There’s a German word, waldeinsamkeit, that Google Translate (yeah, I’m that guy) puts in English as “Solitude of the Forest.” It’s meant to describe a singular type of loneliness that is at once isolating, peaceful, and reflective. And having a spot where you can go and indulge in a little waldeinsamkeit of your own can be a rewarding experience for everyone. Now we want to hear about the most incredible places where you go to be alone.
While waldeinsamkeit traditionally implies a dense, quiet wood, the emotional experience can happen just about anywhere. Maybe it’s a meaningful hideaway in your city or town that you like to keep all to yourself, or maybe it’s a bustling public square where you allow yourself to be alone in a crowd. Personally, I sometimes like to head to a place near our office called Transmitter Park. It’s right on the East River, and has a terrific view of Manhattan just across the water. It’s gotten much more crowded in recent years, but I still go there and tune out the world, just watching the water and meditating on the endless possibility of the big city, or whatever’s on my mind. It helps me feel like I’m both in the middle of the teeming city around me, and blissfully apart from it. Wherever it is that you like to explore the wonders of solitude, we want to hear about them.
Waldeinsamkeit roughly translates to “the feeling of being alone in the woods.” The structure of the word says it all: “wald” means woods/forest, and “einsamkeit” means loneliness or solitude.
This word is about creating a connection with nature and cherishing one’s time spent alone in the woods. Waldeinsamkeit evokes feelings of contemplation, calm, and even meditation.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a poem titled, Waldeinsamkeit.
O what have I to do with time?
For this the day was made.
The woods at heart are glad.
The souls that walk in pain.
Which no false art refines.
The sires of Nature, hide.
Though they to all belong!
To brave the landscape’s looks.
To the high cheer I found.
Crowns all thy mean affairs.
Should you, like PG, have no idea how to pronounce Waldeinsamkeit, here’s a link.
I frequently experience Basementeinsamkeit (Kellereinsamkeit).
Well… it’s a nice legend.
It’s not a word I ever used or saw used in my native language. In fact, translated it would mean that the forest is lonely.
Having said that, it’s wonderful to walk in the forest and I love it.