| |
| |
|
Spirituality Information |
|
|
|
African American Hiking for Spiritual Health
Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning to spend more time in nature in an effort to connect deeply with the spirit within. The alertness that is required to observe the natural beauty around us is calming, energizing and edifying. Noticing the colors on the trees, listening to the sounds of the birds, and overlooking scenic landscapes or wonderful bodies of water can heal the soul very profoundly. Hiking Alone To be alone with my private thoughts in the space of my own company is euphoric. Moving at my own pace and experiencing the freedom to take any path that looks interesting or simply stop to relax or read is very liberating. Sometimes I listen to inspirational music, messages of personal growth or a guided meditation on my portable CD player. Other times I just listen to the sound of our beautiful natural world. I always stop to journal when hiking. The insights I get while hiking are rarely achieved during the hustle and bustle of work and family life. Hiking with a Partner If you feel uncomfortable hiking alone a partner is a great alternative. You can still get that special time with your own thoughts and feelings by hiking together to a destination, then separating enough to get some private space where you can be alone with your thoughts or listen to some media of your choosing. Agree upon an amount of time for this (a half-hour to an hour is usually good) then re-commune and hike back to the car. Try to keep the conversation as positive as possible. Use this valuable time for spiritual reflection and healing. Give encouragement, love and support to each other every step of the way and hiking with a partner can be powerfully rejuvenating and healing. Practical Items for Hiking: Always bring water. And, if you're hiking for more than a couple of miles it's a good idea to bring some food, i.e. sandwiches, trail-mix and/or fruit. You don't have to invest a lot of money, but a good pair of hiking shoes will make your experience more pleasurable. They absorb the rocks and irregularities of the paths you'll be walking on. Dress in layers that are easily adjustable for body temperature. Wear a breathable shirt next to your skin, and a jacket with a good zipper for temperature variability. If you bring a backpack, it should contain the following items: Water and Food The most important thing about hiking is your personal space. View it as a mini-retreat. Delano Garner writes for "Shades and Reflections," a resource site for African-American Spiritual Health. http://www.shadesandreflections.com Contact Delano Garner at delano@shadesandreflections.com
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Ancient Wisdom: Can it Still be Applied Today? *Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text in the Bible, King Solomon had spoken with God and asked for divine wisdom. The Truth of Reactions In my life, I have tried to be Good and Pure and True. In these qualities, I have failed miserably. The CAB Approach to Spiritual Growth I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual growth process and I thought I would share. I think that what enlightenment really involves is accepting the light that already exists within each of us and in every one and every thing. Angel Messages for Humanity ?- Message 1 In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages full of hope, love and joy for a better today and a better tomorrow. I have agreed to be this channel. Spiritual Prosperity You will become as great as your dominant aspiration.. Loving Your Neighbors If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Spiritual Healing - The Hidden Truth and Misconception Throughout history, what is portrayed in all religions as being the manifestation of prayer or miracles is in fact manifestation of our connection with the essence of our Soul and the manifestation of the power of spiritual healing. We have heard throughout the centuries about such miracles that have happened to people, and how they changed their lives. The Truth About Lifes Challenges (Living By Zen) The great gate is open, but travelers seek everywhereâ?? - EshinIn the midst of our lives, hungry, thirsty and often weary, there comes a moment when we stop and wonder, â??Is this all there is? Is there another way to live my life that will bring the joy and contentment that eludes me?â??Why Zen? Why Now?Caught in the patterns of our lives, each of us has an intuition of something beyond the way we are now living. This something has the power to dispel sorrow and transform our lives into one of wholeness and joy. Living Life Powered By My Own Intention, Knowing the True Essence of Security Since my departure from the traditional "Corporate Life" almost 8 months ago at the young age of 42, I have been on a free-bird journey to "find my bliss". In that time and my travels, I have continually been confronted with and struck by the fact that, although there is much talk about and studying of "the power of intentions", it appears to me as though many people aren't yet really "living it". Power of God Makes Life Easier When the storms in your life are raging, just believe, "the power of God makes life easier." Additionally, the real key to dealing with problems that challenge us daily while seeking peace, is found in the wisdom of God's Word. The Problem with Anger As Christians, we know we need God in every aspect of our lives do we not? We need God to work on us because some of us are so spiritually immature that it is hard to distinguish Christians from non-Christians. Thus, God commands us to do certain things for our own sake - not His. A Meaningful Relationship That is Not Yukky Good morning Roy, good morning JosethWhat about me, were do I fit into your life? Am I just some abstract notion of a superior being or am I a companion, always there always available, always your friend?What do you do with someone that is important in your life? How do you include them in your day to day affairs?That is what I want; I want to be included in your life. I want you to consider me daily. Gods To Do List - Get Specific! I know eyebrows are probably raising about now, but let me tell you this works ! How does God know what we want or need if we don't get specific and let Him know ?All you have to do and I do this on a monthly basis and update it accordingly is make a list. I make mine like a grocery list and put the title at the top of the list. How To Walk On The Path Of Peace (Part 3) As you grow in wisdom, you will release, more and more, self-limiting beliefs, which are transient, and become aware of the powerful role you play in bringing change to the whole.Through your meditations knowledge of eternal principles is realized, and the power, which results from meditation, is the ability to rest upon and trust those principles. Anger in Your Energy Field Many consider anger a normal human emotion and continue to allow themselves to be seduced by it. I suppose another way of saying that, although it's not my preference, is that many are "addicted" to anger and "think" that it is of some use in their lives. Interesting? (but unnecessary) At any given moment, there are 'things' occurring within the open space of awareness. Sometimes there are inner 'things' occurring; a fleeting thought, a welling up of an emotion, a physical sensation. Loving Kindness - A Meditation The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two thousand years old. Although it may feel a bit mechanical at first, many who have used it experience greater feelings of compassion and love towards both themselves and others. Why Sit Here Until I Die? The bible tells a story about four men who sat at the entrance of the city's gate dying with leprosy, an incurable disease which causes terribly visible swelling and sores on the skin, only then to eat inward to the bones. Because of this contagious and incurable disease, these lepers sat outside of the city because they were not permitted to live within the city. New Hope For Global Peace In a recent article entitled "Some Evidence of How We Are Spiritually Connected" I reported on a case study where I was able to give some evidence as to how individuals who have overlapping life histories share such histories as information stored in what I term "interpersonal", "shared" or "collective" thought fields. These fields hold all the overlapping memories, experiences and beliefs that the individuals who are connected to those fields hold in their consciousnesses. How To Unleash The Power Of Prayer But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory ~Phil.4:19Today a dear friend of mine could not pay the rent.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |