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
First-aid pack
Pocket knife
A camera ? I always see something I wish to capture on film
A flashlight - with fresh batteries.
An extra shirt
Something to sit on such as a sheet, blanket of other pad.
I also pack my journal and a pen

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

---

True Justice and Freedom

The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More

If I Were Satan: Medicine and Faith From Hell

If you were Satan and your goal is to destroy... Read More

Good News from Mars (Part 2)

Paul is led up a 512 ft. hill, Mars Hill,... Read More

Can Moms Have a Quiet Time, Too?

Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More

Understanding the Tarot Card Deck - Part 1

One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More

Love, Honor, and Obey

Let's take a look at all these aspects. The bible... Read More

Overcoming Burn Out

Burn out, it can happen to anyone. Some of the... Read More

The Divine Holographic Energy Field

What is the true nature of any illness? Research in... Read More

Readjusting Our Eye Focus

Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel... Read More

Four Voices

The Bible tells us that we must be led by... Read More

Power of Prayer - The Most Valuable Dialogue of Your Life

It's the most powerful weapon on Earth. It can turn... Read More

Life as a Human/Medium/Psychic Being

We often forget that we are human beings first, and... Read More

Linear Unidirectional Time Is An Illusion!

In a recent article entitled "Our Virtual Reality Reality" I... Read More

Selfishness is a True Declaration of Lifes Purpose

In your quest for enlightenment, always ask what's in it... Read More

Sing Psalms, Let Joy Resound: A Case For Exclusive Psalmody

Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one single... Read More

Why is Kabbalah so Attractive to Hollywood A-Listers Like Madonna, Britney Spears and Demi Moore?

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Of course we may never know the real... Read More

The Lord is My Shepherd

An acrostic prayer poem.The Lord loves me and is gracious... Read More

Heal Emotional Difficulties With Your Imagination

How did an artist accidently learn healing visualizations and improve... Read More

Why Good Things Happen to Bad People

One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people... Read More

The Power of Gods Love Can Change Your Life

Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More

Here To Stay

I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More

Catch A New Lover With DIY Magic!

One night, whilst watching TV, I understood a very useful... Read More

The Flow Of Money

The more we worry about money, and who's asking for... Read More

Who Is He?

"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More

Let Go Of My EgGO--Pride Cometh Before A Fall!

Years ago a commercial ran for eggo waffles. It showed... Read More

Inner Beauty ? Finding the Source

In Corrogue I am seeking the source of inner beauty.This... Read More

What is the Evil Eye?

The Evil Eye has been around since the beginning of... Read More

I Think Ill Just Go Fishin

I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More

Unfinished Business (Part 1)

Most of life can be said to be bad, or... Read More

Neither White-washed Nor Unmarked

When I was 10 years old my father decided to... Read More

5 Steps to Passing Life Exams

An exam is a test that is given at the... Read More

Wealth Catchers: Discover Wealth and Prosperity with the Angels of Abundance

Did you ever know somebody who easily accumulates wealth? If... Read More

Sunday Dinner

No one appreciates mothers enough. In this life, that's a... Read More