I was in Dresden, a city in the southeast of Germany which has a population of half a million people. My wife had a meeting in the middle of the city and I was supposed to wait for a couple of hours. I sat on a bench and looked out at a busy place, where […]
“The art of questioning is one of the highest arts we can practice.” -David Spangler, author of Emergence, Rebirth of the Sacred There are many, many things that you can do to increase your awareness. The good news is that you will always have room to improve, and you will never be bored again! Sounds […]
A deep need for humans is outdoor safety, the maintenance of life, and limb. This is a powerful connecting force with the rest of life! From the sparrow fleeing the hawk, to the caterpillar hiding from the wasp, all creatures share a desire to avoid dangers or hazards. If you hook up electrodes to measure […]
If I am in a wandering mood, I often head up the old road, into the valley above my Sit Spot. It has just enough human traffic in the summer to keep the mud puddles in good shape. In the winter it is used by snowmobiles. It’s about 3/4 of a mile of great four-season […]
I still remember very clearly the first 24 hours after my first daughter was born. All of the reality seemed lit by an incredible light, and I felt like a different person. I remember dropping my wife and our newborn Katie off at the house and then getting ready to rush to the grocery store. […]
As a nature connection mentor, my role is often similar to that of a trainer in dance, music, or martial arts. Much of the time, I’m not “teaching” my students anything. Instead, I’m creating conditions where they can easily learn through their own experiences and giving them coaching in their routines and practices so that […]
Going to your sit spot is one of the core routines that we teach at Wilderness Awareness School. It’s a simple, powerful experience that enables you to be more present and connected in your day-to-day life. It can be really fun to have permission to simply sit, observe, and be present. It doesn’t take much […]
I remember sitting on the dock at the lake house, where I lived during my time at WAS, in early spring with my friend Michelle. We were watching the sunset, talking about our boy troubles. When it got chilly, we went inside and had some friends over for a delicious home-cooked meal, after which we […]
Look straight ahead and imagine that your eyeballs cannot move, like the owl’s eyes. Sitting absolutely still in its tree perch, the owl stares and sees 180 degrees in all directions. It puts its mind on “off” and just gazes. This patient expectant open gaze is the way to look at the sky when you […]
I find it amusing that I’m sometimes labeled an “urbanite.” It’s amusing because I’d never label myself that way. Why? Because not two days before writing these words, I was sitting on my back deck at dusk and a white-tailed buck sauntered across my yard within 20 feet of me while in the hollow oak […]