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Zeena Speciale, a shamanic Reiki master teacher, certified sound healer, and co-founder of hiKin—a community where hiking and kinship move as one—guides this weekly podcast into the heart of mindful movement and soulful connection. Sacred Steps offers walking/hiking meditations, breathwork, and nature-rooted reflections to help you find presence on the trail and clarity within.
Find Zeena at Soul Collective, her spirit-based yoga studio in the heart of Cave Creek, AZ, or at soulcollective.love.
Welcome to Sacred Steps, a podcast for hiking and walking meditations. I'm Zena Special, and today, I wanna tell you a story about the word kaibab. Kaibab is a word from the Paiute language that translates to mountain lying down. Anyone who's ever stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon knows exactly what that means. At the edge of the Grand Canyon, you feel it.
Zeena:The vastness, the colors, the wind. And instead of a mountain rising up to meet the sky, you see layers of earth falling away beneath you. A mountain turned inside out. A canyon that asks you not to conquer it, but to descend layer by layer into its heart to discover where the river flows. And maybe that's how it is with us too.
Zeena:We spend so much of our lives trying to climb upward, to rise, to conquer, to prove. But Kaibab reminds us that sometimes, the miracle isn't in the ascent. That maybe be the way forward isn't up, but down. In a world that praises the climb, Kaibab teaches us that there is wisdom in the downward journey, grace in going deeper, strength in surrendering to the depths within. Today, I'm inviting you to walk with me into the heart of the Grand Canyon and trust that going deeper not the same as falling behind.
Zeena:Are you ready? As you begin walking, start to notice your breath. Let it be your guide as you journey inward. Inhale deeply and exhale completely. Inhale, feeling the air filling your chest, your belly, your hips, and exhale, letting go of tension, letting go of striving.
Zeena:And just continue like this. Each inhale, a gentle step inward. Each exhale, a softening, a surrender. Let your breath find a steady rhythm with your steps. Inhale through the nose.
Zeena:One, two, three. Exhale, sighing out the mouth. Three, two, one. Again, inhale, one, two, three. Exhale, three, two, one.
Zeena:Inhale, welcoming life, possibility, trust. Exhale, Softening. Opening. Steadying. Feel your feet connecting with the earth.
Zeena:Each step in agreement. I am here. Let your breath settle in to its own gentle rhythm, steady and spacious as you continue your walk. And now, in your mind's eye, imagine yourself standing at the edge of Kaibab. You see the vast canyon stretching out beneath you, the colors alive in the shifting light.
Zeena:And before you, a path winding downward, calling you to begin your descent. This isn't a path of striving, but a path of trust, of surrender, of becoming. Set an intention for this descent to release what weighs you down, to discover something you've forgotten, to remember your quiet strength. Breathe this intention into your heart now. Now, begin your descent.
Zeena:Step by step, breath by breath. You might notice the path is steep at times. Your legs strong. Your breath steady. You might notice moments of fear or resistance.
Zeena:That's okay. Pause, breathe, and remember, this isn't a path of conquering, but of listening. The canyon is alive with stories. And with each step, you are walking into deeper understanding. Imagine reaching a quiet place in the canyon where the walls rise around you like ancient guardians.
Zeena:And here, there's a stream, clear, cool, flowing. You sit beside it, feeling the earth beneath you. The breeze on your skin. The sun and shade dancing on the water. Let the coolness of the air, the sound of flowing water, the soft earth beneath you bring you in to deep stillness.
Zeena:This is the heart of the Upside Down Mountain, the place where life gathers, even in the deepest places. Take a moment here. Feel what it's like to rest in the depths, to trust that you don't always need to be climbing upward. There is wisdom here. There is beauty here.
Zeena:There is you here. Here, in the heart of the upside down mountain, remember, your power isn't in constant climbing, but in your willingness to go inward, to listen, to let yourself be guided by your quiet inner knowing. Take a deep breath in, feeling this wisdom fill your lungs, your heart, your spirit, and let it go. And when you're ready, imagine yourself rising again, following that whining trail upward, bringing with you the quiet lessons of the canyon. Step by step, breath by breath, carrying the river song within you.
Zeena:Carrying your intention, your trust, your quiet courage. Take a deep breath in and let it go. Feel your feet on the earth, your breath in your lungs, your spirit steady. And know this, you are not defined by how high you climb, but by how deeply you are willing to meet yourself. Kaibab, the upside down mountain reminds you, your depth is your strength.
Zeena:Your softness is your courage. Your quiet trust is your guide. Carry this with you as you step forward into your day. If you're looking for more ways to move, heal, and align with your soul's light, you can find me in the Haiken Facebook group or visit soulcollective.love. My name is Zena Special, and it's an honor to walk this path beside you.
Zeena:Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Until our souls meet again, keep shining.