MINDFUL NATURE WALK
Dates: Sunday, December 8, 2019
Time: 1:00-3:00
Location: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA
RSVP:
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-- Full/Registration closed --
“We can breathe with the Earth and we can breathe for the Earth. Many of us are so caught up in our plans, fears, agitations, and dreams that we are not living in our bodies anymore and we’re not in touch with our real mother, the Earth either. We can’t see all the miraculous beauty and magnificence that Mother Earth ceaselessly offers to us. We live in a world of imagination and we become increasingly alienated. Returning to our breathing brings body and mind back together and reminds us of the miracle of the present moment.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Let us embrace our fear and suffering, our joy and happiness while walking mindfully together with friends from The Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax. We will meet on Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 1:00-3:00 at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Fairfax, VA.
We will be walking silently for about 1 1/2 miles along a paved trail listening to the chatter of the late autumn birds as they prepare to spend the winter with us. We will take in the lovely branching architecture of trees and plants with their displays of seeds, trunks, and bare branches. Looking deeply, we will be able to see the buds of spring flowers and leaves as well as our own inner buds of happiness and peace. Occasionally will stop along the trail for a guided seated meditation. We will end our walk at a pavilion where we will have the opportunity for mindful sharing and a snack.
Please come dressed for the weather, as we will be outside the entire time. It is often helpful to wear layers of clothing that can be taken off or put back on as the weather changes. Please bring a snack to share, a water bottle, a favorite poem or writing if you like, and something to sit on that you can easily carry as we walk along the trail. You can bring a portable stool/chair or mat/blanket. We have a few extra camping stools to share so please let us know if you need one. At the end of the walk, we will sit at picnic tables to share what is in our hearts while eating our snacks.
If you would like to join us, please RSVP Joyce Bailey at and include your phone number in case we need to reach you. We will send out an email by 7:00 the morning of the walk if we need to cancel due to weather or some other emergency. If you are running late that afternoon or get caught up in traffic, please call or text Joyce on her cell phone (301-980-5695) before 1:15 so we can coordinate where to meet up. The hike is free, but we will be accepting donations for the park in gratitude for using the space.