Sleep (Nan Shepherd)
To truly know the mountain, one must sleep on it. As the mind uncouples in sleep, the body melts away, leaving only pure perception. Awakening naturally outdoors reveals a raw, intimate fusion between the tangible physical world and the true self.
Sleep (read by Francesca)
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At a glance
- Sleep as an Instrument of Perception: Nan views her body as an instrument that must be trained to discover the nature of the mountain. She believes that no one can completely know the mountain without experiencing quiescence and sleeping on it. As one slips into sleep, the body melts away, leaving a state of pure, thoughtless intimacy with the physical world.
- The Power of Awakening: Daytime sleep out of doors offers the luxury of uncoupling the mind. Waking up with a completely empty mind offers a momentary "pristine amazement," allowing Nan to look at a familiar place as if seeing it for the very first time and sinking deeply into the mountain's life.
- The Raw Reality of the Abyss: This unmediated perception can also bring terror. The author recounts waking abruptly near the edge of Coire Brochain, experiencing the sheer, horrified sensation of the drop before memory or thought could contextualise it.
- Light Sleep and Wildlife Encounters: Sleeping lightly under the summer or autumn sky allows Nan to float on the surface of awareness without being "bedevilled with thought". By mastering the art of waking naturally and completely still, she is able to witness wild creatures up close, such as feeding red deer, crested tits, or the drumming of snipe.
- The Rejection of "Glamourie": Nan rejects the idea of romanticised spells or "glamourie," arguing that true connection does not need artificial overlays. She concludes that life is kept from corruption by the direct fusion of two pure realities: the natural world and the self.
Ref: Chapter 10 Sleep from Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
