Going for a Presence Walk.

Salams

So I read somewhere about going for a presence walk. It sounded like a good idea at the time, and I was able to put it into practice a few weeks ago.

So I came our of class quite late on a Tuesday, and decided to give it a go. I had nothing to lose, as i was only walking about 10 mins or so to where my lift was going to be waiting for me.

As soon as I started, I immediately noticed that my footsteps were too loud. not good. So I changed to near-silent pacing, remembering the hadith about how the earth admonishes the son of Adam on walking with pride.

All in a second.

I walk carefully, up a flight of stairs, and then another. I hear the sound of two people coming form behind me and overtaking me, for I have also slowed from my normal brisk pace to a more serene one. I can tell they are female from the sound their shoes make on the concrete. I'm keeping my gaze lowered until they pass. I feel some cool breeze on my cheek, and as I turn round a corner, the breeze increases. I like it.

I began wondering about how I was going to write this up. Then I realise that this isn't why I am doing the presence walk. So I force the thought to the back of my mind, and focus again on the world around me.

Again, all in a second.

It starts to drizzle lightly, but I'm not that worried worried about getting wet. I feel the drops falling on the only exposed part of my body, my head.

I feel very alert, and feel also that I should be offering praises and doing some dhikr. But Im not sure if doing so would affect the presence walk. After a few seconds of indecision, where I still haven't decided on an answer, I do some anyway, under my breath.

I walk past the SportsPark, and as I walk past the astroturf, I hear the unmistakeable sound of a football hitting a goalpost, or the crossbar. The rain picks up slightly, and I finish my journey where my lift is waiting for me.


****

This was well over two weeks ago, and I'm still surprised at how much I remember. I also don't know why my narrative morphed from past tense to present participle, but it feels better that way. I really felt awake during this walk, so insha Allah I'll be able to do another time soon.