The Path of Least Resistance: A Solo Hike to Remember Home

There are days when the universe lays a trail of breadcrumbs so clearly, you know without a doubt: you are being led, step by step, breath by breath, home.

April 10th was one of those days.

I woke that morning with a quiet determination in my heart. I had always loved hiking, but fear had kept me from ever venturing into the wild alone. For years, I convinced myself that solo hikes were dangerous or too daunting. I wanted to include my aging parents or children on these nature journeys, but they couldn’t keep pace, and so I settled for shorter, gentler walks.

Since my father’s passing, I’ve been walking 10,000 steps a day as a healing practice, and the max I ever got to was 13,000 steps. But even this beautiful habit came with quiet ceilings in my mind. Today, I decided to shatter them. I chose to hike alone — truly alone — for the first time in my life.

I found myself drawn to Calero County Park in San Jose, an easy hike, I thought — or so it seemed from my minimal research. This was a blessing in disguise I realized later.

I packed food for a light picnic and set out under a perfect sky, not too hot, not too cold. The conditions felt lovingly arranged just for me. As soon as I stepped onto the trail, I heard it: the unmistakable call of a hummingbird, singing to me from the top of a tall tree. A familiar friend, my guardian. It felt like a blessing, as if Spirit was saying: You are protected. Go forth. I smiled, feeling the connection deepen.

At my first stop, I laid out a simple brunch beside a tranquil pond. Spirit was already at play. Two lovebirds, black with radiant orange patches, danced and called out to each other. Their joyous song echoed across the water, a living reminder of connection, companionship, and sacred reflection. Just then, a goose soared straight toward me — right into my camera’s lens! I laughed out loud, delighted by Spirit’s bold playfulness, as if whispering: See? You are never alone.

Full of nourishment, I continued onward, marveling at the wildflowers dancing in the breeze and the clouds painted like celestial brushstrokes across the sky. It wasn’t long before I encountered the first sign from Spirit in the animal kingdom. A small black snake slithered swiftly across my path. I paused. For a moment, old fears stirred. But I stayed calm. I realized the fear I carried for the wild had always lived more in my mind than in the land itself. The snake, ancient symbol of transformation, reminded me: Shed the old skin of fear. Step fully into the wild within you.

Soon after, I spotted a wild turkey, regal in its strut, and not long after that, two deer — their presence so synchronistic that it felt orchestrated by unseen hands. I could feel it deep in my bones: every creature was a messenger, each sighting an activation, a gentle nudge to trust the path unfolding before me.

And then came a moment I never expected. As I walked along the trail, my thoughts drifted toward my father and my best friend who had both passed from this world. In the past, the grief felt like separation, like they were beyond my reach. But here, surrounded by the living breath of nature, I felt them so close — closer than ever. I knew, deep in my heart, they were walking beside me.

A song rose from my soul — or perhaps it was Spirit singing through me. I sang softly, the words flowing effortlessly:

"Till we meet again, love is the only thing that matters...

Love is the only thing that’s eternal...

And love is who we are."

The melody felt like a thread weaving between worlds, connecting my heart to theirs beyond the veil. Tears filled my eyes, not from sorrow but from the overwhelming beauty of this truth. They were with me. They had never left.

As I ventured deeper into the woods, the trail quieted and thickened with shadows. Am I lost? There were moments when I felt the prickling of fear rise in my chest. I was alone — or so it seemed. Doubts whispered: What if I’m lost? What if I don’t find my way back? 

Just then, as if on cue, a majestic hawk began circling above me. With powerful wings slicing through the sky, it dipped lower and lower until it flew directly over my head, as though delivering a message straight from the heavens. Keep going, the hawk seemed to say. You are protected. You are guided. Trust the journey. In that moment, a surge of courage rose within me. This day — this sacred walk — was becoming not just a physical hike but a soul pilgrimage.

And then, I noticed something extraordinary, the way the grass swayed together in unison, like a beautiful orchestra of life, each blade playing its part. In that moment, I saw the deep truth of existence: everything and everyone is an essential note in the great symphony of life. Nothing is insignificant. Every living being contributes to the beauty of this existence. I saw life in its breathtaking unity, in its intricate dance of oneness. My heart flooded with unconditional love. My grief, my longing, my perceived separations — they all dissolved in the harmony of that moment. I felt whole. I felt home.

As I reached a crossroads on the trail, three paths stretched before me like an ancient riddle. My energy was waning, and I felt the edges of panic nibble at my mind.

