Yesterday I went for a hike in Shendandoah National Park. The weather was supposed to be perfect: The weather service predicted mild temperatures and sunshine. Indeed, when I reached Sperryville, the little village at the entrance of Shenandoah National Park, the temperatures already registered 43 degrees. Not bad for 9 am in December.
However, when I reached the hiking trail on Skyline Drive that I had selected, the temperatures had fallen to a mere 29 degrees. A fierce wind was howling, making it difficult to open the car door. The sky was dark with ominous clouds threatening snow. I got out and put on my hiking boots. Then I realized that it was way too cold and that I hadn't dressed warmly enough for the conditions. I decided to leave the park and find something else to do.
On the drive back to Sperryville, the temperatures climbed again to 43 degrees. When I got to the base of the National Park, I remembered that one of my favorite trails is accessible from the valley on Route 211, so I decided to give hiking another shot.
When I pulled into the parking lot at the trail head, there was exactly one parking spot left. I took that as a sign that my helping spirits were with me and had reserved the spot for me.
The hike began with a very long and steep ascent. When I finally got to the top of the ridge, I felt hot and the cold wind was welcome. I realized that so often in life, we have our mind set on doing something in a particular way, and when things don't work out the way we thought, we get frustrated and give up, when instead we only needed a to approach the situation from a different angle.
Winter in the mountains is magnificent. With the foilage gone, the sun reaches the forest floor and opens up views of mountain chains accross the valley that normally are obscured. The message of the mountains was very basic: Simplify. Make time for what is important to you. Keep it simple.
So often when we embark on a spiritual practice, we get hung up on the details: Am I doing it right? Do I have right crystals, candles, prayer rug? Do I meditate long enough and in the right way? Why can't I settle down and focus? And how on Earth do you "empty your mind of all thoughts?
This winter I want to encourage you to establish or maintain a spiritual practice by keeping it very simple. A spiritual practice does not need to be complicated. You don't need to buy anything special, though I do recommend taking the time to light a candle. The act of lighting a candle is powerful way to rekindle our inner light, illuminating the pathway to our inner sanctum.
And then just sit. You can begin by keeping your eyes open. Allow them to slowly go out of focus as you settle down. It's okay to sit quietly and observe a sunrise or a sunset and let it's magic restore your soul. Just be.
If you have no patience for sitting still or meditating, you might want to buy a notebook and try writing three pages longhand in stream-of-consciousness style to help you connect with your inner being and to become aware of where you're at. Or you can sit down and write out a conversation with the Great Mystery where you take turns writing out your concern and then you let the Mystery write a reply.
Taking a hike, or a stroll through the park or a walk on the winter beach is a deeply meaningful spiritual experience in itself, especially if you set the intention that you want to be with the nature beings, ie. rocks, trees, lichen, birds, squirrels, foxes, etc.
In other words, throw out the script of how things are "supposed to be." Do not evaluate or judge yourself. Just let yourself have the experience, however that experience is going to be. It really nice to have a beginners mind, because a beginner's mind is free and open like mountain views in the winter.
