A Rainy Sun–How Things Can Change

Following is a post from Sabrina

Around dinner time, we are planning the following sun. There’s a group that wants to gather boughs to cover the ground in one of our lodges. Another group wants to start very early–with first light–to gather berries for the whole circle. Other people are planning to go out fishing and there is also a trip with some kids to have an adventure–berry picking and frog catching.

In the middle of the night I can hear some soft raindrops on the tent. Later, as I wake up around sunrise I’m totally surprised. Wow. There is a thunderstorm above us. It’s loud, and the rain comes down very hard. I can’t hear any other sounds–no bird, no voice, only the power of the water and wind, the sound of thunder.

I wonder how all of these trips and plans can happen. I feel no motivation to go out. Yet it feels nice, I like the weather change. I decide to stay and rest a bit more. It’s cozy in the tent surrounded by the storm.

After I slept a little longer, I stand up to pee. I take a look at the hearth to see if there are other people. It’s still raining and I hardly can hear anybody. There are two clanmates sitting and obviously waiting for others. I decide to go back into the tent and use the silence in camp to write some letters. Then I hear a howl–Oh, I forgot! This sun it’s a food drop day. Yeah! We need to gather people and go out to the trail to get our food for the next two suns.

This is the part that’s fun–I tried it out. Remove all your clothes, wear your shoes an then enjoy running naked (maybe with underwear) out to the car to get the food and bring it back to camp. The first time I saw this happen I thought, How crazy can people be? But, it makes sense. Your clothes do not get wet, we will be warmed by running and it’s a nice, energetic start to the sun.

Back with all the food, people start to make fire, drying firewood, and clothes, and warming up a bit.The plans are not fixed anymore. It’s flexibility now. It is so powerful to see how easily things can change ONLY by going with what comes. Living outside means exactly this. And it’s a great opportunity to experience this. This rain is part of our lifeway; we need him when he is coming. The berries will be double as big, I hear Fridolin and Wolfgang saying. Yeah, and all the fresh leaves! And the frogs, they won’t die. So we are sitting around the fire, roasting our nuts and eggs for breakfast, honoring the weather and setting out some pots to keep the rainwater for cooking and drinking.

Migwech–be flexible and enjoy.

Sabrina