Living the wilderness way is to be immersed in the nature that surrounds us. Its smells, sounds, song, wildlife. The trail that leads into the Wilderness Way offers us an experience of life that will never be found any other way. The wilderness Way is living a life well lived in service to the earth, children, and to each other.
Living the Wilderness Way
Imagine a wooden hunting bow that you made yourself, out of wood you harvested, searching the forest. Looking for just the right bow stave that will work. Imagine the process it takes to create a bow and arrows for the hunt. Think on it.
Living the wilderness way is becoming a human
The Way is passed down from father to son, grandfather to father. Mother to daughter, grandmother to grandchild. Teacher to student.
Offer thanksgiving
Living the wilderness way, the way of becoming human. We pour our feelings into the bow stave we work. We ask that the Bow will be a strong. The arrow swift and true. We ask that we have the honor to feed the children and the elders who are the keepers of the wisdom.
In our heart we hold all life in a sacred way. Offering thanksgiving to the spirit of the deer is a way of showing thanks for the gift. For we know without its flesh to eat the people face hunger.
So we give thanks and make sure the deer is treated in a good way. With good grasses, browse, and water to help it grow to be strong and swift.
A hunter's way
You must learn to walk softly and blend into nature. You track the habits and ways of the deer. In this way you touch the spirit of the deer. This honors the deer and honors your skills.
The skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. We learn ourselves first.
Instruct the children in The Way
Then instruct the children. To respect the Way. To follow the track, the browse sign, to know the bed of the resting animal. We teach the children to skillfully dress the deer. To prepare the sacred food in a good way. And share in the joy of the Give Away.
A way to live
Living the wilderness way, you learn we all have a duty to the wild. To nature. We are taught to harvest only what we need. To protect all creatures. You have learned to balance your own life to reduce your wants and focus on simple needs. Simple needs that bring happiness, not the trappings of greed.
To honor the earth is to honor each other. To save the earth is to save each other
The newness of material things that we purchase for status and power. Soon lose their luster and desire. However, when we create things with our imagination and our own hands. Like a garden to help feed the elders and ourselves. The feeling of accomplishment and goodness lives a lifetime.
The goodness of life is then passed down to our children's, children, children.
And then the goodness of life is passed down to our children's children and so on. For Seven generation we look to the future. This is The Way.
It is Living the Wilderness Way. The ancient way, of becoming a human being.
Learn The Way
It is worth your time and resources to learn The Way. Walk the trail that leads back to your heart, to your kindness that is you. You know the path, you have walked it often. It is worth it. Build your strength and resilience. Listen to the song your heart sings in your happiness. And follow that.
I offer a beginning, a trail for you to learn upon. To begin or reconnect once again in that journey to connection and your impowered self.
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