Gift walks in nature: making sense when little makes sense

How to make the most out of your solo walks in this intense time? What if the walks can be nourishing well beyond the physical level – to offer answers to our deepest inquiries? What if outer nature can help us reconnect with our inner nature ...?

The implications of the coronavirus for our personal lives and social systems are so complex that they are impossible to comprehend with the rational mind. We need allies to help us host big questions that are emerging now; to be in the unknown, and yet find some pillars on which to build the futures we desire.

Through the years, I have found intentional walks in nature (that follow the light structure of severance – dialogue – integration) an immense source of insight and inspiration. Particularly helpful in this time of intensity and change, when we are asked to walk solo; distanced from other humans.
Nature is always there. Even on my way to the supermarket.

This is how it all started for me.

A decade ago, when in huge personal distress, I went for a walk in my favourite forest. My intention was to re-center; and make some sense of the shock that hit my till-then-peaceful life.

Walking in the forest, with all my defences down, crying and raging, wondering what life was trying to teach me in that difficult time ... I suddenly started to hear subtle, intriguing, and inspiring messages. I was perplexed: What the f ... is happening? I am I going nuts? 

To my (normally very rational) mind, the messages I received seemed very sound though.

After recovering from the shocks, I set on an exploration: What if nature is a greater ally than I had thought so far? And ... what if there are ways to receive answers on purpose – not just incidentally; when I most long for them?

Turned out I was not the first human being who’s ever come across this idea.

Through the years, I learnt from amazing teachers and mentors; and adopted intentional ‘gift walks’ (often known as medicine walks) as my practice.
I have also led such walks for other people; and even invited groups to go on short solo walks before making an important decision together; in very traditional settings (companies, communities, networks). It works!

Here’s what I’ve learnt. As always, for maximum benefit, a light structure is helpful.
 

1) Set intention

Setting intention is key; it is a powerful invitation to engage in dialogue with the greater realm of which we are part.

What kind of gift or medicine do you want from the walk? It can be:

• a specific question ( How to make sense of my conflict with xxx? What should I do regarding xxxx? Shall I buy this house?);
• a broader inquiry (What’s mine to do in this crisis? What will help us move forward as community/society? Who is my tribe? What parts of myself do I need to embrace?)
• an open exploration (What do I need to hear/see/learn? What does nature want to tell me/us? What wants to be witnessed?)
   

2) Severance from ordinary reality & crossing the threshold

Expanding perception: In our ordinary, busy life, we usually notice only a tiny portion of all the stimuli around us. Our mind constantly filters what is being perceived – and then interpreted. Right at this moment, you might be reading these words; and not seeing, hearing, smelling ... myriads of other phenomena in your surroundings. This is a normal energy-saving mechanism that helps us focus, assess situations, and make decisions for how to act.

Yet the realm around us is so much richer.

The invitation for the gift walk is to expand the perception: to prepare to be surprised, and receive messages from bodily sensations, symbols reflected in nature (associations catalysed by trees, stones, clouds, winds, birds, worms, mice, deer ...), inner whispers, outer sounds, intuition, sudden realisations ...
The way this works for me is that I literally talk to my rational mind that supervises my decisions. I  invite it to quieten down for the length of the walk; promising it’ll be back in charge once the walk is over. 

Creating and crossing a threshold: the shift from ordinary reality to sacred time needs to be clearly marked. You can do this by stepping over a ranch on the floor; or through a physical portal (say between trees or rocks); or by making a gesture (a bow, a song ...).
When crossing the threshold, it’s helpful to recall the intention.
After the walk is over, cross the threshold again by performing the same symbolic gesture.

Deep dialogue time: Once you are over the threshold, start listening deeply. Follow the guidance of your body; not mind. Where does it want to go?
It may be that you are pulled towards a tree stump. Stop, and listen. What are you noticing? Learning? Are you in awe how much life there actually is on a supposedly dead stump: the moss, the insects, the tiny plants ... Is it about abundance, resilience, the cycles of life and death? How is this stump symbolic of an aspect of your life?

What does the shape of that stone remind you of? How is your body energy changing now that the sun has come up from behind the clouds? Allow yourself to be in real, honest dialogue with the world around you.
Most importantly: slow down. It’s not about how far or fast you go. It’s about tuning in with the environment, and the greater wisdom available.

If you have a sense that you have been gifted with something, you may want to give something in return: a silent word of gratitude; a song; a prayer. Pick the trash that has been left behind.

Practicalities

There are three invitations for the threshold time that deepen the presence, and the dialogue with more-than-human world:

(1) The walk is done solo; without other humans. If you happen to come across people, don’t engage in conversation.
(2) Don’t eat. Water is welcome; particularly on longer walks.
(3) Don’t seek man-made shelter.

A gift walk can last anything from 30 minutes to a full day. As a beginner, you might enjoy a spaciousness of say two hours; to really slow down, and connect. Later, you can explore shorter and longer walks.
An ideal setting is the natural world; with as little human trace as possible. Yet it can be done also in a municipality park, and even in your neighbourhood. Intention, threshold-setting, and integration are key.
 

3) Integration

Once your walk is over (and you crossed the threshold again), find ways to integrate your experience. You may want to journal; talk to a supportive friend; voice-record your experience; or create an art artefact that captures its essence.
In whatever way you share your story, tell and interpret it as a myth or a dream. Then reflect how the entire narrative, and/or parts of it, have medicine for your own life: what inner powers and capabilities are you noticing that were until now unknown to you? How is the story connected to your intention for the walk?
In the story, even the tiniest bits might matter. Dare to find unexpected links and multi-layered messages. It’s not incidental that you were so pulled to that particular stump, or stone, or raindrop, or lizard. They each carry a message.
Sometimes the answer to your question becomes clear five minutes into the walk. Sometimes it’ll take days, or weeks. Sometimes the question will transform into a new, possibly more relevant inquiry.
Very often, you realise you are different than who you were before the walk. Expanded, wiser, calmer.

How come it works?
The world around us is rich with meaning. Whatever happens outside, in some way mirrors our own inner quest (of which we might not even be aware). Intentional deep dialogue with the world around us can illuminate challenges, inquires, and pathways that help guide our decisions and actions. With practice, perception gets expanded; so much so that messages become accessible also in everyday reality. Everything becomes animated. This way, magic is reclaimed.
What a joy in dire times.

In Robert Moss’s words:

“We need to take our dreams more literally, and our waking life more symbolically.”