Absolutely fascinating and engrossing. I am so interested in this series and I cant wait to read more. I love your work Alexander, and this is also right up my street. I've had a lifelong obsession/interest/fascination with prehistory and the possibilities of social structures that are integrated into, not only wider natural rhythms and systems, but also the whole conceptual arena of how this integration influences psychological, philosophical and spiritual development and the social behaviour of humans. Your insights are fascinating and I really appreciate you writing and sharing your knowledge and experience here. Thanks.
Many thanks! It is a subject very close to my heart and, as you say, it's so layered, so very deep and timeless. Too many instructors fall into simply considering practicalities, as talking about the other things you mention here can quickly end up with glazed expressions amongst students who only really want to know how to light fire with sticks! This is one reason I think there's a real opportunity to talk about these things here, in the written word. My dissertation at uni was on a similar topic, about life in woods during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic of what is now western Europe, and how such a lifepath would have shaped our development across so many different factors. I could talk much more about this (and will!), but best try and get a bit more work done! Very much looking forward to sharing this topic with you and hearing your thoughts and your own insights.
Based on all I’ve read so far Jonathan, I am in no doubt that an essay from you on this subject would be not only informative but a work of artful prose also… I wait impatiently!
Your distinction between being “a part” of the wild vs “apart” from it is spot on. This article has got me thinking about the relationship between outdoor recreation and the wild. I’ve spent months in the backcountry… with the assistance of an ultralight tent, stove, water filter, etc… and while these experiences are “in the wild” and subject to the forces of nature, they’re still a far cry from living in/with it.
The section on fire and hunting both stood out to me. In the Rocky Mountain West (where until recently I spent most of my life) camp fires are frequently banned because of drought and wildfire danger. Even without a ban, I prefer not to build a fire unless it’s at a designated campsite. Fishing/hunting is (for good reason) regulated because of overuse. All of which is to say, it’s challenging to (re)find our role and place in the wild.
Thank you so much for this comment. You hit the proverbial nail on the head--it is so very challenging to find where we fit in nature and the wild. I think this lies at the heart of what I am trying to achieve here, a method of showing how nature is for us all, but we need to approach it carefully and with consideration--overhunting, overfishing, fire risk etcetera are perfect examples of what can happen with the current mindset of many.
Education, like in so many things, lies at the heart of this (I would dearly love to see children educated in these skills from a young age, responsibly and with respect for nature at the core, I think it would make such a huge difference in the world). I am, however, hopeful, in that the internet has raised the profile and voices of many who do not approach the outdoors as something to conquer, but something to move with, rather than against. There is certainly hope.
Your knowledge is immense Alex, and it shines beautifully in the details of your writings!
This is the perfect introduction and I’m so excited to see what others may write too…
Once again an enormous thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your project, I too feel this is very important work. I will be researching more deeply the links to the past and the links to our ancestors, (I am deeply envious of your education which must give so much to the foundations of these essays..) where possible because information on this area is very basic at best, but I have just found the name of a local historian! Hallelujah! Small steps….
One thing I'm considering is a reading list of sorts (maybe a free one, linking to eg accessible journals, and another of books etc), so people can access the words of others far more knowledgeable than I. It is an odd thing, when I went to uni, the Archaeology department there was ranked as the best in the UK (and, I think, the world, but can't remember the source of that). To be taught (and talking with) those academics and researchers was a gift I have deeply appreciated over the years. I got so much more out of that degree than others did, because it shaped my own thinking. I think it was only some years later, however, that I realised this, that it wasn't necessarily about the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, but crucially, that ability to question and seek answers, refining argument and thought. It's only now that I feel I am at the point where I am ready to share my own thoughts (here, the book proposal I'm putting together for an extended version of A Fall in Time, and also in my fiction). I really should send a few thank you emails or letters to certain teachers!
That's brilliant you've found a local historian, each step like this is essential to the journey! I've also found that sometimes searching for PhD theses, for example, is a good way to fill a geographical gap, but I'm not sure how to do that in French! There must be an academic site though, I'll add it to my to-check list!
Thank you so much for this comment, and for being a part of this project, I know I keep saying it, but I'm really excited to see where this goes.
I shall! I shall keep looking, too. Researching in French is still not easy for me, but I'm getting better (found some wonderful bits on wolves and the history of the silver mines on the mountain behind us, but still have a long way to go!). One thing I miss is something like Canmore in Scotland https://canmore.org.uk which is a true treasure (and time sink!).
I'd agree five days is about the sweet spot for really getting attuned into being a part of the woods, as well as the ticks being a distraction from this attunement.
I also find the time around the fire just being rather than doing is key to opening the space for conversation around spirituality and art.
Some experiences can't be discussed if they haven't had the same experience I find open discussion and suitable framing definitely helps facilitate the conversation to those willing to have it.
