Many changes have been taking place within our little wilderness circle after we returned from Leek Camp.
Alyosha, after a number of thoughtful days and and sleepless nights, considered going to visit his family and friends in Pennsylvania, along with potentially going to the Southwest. Introspection paved the way to new awarenesses about before-unrecognized possibilities, and in the end, he decided that he will come back to the Teaching Drum circle after the visit to PA. He will continue with various wilderness experiences and skills part-time (not necessarily at Mashkodens proper), along with part-time volunteering to support the school. He really looks forward to helping people get involved with these experiences, and sharing on this blog the physical, social, and psycho-emotional journey of Rewilding – so Stay Tuned!
He is also greatful about the many personal-growth awarenesses that have come to him in the past moon-and-thern-some. He’s begun to recognize his tendency to react when he thinks he is not being heard; his tendency to live out of fear of things in the future, while he has no way of know how they might actually play out (ex: pain from cold, lyme disease, lack of intimacy, starvation); his yearning to push his limits when it comes to physical challenges like forest-running and getting up with the dawn; his yearning to have fun with whatever challenges and opportunities lie before him.
Nick, whose heart has long longed for a focused wilderness immersion and the desire to grow in his wilderness/relationship skills, after some deliberation took up the offer from the Guides to join the Yearlong. That’s right – there are now Nine Seekers, who are in their last days of preparation with pack-frame making and bowl-carving, ready to head out to temporary camps out in the wilderness! I imagine what my new Brother will be experiencing and learning for the next turn of the seasons will in the end enrich us all, and I’m grateful. For those of you who know him, keep him in your thoughts!
Matt, who stayed with us during the time of the Leek harvest, and tremendously enriched us with this contributions as a harvester and as a fun, caring human being, has been helping out around the support center. He’s been involved with various things like teaching new people about plants, conducting various primitive skill experiments, and helping out with childcare and awarenesses around circle cohesion. He plans to spend some time exploring around here and in about a quarter-moon head out to continue his travels in other places.
I suppose this is the way of things – the only constant is change. Out of new endings, grow new opportunities. I am grateful for every experience, for every new awareness – what we learn with every conscious action remains with us, and is there to help us in the next leg of the great Journey.
I look forward to continued sharing! May our ears ever be open to the loving guidance of Mother Earth that is beneath our feet, the Fire of Who-We-Are burn brightly within our chests, and the connecting ropes of Relationship grow thicker and thicker with each conscious action and word.
Alyosha