When most of us visit the beach, we usually bring several personal belongings with us. We usually pack a backpack with snacks, headphones, notebooks, and whatever holds significance in our lives. We might invite friends or decide to go alone. Visits to the beach can be spiritual, recreational, or even educational. The personal lenses we bring to the beach and our lives in general influences our experiences greatly. In turn, how we choose to open up to the natural world around us reflects back on our personal image for others to see and gives insight to who we are.
On October 13th, 2019 I visited Leo Carrillo State Park and found myself at Staircase Beach. This particular beach was affected by our recent Thomas fire. The cliffs, walkways, and vegetation still shows damage from the fire with erosion and burn scars. Walking to the beach was a trail that lead down the cliff surrounded by dense, dry vegetation. The exterior appearance leading to the beach was very rough. Yet once I made it to the beach and settled on a cove, the image of the beach completely changed to a secluded and pristine environment. People were still around, yet their belongings showed a direct reflection of their interests and personality. I opted to go alone this particular day and in my personal bag I brought snacks, a tarot deck, notebook, and a hydro flask that faintly tasted of mold.* I noticed a group of girls posing for instagram photos in matching bikinis, and to me that showed a direct reflection of wanting to belong and receive acceptance, both on social media as well as with friends. Others brought dogs or significant others with no personal belongings. The only item one individual brought was a cigarette and lighter and left soon after.
The beach provides a safe place for people to come and open up (literally) and reveal what is important to them to bring into their personal time. Previously, I wrote on spirituality and the beach and very strongly believe the beach can be a sacred and private place. I feel self image expands on spirituality as it is easier for people to identify with their self image and what is important to them rather than “spirituality.” Some might show a hard exterior like the beach I visited, being burned and tough on the outside. Yet once an effort is made to venture inside to the coastline, the adaptive and pristine beach is revealed. I feel like it can be hard to open up, especially after trauma in our lives leave us scarred and burned emotionally. However, once people are let in the process of healing can begin.
*Personal note: Clean your hydro flask. Even the lid and under the rubber seal. You’ll thank me later.
Bianca, I enjoyed reading your unique perspective on spirituality and the beach. I see the connection you made between spirituality and what’s important to us (what we value). I agree that the concept of self-image or knowing what’s important to us is easier to identify with than the concept of spirituality. The value we place in certain objects and what that can say about us is fascinating to me. Your blog made me think about what I bring to the beach and why that might be. I always bring a bag of some sort full of my essentials like water, my wallet, hand-sanitizer, snacks, my cell-phone, sunscreen, and a lip product. I know this is because I like to feel prepared for any possible situation (could be a symptom of my anxiety) and I try to avoid getting sick, too hungry, too thirsty, sunburned, or physically uncomfortable in any way. So, from that I could conclude that I value taking care of myself and feeling safe and in control. When other people don’t bring these things with them, I might have in the past felt that they were underprepared. But now I’m considering how different their values might be from mine. What’s important to them is just different than what’s important to me. I love how we can learn so much about each other by just observing what each others’ beach (or anywhere else) “essentials” are. Or, even considering a person’s reasons for going to the beach in the first place, which can reveal qualities about who a person is or what they may be going through at the time. Taking the time to notice/appreciate these things is a positive step toward understanding each other better and increasing empathy.
Hi Bianca!
i was sad to read that you were still able to see damage from the thomas fires at this beach and that the dry vegetation around the area could just be more fire food. Glad you were able to have a relaxing experience once you actually were on the beach!
Also totally agree with your hydroflask tip, those things can get so dirty and make you sick!
Hi Bianca, wow, your blog is amazing. The thought you put into the descriptives of landscapes and people was very inspirational. Have you ever thought about writing? You seem gifted for it. I especially loved your photos as well. The contrast of colors and imagery are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experience at Leo Carrillo Beach. I t makes me want to go visit there myself!
Hi Bianca,
Such a beautiful perspective and lovely pictures! I’ve always passed through this area driving through the PCH and always see the Leo Carrillo sign, but have never actually been here or even knew this was called “Staircase Beach.”
I really enjoyed your intake on self-image and your description of the people you saw at the beach. People have many of their own reasons to visit a beach, whether its to take pictures or walk your dogs. I agree that what is important to them reflects how they see themselves. At the end of the day, the beach is always a wonderful place to visit and be yourself.
Commenting because the last tidbit, I had a run in with that a few days ago, very gross. As far as the Thomas fires and beyond, its pretty intense and definitely a sign of climate change, however ventura county/Malibu area is known as chaparral, in which new vegetation comes in with either rain, or burns because of the dry/oily nature of the vegetation.
great post!
Hi, Bianca! Your post was so reflective and eloquently written. You also took some very nice photos. I really enjoyed how you compared the physical environment of the beach to more spiritual and reflective aspects. Opening up and even allowing healing to take place in our lives can leave people feeling pretty vulnerable. I think people who are willing to put themselves out there like that are super brave and super strong (for a lack of better terms). By the way, I freak out as soon as my hydroflask has any sort of scent.
Bianca, just like everyone else has stated I agree and think your post was truly written from the heart. I enjoyed it very much. You are an excellent writer.
Bianca, I enjoyed reading your post. Everything you mentioned in your post resonated with me. The beach is a sacred to me and whenever I am going through a rough patch in my life I always find myself at the beach. The healing nature that comes with going to the beach by yourself and being able to reflect on your own is such a beautiful and changing experience.
Awesome post! it really hit home especially with the fire wiping out most of the vegetation. self healing is super important and you painted a great image for us and great pictures for us to observe. next beach trip i will definitely have to put this one on my list, thanks for sharing.
Hi Bianca, you’re blog speaks nothing but volumes of truth! I too escape to the beach as often as possible to destress and and take in the beauty and peaceful environment the beaches have to offer. I liked how you emphasized the importance of self acceptance and personified the healing of the beach and the trauma it went through during the fire.
First off, amazing blog post! I definitely relate to the wholesome spirituality that the beach can provide to everyone! Time get hard and that’s no doubt, but its wonderful to have free resources that can help us think. I feel that the repetitious crashing of the waves brings some inner peace while your at the beach. Your analogy at the very end is extremely powerful and I believe it to be 100% true. After tough times in my life I always go to the beach let myself become a part of the environment so that I can find some peace in the tough times.