
The Winter Solstice is one of my favorite markers on the calendar. It transcends the framework we’ve constructed as a species to organize our lives. We don’t decide which day of the year is shortest, it’s just the way it is, and different cultures all over the Northern Hemisphere share a collective reverence around this time of year. The Solstice leads me to reflect on the nature of our existence here on planet Earth. I feel awestruck by the great constants that govern our lives, like the sun that comes and goes every day, and the field of gravity.
I tend to get reflective around the Solstice, and lately I’ve been reflecting on the importance of feet. My feet carry me around all day, supporting me as I live my life within the field of gravity, but I forget about them so quickly. Why is that?
Our feet have fewer sensory receptors than our hands, meaning the hands can pull in more information about what they’re touching, while the information coming in through the feet is less detailed. Maybe this is why my feet occupy less space in my awareness? In any case, my feet end up feeling a little “turned off” sometimes. It seems like something so important deserves more of my attention.
As a kind gesture towards the neglected base of my structure, I try to spend as much time as possible without shoes on, especially at the beach. Walking barefoot on sand and rocks is like braille for my feet. It’s a chance to turn my feet back on and soak up the juicy details of the surface of our planet. Thanks, feet!

A couple weeks ago I got to meet integral anatomy legend, Gil Hedley. Gil has been touring the country for about a year giving live presentations on his four month long project: dissecting the entire “Nerve Tree” from a single human form. The dissection process seemed extremely tedious. Starting at the skin, Gil whittled away tissue from single cutaneous nerves, followed them deeper into the body, and eventually exposed deeper and thicker nerves like the infamous sciatic nerve and enigmatic diva, the vagus nerve. Gil’s narration was top level entertainment as well as informative. I left the experience feeling inspired and exhausted. Thank you, Gil!
If you’re curious about anatomy and want to see the human body through Gil’s integrated approach, have a look at his website. There’s a library of images and videos available through a free membership, and a more expansive library available to paying members.

That’s it! Happy Solstice! I’m still loving my new office and feeling more and more at home there. Feeling a sense of gratitude and peace as we return to longer days.
As always, wishing you a harmonious relationship with the field of gravity.
Warmly, Nick ------------------ This post was originally published on my Substack page on December 21, 2024. To view the original post, please follow this link to my Substack page. Thanks!
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