Simplicity Saunter
An Invitation to Mindfulness In Motion
“I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who have understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks, -who had a genius, so to speak, for sauntering.” – Henry David Thoreau
A few years ago, on a springtime camping trip in The Netherlands, I headed out for a wander in the Hoge Veluwe National Park. The trail stretched out before me, vast and quiet in the early morning light. The sun was still low, filtering through the tall pines, casting a faint glow on the chilly landscape. I took a deep breath and set out on my solo saunter in the sylvan park. As I wound my way through the pine, beech and birch, the trees seemed to greet me with branches outstretched.
I let myself meander whichever way my body invited until I emerged from the treeline, gobsmacked at the edge of a vast expanse of heather, its blooms still dormant, waiting for their moment in early autumn. The sky above was a rare and generous shade of blue, with whispy white clouds drifting lazily by. The silence was palpable, accompanied only by songs of birds I cannot name or the woosh and crunch of bicycle carrying someone I’ll never know.
As I continued to explore the park, with no agenda, no timeline but that of the sun’s arc, each step invited me deeper into wonder and connection with the beings around me.
I was in that rare state of sauntering.
Sauntering is the opposite of a hurried or purposeful walk. In the act of sauntering, we are invited into simplicity, into presence and appreciation for our beautiful and broken world.
When I saunter, I can practice being fully present in the moment, letting go of worries and distractions, not suppressing my interior life, but maybe giving her a little time off.
As I move in sloth-like time, I can just notice my noticing.
In the words of Annie Dillard, “I walk out; I see something, some event that would otherwise have been utterly missed and lost; or something sees me, some enormous power brushes me with its clean wing, and I resound like a beaten bell.”
When we saunter, we might even open ourselves up to moments of revelation and grace. In this way, sauntering can be a spiritual practice that helps us cultivate mindfulness, gratitude, and a deeper connection to the Ground of Our Being.
Invitation to practice sauntering
Can you remember the last time your toes felt the tickle of tender grass or the smoosh of sweet mud? When was the last time you smelled rain? Have noticed all the different shades and tints of green lately? Have you met the smallest nature beings in your neighborhood? Time to go outside!
Set aside about an hour for this practice.
Dress comfortably for moving around on natural terrains. Bring a water bottle, but little else so you are unencumbered for your walk. If you walk with a friend, prepare beforehand for spending this practice in silence. Chat on your way to your sauntering spot and wait to share your experiences on the way home. But while walking, try to stay away from friendly chit-chat. Give yourself the gift of engaging your senses more fully to connect deeply with the natural world, of which you are already a part.
You are invited to silence and pocket your phone for this practice, so before you head out, please let folks where you will be and that you’ll be unavailable for a while.
Upon arrival take a moment to carefully observe your surroundings, noticing who might be around and what sights or sounds will help you navigate your saunter.
Take a deep breath.
· Turn to the north and thank your heart for beating this day.
· Turn to the south and thank your body for bringing you safely to this moment.
· Turn to the east and thank your spirit for curiosity and openness.
· Turn to the west and thank your mind for awareness of your surroundings.
· Look down and thank the earth for supporting your journey.
· Look up and thank Your Higher Power for the wildness of creation.
Begin walking in the direction that feels right to you.
While walking, notice your noticing and try to find something for each item on the simplicity saunter card below.
