Wild Winter Walks Into The Heart - Killinthomas Wood

'There was something in the darkness and cold that comforted me in my pain. There was something in feeling the rain. There was something if I stayed long enough.'

'I asked myself what it would be like to enter into the dark and emerge into the light. What would I discover about myself and others? What would I find in this space that could help me?'

‘If there's going to be any chance for us, we're going to have to stop and wait for our souls to catch up.’ (John Moriarty)

These walks will encourage speaking from the heart, periods of silence mixed with gentle sharing, storytelling, encountering nature, and free roaming/solitary exploration. Contemplation and reflection practices will also feature, and depending on the number of participants, I may incorporate some individual, pair, and group activities.

I will aim to provide a supportive and safe space where we can freely open up about our lives and experiences. Anything you share is confidential and shall not be disclosed outside the space.

• TIME: Sunrise starts around 6.30am so we will meet at 5.55am and start walking around 6.00/6.05 am. Please be on time, to respect other members of the group. We will need to start walking at 6.05am at the latest.
• MEETING POINT: We will meet in the car park at Killinthomas Wood.
• IMPORTANT: Please read notes 1-11 below to prepare yourself for the walks.

Note 1 - Silence
I want to explore and use silence during the walks, so I will suggest that people do some parts of the walk in silence. Short activities will break up the silence at different intervals to allow for moments of engagement and sharing using different prompts that I will provide. If people prefer or need to talk at times, that's fine, but please be aware and respect the silence in the space by noticing proximity to others and talking in softer tones if needed.

Note 2 - Walking Pace
People will be encouraged to walk at their own pace, which they are comfortable with and at the pace they feel in the moment. For some parts of the walk, I want people to explore their being, and that will bring them to different places than others. For example, someone may want to sit on a bench and breathe, someone else may want to stretch, and another person may be drawn to walk towards a tree. We will regroup at different intervals before coming back together. If people want to talk in pairs or groups, that is fine.

Note 3 - Focuses/Topics
Silence, Heart, Wildness, Breathe, Pain/Suffering, Airiness, Gentleness, Letting go, Immersion, Gratefulness, Presence, Patience, Stillness.

Note 4 - Weather/Clothing
Please check the forecast and dress appropriately. I will still walk if there is rain/bad weather unless it is very, very bad.

Note 5 - Footwear
There is a good chance we will be walking through long, wet grass and leaves, so hiking footwear or something that can get a bit wet while you stay comfortable would be advised.

Note 6 - Phones
Please put your phone on silent mode for the duration of the walk so we can create a space with fewer distractions. If you need to take a call, please put some distance between yourself and the group before doing so to respect the quiet space we create together.

Note 7 - Thoughts On Discomfort
Speaking for myself, it will involve some discomfort to get out of bed early for a walk as it is not something I do often. I hope to accept and work through this discomfort during the walk and maybe open up to ‘something’. People may approach or experience this differently and I hope to hear and open up to their ways of experience too.

Note 8 - Donations
Donations are welcome and go towards supporting the group. We suggest a donation of €3 if you wish to donate. Donations can be made using Revolut, PayPal or cash. If using cash, please have exact change as I may not have change on me.

Note 9 - Toilet Facilities
As far as I know, there are no official toilet facilities in Killinthomas Wood. Please be mindful of this before joining this event. If I hear or discover anything different, I will update this section.

Note 10 - RSVPs
Please only RSVP if you intend to come and change your RSVP to 'No' if you are not going to be able to attend.

Note 11 - Questions
Any questions, please let me know. Thank you.