Cape Verde is a land of contrasts, where the fire of the desert meets the gentleness of the ocean, where material poverty coexists with unsuspected spiritual wealth. The people, despite hardships, radiate a simple joy and generous hospitality. Their colorful houses, their songs, their dances—everything seems to celebrate life, even in its rawest simplicity.
That day, I felt something unravel within me. Perhaps it was the effect of that breathtaking landscape, or perhaps the effect of that solitary walk between two opposing elements. But one thing is certain: I touched a universal truth. Meditation is not an escape, nor a pursuit of performance. It is a return to the essential, a dialogue with oneself and with the world. The desert taught me letting go; the sea, fluidity.
Today, when I meditate, I often revisit that image: the stretch of sand, the golden light, that feeling of unity. I remember the peace that came over me, unasked. That is the true magic of Cape Verde: it asks nothing of you, yet gives you everything. All you have to do is sit, listen, and breathe.
Meditating Daily: Lessons from Cape Verde
Since that day, I have integrated this experience into my daily practice. I don’t need a desert or an ocean to find that presence (though, of course, these places remain powerful catalysts). Sometimes, when anxiety tightens my chest, I close my eyes, wherever I am, and remember:
- The silence: that of the desert, which taught me to be quiet in order to hear better.
- The movement: that of the dunes, which showed me that everything changes, and that’s how it is.
- The connection: between earth and water, which reminded me that we are all linked.
Sometimes, when anxiety grips me, I return to that image: I am sitting between the desert and the sea, and I breathe. I remember that meditation is not a technique, but a state of being. It is not controlled, it is lived. It is not learned, it is rediscovered, like finding a forgotten path.
And Cassie, my cat, knows it well. When she curls up against me, when her purring becomes a soothing vibration, I return to that same feeling of fullness. She too, in her own way, is a meditation master. She doesn’t seek, she is. Just like the desert. Just like the sea.
In Conclusion: Cape Verde, a School of Presence
If you ever have the chance to go to Cape Verde, let yourself be carried away by these landscapes. Walk in the desert, sit facing the ocean, watch the peasants go about their tasks. Don’t try to meditate. Let meditation come to you, as it came to me that day: naturally, without effort, like a gift.
For meditation, in the end, is not a practice. It is an awakening. And certain places, like Cape Verde, are open doors to that awakening. All you have to do is dare to cross the threshold.
And you, have you ever experienced spontaneous meditation in a place that marked you? I’d love to hear your story, or know what this text inspires in you.
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