Welcome to the 10th In-Body invitation!
I’m Laila.
This is my second offer as part of In-Body. My first invitation, the first of the series, was called A Room You Know. This invitation is called walking together apart.
Here, I invite you to join me at a particular time on a particular day: Thursday 31st March, half an hour from sunset. But if this date and time isn’t good for you, feel free to take up the invitation at a time and date more convenient. Maybe at the same time of day on another date?
This is an invitation in three parts.
It is much up to you how long the whole takes to complete. I would suggest around 45 minutes as a minimum.
For part 1, you will need:
– Comfy walking clothes and shoes.
– A phone (optional)
For part 2, you will need:
– A quiet spot in your home
– A phone or computer to listen to or read a small score (you could also print it out). If you are listening you can do so with or without headphones.
For part 3, you will need:
– Pen and paper, or phone or computer to jot some things down, make marks, gather reflections.
You don’t need to go over all three parts of the invitation before you set off, rather I invite you to read about and do one part at a time.
Part 1: Walking together apart (30 mins or more or less)
I will go for a walk on the last day of March, Thursday 31st. Would you join me then? Or you may find another, more convenient day.
I will set off half an hour from sunset. Another time might suit you better. That would also be fine.
I will walk around my neighbourhood. Maybe you can walk around your neighbourhood too? Or you might want to go to a park, a forest, the river, the seafront, into the mountains.
I will walk for half an hour. You may wish to walk for more or less time than this.
And I will walk alone. You may want to walk in company or on your own also.
As we walk, together apart, we can let it be a moment of connecting with how we are, how we feel in that moment. We can perhaps notice that. Without judgment. And connect with our breathing, notice its movement in us. Breath. In and out of us.
As we walk, together apart, we can let it be a moment of connecting with the things we are in relation to. The ground under foot. The air on the skin. The light. The weather. Textures. Sounds. Others. Things.
Perhaps, if you have a phone, take a photo along the way. Ready?
Come back here for Part 2 on your return.
Part 2: The after walk (10 mins or so)
I imagine you have taken your coat and shoes off.
Once you have done so, listen to this audio score which will guide you through Part 2 of this invitation.
Then you can come back to this page for the Part 3.
Part 3: To conclude (5 mins. Or more if you are very inspired)
To conclude I would like to invite you to record something of your remembering of our walk together apart.
It could be a series of single words – like a stream of consciousness – that capture some of what was felt and encountered on the walk. You could write them without judgement – door. concrete. vroom. bark. green.
Or you might want to write something else.
Or you could do an audio recording.
Or you could draw.
You can do this until you run out of steam. Or give yourself three minutes.
We would love it if you were happy to share any/some of this remembering on the In-Body website to create a mapping out of our walking of some kind.
Go well, all.
Laila
