MAP
Walking Meditation Details
Guided "social-distanced" Meditative Walking Journey with Cantor Beth Cohen at Tingley Nature Preserve Ponds and Tashlich in the Rio Grande River (1800 Tingley Drive SW), followed by a community BYO-picnic lunch in Valley Park at San Isidro and Valley Pool Rd. north of Candelaria.
Please Note: 11-11:30 AM Tashlich/casting-only option available +Plus an optional community BYO-picnic lunch following the ritual at 12:30 PM in Valley Park at San Isidro St. and Valley Pool Rd. near Valley High School and Betty’s Bath & Spa. Take San Isidro St. north of Candelaria and then right (east) on Valley Pool Rd.
Please join Cantor Beth and our community for a Tashlich ritual journey on the second day of Rosh Hashana! Tashlich comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast," referring to the ancient ritual of casting away our "sins" on Rosh Hashana (when it's not on Shabbat) and it can be performed up through Sukkot.
Beginning with a guided walking meditative journey and service we will meet in the southern most parking lot at 9:30 AM (Tingley Nature Preserve Parking off of Tingley Dr., across from Kit Carson Park close to Alcalde Pl. SW, and near the Bob Gerding Catch & Release Pond). Or you can skip the walking meditation and meet us later "to cast" your stones, leaves and/or sticks (No BREAD or food please!) at 11 AM on the deck next to the river (by the northern most parking lot; take the main entrance and go right /north of the duck-feeding pond -closest to and south of Central Ave.). SEE ALSO MAP & walking meditation details that you can print out at home and /or Beth will also have copies with her. The walk is a little less than 1 mile one-way and the entire walking meditation ritual will take a little more than 1 hour to complete with 5 "stops" that include guided meditations, prayers and sharing.
The walking meditation is based on materials and experiences from a class that Cantor Beth took at Aleph Kallah in 2016. The course was taught by Rabbi Mike Comins who founded "TorahTrek - The Center for Jewish Wilderness Spirituality" and also authored two books "A Wild Faith" and "Making Prayer Real." To help prepare yourself for our walking meditation, please watch Rabbi Mike's "25-25-50 meditative walking" video here (12 mins.): https://www.rabbimikecomins.com/torahtrek-ejournal/25-25-50-meditative-walking
What to wear/bring: No matter which part you attend (south parking lot at 9:30 AM or river deck at 11 AM), please arrive promptly and wear comfortable walking shoes. Please wear/ bring appropriate clothing and /or layers for the weather including a hat, sunglasses, and possibly gloves. Apply and/ or bring sunscreen. You might also need your reading glasses to read the service prayers and directions. Please also bring a mask and be prepared to distance 6 feet apart when we are stopped for praying and meditating and when we are walking in single file. Please also bring water and maybe snack(s). If it is raining - bring an umbrella and/or rain gear.
IMPORTANT: The walking meditation-service is not appropriate for dogs (with the exception of service dogs) or young children. Please silence your cell phones if you must have them with you. This will not be a casual walk in the bosque for chatting with our friends and family. However, after we are done "casting" at 11:30, there is still the walk back to our cars AND a BYO picnic lunch in Valley Park at 12:30 PM for lots of schmoozing time!! Please feel free to contact Cantor Beth Cohen with any questions: cohenedmunds@netzero.net