Member-only story
How to walk in the forest: a primer
I recently moved to a new area of the city, where my home overlooks the adjacent nature preserve. Having immediate access to nature is a must for this urban empath.
As I slowly connect with this new sacred land and allow myself to be known by it, I observe how people here interact.
It’s a much younger crowd than in the forest I walked before. I had primarily shared it with regulars who are retired; I was one of the youngest. Many of whom quietly, reflectively and respectfully traversed her hills and valleys.
In this new place with much younger people, I realized they didn’t have the same training I received as a child. How to approach the woods, the sea or the desert with reverence as a visitor.
Many of these young people (and to be clear this is not a rant about Millennials) never had a mentor who taught them how to interact with the Earth. How to be a guest.
The land does not owe us, it is not here for our use or abuse.
Instead we walk lightly as stewards.
This is the home we were given, our sacred sanctuary. Not the place to gossip loudly about your coworker or brag about how many reps you did at the gym last night. Or to run screaming through someone else’s habitat.
