We welcome you to the beginning our ritual season as we receive water from the Salish Sea, which we will carry throughout our hiking season.
This program has two parts, and you may attend either or both parts.>
First we will perform our Gathering Water ritual at Larrabee Beach. This water will then be carried on various hikes through the summer, and will be exchanged at the highest elevations we can attain with water from each of the three source branches of the Nooksack River, to then be returned to Larrabee Beach at seasons' end.
We encourage sangha members to attend one of these water exchange rituals at some point during our season, especially the rituals at Larrabee Beach. Collectively we all are part of contributing to this season-long ritual of intimacy with the vital water cycle of our home.
Second, those who choose to will hike, leaving directly from the beach, to Fragrance Lake. If the group chooses by consensus at the trailhead the hike may be extended to go to Lost Lake Falls, nearly twice the distance.
The hike will be led by lay entrusted teacher Heigaku Talus Latona, and will include a recitation of the Genjo Koan mapped over the landscape, a mini-version of our Mountains and Rivers ritual (hence, Hills and Streams).
Expected return time to the trailhead will be approximately 2 to 5pm, depending on the length of the hike chosen.The hike could be about five (Fragrance Lake) or nine (Lost Lake) miles with about 1100 or 1500 feet (respectively) of elevation gain. Dress for the trail and for the weather. Bring a lunch and at least two liters of water.
Registration: Please RSVP online to attend this hike.
Directions: We will begin the program at the band shell picnic area in Larrabee state park. Go to the main entrance on Chuckanut Drive and follow the access road inside the park south towards the band shell parking lot.
Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to figure out a ride and we will try to assist.
Note: A Discover Pass is generally needed for parking in Washington State Parks and trailheads.
Cost: We offer this event free of charge, but please consider making a donation to Red Cedar Zen Center. As will all our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. Unlike our "indoor" retreats dana (teacher donation) is not collected during the event, but dana given before or after the event is always welcome, and you can do so on our Donate to a Teacher page.
Questions? contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny - bobpenny1253@gmail.com or 360-927-5702 and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.
