The Big Sit
It's time to give a sit for
life on earth
Saturday 30th November 2024, 1:45pm - 3:00pm:
CAMBRIDGE: Inside Grand Arcade, just by the entrance to John Lewis.
Sunday 8th December 2024, 11.30am - 2pm:
MANCHESTER: Details
Saturday 21st December 2024, 2:30 - 4pm:
LONDON: Meet outside the entrance to the garden behind St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
Later: Cambridge 21st December; Manchester 12th January 2025; London 18th January 2025.Pics of previous SitsOur inspirations
Mindfully sitting in silence together
A coalition of ordinary people, meditators and faith groups, we've decided to give a sit:
about the harm caused by climate chaos
about the global south paying for our over-consumption
about the ecological damage that consumerist culture and intensive farming does to all living beings
about lives wrecked by dehumanising capitalism
We can use this opportunity to interrupt the craving and fear that grips us all, and simply be, helping to reduce the suffering caused by anxiety-driven consumerism.Whether you're a chairman or stoolwoman, a kneeler or a straddler; a Dharma bum or a supra-conscious semi-supine superwoman, grab a seat, take a break, and give more of a sit by meditating in solidarity for those suffering in the world today.
DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING - SIT THERE!
Mindfully sitting in silence together
Join at any point, sit for as long as you can.
The Big Sit
Previous Big Sits (with pictures where available):
By Jeremy Peters, Meg Hicks, Dayanita, Suryamani, Polly, Darragh and others
16 November 2024, London
10 November 2024, Manchester
26 October, Cambridge
19 October 2024, London
13 October 2024, Manchester
28 September 2024, Cambridge
21 September 2024, London
8 September 2024, Manchester
31 August 2024
17 August 2024, London
11 August 2024, Manchester
20 July 2024, London
13 July 2024, Manchester
22 June 2024, London (Nature in Mind, collaboration with XR Buddhists)
25 May 2024 , Cambridge
18 May 2024, London
11 May 2024, Manchester
27 April 2024 , Cambridge
13 April 2024, Manchester
30 March 2024 , Cambridge
16 March 2024, London
9 March 2024, Manchester
24 February 2024 , Cambridge
17 February 2024, London
10 February 2024, Manchester
20 January 2024, London
13 January 2024, Manchester
30 December 2023, Cambridge
16 December 2023, London
9 December 2023, Manchester
18 November 2023, London
11 November 2023, Manchester
28 October 2023, Cambridge
21 October 2023, Bristol
14 October 2023, Manchester
23 September 2023, Bristol
23 September 2023, London
9 September 2023, Manchester
29 July 2023, Cambridge
20 May 2023, London
22 April 2023, Peterborough
15 April 2023, London
1 April 2023, Peterborough
25 March 2023, Cambridge
19 March 2023, Manchester
18 March 2023, London
25 February 2023, Cambridge
18 February 2023, London
11 February 2023, Manchester
28 January 2023, Cambridge
21 January 2023, London
7 January 2023, Manchester
31 December 2022, Cambridge
25 June 2022, Bristol
25 June 2022, Brighton
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
Thank you
We will be in touch with you shortly.
The Big Sit
18th December 2021, Cambridge
Around 50 people joined the first ever Big Sit, inside and outside The Grafton, at the height of the Christmas shopping frenzy.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
26th February 2022, Cambridge
15 sat outside The Grafton. We lost numbers to other events, while welcoming at least four passers-by to spontaneously sit with us.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
26th March 2022, Cambridge
Around 20 sat outside The Grafton. Through our wonderful outreach volunteers many passers-by gained a new perspective on how to sit with the challenges ahead.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
30th April 2022, Cambridge
We moved to the Grand Arcade, where about 14 of us sat by the entrance to John Lewis department store, causing quite a scene.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
28th May 2022, Cambridge
We (x15) found a receptive crowd outside the John Lewis store in Grand Arcade.
© Big Sit Cambridge 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
25th June 2022, Cambridge
In Grand Arcade, 13 of us certainly made an impact outside the John Lewis store.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
30th July 2022, Cambridge
Even without leaflets, 12 Big Sitters got a strong message across to thousands of shoppers at Grand Arcade.
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The Big Sit
27th August 2022, Cambridge
16 of us sat inside and outside this busy Grafton shopping centre. We had many conversations and handed out even more leaflets.
A guy called Toni spontaneously sat with us, reminded how important it is to slow down and take a pause while in town! We were also joined by a Malaysian Forestry Research Institute worker, who was so inspired by the model of Big Sit that she wants to take it back to Malaysia and try it out there. She was moved to tears after meditating with us.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
24th September 2022, Cambridge
15 of us choosing to sit together outside The Grafton.
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The Big Sit
29th October 2022, Cambridge
On our 10th Big Sit, as usual we were joined spontaneously by passers-by moved by our stillness. Outside The Grafton.
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The Big Sit
26th November 2022, Cambridge
21 of us in the Big Sit - including people of several faiths - took on the Christian Aid carollers at Grand Arcade.It wasn't clear who generated the most goodwill but a good time was had by all, and we got a few people talking about the climate emergency.Pics to come!
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
27th May 2023, Cambridge
Outside John Lewis store in Grand Arcade.We were a select crew, but in good company with lots of interested shoppers, having conversations and sharing lots of leaflets.Welcome to several new Big Sitters. and handed out many leaflets.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
17th June 2023, London
Our usual spot inside Westfield Stratford City wasn't available, so instead we enjoyed the fresh breeze and huge crowds just outside the main entrance of Europe's largest shopping centre!What we found there was a lovely response to our public display of compassion and solidarity. So many passers-by commented positively, and our leaflets and conversations were welcomed by hundreds of shoppers.We should do this more!
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
24th June 2023, Cambridge
On a scorching mid summer day, we enjoyed the coolness of sitting in view of thousands of shoppers in Grand Arcade.The weather seemed to slow everyone down! Hopefully enough to notice and maybe have a think about climate breakdown.
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
19 August 2023, Westfield Stratford City, London
The Big Sit
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The Big Sit
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The Big Sit
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The Big Sit
© Big Sit 2024. All rights reserved.
The Big Sit
Our inspirations
We are not responsible for the content of these external sites, but they do represent sources that have inspired the Big Sit movement
© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.