Seeing vibrant red, yellow, and orange leafed trees against a backdrop of purple mountains, attending a fall festival fundraiser called the Apple Squeeze in a quaint town center, and spending time on the east coast with family sharing food, news, and memories around dining room tables were a few highlights of my October. What a terrific month it was and November promises to be much the same! With Thanksgiving around the corner there’s more ahead to delight the senses. And of course, there’s my next Quest for Calm choice to share. But before I get to that, let me tell you about my one step at a time experience.
Last month’s activity was centered around moving while being mindful, specifically walking while meditating. As mentioned previously, I thought walking would be the easy part and meditating the hard part. And I was right, well, sort of. Walking is a simple act, but what I soon discovered was that meditative walking was not the same as my usual putting one foot in front of the other.
Throughout my life, I’ve been told that I “walk with a purpose”. I go from A to B and when I set out to go somewhere, off I go! For this experience my goal was to go nowhere, to not have a place to go. No destination. Really? Really. This idea goes against every fiber of my being. And the meditative aspect, well, my mind can be described as anything but that. Thoughts come and go constantly. How long will this walk take? Will I have time to wash a few loads of laundry this afternoon? Is there still fresh spinach in the fridge?
Understanding my challenges, I decided to seek out the labyrinth walk that lies peacefully on the southeast corner of Borchard Community Center in our town. The sign in front of it reads:
“The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. It has a single circuitous path that winds into the center. The person walking it uses the same path to return and the entrance then becomes the exit. The entire path is in full view, which allows a person to be quiet and focus internally.”
What a great choice it turned out to be! I didn’t have to think about a path to take, I simply followed the one before me. I didn’t have to think about when I could walk there, it was always open. I didn’t have to think about running into others, anyone who came by, passed by. My only focus was me. With each step, I simply observed the sensations I was feeling, and later recorded them as I sat on a nearby bench.
From my journal: October 9, 2024, Newbury Park, California
“Sunlight filtering through the trees on the path, rustling leaves, cool fresh air, dogs barking, a car alarm, cedar scent, thirsty, my stomach growling(!)…”
After a few visits, I was no longer looking down at the turns in the path, it was as if I was feeling my way around them. And my usual racing thoughts were subdued as I began noting what I was sensing instead. What surprised me most was a word or phrase usually came to mind as I neared the end of my walk. Words like: trust, safety, slow down, shine, pace, and forge, to name a few.
The rest of the saying on the sign in front of the labyrinth reads:
“The labyrinth is a metaphor for life. We are all on our path. We encounter twists and turns, but ultimately arrive at our center. We gain insight and take this back to our world. When walking the labyrinth notice what you learn about your life.”
Wow! Here are a few things I learned from this experience. It’s getting easier for me to be present. Being present gives my mind a rest. And this brings about self-awareness which helps me tap into what is really going on with me physically, mentally, and emotionally. So good to know!
I still love walking with Robert and Kippers every day, and friends each week, but now I will also take meditative walks on my own. Especially when I want to unwind, be silent, and just be.
Now for November’s Quest for Calm pick! I’m excited about it for two reasons. One, it is an art form I’ve been keen on for many years, and two, the founders, its followers, and fans are celebrating its 20th year anniversary! That’s two decades of bringing relaxation, creativity, and pleasure to people all around the globe. Truly something to cheer about! Yay!
Zentangle, the brainchild of a botanical illustrator, Maria Thomas and a monk, Rick Roberts, it is an easy to do, few supplies needed, no artistic talent required form of fun! “Zen” refers to the relaxed state or approach to this art, while “tangle” explains the method. Their calming step by step process of turning simple hand drawn patterns into artistic designs led to the Zentangle philosophy which is, “Anything is possible, one stroke at a time.”
My July 31, 2023 blog post entitled “One Stroke At A Time” echoes this sentiment and tells how I got interested in this type of art, the basics, and ways to apply it. What I like best about Zentangle is all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil to get started. Then by simply connecting dots, drawing shapes, and filling them in with patterns, in no time you’ll have created a little piece of art, and you’ll have enjoyed a little peace of mind!
Like many creative pursuits, the benefits of this practice include a calmer mind, reduced stress, and sharper focus. As I’ve done in the past months, I’ll set aside at least 15 minutes three times a week to put my pencil point to paper and see where my strokes lead me! I look forward to sharing my new Zentangle experiences with you, and perhaps a few of my creations, too!
A Journal Journey 