What Do Llamas Have to Do with Mindfulness?

Well, you’d be surprised…

This year, soon after New Year’s Day, I traveled to Monticello, Virginia for a three-day silent meditation retreat. Before the ‘silent’ portion of my weekend began, I found myself on a well-worn dirt path—the original trail down the mountain from Monticello to Scottsville. I was leading a llama named Thomas (after Thomas Jefferson, naturally) on a leash.

Or, rather, Thomas was leading me.

All things considered, Thomas was a remarkably sweet, docile creature. But as we prepared to cross a January-chilled creek, the guide accompanying me shared a few pointers.

“You need to leap with your llama,” she said.

“You can’t leap first and expect your llama to follow. You also can’t let your llama leap first, because he’ll wind up dragging you behind.”

Huh. This wasn’t something I had considered when I agreed to an afternoon stroll with a large, wooly livestock. I glanced nervously at Thomas. Hey, Thomas…? I tried to signal, telepathically. We have to become one.

Here’s the thing: I am not an animal person. Didn’t grow up with ‘em, don’t care to keep ‘em now. But there was just something about Thomas. From the moment I reached out to pet him, I felt an energy flow between us. He felt safe. Solid. Like talking this walk with me, side-by-side, was second nature to him.

Plus, leash in hand and already well on our journey, I didn’t have much of a choice.

Leaping with Thomas was a mindful practice. When we leaped, we leaped as one.

Next week, the Shut Up & Sit movement is taking a leap—and while we won’t have Thomas the Llama on a leash with us (although, wouldn’t that be great?) it’s going to be BIG.

We want you leaping with us.

Join the movement, here.