And just then, as if woven by divine timing, a group of mountain bikers appeared at the very moment I needed them. I finally did something out of character: I asked for help. This was another quiet breakthrough. For so long, I carried a belief that I had to do everything alone, that no one could be trusted to help me. A man among them thoughtfully analyzed the paths, then his words landed like a spiritual teaching disguised in mundane advice: "That path is the shortest way back. It’s the path of least resistance, and even though it’s the same path, it will look different on the way back. It’s still just as beautiful."

In that moment, a profound realization washed over me: Sometimes, the way forward is the way back. The path of least resistance is not weakness — it is wisdom.

So often, we believe that progress means forging ahead into new territory, striving for uncharted paths. Yet sometimes, the wisest course is to return to where we began — to retrace our steps not as a failure, but as a reclamation. I understood that the path of least resistance is not about resignation, but about trust. Trust in the journey. Trust in the unfolding.

Beside him stood a woman, quiet until now. She smiled at me with radiant warmth and gave me a big thumb-up. Her silent encouragement was profound — it felt like a blessing from the sisterhood of the Earth itself. In her gesture, I felt an ancient wound soften and heal. The Divine Feminine whispered through her eyes: We see you. We support you. You are not alone.

I chose the path they guided me to, and as I walked back, I saw everything anew.

A hidden shortcut revealed itself. A scenic bench beneath a great mother tree appeared, as if it had been waiting for me all along. As I rested beneath the tree, gazing at the sky, I felt something astonishing: The clouds seemed to be moving away from me — or perhaps I was soaring toward the heavens. It wasn’t something my camera could capture, but with my own eyes and spirit, I felt it deeply. I was traveling through space itself, carried on the winds of the cosmos. I closed my eyes, and the sun pulsed through my eyelids, radiating waves of red light codes — a living heartbeat of solar energy activating my cells, infusing me with vitality. I paid tribute to the Great tree who was watching over me. I put my forehead against her trunk, then I leaned on her, feeling so supported and safe as she cradled me.  My higher self whispered: "Mother, I am home."

This day had become a living metaphor for my life.

What if the shortest path to our awakening is not forward, but inward?What if home is not a destination, but a return to where we first began — only this time, with new eyes, new wisdom, and an open heart?

This was my satori.

As I absorbed this moment, Spirit whispered yet another truth: What I had believed to be a modest two-hour loop had unfolded into over 9 miles/22,244 steps — a number vibrating with angelic alignment. And here, the next satori emerged: I was astonished by my own quiet resilience. Spirit had orchestrated this day to show me a mirror of my true strength. I had struggled with self-confidence for so long, not knowing how to overcome it. But today, through the rhythm of the trail, Spirit revealed the answer.

The voice inside me had been clear all along: Pace yourself. Take breaks. Enjoy the journey. It wasn’t relentless pushing that got me through — it was balance.

Movement and rest. Effort and ease. Creation and stillness. This is the rhythm of life itself. This is the secret to enduring all of life’s sacred challenges. The angelic step count — 22,244 — whispered its own message: Master builder energy. Divinely guided steps. Balanced choices leading to manifestation.

Spirit showed me:

You are stronger than you think.

You are more capable than you’ve ever believed.

And the path of least resistance is not one of weakness, but of wise surrender and trust.

Every breath, every moment, every sign was a conversation with Spirit.

The hummingbird greeted me at the start.

The snake invited me to shed fear.

The turkey and deer affirmed my safe passage.

The hawk soared above me with fierce protection.

The woman’s silent thumb-up healed my feminine wounds.

The sun sealed the day with codes of light.

The clouds carried me across dimensions.

This was not just a hike.

This was a return to myself.

Channeled Message from Spirit

Beloved traveler,

You have walked further than you thought possible today, not only in miles but in the corridors of your soul. You have learned the sacred truth: the path of least resistance is the path of remembrance.

The universe has never tested you — it has only guided you back to your own radiant essence. Every sign, every step, every encounter was woven for you. The strength you doubted has always been yours. The support you feared was missing has always been present.

Remember this day, beloved. Remember how you felt when you realized the way home was not through resistance, but through surrender to the beauty already around you.

You are the path. You are the garden. You are the light. And the earth rejoices in your seeing.

A Gentle Invitation to You, Dear Reader 🌸

If you’ve felt the stir to break free from quiet limits, to explore the path within your own heart, consider this your loving invitation.

Spirit is always whispering.

Through nature, through synchronicities, through the quiet pulse of your own breath.

Step outside. Walk slowly. Listen deeply. Ask the trees. Watch the clouds. Trust the signs.

And remember:The path of least resistance is not weakness — it is the wisdom of your soul, guiding you home to yourself.

We are all on this journey together.

With wings of the hummingbird,

Solarys 🌸