Friday, April 28, 2023
Joshua Tree National Park
Day 2: The Stations of Joshua Tree
Skull Rock
Day two of our trip was busy. The first stop on our pilgrimage was Skull Rock. A great motivator to begin a spiritual quest is the idea of death and our own mortality. As you stare into the hollow eyes of the giant skull, perhaps you are reminded of the meaninglessness of the human experience or of victory over death. Or maybe all you get from the heady stare is poison and pirates. Whatever the rock means to you, get there early. It is a popular spot.
Heart Rock
After the heavy reminder of death, where better to run than the temple of love? Our second station, Heart Rock, is a fun and happy place to visit. Shooting up like a bloom from the stony ground, this large heart is the appropriate place to contemplate the One-ness of it all.
Arch Rock
Adjacent to Heart Rock, the third station we visited was Arch Rock. We honored the sanctity of Spring by walking through the symbol of rebirth and renewal, leaving behind the old and entering the new.
Cholla Cactus Garden
Station four was Cholla Cactus Garden. The Cholla Cactus Garden is an adorable, 10-acre, non-petting zoo of desert vegetation. Rivaling puppy yoga for sheer cuteness, the Teddy bear cholla cacti are the sweetest things! Neither puppy yoga nor Teddy bear chollas have religious or spiritual meaning, so the only way I can tie them into this analogy is that this garden brings me great joy. On your spiritual pilgrimage to Joshua Tree, take a break from all the seriousness and go play in the cactus garden.
Hall of Horrors
Our fifth stop of the day was The Hall of Horrors. This large area is confusing and the streets have no names. If you are fortunate enough to find the slot canyons, the tight squeeze will give you an interesting perspective about narrow paths.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley was station six. The name comes from the legend that it was a place where rustlers hid stolen livestock during the transportation between California and Arizona. Concealed by a ring of massive boulders, this flat, one-mile hike is the perfect, secretive place to contemplate the Parable of the Hidden Treasure or the Tibetan Buddhists’ beyuls.
Fortynine Palms Oasis
The seventh and last stop of the day was Fortynine Palms Oasis. This challenging hike was the pinnacle of my spiritual journey as it was the place I came closest to death. We started the hike at noon, thinking we were adequately prepared with hats, sun protection, water, and snacks. We were not. I started feeling a little uneasy about three quarters of the way to the oasis. Just when I was about to suggest turning around, I could see the oasis in the distance, so we persevered. Had I not been experiencing some mild heat exhaustion, I don’t think I would have appreciated the literal and spiritual meanings of the word as much as I did that day. It is an absolute must see, but PLEASE hike in the morning.
