Field Notes from Jess ~ Rewilding in 2022 | Week 14/52 | Spring
Apr 03, 2022
Field Notes from Jess: Rewilding 2022 Week 14/52
When community Gathers
There is strength in community. We gathered together under a canopy of cedar trees. The youth were building a campfire and nourishing food was prepared. Laughter and stories were exchanged and connection was felt following a 4-hour presentation on preparedness and the vulnerabilities of modern society given by Nathan Donnelly from Seadon 6 ALONE, History channel.
These conversations feel relevant and necessary as the journey to rewild has everything to do with integrating a more holistic approach to resilience and living more integrated to self and nature in a modern world that feels unstable and vulnerable. Humans were not meant to isolate and navigate the challenges of life alone. We are creative and sentient beings who thrive and elevate when surrounded by the love and care of neighbors, family and friends.
A campfire draws the eyes to the flames. Smart phones are secured in pockets and those gathered around the fire for warmth experience the entertainment of storytelling. Those who arrived to a group of strangers will leave with an embrace from new allies.
Times are changing. Most feel the shift. Some feel numbness, anxiety, overwhelm and isolation. There is a sense of helplessness and loss of control when the autopilot turns on the news or swipes on the media headlines that grab our emotions.
There is an antidote. Seek out beautiful places. Invite others to join you. Learn about the wild foods growing abundantly in the spring. Have a potluck. Welcome singing, guitar, music and dancing. State your fears and concerns and allow the group to respond. People will surprise you with their compassion and bandwidth for sharing knowledge and creating solutions. Humans have always adapted to change and have survived incredible threats. Lean in to people. Creating a local network of fellow Rewilders will elevate all levels of mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
