Spiritual Wellness Meetup Orange County

ABOUT THE MINDFULNESS HIKE:
We begin our journey at the Old Corral/Red Windmill Day Use area, where the trail quickly carries us across a dry creek bed and into a wide, secluded meadow. Here, the hills rise gently ahead, inviting us into a quiet, hidden valley where the only sounds are birdsong and the occasional hum of a plane overhead. This out-and-back hike is just under 2 miles, but it offers far more than distance — it’s an immersive experience in nature. We begin with a gentle warm-up beneath the shade of graceful oaks before we pick up the pace, heading toward a ridge that rewards us with sweeping, panoramic views. There are two steep sections with loose rocks/soil – hiking boots with non-slip traction soles recommended as well as hiking poles for those needing extra support. At the summit, we pause to take it all in — sky, earth, and everything in between. Our return is slower and more mindful, allowing time to stop for natural curiosities and grounding practices. You may find yourself sensing the earth, breathing with the breeze, and feeling more connected with each step.

Rachel, our trail guide and expert in California native plants, shares insight into the living landscape around us. Treeesa, our Mindfulness, Earthing, and Grounding coach, leads gentle mindfulness practices (including Qi Gong) to help us drop into the present moment. This is not a hike to rush. We don’t measure the experience by the clock — in fact, we prefer to lose track of time entirely. It's best not to schedule anything immediately afterward so you can savor the full richness of this mind, body, and soul adventure.
WHERE TO MEET:
In the Old Corral/Windmill parking lot, by the restrooms. Caspers Wilderness Park, Old Corral/Red Windmill Day Use area - farthest away from the entrance to the park. Allow at least 10-15 minutes for driving from the park entrance.

TIMELINE:

• 8:40am - Arrive at the kiosk entrance of Casper's Wilderness Park and pay the $5 fee for a day pass to park your vehicle. It will take 10+ minutes to drive to our meeting spot in Old Corral Day Use area.
• 8:50am - Arrive in the parking lot at the Tall Red Windmill, Old Corral Day Use area and Restrooms. Meet by the picnic table under the Oak Tree.
• 8:55am - Introductions.
• 9:00am - Begin our mindfulness hike.
• 11:00am - 11:30am - Meetup concludes at approximately this time. However, we don't keep track of time because we journey outside of time to enjoy the mind, body, soul adventure. We end when we end.
• Optional - Immediately following the session, I will conduct a wish fulfillment ceremony, with my Bodhisattva, if anyone is interested in receiving a wish fulfillment card from Taiwan. This is for the members who have not received a wish fulfillment card yet, since only one is distributed per person until they run out. This ceremony will take approximately 10 minutes.

HIKE STATS: Trail is mostly single track. Total length: 1.9 miles. Elevation gain: rapid 351ft. This is an advanced beginner hike due to some very steep, slippery areas with loose rocks/soil.

WHAT TO BRING: Long hiking pants or long leggings, so legs are fully covered due to Poison Oak. Sturdy, close-toe trail hiking shoes/boots with non-slip traction soles and hiking poles for those needing extra support. Water, hat, layered clothing, camera, snacks.

ENTRANCE FEE: $5.00 per vehicle or OC Parks annual pass.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Drive east toward the mountains about 8 miles on Ortega Hwy (from the 5 freeway) and turn left into the Caspers entrance. Please allow enough time to arrive at Caspers Park entrance kiosk at 8:40am to be parked and ready to meet at 8:55am. Keep driving over the creek, turn right at stop sign (about 1 mile) and drive (toward Old Corral Day Use) about another 2 miles. Just past the large red windmill, park in the area by the large corral and restrooms. Meet by the picnic table under the Oak Tree.

PLEASE NOTE: We start promptly at 9:00am. If you are late, you can try to find us at the Pinhead Peak trailhead.

NATURE TRAIL PRECAUTIONS: We need to be aware of poison oak, prickly plants such as cactus, ticks, flying insects, snakes, and natural hazards along the trail. Long hiking pants or long leggings (due to poison oak) are recommended. Closed toed hiking shoes/boots with non-slip traction soles are mandatory, and hiking poles are recommended for those needing extra support.

ABOUT CASPERS WILDERNESS PARK: Caspers Wilderness Park is an 8,000-acre protected wilderness preserve nestled among the river terraces and sandstone canyons of the western coastal Santa Ana Mountains. The park's many fertile valleys are overtly complemented by specimen groves of native Coastal Live Oak and magnificent stands of California Sycamore. These areas are further accentuated by seasonal wildflower displays and running streams. Wildlife is abundant and can be readily viewed from any of the park's numerous trails.

ABOUT THE MINDFULNESS HIKE:
We start at the entrance of Canyon View Park, walk down the paved trail, until we get to the dirt trail and entrance to the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Here is where our Forest Mindfulness and Nature Bathing journey begins. Once we are nestled under some shady Oak Trees, we will stop for a nice warm up to activate our energy. We will continue down the dirt fire road until we reach a bridge crossing that takes us onto the Wood Creek Trail and into the beautiful Forest. At our 2nd stop in the Oak Woodlands, we will enjoy a variety of slow-moving Qi Gong flows and a moving meditation to attune to the healing energy of Mother Earth, the Trees and Animals. Our hike continues up some steep sections and a wooden staircase, and we come down upon an expansive lookout point, where we will enjoy more mindfulness and gratitude practices to honor the six directions.

This out-and-back hike along the Wood Creek Trail is approximately 2 1/2 miles, with an elevation gain of 433 feet. There are some steep areas and uneven terrain, so hiking shoes/boots with non-slip traction soles are recommended as well as hiking poles for those needing extra support. This is not a fast-paced hike rather it is a mindful flowing hike that allows time to stop for natural curiosities, animal sightings and earthing-grounding-mindfulness practices. It is a time to tune into your senses, listen to the bird songs, smell the native plants, feel the earth, breath with the trees and observe natures abundance. We don’t measure the experience by the clock — in fact, we prefer to lose track of time entirely. It's a time to unplug from the phone and 3D matrix, immerse yourself in the present moment, connect intimately with Creator, Mother Earth, Nature and the Animal Kingdom and savor the full richness of this mind, body, and soul adventure.

The hike and mindfulness practices help to calm the mind and body, regulate the nervous system, harmonize the mind-body-soul, strengthen the physical-mental-emotional-spiritual bodies so you leave feeling uplifted, peaceful and joyful.

WHERE TO MEET:
At the entrance of Canyon View Park, by the gate and park sign.

TIMELINE:

• 5:35-5:40pm - Arrive and park on the street. Meet by the gate entrance and Canyon View Park sign.
• 5:40pm - Introductions.
• 5:45pm - Begin our mindfulness hike.
• 7:45pm - Meetup concludes at approximately this time. However, we don't keep track of time because we journey outside of time to enjoy the mind, body, soul adventure. We end when we end.
• Optional - Immediately following the session, I will conduct a wish fulfillment ceremony, with my Bodhisattva, if anyone is interested in receiving a wish fulfillment card from Taiwan. This is for the members who have not received a wish fulfillment card yet, since only one is distributed per person until they run out. This ceremony will take approximately 10 minutes.