A joyful approach to awe. Connection in a small group.
Join a small group to saunter through a lovely urban space, noticing things vast and tiny. Dr. Dacher Keltner, an Awe Scientist, has found that cultivating the emotion of awe improves our mental and physical health. Dacher describes awe as a practice of noticing your place in the world with openness and surprise. His research team offer Awe Walks as a simple way to cultivate and notice awe. Apart from the science, it’s simply pleasant: when summer arrives in the pacific northwest, we want to enjoy the outdoors! Gathering Ground Community Member CJ Roberts will lightly facilitate our time as we walk about a mile at a leisurely pace. You will leave with a few pointers to explore your own awe walks, connections with a friendly circle, and maybe a short poem!
We’ll host two walks. Our other walk is July 29 at Ravenna Park. You are welcome to join both or just one of them. Please bring something to drink and dress for the weather. Each walk will last about an hour, plus time to meet up and reflect together at the end. Not available these days? Take yourself on an Awe Walk! Tool kit here.
Meet-up location: We’ll begin in a lesser-known corner of the Arboretum East Lynn Street and 26th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98122 (searchable as "Montlake Tot Lot”). There is abundant free street parking. Accessible by Metro Bus # 43.
Accessibility notes: Our route goes over well-packed pathways with some steps. There are not benches at every pause point. So if standing is an issue, please let us know. We would like to work together with you to bring a folding stool or find other ways you could join in.
The walking route will be about 1.3 miles long, returning in a loop to where we begin. There are NO restrooms on the route, so please plan accordingly!
Contributions are warmly welcomed to meet our program expenses, which are about $20/person. Everyone is welcome to join in at whatever level is right for you: we all make this happen together!
Feel free to email us with questions: gatheringround.seattle@gmail.com