Scotia, the stretch of the Rideau River I walk along most days, any place that I visit family and friends, and the yutori of poetry. I send you best wishes during this hot, hot summer Trudy. much love Janice
Dear Janice: I hope you are soon walking that stretch of beach in NS.We will compare notes when we both get back by the end of August. Thank you Janice! Warmly, Trudy
Dear Trudy,
Tell Gottfried I’d be glad to share his “sit space” after I recover from some chemical imbalance problems. Oh, and you can come, too! HA. BTW, my niece takes early morning walks at that experimental farm. Many blessings to you, my friend, Carol
Dear Carol:
I can picture you on that bench in the lavender and would happily join you if I could. I hope one day to meet that lovely nice of yours. Sending so many good wishes your way, Trudy
Special thank you for this weeks meditation.
Japanese culture is so rich in meaningful ways to celebrate life.
Lately the idea of a sacred place has appeared in so many ways in my life.
For me, I am trying to find that sacred place, in my own heart.
There I am in the arms of my creator, nothing can harm me,
In the arms of loving eternity.
I was gifted with an image in a dream.
I was on a mountain top, hiking alone.. There was an old man sitting on the ground., looking out into the valley.
He knew that I was there .
Without a word, I knew that I was loved and safe.
This image is my sacred place in my heart.
I believe that we are all loved , just all of creation.
We all carry a divine spark in us.
Thank you dear Elly: I am deeply touched that you shared your idea of a sacred space with us. I can only imagine how comforting this is for you. As for the divine spark, whatever it is, like you, I think we all have it. May you continue your heartfelt journey – thank you for all the kindness and inspiration you have offered me and others. Warmest wishes, Trudy
Hi Trudy, thanks for sharing your beautiful reflections.
I particularly love the idea of a ‘summer card’. With our long winters, I think sending winter cards would be a delightful surprise for friends to receive. Say, in February, when winter can seem endless.
Anyhow, just a thought. xxx Helen
Hi Helen: I love your idea of a winter card. Let’s try it this winter. Great idea. Thank you. Warmly, Trudy