18-Mile Walk: Medicine for the Masculine

This event is for folks who identify as and/or have lived experience as a man (this is inclusive to trans and non-binary).

On Saturday, December 30th we will embark on a 18-20 mile walking journey from Golden to Denver. We will move with a variety of themes and invitations related to healing the masculine, breaking free from masks of masculinity, rite of passage exploration, nature connection, human connection, the benefits of taking long walks and much more.

"Rite of Passage practices and traditions in the west have largely been paved over by capitalism, colonialism, and reason. Academic achievement, sports and performance, sex and family, guns and racks, gangs and hustle, getting your driver's license, career advancement, and religious titles have tried to fill in the gaps... and, in today's time, it's so important to ask: Do they integrate us into loving and honoring the (inner and outer) mysteries of life? Do they connect us, deeply, to one another? Do they commit us to care for and steward the very planet that sustains us?”  These words are from my walking mentor and dear brother Jonathon Stalls. He will be co-hosting this walk with me. My relationship with him has helped me see that I am worthy of designing rites of passages that are meaningful and relevant to me. And now I help others do the same. 

For you see, I perhaps, grew up much like you. My rites of passages felt very superficial and disconnected from my body. Most of these events brought me a sense of confusion instead of connection. And often they felt rushed, instead of slow. It wasn’t until I was 30 years old that I experienced my first real rite of passage! I embarked on a two week walk in the middle of winter from Fort Collins to Pueblo. When I started the walk, I felt incredibly unworthy. I was merged with a part of me that believed I was so utterly worthless to the world. I didn’t do anything special during the walk, except I walked every day from sunrise to sundown (or at least I tried to). And my body processed on its own. All I had to to was listen to my body and to the earth’s body to be deeply connected to deep ancestral wisdom. 

On the final day of the walk, I woke up at 3am and knew it was time to start my 30 mile day. That morning, I was fully convinced that if I stopped walking the sun wouldn’t come out that day! Imagine that for a moment. I went from feeling so incredibly unworthy to feeling like my very steps were necessary for the sun to come out. I’m not saying this will happen to you in a day. Let’s plant these seeds of worthiness together. Let’s remind our bodies how much it has been missing meaningful rites of passages with other men. And water the dreams that emerge. 

The Walk & Your Hosts: We will be walking ALL day long. From Golden to Denver (18-20 miles). There are so many details for a walk of this size. See some of the planning details below. Jonathan will be sending an email with additional planning logistics (footwear, safety, starting location, timing, back-up plans, etc.). It’s quite an extensive and beautiful document. He has led this walk so many times, and I led it with him this February. Having a strong container will allow for more flow. Together, Jonathan and I hold both poles of structure and emergence. We honor “less prep, more presence.” That being said, for some of us this could be our first time walking 20 miles (in one day!) in the middle of the winter so we will want to come very prepared. We will hike up South Table Mountain, through parks/open space, alongside creeks, and into residential/urban/commercial environments. We will start with grounding exercises, land acknowledgements, stretches, and introductions. There will be plenty of breaks along the way. Throughout the walk, I will invite optional connection prompts for getting to know fellow participants, reflective/meditative invitations, pedestrian dignity/mobility education, and more.

Walk the Walk Series with Naveed: "This will be my third walk in my Walk the Walk series. It is a series of walks that center movement over ‘talking the talk.’ It is inspired by my recent mantra “the body processes on its own” (from Luis Mojica). There is nothing we have to do, say, or change within us for the body to feel more grounded, centered and compassionate. ​Just by walking the walk, life can move through us more freely and easily." ~ Naveed

Primary Facilitator: Naveed Heydari (he, they): Hello, I am Naveed, or Nav. I am a somatic practicioner, group facilitator, psychedelic integration guide, musician, herbalist, and Kaiut yoga teacher. My practices draw from the intelligence of our natural environment and the wisdom of our bodies (our inner nature). My practices live in my bones, in my music, in my sounds, and in my movement. I am here to offer my gifts to people who experience a strong inner self-critic, addiction patterns, since I have struggled with this the most.

