Philosophy Walk is huge success

Ian Fleming reports on the first Philosophy Walk

It was one of those scorching August mornings we had become accustomed to, the glorious 12^th, in fact, when a group of walkers gathered at the top of the driveway to Chawton House to embark on a Philosophy Walk.

Ian Fleming, George Longland and Sally Thomas had issued an invitation to some Alton walking groups, including the Five to Ten Group, to take part in a gentle wander around the parkland, with pauses for philosophical reflections and musings, followed by a picnic. Fortunately, the planned pausing places were all in the shade, as the sun was ferocious!

We set off through the fields of munching sheep, across the Lavant Stream, no water to be seen, and up into the parkland behind the formal gardens of Chawton House.

Our first pause was amongst a shady circle of gently swaying beech trees. Ian invited us all to sit and listen as he spoke about his personal philosophy on life; the culmination of over 70 years of reading, thinking and living. A rich discussion was prompted by Ian’s question What's it all about? with a wonderful openness to different reflections and beliefs. As we shared our responses and thoughts, we touched on existentialism, the difference between religion and spirituality and what can give our lives meaning. Ian shared with us all a quote from one of his favourite thinkers, the 18^th century political writer, Thomas Paine: My country is the world and my religion is to do good.

We gathered our thoughts and continued our wander through the dry and yellowing grass to a copse in the middle of the parkland, a rather magical spot where Sally and George often bring people on the Walking Festival for a spot of meditation, cloud gazing and occasionally, if we’re very lucky, a glimpse of a hawk.

In this intimate space we perched on the roots of a grandfather pine as Sally read out a Jane Austen quote about the nature of self: We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Sally’s favourite thing is to hold space for people to reflect, so she asked walkers to pair up and walk, sit or stand together to ponder on the quotation and what resonance it might have in their own lives.

After talking in pairs, we gathered together once again and set off to our final pause point under a majestic oak on the far side of the parkland. Here George, who had already confessed to having no interest in philosophy (!), offered us an enthralling exploration of the meaning of life through the philosophy and characters of Roald Dahl. She brought to life James (of the Giant Peach), Charlie Bucket and Matilda and we began to make connections between these characters, how they had suffered in their young lives and the fantastical adventures they had embarked on, full of courage and determination to discover something better for themselves.

After time with Roald Dahl’s protagonists, we were invited to share in two of George’s great passions: laughter therapy and the benefits of shaking. George recounted her favourite joke about a turtle, (you needed to be there, it’s hilarious!) and we all shared jokes and laughter, polished off with a gentle shake to move and release our bodies, before we set off through the shady lime tree avenue back to our start point, and a picnic in the shade to continue our discussions.

The philosophy walk was so well received that Ian, George and Sally are considering organising another one. If you like the sound of that, watch this space!