Outing to the Health Valley Trail, St. Jacobs, ON with Sahaja Yoga Group

26 September, 2026 

     I had the distinct pleasure of leading a walk for a Sahaja Yoga group, as fine a group of people as you could wish to encounter. Sahaja Yoga is a simple form of meditation founded by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in 1970. It focuses on awakening the inner energy known as Kundalini, which is said to rise spontaneously through the subtle energy system and help bring balance, peace and inner awareness. The practice is free and can be learned by anyone. It includes meditation and simple techniques to help maintain inner balance in everyday life

     Our principal focus was intended to be birds, but birds were very sparse that morning and a good deal of our time was spent with many of the plants of the area.

     At the very beginning, however, a cooperative Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) preened, pranced, walked, fed and posed for us, giving everyone a chance to see this delightful little plover. 

     Soon it will be migrating out of our area to spend the winter in warmer climes. It returns early in spring, however, often making an appearance in local fields by early March. It is always uplifting to hear its familiar call as it flies overhead.

     Small numbers of American Herring Gulls (Larus smithsonianus) are starting to arrive from their breeding territories in northern Ontario; two were on the river upstream from where we observed the Killdeer. 

     Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) was blooming prolifically, as one might expect, and the seed pods are now in their explosive phase, causing a few laughs as people were startled by them.

     Some of the flowers still contained copious volumes of sweet nectar and Common Eastern Bumbles Bees (Bombus impatiens) were quick to exploit this resource.

     New England Aster (Symphiotrichum novae-angliae) remains always and forever one of my favourite flowers. 

     Chicory (Cichorium intybus) thrills me equally.

     It was very satisfying for me to be able to share these wonders of nature with a very receptive group of people, whose lifestyle is permeated with sensitivity and the embrace of the living world.

Photo: Gita Pattison

     What a pleasure it is to see happy faces.

Photo: Gita Pattison

     We heard the familiar refrain of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) announcing their presence overhead as a small skein flew towards the river.

     It is always for me a stirring sound, emblematically Canadian. These are OUR birds - and they have conquered the world!

     Goldenrod (genus Solidago) is glorious. How could one not be enchanted by this scintillating bloom?

      It is a fine thing to encounter goldenrod on a beautiful fall day.

     One might imagine sitting amongst it with a glass of wine, listening to one of the late string quartets by Beethoven. How sublime that would be.

     Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) are starting to migrate and we caught a glimpse of a couple as they rode the thermals with consummate grace.

     These enigmatic birds, nature's sanitation engineers, have greatly expanded their presence in recent years; they are very welcome in my world.

     This is but a brief encapsulation of our outing together. There was much more, not the least of which was laughter, friendship and learning, and the chance to get to know each other.

     I feel confident in saying that a fine time was enjoyed by all. And we already have plans to do it again!