Kissing the Earth With Your Feet (Guided Walking Meditaion)
EPISODE
In this gentle installment of the Winter Soul Care series, Alexander invites you into a shared walking meditation—recorded live along the shoreline at Huntington State Beach. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, this episode transforms the ordinary act of walking into a practice of presence, grounding, and return.
You’ll explore core principles of mindful walking—walking without arriving, uniting body and mind, and noticing the here and now—followed by a simple, embodied walking practice accompanied by the sound of the ocean. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your body, and remember that every step can be a homecoming.
Best enjoyed with headphones, outdoors if possible, or wherever you can safely walk and listen.
SUMMARY
This episode offers a living, breathing walking meditation—an invitation to move gently, deliberately, and with awareness during the winter season. Recorded at sunrise along the ocean, Alexander weaves together reflection, teaching, and embodied practice, guiding listeners to experience walking not as a means to an end, but as the practice itself.
Inspired by Thích Nhất Hạnh’s teachings on mindful walking, the episode introduces four core principles: walking without arriving, recognizing the miracle of walking on the earth, uniting body and mind, and arriving fully in the present moment. Practical suggestions are shared for formal and informal walking meditation, including breath awareness, walking phrases, half-smiling, and grounding through the feet.
The episode concludes with a quiet, shared walk—an offering of companionship, tenderness, and steady presence. It’s designed to be revisited, repeated, and practiced again and again as part of a living soul-care rhythm.
KET TAKEAWAYS
Walking can be a complete spiritual practice—you don’t need to arrive anywhere else.
Slowing the body helps settle the mind, especially during times of fear, grief, or transition.
Mindful walking unites body and mind, interrupting habitual rumination and urgency.
Every step is an opportunity to arrive in the present moment.
Walking with the breath naturally regulates the nervous system.
Simple phrases or sounds can anchor attention when the mind wanders.
Formal and informal practices both matter—structure helps, but everyday life counts.
A half-smile can soften the body, signaling safety and ease.
Connecting with the earth grounds emotional overwhelm, especially in winter.
Practicing together—even asynchronously—reduces isolation and reminds us we’re not alone.
TAKE ACTION: WALK THIS PRACTICE INTO YOUR DAY
Today or this week, try the following:
Take a 10-minute walk with no destination. Let walking be the point.
Match your steps to your breath, noticing the rhythm without forcing it.
Repeat a gentle phrase, such as “here” or “arriving,” with each step.
Soften your face into a half-smile and notice what shifts.
Practice again tomorrow. Repetition deepens familiarity and trust.
If you’re longing for more rhythm, support, and shared practice, MidWinter Wise Circle is open for enrollment—a six-week container for embodied practices, reflection, and community during the winter season.
