Hiking a Spiritual Path

Workshop # 21
John Cardarelli

This workshop will involve hiking on moderate trails both on and off campus. Worship sharing will follow daily hikes focusing on a theme of spiritual life. Themes include: Seeking the Light, Finding a Right Path, Valley of the Shadow of Death, Moments of Revelation, and Ascent of the Holy Mountain.

Percentage of time:
Worship/worship-sharing 30; Lecture 0; Discussion 0; Experiential 70

Open to all

Full Description
Friends will be expected to walk comfortably on easy-to-moderate trails both on campus and off campus. The purpose of this workshop will be to open ourselves to the presence of the divine Light by way of hiking and entering into natural environments, as well as our group discussions around a daily theme.  Each day will begin with a period of silence, followed by a hike, then ending with some form of worship sharing, either in small groups or as a large group.

Sunday:
We will introduce ourselves and describe our unique relationships with nature and with hiking.

Monday:
Theme = Seeking the Light
Trail – on campus, Johnstown nature trail, ¾ mile total hike
    Worship sharing will center on ways we have been “seekers of Truth” in our lives

Tuesday:
Theme = Finding a Right Path
Trail – off-campus, Lost Turkey Trail, State park, 5 miles away
    Worship sharing will focus on how we have come to Quaker practice and other practices that work

Wednesday:
Theme = Valley of the Shadow of Death
Trail – Johnstown Flood Memorial park, 5 miles away
    Worship sharing will occur after seeing the film on Johnstown’s Flood of 1889 in the Visitor Center

Thursday:
Theme = Moments of Revelation
Trail --  on-campus, silent hike of own choosing
    Worship sharing will be about moments of deep peace, illumination or mystical experiences in our lives

Friday:
Theme = Ascent of the Holy Mountain
Trail – off-campus, Laurel Ridge State park, 5 miles away
    Worship sharing will be how our lives can be viewed as a metaphor for climbing a sacred mountain

Readings:
There are no advance readings for the participants.  I will bring a variety of spiritual readings from authors such as: John Muir’s The Wilderness World of John Muir, Henry David Thoreau’s Walking, John Neihardt’s Black Elk Speaks, Colin Fletcher’s The Man Who Walked Through Time, and Thomas Merton’s The Way of Chuang Tzu.   Each day will begin with silence followed by a brief passage from these books.