rivers and gorge paths and trees

Post date: 2021-04-20 16:41:12

I feel a strong spiritual connection to running water and trees and places where they live. I would like to explore and deepen that connection. Any suggestions?

I mentioned offhandedly to my friend "I wish I could just throw myself entirely into spending time with gorge paths and forest trails, because that relationship means so much to me and I still don't understand a lot about it." And then realized... wait! I can!!

For me, I have tended to bond closely with a specific trail of park where I've lived and taken to daily visits, where paying attention carefully has opened the door to feeling strong unconditional love and safety feelings. Photography (just on my phone) is an accessible way to pay attention, and I like just lying there too and sharing updates about the places with the people in my life.

I'm curious about practical steps to do this more - like I think planning more deliberate day-long hikes could be really wonderful - but I'm especially interested in hearing how people have cultivated this with a spiritual dimension as well (context, I'm a between-meetings Quaker with animist/panpsychic leanings). What did deepening this relationship look like for you? Did certain books or ideas provide guidance for you along the way?

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