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 28th December; Manchester 12th January 2025; London 18th January 2025.Pics of previous SitsOur inspirations

Mindfully sitting in silence together

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

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

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

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.

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING - SIT THERE!

  • Mindfully sitting in silence together

  • Join at any point, sit for as long as you can.

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

Take a seat

Any questions? Or are you a faith or other group who'd like to sit together?Fill this form or email us.Or say hi on Instagram.

The Big Sit

Previous Big Sits (with pictures where available):

By Jeremy Peters, Meg Hicks, Dayanita, Suryamani, Polly, Darragh and others

© 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 in the Grand Arcade

© 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.

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

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.

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

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.

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

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

15 July 2023, Westfield Stratford City, London

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

The Big Sit

19 August 2023, Westfield Stratford City, London

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

The Big Sit

26 August 2023, The Grafton, Cambridge

After a good stint at The Grand Arcade we enjoyed returning to our old friend The Grafton.
About 15 sitting, and two who joined spontaneously. Plenty of interaction and the rain held off almost long enough.

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade
Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

The Big Sit

7 October 2023, The Grafton, Cambridge

Big Sit in the Grand Arcade
Big Sit in the Grand Arcade

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

The Big Sit

25 November 2023, The Grafton, Cambridge

We enjoyed the carol singing!

© Big Sit 2023. All rights reserved.

The Big Sit

27 January 2024, The Grafton, Cambridge

Starting the year with a (little) 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.