North East Shield
Not to long ago our five senses played a major role in our ability to survive. A man or woman living in the wilderness would constantly be listening to the birds for signs of danger near by, feeling the subtle shifts in the wind for early warning signs of a storm front coming in, and always paying attention to the signs and tracks around them so they knew what other animals have been in that area, or what plant grows where, in case one is needed for medicine at a later time. In the wilderness, not paying attention to the sounds and signs around you can be a very dangerous thing and you miss out on all the stories happening around you.
In today’s busy world, our senses are often neglected and underdeveloped. Re-tuning these senses can open us up to what seems like a whole new world of life, stories, and lessons to be learned all around us. The past few years I feel as though a whole new world has been opened up around me. The more I attune my senses, the more wildlife I see. The more I understand how ecological systems work, the safer I feel traveling in the wilderness, and the more fun I have.
I am constantly trying to improve my senses and love helping others to improve theirs. Over the past few years, I have been taught and developed a number of games and exercises to help myself and other increase their awareness in the woods, and life in general. These exercises always add a very rich and rewarding component to any program I help facilitate.
I have had many of my past students tell me they were so surprised by how much goes on around them in the natural world and how little they had noticed before trying these exercises. This is often one of the highlights of the programs.
