Though there are infinite possibilities, here is a quick list I just made. It’s called:
Ways to Be in, Move Through, a Forest
Hugging trees and creatures along the way
Burying those who’ve passed away
Strolling
Speedhiking
Stroking ferns, flowers, bark along the way
Meditatively
Focused on seeking out a particular species
Staying a while and just listening, watching, attending
Praying
Making works of art, beauty, creativity
Snapping photos
Silently
Skipping along trails
Sacredly
Quickly careening around curves so the body feels the arcing motion
Furtively – alert for the shy ones
With a focus on the ground
With a focus on the sky
With a focus on limbs of trees
With a focus at eye level
Singing
Whispering greetings to everyone (nonhuman) encountered
(Quietly passing other people)
(Cheerfully greeting other people)
Stooping to look more closely
Graciously and gratefully gathering an object that calls – stone, seed, cone, hush, leaf …
With a soft gaze
With a tune carried in the heart
v.e.r.y. s.l.o.w.l.y.
Aimlessly
Purposefully
I have done everything on this list, some as recently as today.
What matters most is that we choose a respectful posture, a ripe heart, and an open attentiveness as our guides …
