Lectio of nature walk

Overview

Like the Lectio Divina, the object of Lectio of Nature is to listen with the “ear of your heart” to the presence of the Divine in nature. It is a mindfulness exercise of stilling oneself in order to heighten awareness of the natural world around us.

A Lectio of Nature Prayer Experience

Your walk is attentive; it is mindful and alert to all that is around you.

Its purpose is not to relax you, but rather to teach you, to form you, to recreate you, to nourish you.

Hence, it is better to do this alone and without words.

You may choose to take some sketching materials or writing materials with you to record your responses.

Before you start:

Centre yourself through the use of breathing. Close your eyes. Breathe in slowly and deeply. Hold that breath and then blow out slowly and at length. Repeat this breathing for about five minutes.

Then, when you experience an inner clam and stillness, set out purposefully and:

- Read from the text of nature and all that is around you.

- Reflect on things that speak to you: stop and wonder, pause and think on creation.

- Respond in prayer, in gratitude, in writing or in images. Or simply “be” in awe and in the moment of it all.

- Rest /stay in the wondering, drink in all that surrounds you. Be still, for the presence of the Lord is moving all around! Don’t be in a hurry to move onto the next experience- enjoy the sensation while it lasts! Then move on slowly and purposefully until the next revelation occurs.