Tuesday – Awareness Walk
Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8
According to one of the Apocryphal Gospels, Jesus is reputed to have said: “Lift the stone and you will find me. Cleave the wood and I am there.”
Walk for exercise first if you need it.
Take good strong breaths of fresh air. Resist hurry. Slow down to an easy stroll.
LOOK
Become aware of the sky, clouds, light, and shadow…
See colours, shades, tints…
Look at patterns – shape, height, depth, thickness…
Notice trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses…
Be aware of shapes of buildings – roof, tiles, chimneys…
Notice stillness and movement – birds, insects, animals…
TOUCH
Feel the sun’s warmth, the cool breeze, cold air, wet rain…
Feel texture – sharp, rough, smooth, prickly…
Touch grass, stone, bark, petal, leaf…
Touch the earth, feel water; walk with bare feet.
SMELL
Smell scents – flowers, herbs, pine needles, grass, earth…
Other smells – of industry, smoke, concrete, tarmac, animals, rubbish, fumes…
LISTEN
Shut your eyes and become all ears…
Listen to water, birds, insects, animals, cars, people…
Hear far off sounds, near sounds… Listen to your own breathing and heartbeat…
TASTE
Taste water… Chew on a piece of grass…
When you come to your next meal, savour every mouthful.
Do not try to think, just BE!
Let thoughts, however good, drop away for the present.
Focus on one thing that particularly draws you, become aware of it, look more closely.