Awareness through Wilderness August 15, 2007
Posted by Lizanne in : Conservation , trackback
“Simplicity in all things, is the secret of the wilderness.” – Sigmund Olsen
I recently read Zululand Wilderness: Shadow and Soul by Dr. Ian Player. This book had such a profound impact on me that I decided to look into the Wilderness Leadership School which he founded. It turns out that the school is one of the finest long term solutions for the conservation of our Earth.
The Wilderness Leadership School (WLS) was created as a vehicle to bring people from all walks of life to experience the life changing affect of a few days in the wilderness. It was established by Dr Ian Player and his mentor, Magqubu Ntombela, and has since helped over 40 000 people to come home to their roots in the natural environment.
Dr Player experienced a remarkable psychological journey while serving as a game warden in the wilderness of KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa. His journey was greatly enhanced by the wisdom and deep connection to the natural world of his expert guide (and later friend), Magqubu Ntombela. Through years of eye-opening experiences walking in the wilderness, Dr Player realized that the disastrous state of the natural environment in our modern age, is hugely the result of the disconnection between nature and modern man. As a result of his personal transformation, Dr Player created Wilderness Trails in order to help individuals to shift their consciousness into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world too.
A typical trail is conducted in a small group and escorted by hand-picked, expert guides. It usually stretches over a period of 5 – 12 days, but are adjusted according to a group’s specific needs. Different types of trails include Corporate Trails, Community Trails, Scholar Trails, Personal Growth Trails, Wilderness Therapy Trails, Wild Adventure Trails, etc.
All of these trails have as their aim, and also as a natural consequence, a certain shifting of consciousness. The first level of such an experience mostly goes hand in hand with a sense of AWE. This might be manifested in the early morning call of a bush shrike, the spoor of an elephant, or in a drop of dew silently hanging onto a blade of grass.
The second level often brings about a sense of belonging that is experienced as the individual opens their mind to where they are. The understanding of Holism – that we are part of the greater whole – is also apparent during this stage, and this facilitates a growing sense of humility.
During the third stage of such a walking experience, the individual usually goes through some form of introspection. This is triggered by a developing sense of humbleness that is beginning to realise towards the natural world, towards fellow human beings, and importantly, towards themselves. “When an individual gets to this level of consciousness, then the wilderness experience has the most significant impact. This is where one deals with team building, reconciliation, etc. and this is where you need the very experienced guides.”
These wilderness trails certainly offer what most of us in the modern world crave – a look into the soul of our existence and the natural laws that govern there. The impact of these trails are so profound that it deeply touches people from all walks of life, even to the ranks of Al Gore who went on one. Most people return to their “homes” with a sense of sadness, as the experience in the wild have re-awakened in them a sense of belonging and a clearer view of humanity in the grand scheme of Life. This in itself must be the greatest achievement of the WLS, but the consequent understanding, appreciation and insight for the cause of conservation, is a benefit that the world can never give thanks to Dr Player and Mr Ntombela enough.
It is with this insight and appreciation that I want to applaud all those involved with the Wilderness Leadership School for all of their magnificent efforts.
Comments»
Interestingly, Ian Player uses the language of Jungian psychology to describe the process of healing that wilderness can bring. Sometimes this makes it easier for people to understand what has happened or is happening to them.
Yes you’re absolutely right. After coming upon all of these interesting new ideas, I dug a bit deeper into this matter and also came upon theories of ecotherapy and ecopsychology. This also goes deeper into ecospirituality. You might want to have a look at what I found under the article “Soul of the Wilderness”