SPIRITUAL WILDERNESS INSIGHTS
2 IDEAS FROM ME
Hiking in spectacular wilderness can create 10 spiritual experiences with the right experimental growth mindset.
Awe: Connect with something larger than yourself. You are physically 10 octillion (10²27) atoms forged in the belly of exploding stars and configured in a human life form. These atoms are billions of years old and in a neurological structure that enables consciousness. The atoms in your body are on temporary loan from the wilderness and will return to the wilderness when you die.
Presence: Transform thinking about life to experiencing it. Hiking naturally anchors awareness in immediate experience of breath, footsteps, wind, light, rock, water, and animal song.
Perspective: Observing geological age of rocks and trees creates realistic perspective and humility. On the cosmic 1 year calendar each second is 437 years. Jan 1: Big Bang. Jan 6: Milky Way Galaxy. Sep 1: Our Solar System. Sep 29: Oldest microfossils. Nov 13: First nucleated cells. Dec 15: Worms. Dec 16: Cambrian explosion - trilobites & plankton. Dec 17: First fish. Dec 18: Land Plants. Dec 20: Insects. Dec 21: Amphibians. Dec 22: Trees and reptiles. Dec 24: Dinosaurs. Dec 25: Mammals. Dec 27: Birds & Flowers. Dec 29: Chicxulub Asteroid hit Yucatan Pennisula. Dinosaur extinction. Primates appear. Himalayan tectonic plate collision introduces ice age. Dec 30: Modern Homosapiens appear. Stone tools. Dec 31 23:46 Peking Man fire. 23:58 Europe Cave Paintings. 23:59:32 Agriculture. 23:59:39 First Neolithic cities (Jericho). 23:59:48 Egypt. 23:59:50 Systematic Astronomy Records, Alphabet. 23:59:52 Code of Hammurabi. 23:59:53: Bronze/brass metallurgy, Trojan War. 23:59:54: Iron Age, Assyrian power, Early Israelite kingdoms. 23:59:55: India, China, Buddha, Athens. 23:59:56: Greek Geometry, Romans, Christ. 23:59:57 Indian arithmetic (zero, decimals). 23:59:58 Mayan Classic Peak, Crusades. 23:59:59: Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, Age of Exploration. Jan 1: First seconds after midnight: Modern technology, industrial age, tech, spaceflight, nuclear era, SETI, AI, etc.
Silence: Time in wilderness creates psychological and spiritual space to notice who you really are, discover your signature strengths, and define your highest values and life goals.
Suffering: Long climbs, fatigue, cold, hunger, and discomfort can teach you that you are more powerful than you imagined and that difficulty can deepen the meaning of life through transcendence.
Impermanence: You witness impermanence in action. Snowfields melt, clouds transform the sky within minutes, light continuously changes. You can never cross the same stream twice.
Gratitude: Wilderness can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary after several hours of exertion. Ice cold water, food, sunlight, warm fire, protection from the elements, etc.
Identification: On a wilderness trail you can identify with your true nature as a human being in direct contact with the universe, not trapped inside a constructed ego playing a temporary role of parent, spouse, professional, provider, problem-solver, etc.
Sacred: Spectacular wilderness landscape can generate a feeling of reverence for sacred ground and experiences regardless of worldview. Certain places deserve respect and protection simply because they exist.
Transformation: A wilderness journey can change your life by creating psychological distance from ordinary life. This can enable you to see relationships, values, and priorities from a deeper more meaningful level.
A truly meaningful wilderness experience often combines the following elements: Beauty, effort, solitude, and uncertainty.
2 QUOTES FROM SAGES
The caliber of the adventure is proportional to the level of doubt maintained. The most precious summits come at a psychological price.”—John Long
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”—John Muir
1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE
How are you weaving spiritual wilderness experiences into your life?
Namaste,
Duane Nelson
