A Cosmic Walk and the Story of the Universe

Rituals of the Season

An outdoor event as fading-light becomes late-evening and Spring, Summer

By Tom Robinson, New Story Spokane

How do we deal with anxieties which seem overwhelming at times? One answer is “ritual” which plays a significant role in our society. Ritual can help us find meaning in life, deal with personal anxiety and promote community through a “connectedness” experience. One such ritual we use at New Story Spokane is the Cosmic Walk.

This ritual is a non-religious experience designed to provide some sense of the awesomeness of the time and space of the universe, while providing some context for the role played by human beings in that universe. With this context, the ritual is designed to provide a brief period of contemplation within which a narrated explanation of the unfolding universe invites the participants to reflect on their place in this unfolding process. We find that important questions emerge when we genuinely reflect on our place in that universe. For example, we ask ourselves, “what is my role in this evolving process?” and “What contributions can I make to the common good?”  

We have scheduled the next Cosmic Walk for June 21, 2025, the Summer Solstice, on the Glen Tana property set aside by the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy as protected land for public enjoyment*, to celebrate the beginning of summer as many cultures have done over the centuries. We believe there is a value to participating in the rhythms of the natural world. There is harmony in those rhythms.

The New Story Collaborative is comprised of organizations loosely linked through a common commitment to new story work of valuing the common good and seeks to balance our behavior towards each other and the planet in ways that benefit all of us.

Join us for our next Cosmic Walk to celebrate the seasonal change into summer as we work collaboratively to enact a new story. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a bring-your-own-picnic, and the Cosmic Walk starts at 8:51 p.m. Come for one or for both.

For more information and to RSVP, please go here.

*Glen Tana is not yet open to the public. To visit Glen Tana, join us at events like this Cosmic walk or attend one of INLC’s guided hikes, and Glen Tana Thursday stewardship days. Find those events on the Conservancy’s event page.