You make a super point about the fire, there's something quite magical about the way it makes people talk, they seem to talk more softly, consider their thoughts and words more, and listen too. Not everyone, but usually those I've spent time with by the fire are already well on their journey into that deeper connection with nature and the self which being in the woods (or in nature) provides us all.
As you rightly say, the framing is so very important too. For me, I keep asking myself how it might be possible to bring others to the conversation, those who at this point might not be willing to have it, or perhaps don't even know these experiences exist. Not easy, of course, but I always try to be actively hopeful, working on ways to pass along such a message (in a manner which doesn't push, but perhaps gently guides). I am hopeful that, with our current and remarkable communications technology, things can change for the better.
Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
So often, the aspects of art and spirituality can be completely ignored, which I find so odd, given how these things are deeply connected with our deep past, with our creativity, and with our current relationship with nature. When people merely focus on the skills, they are missing out on so much (I also think it can be tricky to discuss these things, which makes them easier to ignore or gloss over, even if they are actually incorporated into that individual's personal practice).
I believe personally that a lot of folk are uncomfortable to open up about such topics, either from fear of mockery or from concern of seeming "out there" which encourages them to keep it to themselves.
I think this is spot on and wise. When I used to take people out into the woods, hills, and coasts, to gently immerse them into the skills needed to live out there, I always waited until they would mention art and spirituality and, every single time, they did. Whether it was finding joy in making something functional look that bit more beautiful, or pausing and considering our own part in nature, how it has shaped us over our species' history, they always, always talked about it, opening the door for further discussion. (Usually around the five day mark, which seems to be the sweet spot for settling into woodland-rhythm for those who've not done it before. Sometimes, however, there'd be those who never reached that point. Often, thanks to ticks!!!)
Heading back into 'civilisation' was always interesting, watching as they would try and translate the feelings and sensations they had experienced out under the stars (or, since it was usually in Scotland, rainclouds) was both rewarding and also a bit sad, as others would glaze over and rarely engage on the topic.
I think these experiences lie at the heart of what I'm trying to achieve with AWE, as I search for a way to draw others into a closer relationship with nature and our ancestral ways. The framing is key, demonstrating how a sense of true empowerment can come from the skills, but how it is not just a matter of knowing how to light a fire, or make a stone tool, but the depth and art and spiritual connection behind that. It's not easy, but I'm thankful I can do this here.
Absolutely fascinating and engrossing. I am so interested in this series and I cant wait to read more. I love your work Alexander, and this is also right up my street. I've had a lifelong obsession/interest/fascination with prehistory and the possibilities of social structures that are integrated into, not only wider natural rhythms and systems, but also the whole conceptual arena of how this integration influences psychological, philosophical and spiritual development and the social behaviour of humans. Your insights are fascinating and I really appreciate you writing and sharing your knowledge and experience here. Thanks.
Many thanks! It is a subject very close to my heart and, as you say, it's so layered, so very deep and timeless. Too many instructors fall into simply considering practicalities, as talking about the other things you mention here can quickly end up with glazed expressions amongst students who only really want to know how to light fire with sticks! This is one reason I think there's a real opportunity to talk about these things here, in the written word. My dissertation at uni was on a similar topic, about life in woods during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic of what is now western Europe, and how such a lifepath would have shaped our development across so many different factors. I could talk much more about this (and will!), but best try and get a bit more work done! Very much looking forward to sharing this topic with you and hearing your thoughts and your own insights.
Based on all I’ve read so far Jonathan, I am in no doubt that an essay from you on this subject would be not only informative but a work of artful prose also… I wait impatiently!
Your distinction between being “a part” of the wild vs “apart” from it is spot on. This article has got me thinking about the relationship between outdoor recreation and the wild. I’ve spent months in the backcountry… with the assistance of an ultralight tent, stove, water filter, etc… and while these experiences are “in the wild” and subject to the forces of nature, they’re still a far cry from living in/with it.
The section on fire and hunting both stood out to me. In the Rocky Mountain West (where until recently I spent most of my life) camp fires are frequently banned because of drought and wildfire danger. Even without a ban, I prefer not to build a fire unless it’s at a designated campsite. Fishing/hunting is (for good reason) regulated because of overuse. All of which is to say, it’s challenging to (re)find our role and place in the wild.
Thank you so much for this comment. You hit the proverbial nail on the head--it is so very challenging to find where we fit in nature and the wild. I think this lies at the heart of what I am trying to achieve here, a method of showing how nature is for us all, but we need to approach it carefully and with consideration--overhunting, overfishing, fire risk etcetera are perfect examples of what can happen with the current mindset of many.
Education, like in so many things, lies at the heart of this (I would dearly love to see children educated in these skills from a young age, responsibly and with respect for nature at the core, I think it would make such a huge difference in the world). I am, however, hopeful, in that the internet has raised the profile and voices of many who do not approach the outdoors as something to conquer, but something to move with, rather than against. There is certainly hope.
