Community Lantern Walk

Community Lantern Walk: Gather, Reflect, & Glow

Join our warm and welcoming community for an enchanting evening as we gather for a Pot Luck and Community Lantern Walk. This special event invites anyone in the community, including children of all ages, to share in the gentle beauty of a lantern walk, fostering connection, reflection, and inner peace.

What to Expect:
We'll begin with some community connection time and a potluck at 4:30pm! Bring whatever is easiest for you.

At around 5:30, we will gather in a circle, light the lanterns we've brought, and set an intention for our walk. Then, with our beautifully illuminated lanterns in hand, we will embark on a slow, mindful walk through nature while singing the songs below. The walk is about 15 minutes on a paved surface. The soft glow of the lanterns will guide our path, creating a serene, magical atmosphere for everyone. It's an opportunity to be in the moment with your friends, family, and community members, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the evening.

Why a Lantern Walk is Meaningful:
Lantern walks are steeped in tradition across many cultures, often symbolizing hope, light in darkness, guiding spirits, and a collective journey. The lantern walk is a powerful metaphor:

Illuminating Our Path: Each lantern represents the inner light we carry, our hopes, intentions, and the strength we find within ourselves.

Community and Connection: Walking together signifies our shared journey as parents and offers mutual support, understanding, and a sense of belonging.

Celebrating Light in Darkness: As the evenings grow darker, our lanterns remind us that even in challenging times, there is always light to be found, both outside and within our hearts.

Gentle Movement and Presence: The rhythmic, calm pace of the walk allows us to connect with our bodies and the present moment without strenuous effort.

How it Relates to Mindfulness:

This lantern circle is designed to be a deeply mindful experience:

Focus on the Senses: The soft light of the lanterns, the cool evening air, the gentle sounds of footsteps, and the feeling of holding a lantern can all help anchor us in the present moment.

Non-Judgmental Awareness: We practice observing our thoughts and feelings as they arise without judgment, simply allowing ourselves to experience the moment as it unfolds.

Shared Intention: Moving together with a shared purpose can cultivate a sense of unity and collective mindfulness.

Presence with Our Children: It offers a unique opportunity to connect mindfully with our children, sharing a peaceful experience that encourages quiet observation and wonder.

Symbolic Reflection: Carrying a light and walking thoughtfully encourages introspection and a gentle release of the day's stresses.

Come share in this luminous experience, find a moment of calm, and connect with fellow peers and little ones under the gentle glow of our lanterns.

Please make your lanterns in advance and bring them to the event. There is no right or wrong way to make a lantern. Please put a real or battery-operated candle in your lantern. We will light or turn them on together.

Lantern making ideas:
Glass Jar Lanterns
Paper Lanterns

Please practice your songs at home:

Written Lyrics

Youtube
This little light of mine (we won't be doing the hand gestures)
I Go With My Bright Little Lantern
Glimmer, Lantern Glimmer
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I look forward to connecting with you!

Marisa T. Mazza

https://www.meetup.com/mindful-mamas-group/