As a daily practice, mindful walking feeds the soul. This
means being present with one’s surroundings—feeling, seeing, listening,
smelling and sensing the surrounding magic. By walking with all the senses
activated, one becomes aware of the unusual and miraculous occurrences one
might ordinarily overlook. After all, it is easy to get caught up inside one’s
own head, preoccupied by pressing thoughts and worries, and mindful walking
outdoors can transport the soul outside of one’s physical and emotional
circumstances.
Before picking
a white dandelion head, making a wish and blowing, one might pause and look
closely at the perfect geometry of the delicate geodesic dome held together by
the threads of life. That is a wonder to behold ... as is the delicate pattern
of a wild carrot flower, better known as Queen Anne’s Lace, or the intricate
symmetry of dragonfly wings. It is all so fairy-like, so surreal.
Walking past a
patch of butterfly weed, one might pause to admire the flower shapes in their
various stages of growth, count the busy bumblebees buzzing around the bright orange blossoms and observe their
activity. Later in the season, one might notice the seed pods that split
open to release a profusion of parachuting seeds to a passing breeze. That is
magical. And, beyond this, such experiences are all reminders that life goes
on. After all, nature is both teacher and healer.
As
a practice, keeping a walking journal allows one to reflect upon the spirit of
nature and the unfolding magic of life. The act of nature writing can even help
one to transform and release the ongoing physical, emotional and spiritual
challenges inherent in living within a physical world. Further, the walk itself
is a way to receive the metaphysical messages from Spirit in physical form: the
whimsical shape of a cloud, the appearance of a particular bird, a dropped
object of significance, a printed word on a piece of trash, the symbols on a
candy wrapper or, perhaps, a sequence of related objects that draw one’s eye
during a single stroll.
Such mindful
walking is a form of therapy that is free and freeing.
Tips for Reconnecting With Childhood Wonder
• Without a set plan, get in the car with a friend and
see where the day takes you. Pack a picnic and stop for lunch somewhere off the
beaten path.
• Regardless of artistic ability, begin a nature journal
and record small bits of the seasons throughout the year.
• Check out a book or two from the children’s section at
the library and be young again.
• Create a daily practice of daydreaming about something
delightful that has nothing to do with the past or the future.
• Start a local meet-up with others that share a common
passion: books, healthy baking, trains or thrifting.
• Revisit a childhood or teenage interest and don’t
explain why.
Tips courtesy of Marlaina Donato, author, painter and
composer. Connect at JaguarFlower.art.
