Mindful Nature Camino

A 9-day in-person walking retreat to help you develop mindful awareness, connectedness to nature, and a more balanced way of living

Join us for a powerful process of insight, interconnection and integration as we walk the Camino Português, combining practices and principles of mindfulness while exploring ways to connect with plants through contemplative time spent in nature.

The programme is a unique collaboration between mindfulness and nature practices. It’s primarily a personal journey of exploration that will guide you into a closer relationship with yourself, your immediate community and the environment. When these three spheres are in harmony, we find ourselves in a place where the journey becomes a personal pilgrimage and a way of finding our true nature.

“Absolutely loved the interaction and relevance of it all, so very appropriate for this particular journey of walking the Camino and my understanding of both walking and mindfulness practices have grown so much.”

[Carine]

“I knew it would be a healing journey from what I had read and seen of others’ experiences…I achieved way beyond what I thought I knew about the Camino, I pushed my physical limits way past my expectations, mentally I was strong. The unexpected was around every corner and in every moment.”

[Diana]

Come on an amazing journey...

Sensing nature and awakening the senses

By working with all our senses, we will learn how to identify and connect to many of the plants on the route and gain an understanding of the therapeutics of the wild herbs and plants we will walk amongst.

We will also look at:

Mind wandering and mindfulness
Automatic pilot and attention
Awakening the senses, exteroceptive sensations
Mindfulness Practice – mindful herbal tea tasting from nature
Open sensory awareness and fascination in nature,
Nature-based Practice – sensory nature meditations

Nature Connectedness – Grounding and Breathing

Walking allows us to shift from merely observing to actively engaging with nature, finding our sacred place in nature and deepening our connection with the earth and our inner environment in a very tangible way.

We will also look at:

Perceptions, beliefs and assumptions
From doing to being, what plants are calling you
Awareness of the breath as an anchor
Mindfulness Practices – earthing meditations
Finding your sit spot
Nature-based Practices – Breathing with trees and plants

Connecting to Nature’s Rhythm – Flow and Movement

Walking the Camino, reacquaints us with a slower rhythm of living and an appreciation of simplicity and awe. We become part of nature’s community, following in the footsteps of pilgrims, whilst sauntering at nature’s pace.

We will also look at:

The mind in motion – identifying herbs
Mindfulness Practice – three step breathing
Mindful movement – the body and breath in harmony when walking
Movement in nature, resting in the flow
Moon cycles and Ally plants
Practices – stretch and breath, Qi-Gong

Challenging Connections – Recognising Mind Storms

While walking has key benefits for overall well-being, long-distance walking also brings challenges and fatigue. By mindfully working with our challenges as they arise on the walk, we have tools to alleviate the suffering.

We will also look at:

Turning towards the difficulty – assessing the storm
Mind storms in times of stress
Mindfulness practice – RAIN
The paradox of medicinal herbs
Allowing rainbows and mountains to help
Nature-based Practice – reconnecting with familiar plants

Connecting to the Space – Allowing and Letting Be

Often we don’t have space, solitude, or silence in our life to allow for peace to flourish. Walking this journey gives opportunities to experience this deep listening through silent walking, plant meditations, and quiet spaces.

We will also look at:

Allowing and creating a space – letting be
The principle of emptiness
Mindfulness Practice – sitting in the space
From self to oneness – insight, and awe
Plant drawing with Gestalt methodology
Nature-based practice – Still water meditation

Connection and Disconnection – Passing Thoughts

Nature is the greatest teacher on change, imperfection, and impermanence. By changing the relationship to our thoughts as we walk new paths daily we can respond with gratitude to the beauty of change.

We will also look at:

Thoughts and mind traps, letting go of the conceptual
The sky of awareness
Mindfulness Practice – Sitting meditation, with sounds and thoughts
The nature of impermanence, imperfection and incompletion
Making nature offerings and reciprocity
Nature-based Practice – cloud watching

Nourishing and Flourishing – Compassionate Action

Nature has been shown to nourish our spirit, improve energy and vitality and increase happiness. By walking through the forests on this walk mindfully, we also facilitate a deeper relationship with the trees and earth.

We will also look at:

Nourishing and taking care of yourself
Walking through the forest, befriending your sit tree
Mindfulness Practice – Loving-kindness meditation
The healing medicine of trees
Forest bathing and forest therapy
Nature-based Practice – Tree meditation

Connecting to your true nature – Following the heart path

This journey explores the connection through the lenses of mindfulness and nature wisdom however it is also a personal pilgrimage that develops our ecological self, our true nature, and profound gratitude for the earth.

At the end of the journey, we will also look at:

Your personal Unalome – the path to enlightenment
Environmental Gratitude
Pro-environmental behavior and climate action
Mindfulness practice – What is your true nature?
Knowing your plant allies
Planting your garden – reflections and dandelion seeds
Cross-fertilization – where to now?

Connections and choices - Journeying With Others or an individual retreat

This is a journey with many choices and ways of connecting and although there are designated routes and destinations, you decide on pace, distance, accommodation, food, baggage, and purpose.

There have been many pilgrims who have travelled this route and all have felt the life-changing effect of walking this path and ultimately their own path.

Whether you connect to others, nature, or yourself, we would love to walk this path with you.

“To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed by the journey, is to be a pilgrim.” Mark Nepo

It's time to learn deep listening

The 9-day walk will cover key mindfulness principles and theory. The essential practices will be explored in a practical way including breath work and mindful exercises whilst walking consciously. Herbal connection practices will promote a heightened awareness of the senses, powerful insights, and a deeper connection to plants.