Sunrise Walks

The Sunrise Walkers are a group of people that walk in nature at sunrise. This early morning walk can be a gentle exercise with friends or used as a practice related to your heart’s path. There will also be the opportunity to bring awareness to your body and how that fits into your practice. You can walk with an intention that you are using this year or you can let an intention come to you. You might find something unexpected. Some people have written poetry as the walks inspire them! Our desire is to build community through our practice together.

There is a small opening into the new day which closes the moment you begin your plans.
~David Whyte

Why Sunrise

Sunrise is a magical time. Sunrise, or dawn, is when the blanket of night lays upon the earth and crevices of light begin to appear in the eastern sky. Throughout history people have been drawn to the mystery of this time of day. In these transitional times of each day, the boundaries of property are not so firmly defined. The scope of a field is more defined by our senses than by a map. When we walk at sunrise, we get to see and sense what nature has to offer us. It is different every day.

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
~Henry David Thoreau

Mark Your Calendar for the Next Early Morning Walk

The five Sunrise Walks are organized around a complete cycle of the year and always begin just before sunrise. In many pilgrimages or walking meditations, you end your walk where you began.

The Sunrise Walkers walks five times a year for several days. They walk each morning for about 45 minutes around the Vernal Equinox, the Summer Solstice, The Autumnal Equinox, the Winter Solstice and Epiphany.

To be a Sunrise Walker you can walk anywhere in the world at the time of your sunrise. The Sunrise Walkers of Northern California meet in Sebastopol at the Laguna de Santa Rosa. We meet 15 minutes before the sun rises. The meeting time will change depending on the season. Find out more about our local walk here. There will be inspirational poetry and an short guided meditation of how to bring awareness to your body. Many people like something to focus on as they walk. You can walk in silence or talk with others.

You can join the walk at any time, walk for just one day, or walk through the entire year. All paths are respected.

When we walk at sunrise, I hope that the mist, the light, the song of the morning birds, the jack rabbit and much more feed your soul as it does mine!

Expanses unknown to deed or map are known to every dawn.
~ Aldo Leopold