Courting the Wild

Another encore post, this time, from one I wrote back in 2005.

Court the Wild: Find Your Secret Spot in Nature

Courting the wild–spending one to two hours each day in nature–is a suggestion from author Jim Merkel.  In his book, Radical Simplicity (New Society Publishers ©2003) he offers this important recommendation for how to remain sane and grounded in a stressful world.  In fact, he urges this practice as a way to continually expand our compassion for all life.

He suggests that by courting the wild we might be influenced by a beautiful and powerful force that moves us to live according to our values and visions. We can do this by finding our own “secret spot” as a place to begin learning about nature.

The idea is this: you locate a spot in nature that invites you in. Then you return for an hour each day for a year. It is best if the spot is close to home so you can cycle or walk there.  And it would be best to allow yourself some solitude there, for quietness is a big part of what makes this so healing.

Wherever you may live, even in the densest urban jungle, there is a magical, wild place near you.  It could be a vacant lot, a quiet corner in a park, an undomesticated patch passed over and (until now) forgotten.  Or if you are lucky, it could be a part of your own backyard.  It might not win any awards for being picturesque or stunningly beautiful.  But it is still the sacred earth and you can adopt it.  Better yet, it adopts you. And then you take time regularly to learn from nature.

Are you wondering, “What am I going to do for an hour in the same spot every day?”

You sit quietly and observe what’s going on. What draws your attention?  Your hearing or sense of smell might heighten if you close your eyes. Try taking ten minutes to focus on each sense: sounds, sights, smells, touch and intuition. While you sit quietly, what birds come in? What animal tracks, webs or feathers arrived since yesterday? What interactions between species do you notice? How do you feel in relation to this place? Maybe you want to simply let go of thoughts, plans, and worries and remain present to each passing moment.

Or you can keep a journal, write poems and stories, or make detailed observations. Draw a map of a 20′ by 20′ area; learn every plant and animal there.  Talk to the trees.  Invite the Devas. Sing praises to the sky.  Listen with your heart.

If the weather is absolutely horrible, at least go there for a little while if at all possible.  Part of the magic of this is that you faithfully meet with the trees, birds, insects, and Mysterious Ones, who are there in all weather, at all times.  Unless you are sick and really unable to go, it’s the least you can do.

I can promise that it won’t take a whole year before you discover that the rewards can be astonishing.