In the Rabbit Mountain Pilgrimage, you focus on burdens you carry and the manner you carry them. As you walk through the rocky environment, notice the trail’s details—the sharp thorns of plant life, uneven ground and the pressed dirt. In some ways, it’s a harsh and dry landscape. But it is one that gives way to unbelievable vistas.
At the trailhead.
Before you get out of your car, take a moment and pause.
How are you feeling about starting this hike? What do you hope to experience as you start this journey? If you are feeling dread, what might you fear you will discover?
First stop: burdens.
After 5.5 minutes of uphill hiking, you come to your first vista of Colorado’s front range.
As you look over the valley, reflect on this last year. What burdens are you carrying?
Second stop: what weighs heaviest?
Hike for 3.5 minutes and come to a bench.
Have a seat and take as long as you need. Find the burden that weighs heaviest in your life.
Third stop: the way you carry it.
The trail levels slightly. After three minutes of hiking, pause at the Rabbit Mountain trail marker.
How do you carry the burden you’ve identified? How do you cope with it? What are ways you deal with this burden that are not working?
Fourth stop: making a decision.
After one minute of hiking, take a right at the Eagle Wind Trail sign and hike down to the road.
As the trail crosses the dirt road, are you willing to explore a new way of carrying this burden?
If so, How might you carry it? As you experiment carrying it in a different way, how does it feel?
Does it feel lighter or heavier? Do you feel hope or more despair?
If so, how might you carry it? Are there ways you carry other burdens that are different from the way you carry this one?
Fifth stop: consider how.
After seven minutes, you come to a bench. Sit and take as much time as you need.
Did you discover any new ways to carry this burden? If not, that’s ok. Rest, relax and continue to be curious as you finish your hike. IF you did, visualize how it might look and feel to carry the burden differently and continue to carry the burden in a new way for the rest of the pilgrimage.
If you did, visualize how it might look and feel to carry the burden differently.
Sixth stop: a juncture.
After six more minutes of hiking, you’ll reach a trail post. Take a right at Eagle Wind Trail.
Final stop: discover rest.
After three minutes, you come to a rock outcropping that looks over Colorado’s front range. Keep a body length or more away from the edge of the cliff.
This is our final destination for the Rabbit Mountain Pilgrimage.
As you look over the vista, read the sacred text below:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
When you think of this burden, what are ways that you could lift it up to the Divine, God or a higher power?
Close your eyes and visualize yourself releasing the burden. Do you hear anything in response?
Open your eyes and look out over the vista. Is there an object that may be a message for you?
If you did not hear or see anything, that is ok. As you continue to be aware and find help for this burden, you will find relief.
Heading back down.
When you are ready, walk back down to your car, which takes about 25 minutes.
The next step.
I would love to journey with you in your healing process. If you found this pilgrimage helpful, email, call or text me at 720-340-2186.
I offer virtual Soul Care and Internal Family Systems sessions for $110 per hour. To help you decide if this is right for your journey, the first session is free.
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With Love,
Nathan Cooley