What is Sit Salt Creek?

Sit Salt Creek is a nonprofit organization registered in the state of Illinois. Our goal is to provide the space and opportunity for local residents to discover and deepen their meditation practice and to build a community in the process.

Who is behind Sit Salt Creek?

Sit Salt Creek was started in late 2024 by local resident Josh Dolitsky. After spending a few years practicing with the Chicago Zen Meditation Community, Josh was inspired to form a similar local community upon moving to the western suburbs.

What type of meditation is practiced?

The type of meditation practiced is Zen-based (zazen). For those unfamiliar, this typically means silent, seated meditation for extended periods of time.

Traditionally, the practitioner sits on a cushion (zafu) atop a mat (zabuton), but it is perfectly acceptable to sit upright in a chair. Below is an image of the various ways to sit:

I’ve never meditated before, should I still join?

Absolutely! Sit Salt Creek is dedicated to making the practice of meditation accessible to everyone. There is no wrong way to meditate.

If you have any questions ahead of time, we are more than happy to answer them. Just send an email to [email protected].

Will cushions or chairs be provided?

We have a limited number of cushions and outdoor blankets which will be provided on a first come basis. You are encouraged to bring a folding chair or your own cushion if you have one.

If there is no seat available, you can also sit on the nearby picnic benches if not being used. Keep in mind that Sit Salt Creek has not reserved the picnic groves.

Where are you located?

Sit Salt Creek does not have a permanent location. We do, however, have a “Fitness” Permit issued by the Forest Preserves of Cook County to be able to gather there as a group.

For starters, we will be meeting at Bemis Woods South, right near picnic grove shelter #7.

Will we be sitting outside?

Yes. Unless it is raining heavily, we will proceed to meet outside at scheduled times in any weather. Let the brisk morning air be a great start to your day.

It is very important to dress appropriately for the weather, including multiple layers and hats/gloves when necessary.

What if it is too cold?

In the deep of winter, it may be entirely too cold to go outside for extended periods of time. In these instances, sessions will be cancelled.

We will make a best effort to provide 24 hours notice on the front page of this website and on Facebook whether the next day’s session is a go or no-go.

We may begin to explore an indoor space for the winter months. More info coming soon.

Do I have to show up on time?

No. In order to provide a super-accessible practice environment, we will allow people to come and go at any time during the practice window.

The primary reason for this is so that we can accommodate people with various morning schedules to arrive without feeling rushed. Our only ask is that you respect the silence and be as quiet as possible when you are arriving or leaving.

Do I need to stay for the entire length of the session?

No! A typical Zen sitting is about 30-40 minutes. Sit Salt Creek sessions will be 2 hours long, but you are absolutely not expected to meditate for this long.

The group leader will ring a bell every 15 minutes (e.g. 7:00, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45) as a time-keeping mechanism for the other practitioners. These bells will ring at exactly these times in case people have somewhere to be afterwards. You do not need to wait for the bell to take your seat or leave.

If you intend to sit with us for a long period of time (45m+), you are encouraged to stand up and stretch your legs periodically. You might also possibly spend one of the 15 minute segments in walking meditation (kinhin) before returning to your seat.

What if I show up and nobody is there?

We will try our best to keep this site, the mailing list, and Facebook updated in the case of any session cancellations. As this is all a volunteer effort, emergencies may arise where a Sit Salt Creek host will not be able to make it.

That being said - you showed up intending to meditate, right? Don’t let us stop you! You are encouraged to practice on your own schedule. The Forest Preserves of Cook County are available to everyone at all times from sunrise to sunset.

What equipment do I need to practice outside on my own?

There is no right or wrong answer here. The bare minimum might be considered a folding chair.

Sit Salt Creek provides the following equipment at each seating area which has seemed to work well:

1. A waterproof blanket/mat to protect from moisture on the ground. We have several of these
2. A softer blanket to go on top of the waterproof one. We have several of these
3. A meditation cushion. We have several of these (large size)

Note: we do not make any commission if you purchase any of the items from the links above. You’re encouraged to use whatever you might already have available at home.

Do I have to pay?

No. Sit Salt Creek is a nonprofit organization that does not intend to make money. At some point in the future we may accept donations in order to offset the cost of permits, insurance, etc.

How can I stay informed?

We are still in the process of putting together a mailing list etc. to keep the community in the loop. Please check back soon. In the meantime, you can send an email to [email protected] asking to be kept up-to-date on upcoming sessions.

I still have questions, can you help?

Yes! Please send us an email [email protected].