With a lot of people coming here are either new or still young, I want to give out one of my ways I stay connected with my own path with Paganism. I know some will do the Sabbats in the year, rituals to praise their Gods/Goddesses, or/and be connected with a group of a similar path. All of those are fine and I do take part in those, but one thing I do not see as often is the suggestion to take a hike in nature and engulf ourselves in its beauty.
Going on a hike in nature is more than trying to find the right spot or even the long walk. For me it lets me be more refreshed as well reminds me of the power, meaning, and feeling of nature. Out on the trail you can feel the calming wind blow past you. Find acorns and understanding this is a new future tree or even a snack to the nearby animals. Looking at the river with the fish swimming by. Feeling the soil that hasn't been tilled by humans, trying to connect with Gaia. These are just a small example of the experience as every trail in nature is different and everyone comes out of it differently.
Now how can this be used for you? Maybe going on a hike isn't easy or the spots nearby isn't for you. Maybe you have better things to do or family members don't want to help. That is okay.
Maybe you just need to take a small walk to get started.
Maybe that spot you think isn't for you holds something within it that you are not aware of.
What if you plan a hike in advance around your busy schedule.
Bring a family member or friend with you (a must if you are under a certain age).
What else can a hike do for you besides seeing the view? Well you can collect things you may need for any spells/rituals you have planned. You might be able to find a good stick that would make for a good wand or even stave. Maybe you found something that would make a good offering for your alter. With that being said, please be mindful. Do not go out into nature to destroy it in order to get what you want. Don't chop down a new beginning tree for a stick. We are just a visitor, we only take what was left for us and we do not take things with force. Besides that, walking on the trail is another form to mediate. Here you can come to terms with issues in your life, focus on your energy or that of others around you, or maybe use this as a way to find your meaning in your path.
With all of that being said and you are interested in taking your first step into the woods we do need to talk about safety.
Wear what is needed for the weather.
Do not over pack on useless things you think you need.
Bring water or a filter.
Tell someone where you will be going and for how long.
Stay on the path, don't stray too far.
Bring bugspray that will protect you from ticks.
Always bring a phone. Even if you have no service your GPS will still work.
Know what is on the trail, for example if there are any bears.
Bring a map.
Have a set time of when you will be out for and even a point on the trail you set your goal on.
There are more detailed articles here on the internet but those things are something to be aware of.
For those that already do this that want to expand on this topic you are most welcome to do so. With that I hope this post finds you well and healthy.
Love nature walks. Also love sitting on my balcony with a cup of tea and just observing [can't do that right now, it's freezing in Canada lol]
I usually have a playlist of over 200 songs I keep on shuffle and use that for a type of walking meditation. [it's wise to take off headphones and ground yourself in nature too, but I do that when I reach a secluded spot I meditate in] With my playlist, I put it on shuffle and just zone out. I set my intention before I leave the house that if my spiritual team [guides, deities, Dragons, ancestors] wish to communicate, they can pick a song [sounds crazy, but you'd be surprised how often I get messages through the music] A recent example of this in action, I was on a walk, lamenting to my deities about my worries [not out loud, obviously, praying in my mind] I'd just start something new and I was worried it was too much to handle and as I asked for their opinion, the song Move Mountains from the anime Carole and Tuesday started playing [the words go "Everything's hard to do the first time, but if I fall, it'll make me stronger, I'll get up and try again... If I believe I can do anything, I can move mountains... If you're in need, I'll be your friend... Anything the world throws at us, I'll be by your side"] Yes, some could argue that's just the algorithm and coincidence, but I've noticed coincidence is rarely random. The divine finds a way to connect with you. If you're not into birds, you'll probably overlook a bird sent by your guides, but if you like cars, you might see your dream car and the license plate will have some angel numbers or something.
I've noticed this trend of people wanting all the witchy accessories [books, cauldron, crystals, thousands of glass jars filled with herbs] but that's Pinterest Witchcraft [no shade, I love a pretty apothecary or altar set-up as much as the next witch] but witchcraft is messy, it's not always pretty, and you don't need all the things to do witchcraft. It's about living in balance in nature and walking your path. If you live in a city, what is your natural world like? Yes, it's a concrete jungle, but how do you mark the change of seasons? What wildlife is in your area? How far away from the nearest park are you? What type of trees line the streets where you live? You can connect anywhere. Witchcraft is living and it's not one size fits all. If you need a cane to walk or a wheelchair, put some sigils on that thing. If you need medication, enchant it with a healing spell. Make it a ritual.
And maybe hiking isn't your thing. How do you connect with the divine? Do you prefer walks on the beach? Would you rather sit in a cafe and people-watch? Are you a dancer or painter? Try a nature walk a couple of times, but if it doesn't make you feel that joy, find what does. Get to know yourself, listen to your intuition, it'll guide you to the divine.
I concur. Nature, even human-sculpted nature, is powerful on the human psyche and spirit. Something as simple as visiting a park or public garden can do wonders to decompress the mind and re-connect to your surroundings.
Magic, and magical practice, does not need to be overt or grand. Point of fact it rarely amounts to more than applying knowledge to a situation. You don't need a wand to watch birds skip between trees. You don't need to hold aloft a chalice to see ants at work and marvel on how so simple a collective can accomplish so much. It just takes observation and mindfulness.
Yup. The start of February I'm heading up on of the mountains in my area. One of the new year goals I placed on myself is to do more hiking. I'll be sure to post any pictures of my travels for anyone interested.
One of my favorite environments are mountains. Started with the rocky mountains and it grew when I went to the mountain landscape in South Korea.
I thought I should share to hear what other people's favorite areas of Nature are.
I have two wavorites; The first is standing on top of a mountain, with a pair of skis strapped to my feet. Though since I don't live among mountains any more, it has been a few years since I've been able to go sailing down the slopes.
My other favorite, which I -can- enjoy these days, is camping in the whiteshell. It is a beautiful area (if you can stand the mosquitos) and the Canadian shield is also some of the very oldest surface-geology around. You can just wander along and find veins of quarts among the rock if you wander in the right areas. Or you can just sit down anywhere and drink in the primordial soothing calm. Plus, there are lots of lakes and campgrounds to choose from so city-slickers like me can always find a good place to set up a tent with amenities close at hand for a comfortable 'base camp'.
