by Rev. Kelly Jane Caesar
A Spirit Walk is an intentional time to be with the Divine with all your senses.
You are invited to take a Spirit Walk any time you like in the next month. You can walk up a mountain, down the street or even around your home. You can walk alone or with a friend (children can make great Spirit Walk partners as they see the world afresh).
You can join Pastor Kelly Jane for an in-person guided Spirit Walk on Indigenous People’s Day, Monday, October 12 at 3:00 pm. Children welcomed to participate in this socially distanced and masked worshipful walk on the flat Hop River State Park trail at Bolton Notch, meeting at the Bolton Park and Ride at Morancey Rd, Bolton, CT 06043. RSVP to Pastor Kelly Jane helpful, but not required (revkellyjane at churchcorners dot org).
You are also invited on Thursday, October 29 at 7:00 pm to join on zoom for a time of reflection with the opportunity to share any insights or challenges met on your Spirit Walk.
Tips for Walking:
Bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
Bring a timer to guide you through each portion, especially if doing walk by yourself or with a buddy.
You may like a journal to record your findings – or print out this page to record directly on paper.
The Spirit Walk is written to last about an hour, with periods of rest included.
Please adapt for your own needs and environment, walking longer if you feel so called or lingering on particular sections as they beacon to you.
October Spirit Walk:
Sensing God with Our Senses
God so loves our bodies that in Jesus, God became incarnate in a human body with the ability to hear, see, taste, smell, and touch.
This Spirit Walk invites you to soak in the Divine through your five senses.
CENTERING:
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” – Matt 11:28
Warm up your body and mind by slowly walking. Take this time to transition from the regular day. Let your thoughts ramble and go. If you are with someone, get your chit chat out and then allow for a time of silence. Set a timer for at least two minutes and begin walking.
SIGHT:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7
For at least the next five minutes really look around you as you walk. Notice the colors. What textures do you see. What is beautiful? What is ugly? Pick an item that captures your attention. Take your item with you either by physically picking it up, taking a picture, or drawing it in your journal. Set a timer for 5 minutes and practice seeing as you walk.
SOUND:
11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
Pause to listen. You may sit or stand as you are comfortable, but try to remain still. Listen to the sounds of nature. Listen to the sounds of humans. Can you hear the silence? Pick an item that captures your attention. Take your item with you either by physically picking it up, taking a picture, or drawing it in your journal. Set a timer for at least 5 minutes and be still and listen.
SMELL:
“You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood…and Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it.” – Exodus 30:1, 7
As you resume your walking in the same direction as before, take some deep breaths. What do you smell? Notice the difference in smell when you are breathing in and when you are breathing out. Again, select an item the intrigues your nose and take it with you by physically picking it up, taking a picture, or drawing it in your journal. Set a timer for at least 5 minutes and walk, breathing deeply the smells around you.
TOUCH:
“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” Matt 9:20
Slow down your walk to explore the textures of God’s creation around you. Reach out and touch what you can (avoid poison ivy!). Touch the bark of a tree. Touch a stone. Notice the temperature of your skin. Pick an item that captures your attention. Take your item with you either by physically picking it up, taking a picture, or drawing it in your journal. Set a timer for at least 5 minutes and touch the world around you.
TASTE:
“I’m thirsty.” – Jesus on the cross John 19:28
Perhaps you have worked up a thirst on your journey. Notice what it feels like to be thirsty in your body. What does it feel like to be thirsty in your soul? Slowly drink some water and notice the difference.
RETURN
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14
As you walk back to the beginning, soak in the walk with all of your senses. If you are with a buddy, try to walk in silence for a portion of the time. Which senses do you use more? Which less? How does the Divine speak through your senses? You may like to write your reflections down or share them aloud with your walking buddy.
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank you, Creator for the ability to see, hear, smell, touch and taste your blessings all around us. Amen.