Support Facilitator:  Jonathon Stalls (he, his) Jonathon Stalls spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010 and has continued to move alongside thousands of people for thousands of miles. His creative work currently moves in the realms of pen and ink drawing, writing and poetry, storytelling with the Pedestrian Dignity project, economic and racial justice organizing, meditative practices, and creating/scouting long-distance walking routes. His first book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour (North Atlantic Books) is now available. He identifies as gay/queer and is supported by an incredible patron community.

Transportation & Start Time: There are several options related to transportation to and from our origin and destination. All who register will receive a planning email a week before the trip. If you are planning to meet/carpool from Jeffco Station, your meeting time is 7:00 AM MT. If you are planning to get dropped off or meet at Higher Grounds Coffee (our starting place), your time is 7:30 AM MT. Our hopeful plan is circle our group up to begin our journey no later than 7:45 AM MT. Please make sure you feel confident about your ability to walk for 18-20 miles in a day on mostly pavement and sidewalk. We will also be hiking up and down South Table Mountain at the start of our event. Keep in mind this is a WINTER walking experience and we will be moving for an hour or two after the sun has set.

Ability, Pace & Terrain: This experience is largely inaccessible to most mobility devices primarily because of distance and climp up and over South Table Mountain. We will be moving at a conversational pace. When we are moving, we are moving. That said, we are in no rush and will be taking plenty of breaks. We will more than likely arrive into Denver just after sunset and into Union Station at dark. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding pace, access and timing.

Flexibility & Community: Please prepare your heart, body, and mind for utmost flexibility as we move with a wide variety of backgrounds, abilities, and surprises along the way. We may have to stop, re-route, and re-ground multiple times (because of our environment or what is unfolding within our circle of participants). We will naturally have different paces and we honor individual movement/needs. We also move with and care for the collective.

WALK Book: Jonathon will be occassionally reading from his newly released book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour. If you decided you would like a copy of the book to accompany your movement, please select the appropriate ticket option and he will bring you a signed copy. The book retails for $17.95. All participants who would like a book will receive one for $12 in addition to the event ticket.

Trip Capacity: 20

Cost per person: $35 (does not include extra snacks, meals or transit fare)

Cost for Intrinsic Paths Patrons*: $25

*Learn more here about becoming a long-term Intrinsic Paths patron.

Scholarships, Gift/Trade: If finances are a barrier to participate, please reach out to us (emails below) and we can work something out. We both operate in gift and trade. I never want money to be a barrier to participation.

Refunds & Cancellation: While there are no hard lines for refunds, please be mindful of holding a spot and all the costs that go into planning this event.

What you get for your ticket:

- Snacks provided by leader (trail mix, dried fruits)

- Route planning/trip coordination/outreach, education

- Group safety/connection facilitation throughout walking experience

- Reflection programming (guidance, optional meditation/centering time, prompts)

- Pedestrian Dignity sticker and an Intrinsic Paths 4x4 pen and ink print

- Your contribution also helps support all the creative projects flowing through Intrinsic Paths

 

Meals & Restrooms: There will be snacks provided throughout the day. All meals are on your own. We will have an early lunch break near 32nd & Youngfield. Depending on our arrival, we may just have time for a 20-30 minute lunch. There are restaurants and a grocery store in the area. We will go by several areas where you can use the restroom (stores, cafe's, gas stations). Some of them are okay with restroom breaks and some aren't. Keep in mind, we will have less options for using public restrooms in the winter season. Please be prepared to be flexible.

Rail Fare & Transportation: Please plan to have $5.25 (regional fare) with you for a rail ticket if you are taking the train back to Golden from Denver. Keep in mind, our starting location is in downtown Golden and NOT where the the train drops off passengers (Jeffco Court House). I will be sending carpooling, bus, and additional options for how we can coordinate transportation back. You can also plan to get dropped off in Golden and make your way back home via Denver once we arrive.

Additional notes: 

- This is not a dog-friendly walk

- There will be options to take the W rail line early to Denver or back to Golden if needed.

- This walk will go in most weather scenarios unless there are thunderstorms (yes, we will walk in snow!).

- Please have appropriate shoes, clothing, and supports for this kind of walking experience.

- Please reach out with any questions: naveedheydari (at) gmail (dot) com (815) 861-2023 & jonathon (at) intrinsicpaths (dot) com (720) 263-0227

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