Thanks again for this, I really appreciate it.
Your knowledge is immense Alex, and it shines beautifully in the details of your writings!
This is the perfect introduction and I’m so excited to see what others may write too…
Once again an enormous thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your project, I too feel this is very important work. I will be researching more deeply the links to the past and the links to our ancestors, (I am deeply envious of your education which must give so much to the foundations of these essays..) where possible because information on this area is very basic at best, but I have just found the name of a local historian! Hallelujah! Small steps….
One thing I'm considering is a reading list of sorts (maybe a free one, linking to eg accessible journals, and another of books etc), so people can access the words of others far more knowledgeable than I. It is an odd thing, when I went to uni, the Archaeology department there was ranked as the best in the UK (and, I think, the world, but can't remember the source of that). To be taught (and talking with) those academics and researchers was a gift I have deeply appreciated over the years. I got so much more out of that degree than others did, because it shaped my own thinking. I think it was only some years later, however, that I realised this, that it wasn't necessarily about the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, but crucially, that ability to question and seek answers, refining argument and thought. It's only now that I feel I am at the point where I am ready to share my own thoughts (here, the book proposal I'm putting together for an extended version of A Fall in Time, and also in my fiction). I really should send a few thank you emails or letters to certain teachers!
That's brilliant you've found a local historian, each step like this is essential to the journey! I've also found that sometimes searching for PhD theses, for example, is a good way to fill a geographical gap, but I'm not sure how to do that in French! There must be an academic site though, I'll add it to my to-check list!
Thank you so much for this comment, and for being a part of this project, I know I keep saying it, but I'm really excited to see where this goes.
If you find that site, please please share! I have obviously not been tapping in the right instructions and have, as a result, had zero luck!
I shall! I shall keep looking, too. Researching in French is still not easy for me, but I'm getting better (found some wonderful bits on wolves and the history of the silver mines on the mountain behind us, but still have a long way to go!). One thing I miss is something like Canmore in Scotland https://canmore.org.uk which is a true treasure (and time sink!).
I'd agree five days is about the sweet spot for really getting attuned into being a part of the woods, as well as the ticks being a distraction from this attunement.
I also find the time around the fire just being rather than doing is key to opening the space for conversation around spirituality and art.
Some experiences can't be discussed if they haven't had the same experience I find open discussion and suitable framing definitely helps facilitate the conversation to those willing to have it.
You make a super point about the fire, there's something quite magical about the way it makes people talk, they seem to talk more softly, consider their thoughts and words more, and listen too. Not everyone, but usually those I've spent time with by the fire are already well on their journey into that deeper connection with nature and the self which being in the woods (or in nature) provides us all.
As you rightly say, the framing is so very important too. For me, I keep asking myself how it might be possible to bring others to the conversation, those who at this point might not be willing to have it, or perhaps don't even know these experiences exist. Not easy, of course, but I always try to be actively hopeful, working on ways to pass along such a message (in a manner which doesn't push, but perhaps gently guides). I am hopeful that, with our current and remarkable communications technology, things can change for the better.
Very much enjoyed this. A part of or apart from is integral to my own perspective.
Also appreciated the mention of Art and Spirituality in your writing.
I shall look out series one of AWE now
Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
So often, the aspects of art and spirituality can be completely ignored, which I find so odd, given how these things are deeply connected with our deep past, with our creativity, and with our current relationship with nature. When people merely focus on the skills, they are missing out on so much (I also think it can be tricky to discuss these things, which makes them easier to ignore or gloss over, even if they are actually incorporated into that individual's personal practice).
I believe personally that a lot of folk are uncomfortable to open up about such topics, either from fear of mockery or from concern of seeming "out there" which encourages them to keep it to themselves.
I think this is spot on and wise. When I used to take people out into the woods, hills, and coasts, to gently immerse them into the skills needed to live out there, I always waited until they would mention art and spirituality and, every single time, they did. Whether it was finding joy in making something functional look that bit more beautiful, or pausing and considering our own part in nature, how it has shaped us over our species' history, they always, always talked about it, opening the door for further discussion. (Usually around the five day mark, which seems to be the sweet spot for settling into woodland-rhythm for those who've not done it before. Sometimes, however, there'd be those who never reached that point. Often, thanks to ticks!!!)
Heading back into 'civilisation' was always interesting, watching as they would try and translate the feelings and sensations they had experienced out under the stars (or, since it was usually in Scotland, rainclouds) was both rewarding and also a bit sad, as others would glaze over and rarely engage on the topic.
I think these experiences lie at the heart of what I'm trying to achieve with AWE, as I search for a way to draw others into a closer relationship with nature and our ancestral ways. The framing is key, demonstrating how a sense of true empowerment can come from the skills, but how it is not just a matter of knowing how to light a fire, or make a stone tool, but the depth and art and spiritual connection behind that. It's not easy, but I'm thankful I can do this here.