[pct-l] Spirituality on the trail

[kraig.mottar at verizon.net (Kraig Mottar)]

One probably talks to "one's self" while on the trail solitary. Like a meditation I did in the past week or so, I had some dead time to kill, most people do things with dead time like watch tv, use drugs (are those 2 different?), use the internet, play a game, needlepoint, the list goes on. But I just sat there for 20 minutes. A conversation started, and a times there was "2-way" conversation. This could be brainstorming, talking to God, talking to the ubiverse, getting in touch with one's higher self, I think it all of the above or a combination thereof. There's nothing abnormal about it. I'm thinking, this is probably what people do while hiking solitary or with another when the conversation between people dies off and if you hike for 4 hours or more, conversation between people, especially when its only 2, will happen. Though, unless you're alone, the internal dialogue probably doesn't happen for fear of being perceived a nut and/or annoying the other.

Kraig

>From: Paul Magnanti <pmags@yahoo.com>
>Date: Mon Oct 03 10:15:46 CDT 2005
>To: PCT MailingList <pct-l@backcountry.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] Spirituality on the trail

>Personally, I give thanks to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for the creation before me. His noodley appendange does indeed touch us all. :)
> 
> http://www.venganza.org/images/spreadword/havetouched.jpg
> 
> Being serious (for a change. :D), Meadow Ed is right, initially. When you first meet people on the trail the discussions are not deep. You are getting used to the trail, the lifestyle, something new and unique. We did indeed have discussions about what color our urine was. (And where to eat, what to eat, what we hope to eat, what food is available where we plan on eating).
> 
> But once you are use to the trail life the conversations can deepen. I tend to spend a lot of time hiking by myself. My internal dialogues often put me in a place where I find myself in a spiritual place. The creation before me makes me feel humble, and exalted at the same time.  (Except for one unfortunate day when I had a Bon Jovi song stuck in my head while crossing the desert.  It is what I get for hiking with a person all day who sang Bon Jovi songs..)
> 
> Well, I have not had my moring coffee yet (it is brewing as I type), so that is deep as I am getting for now! :)