Walking & Being: ‘the only hill’

These days I only want to go up hill. The climb starts and my body heats up immediately.

I feel the damp warmth inside of my shirt. My heart responds… a little faster and heavier.

Quickly the elastic cord, attached to my home, pulls me back gently, reminding me of the task… to, first of all, survive.

We are out to find treasures, then bring them back safely. I know this. There’s been enough years of experiments.

So I’m already returning (at least on the inside) even when leaving my door.

This is the only hill. There are no other problems. The world and it’s news does not exist.

I don’t like climbing. But I must because I do not know what I want.

Then comes clarity: my desire to come back down again.

I have chosen for something. Or it was chosen for me, by the only world upon the only hill.

Walking home, entering my house, opening my bedroom door… a glorious celebration occurs. Though no noise is made and nobody’s waiting for me…

I make some tea and toast, gaze out at the only hill from my only window.

I have found myself again.

TASK: Find a hill, or at least a long set of stairs. It needn’t be especially high, but tall enough to be able to climb for several minutes in one go. Walk upwards for 60 seconds at a sustainable pace (no more than 60% of your maximum speed) and then stop again, finding a balanced standing position with your eyes closed. Use a timer/stopwatch or partner for this, so you can concentrate on the physical action itself instead of also counting the seconds.

Once still again, notice where your attention goes: do you feel yourself being pulled further upwards? an urge to lower yourself back down? or perhaps are you feeling nicely balanced where you are right now…? Walk upwards 2 more times (3 climbs in total) and repeat the same process.

After this third climb, repeat the same process 3 more times but now giving power to where your attention is taking you… if on the 4th and 5th climbs you are inspired to keep climbing then do so; if you are being drawn back down then walk downwards again; if at any point you wish to stay where you are then spend those 60 seconds standing still in the same location. Each action remains 60 seconds long and is separated by a short check-in before the next 60-second action takes place.

After all 6 rounds have been completed then notice where each individual is within the group: are some of us higher or lower than others? or are we all still at the same height?

Return back down as a group and reflect upon what this process might mean for you as an individual (not in the past but today, in this moment), as well as for the group.

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