Walking Ways

Taking a page out of my recent trek to the Isle of Iona, I decided to walk whenever possible. Curious about step counting, I installed an app on my phone that would do just that.

Once installed, it was time to walk. First for cappuccinos and then on to explore Taos. In and out of shops and conversations.

Taos is experiencing weather extremes as much of the country is. There has been no snow this year. None. The surrounding mountains are bare. No topping of white.
And it's almost balmy walking during the day.

In the afternoon we walked the labyrinth at the Mable Dodge Luhan center.

Labyrinth walking in an ancient practice used by many different faiths for spiritual centering, contemplation and prayer. Entering the serpentine path of a labyrinth, one walks slowly while quieting the mind and focusing on a spiritual question or prayer.

A labyrinth is not a maze. It has only one path to the center and back out. It has no blind alleys or dead ends. The path twists and turns back on itself many times before reaching the center. Once at the center, there is only one way back out. In this way, it symbolizes a journey to a predetermined destination (such as a pilgrimage to a holy site), or the journey through life from birth to spiritual awakening to death.

There's a kind of rhythm to walking a labyrinth. You enter the labyrinth slowly, calming and clearing your mind, focusing on the process of taking slow and deliberate steps, praying and contemplating during the walk to the center.

Pause and reflect at the center, pray. Then begin the return journey.

Walking back to the Casa, we stopped at the Taos Inn for cappuccinos and foot resting. Then home past the plaza as people were gathering for the annual Christmas tree lighting. Parades and music and goodies. A stark contrast to my simple day of walking.

In Advent we are told to watch and wait. This day was filled with watching. And walking. And journeying at a much slower pace than usual.

At the end of the day I turned the step counter off, amazed at the total count. We did drive to the market for provisions and dinner, treated to a glorious sunset at days end.