Sugarloaf Walk Late Spring – June 8, 2014

What is it like to enter the landscape and walk the land in a sacred way? What might we discover about ourselves and this living system we call home, if we were to slow down and mindfully explore both our inner and outer landscape? Hindus and Buddhists circumambulating Tibet’s Mount Kailash. Pilgrims trekking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Indigenous Australians following the Songlines of their land. Hiei-zan monks in Japan practicing 1000-day walking meditations. For thousands of years and in almost every culture and spiritual tradition, people have walked the land as a way of connecting with the sacred nature of the life within and around them.

Our  walk will be interspersed with stops for meditation, readings, and contemplations to bring a greater awareness to our experience of being with and on the earth. As Gary Snyder said about his and others’ circumnambulation of Mt. Tamalpais in the early ‘60s – “The main thing is to pay your regards, to play, to engage, to stop and pay attention. It’s just a way of stopping and looking — at yourself, too.

Come celebrate the joy of the vitality and warmth of Spring with meditations and mindfulness practices to connect you with  the re-awakening of both our outer and inner worlds.

This walk is co-taught with James Foulkes who will lead us in Qi gong to deepen our connection to the land and nature.

• The walk will be about 5-6 miles, with some steep sections and rocky terrain.  (Moderate difficulty.)
• We will meet at the East View parking lot at Sugarloaf Mt, Dickerson, MD at 9 am.  The day will finish about 3 pm.
• Maximum number of participants: 20

This day long is offered for $50.  Please register for the walks at www.imcw.org.

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What past participants have to say about their day on the mountain:

“What did I like about the day?  Everything in particular!”

“I loved being able to meditate on the mountain, taking a break from the city and “reconnecting” with nature.  … Overall, this was a very enriching experience. I am glad my first retreat took place in nature, as I had a hard time imagining myself being able to sit still and meditate in silence for a whole day (or days) indoors.  I can’t wait for the next opportunity!”

“Ellen was modest and full of knowledge, caring and open to all others’ experiences… and helped us open awareness at perfect locations. Her joy of place was infectious, and her care for all life uplifting.”