Wanderings
When we are deeply hurt, the first instinct might be to fix what’s broken—ourselves, the situation, the relationship.
But what if healing doesn’t begin with fixing?
What if it begins with letting your spirit wander?
Wandering invites us to pause.
It gently suggests that instead of trying to make sense of the pain or force a resolution, we step away from the urge to “do” and simply “be.”
In those moments of stillness, the soul finds its own way to breathe again.
The Art of Wandering
Wandering is not aimless; it is attentive.
It is stepping out of the rigidity of problem-solving and stepping into life as it unfolds.
When you wander—whether through a quiet forest, a bustling street, or even your own thoughts—you allow space for emotions to surface without judgment.
You stop steering and start noticing.
- The way a brook hums over stones.
- The crisp rustle of autumn leaves beneath your feet.
- The V-formation of migratory birds overhead, carrying the wisdom of seasons within their wings.
You really don’t have to go very far.
A trip to a familiar place like your local grocery store will do.
The key is to have wonder in your wanderings.
Look at what’s familiar through new eyes.
Sloww down. Don’t be in such a hurry.
Intentionally find beauty in the ordinary.
Journaling Prompts for the Wandering Soul
As you explore the practice of wandering, consider pausing to reflect with these journaling prompts:
- What emotions surface when I give myself permission to wander without a goal?
- Where in my life do I feel the greatest urgency, and how might wandering ease that pressure?
- Recall a time when you felt unexpectedly comforted by something small—a sound, a sight, or a moment of stillness. What did that experience teach you?
- If I let go of the need to solve or fix, what might I discover instead?
- How does nature’s rhythm—its cycles of growth, stillness, and movement—mirror or not mirror the way I live my life?
Permission to Do Nothing
To those who are hurting: you are allowed to do nothing for a while.
Let go of the need to fix everything.
Take a walk without a destination. Look out a window and watch the world go by. Visit a public park and sit there for a while.
Let wandering be your guide.
Wander to find your way home.
To the place where your soul is at rest, the place where St John of the Cross (1541-1591) calls “my house”.
Wandering is not aimless; it’s about becoming attuned. It asks us to soften our gaze, notice the small details and listen deeply.
What would you notice about yourself and your life when you do that?
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