For Seth Josephson, living in the moment is a meditative walk along Walhalla Ravine in Clintonville, absorbing the sights and sounds of nature. It’s standing in the middle of Animal’s Garden near Hudson Street, being thankful for the life around him. It’s a virtual meditation session, processing his worries of an uncertain future.

It can be challenging to find calmness and balance in the age of COVID-19. But by meditating and taking time to “be present,” you can touch on feelings of fear and anxiety and begin to let those feelings go, said Josephson, a lecturer in the Department of Comparative Studies.

“When we have painful emotions from trauma, the goal is not to push them away or replace them with something else,” Josephson said. “It’s about taking time to create a structure that allows us to really fully experience whatever it is that’s there so it’s not hiding behind whatever we do during the day.”

After state leaders issued a stay-at-home order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Josephson organized a series of weekly meditation activities for anyone interested in joining him.

What does a social distance meditative walk look like?

Check out our video here.

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he organizes social distance walks where participants meditate while walking along the Walhalla Ravine. The meditation sessions on Thursdays are at the animal garden near Fourth and Hudson streets, while Friday’s practice is done via Zoom.

“I wanted to figure out a way to be of service to people,” said Josephson, who has helped lead a Clintonville-based meditation group — Mud Lotus Sangha — for more than two years.

He starts each session with a reading or passage to set the tone of the meditation. To help steady the mind, he performs a mantra then strikes a singing bowl, where the chimes signal the start of the meditation cycle. Meditations last for about 20 minutes, and then Josephson strikes the bowl to mark the end of the session. Participants share their thoughts from their practice to the group.

“It’s the staple of my week,” said Ashley Pèrez, an assistant professor in comparative studies who coordinates the college’s world literatures program.

She has been a part of the Mud Lotus Sangha group for the past two years and has been a frequent participant in Josephson’s meditation sessions since the stay-at-home order.

“It’s been nourishing and sustaining for me during other hard times, and so I feel like there’s a sense of continuity of support and care and connection that’s been important,” she said.

Interested in joining Seth Josephson’s meditation activities? Here’s his schedule:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Social distancing walks at 8 a.m. Meet at Illio, a community arts studio at 13 E. Tulane Road.

Thursday: Meditation at 9 a.m. at Animal’s Garden near Fourth and Hudson streets.

Friday: Meditation via Zoom at 9 a.m.

Contact Seth Josephson with any questions at seth.josephson@gmail.com.