An Awareness Walk with God
When I lived in a crowded Southeast Asian city, it was not easy to find places nearby for a nature walk in order to be present to God and my own soul through the beauty and quiet of nature. I had to go outside the city – often on my bike. I would climb to a place overlooking the city and the distant mountains beyond the city. Or sometimes we would travel farther away to the south coast of the island where we lived. Walking the beach, hearing the steady roar of the waves and looking out at the vast expanse of the ocean beckoned me toward the love of God. Wherever you may need to go for a nature walk (or maybe a nature “sit,” in someone’s quiet back yard!), we encourage you to be present to creation, to your own body and inner landscape, and to God through the following practice. This practice is shared with us by Carol Weaver (one of our 2HC spiritual directors) and was adapted from the instructions for an awareness walk by Iona Reid-Dalglish, Jesuits in Britain. This practice fits well with our current 2HC cohort learning stations of “Unhurrying” and “Noticing.” Choose the prompts and questions that feel most resonant and applicable for you right now. (from Jamey L, 2HC team member)
by Carol Weaver
Below are instructions for an awareness walk, being present to creation and to God in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
Prepare
Sit quietly and breathe slowly and deeply, entering into God’s presence. Take your time. Relax your body, soul, and mind. Receive God’s loving gaze on you. God is glad to walk with you.
Prepare for the walk by taking some time to notice some things about yourself:
What are you hoping for on this walk? A bit of space? Some mental or spiritual clarity? Time with God? Slowing down your busy life? (After reflecting on this, you might like to offer your intentions to God. “Lord, I hope for…”)
How are you in this world today: in your body… your emotions… your mind… and spirit? (Simply take note of how you are coming into this walk.)
What do you desire right now? It might be peace, solitude, wisdom or direction for something specific in your life, letting go of something, working through something you’re struggling with, or healing of a wound. (Whatever feels most resonant, ask for that, maybe even speak it out loud.)
Walk
Begin your walk. Open all your senses to everything around you. Wander and be curious. Linger long over whatever captures your attention, seeing everything around you as important, meaningful, and sacred. In addition to being attentive to the outside world, be attentive to what is happening in your inner experience as well.
As you make your first steps, notice how your body feels as it moves: arms swinging, feet pressing to and then leaving the ground, the balance of your body as it moves, the temperature, the sensations of air on your skin. Just notice. Breathe deeply, filling your lungs fully, and notice how that feels.
Now, become aware of your surroundings, drinking it in with all your senses:
What do you see: plants, animals, people, the sky? What are the variations in color? How does the light dance on the things around you?
What do you hear? Hear sounds near and far away. Listen for the different bird calls.
What do you smell? Breathe in deeply.
What textures or sensations can you feel? Feel free to touch the ground, leaves, rocks, plants, water. How does the air feel on your skin? Feel the sun (if there is any).
Can you taste any flavors in the air?
Continue to wander and keep paying attention to what’s around you with all your senses.
What is catching your attention as you wander? Is it a color, sight, sound, a pathway winding off, or a creature? Allow yourself to linger longer over this.
As you continue to drink in the outer landscape, also pay attention to your inner landscape.
What is being stirred up inside you as you wander, or stop and sit?
How do you feel that in your body?
What emotions, thoughts, memories, bodily sensations, are going on in you? Pay attention to them with the same curiosity as you are the outer landscape.
Where do you feel joy, peace, love, etc.? How do you feel those in your body?
If people and life events come to your mind, wonder about their significance. Is there anything in particular that lingers with you, that you might like to talk to God about…as one friend speaks to another?
Keep paying attention to both what you’re noticing outside, and how you’re feeling in response to it inside.
Just notice what comes into your imagination when you hear this next question, paying attention to whatever emerges: thoughts, images, feelings … be curious and welcoming.
How is God present on this walk with you today? Where have you noticed or seen or felt God around you?
Continue to talk with God, and continue wandering for as long as you want until you are ready to return to a quiet place for reflection.
Reflect
(You don’t need this page until after your walk.)
As you sit down, take a deep breath and settle in. You might like to begin by giving thanks to God for the walk. Is there something you are feeling grateful for right now?
It can be useful to journal about what happened on your walk, harvesting any experiences that were meaningful. Pick and choose questions that might be helpful for harvesting:
What natural objects, plants, animals, weather, and physical features caught your attention?
What feelings, thoughts, memories did they stir up in you in response?
What might God have been speaking to you through these?
How did your walk reflect the way you relate to yourself, the world, God?
Were you quick to get to the end? Ponder the reasons for that.
Did you have a goal in mind?
Did you find yourself wandering aimlessly? How did this make you feel?
Did you find yourself playful?
Where did you experience joy? (Relive that part of the walk in your memory.)
How did you experience God on the walk?
How do you think God experienced the walk with you?
Did you discover any sense of healing or wisdom on the walk?
You might like to end the time in conversation with God.
To remember the time, you might like to take a photo, draw a picture, or even write a poem!
