The Art of Walking

[Guest guest]

Have

you noticed these days how many souls are out on walks wearing

headphones and trucking along, heads down and focusing with intense

intent upon some unseen something or other, as they wipe perspiration

from their brows? I have often joked that these

serious souls are likely listening to a CD entitled something like,

"The Art of Nature: Natural Sounds". *grin* How many seek out natural habitats to walk in anymore? Or do most still just squeeze that power walk in during lunch in order to say, "I've done my walk today."? The

point here is that I believe too many have lost one of the key reasons

why we are meant to walk - beyond weight loss or weight and cardiac

maintenance. I think too many have gone the way

of the working world where everything is rushed, made efficient and

thus neither savored nor enjoyed. Have we

stopped making time to nourish our souls and connect with the Mother

Earth in any way that is tangible and not just part of a meditation? Where

is the pleasure of beholding the mysteries and magick nature displays

so wondrously, graciously and generously for us all, each moment of

each day,while we are taking a beautiful, long, slow walk in as much of

a natural environment as we can get to? Where is

the appreciation of the melodious communication of the various species

of birds all singing different songs for us; their brief audience? Where

is our laughter at taking time to note the silly antics of squirrels

(young and old), running hither and fro, gathering nuts or simply

playing chase/tag with one another? Slow down, breathe, enjoy life and walk for pleasure

– for the gift of being able to walk – and let nature unfold before you

that you may again reconnect with Gaia, her mysteries and her beauty. Your soul is calling, will you listen? *soft smile*From my blog on MySpace (Eternally A Seeker) Original Composition by Alison Kain 2007