(no subject)

[northernwalker]

I had a magical experience on Friday. I went into Washington, DC, for a dental appointment in Georgetown. It was my birthday weekend, so I decided after lunch to go up to Dumbarton Oaks, a historic garden and museum. I love the garden and try to go a few times a year, but it's been a while since I was in Georgetown. I got there around 3:45 and wandered around for a bit before I came to part of the garden called the Ellipse. It's a huge circle of grass surrounded by benches and a double row of hornbeams, with a fountain in the middle.

I sat down on a bench to catch my breath, looked at the lush grass and thought, "Why don't I?" I promptly pulled off my sandals and walked onto the freshly trimmed grass. It felt so good underfoot, like a living carpet. I let my feet feel where they wanted to go, padding slowly in a circle for several minutes until I heard a group coming.
Then I put my shoes back on and retired to the North Vista, which drops in shallow levels to an ornamental rail. Again, my shoes came off and I walked the length of the vista slowly, watching for chipmunks (I saw my second one of the day there!) and just enjoying the different feel of the sun-warmed patches of grass and the shady ones. After that, I went back to the Ellipse and began walking it again, this time in company with another woman. We smiled and nodded, both of us moving in concert in our bare feet around the circle.

After a little while, we passed each other and she spoke to me, asking if I was meditating. I said I was, and she was too. We kept walking and smiling as we passed each other again, until another woman and her three young daughters came in. She asked, "Are you grounding?" and we both agreed that we were. She joined us with her youngest daughter and we all continued to walk together.

When they left, my impromptu meditation buddy and I kept walking for a while, enjoying the transition from sun to shade as the sun's angle shifted. When the garden came close to closing time, we both wound down our walk and got ready to leave, thanking each other for the experience. It was wonderful.

There's a photo below (not mine) of what it looks like.

Comments

[mithen]

This sounds so lovely and peaceful! What a beautiful description of it, thank you, I feel more at peace myself just reading it.

[spiffikins]

That sounds really lovely! How nice to not only have the experience, but to have others share it with you, rather than ruining it :)

[northernwalker]

It was wonderful, all of us silently meditating together.

[lookfar.livejournal.com]

I've been there once; thanks for reminding of that place so I can go again.

[northernwalker]

Go soon! They're closing July 10th and won't open again until March 2018.

[anterastilis.livejournal.com]

That sounds delightful. Happy birthday!

[northernwalker]

Thank you!

[bradygirl_12]

Beautiful gardens! They remind me of the Horticultural Gardens on the Canadian side at Niagara Falls. :)

What a lovely experience! Very organic, which are usually the best kinds. :)

Happy Birthday! :)

[northernwalker]

They are lovely and very extensive. In the spring they have cherry blossoms, and it's much nicer to go there and sit under a tree than to go to the Tidal Basin and deal with the throngs of people.

[bradygirl_12]

I would prefer that very much, too.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Many happy returns :0) Grass walking sounds lovely. That's one of the things I love about summer shoes, not only being able to feel the grass as you walk on it but being able to slip them on and off easily

[northernwalker]

Thank you! I'd never thought to do it before, but it felt so good!

[yarrowkat]

marvellous! beautiful place.

[northernwalker]

Thank you!

[starhawk2005.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome! What a lovely (and rejuvenating) experience. :)