The essence of meditation walking is to take time solely for oneself; the intention of the walk is to focus on one’s authentic, deep self. Thus, this time is so amazingly different from walking the dog, strolling with others, or trail-running. This is time to “just be” without the 3-T’s:
- Without talking – being in silence (from those walking with or past you)
- Without technology – being on sabbatical from your cell-phone
- Without thinking – being fully present in the here and now (without thoughts about the past or future)
Although meditation walking can be done anywhere, I have found that three elements, when available, enhance walks significantly:
- Circular routes – pathways that take us on a loop, rather than an out-and-back
- Wooded pathways – pathways that take us into natural areas filled with trees and other plant life
- Presence of water – pathways that circumvent lakes, or traverse streams
Wake County (and Raleigh and Cary in particular) is particularly blessed with parks and greenways that are interspersed among neighborhoods – creating islands of nature not far from our front doors. Here’s my short list of ideal places for meditation walks (and, look for a related Meetup group in April 2012):
Apex Community Park, Lake Trail (Lake Pine Drive entrance) – 2 miles, paved (with an unpaved spur trail)
Cary – town parks/greenways (map of all locations*)
- Bond Park, Lake Trail – 2 miles, paved and unpaved
- Hemlock Bluffs, multiple loop trails (each ~1 mile), unpaved
- Regency Park, Symphony Lake Greenway* – 1.25 miles, paved
Harris Lake County Park, Peninsula Hiking Trail – 5 miles, unpaved
Lake Crabree County Park, Lake Trail – 6 miles, paved and unpaved
Millbrook Baptist Church, outdoor labyrinth - 11 circuit, Chartres design
NC Museum of Art - 1, 2 or 2.5 miles; choice of paved or paved/unpaved (longer loops include unpaved segments)
Raleigh – city parks/greenways (map of all locations*)
- Lake Johnson, park trails (East loop, 2 miles, paved with multiple unpaved spur trails; West loop, 1.75 miles, unpaved)
- Lake Lynn* – 3 miles, paved
- Shelley Lake* – 2.5 miles, paved
Umstead State Park – Company Mill trail (Reedy Creek entrance) – 6 miles, unpaved
