The Islands of Silence Meditation Path is 1/5 of a mile long. It has seven islands at which you may rest, contemplate and reflect on your faith journey. The journey starts at the top of the hill where you look down upon a desert wash. It leads you down to the bottom of the wash. Some islands are exposed to the sun and others are shaded. The journey ends on level ground at an island of two benches. You may walk the Islands of Silence on your own or you may use a guided meditation to assist you on your journey.
The Islands of Silence are seven stops on a path that begins at the top of the hill, crosses a wash and concludes at two benches at the bottom of the hill. Each island is a symbol for meditating on places during life’s journey.
Each of the seven Islands are nicely hidden and equipped with a bench or two for those who need a rest on the journey or just a quiet place to meditate.
Island #3 
SONY DSC 
Benches for Resting 
Shaded and Private 
Guided Meditation for the Islands of Silence Pathway
The Islands of Silence is a meditation path that includes “7 islands” – that is seven strategically chosen areas on a 1/5 mile path that undulates through the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Each island has its own character and presents a different thought and scenery. Five of the seven islands have sculptures and/or stone carvings, all giving honor to friends and family, etc. Islands 1-3 and 5-7 are accessible for wheelchair/walk/cane access. Island #4 is in a cleft of a hillside where the path goes downhill and is not appropriate for that type of access.
The islands were chosen in this raw desert setting to begin from the top to the bottom-why? The symbolism is powerful, and it represents our lives. We Love the high spots in life, everything is right with the world and we just want to shout ”yes!” — but we can’t stay there even if we wanted to! There is no strength without trials, there is no deepening of our faith without circumstances that call us to call out to the One who can remove us from the valleys of the shadows of death. The crooked times lead us to seek the straight and level paths in life. So we start at the top of the hill and work our way to the bottom where we cross the wash, sometimes a moving creek, but mostly damp earth or dry. Then the the path begins to rise slightly and by the time we arrive at our last island, the path is straight and level and we rejoin the world once again … just like life. It’s a reminder of God’s promise:
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; God is the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3: 5-6