| Copyright 2002
Wilderness Drum, Inc.
All rights reserved Closer to the Earth
Steve Beyer Sensory Powers Sometimes we can surprise ourselves with just how good our senses are. We tend to be overwhelmingly visual most of the time, and we often ignore our other senses. Who can blame us? Many of us live in environments that are noisy and smelly; we eat food that is bland and greasy; human touch has vanished from our lives. Being in the wilderness gives us an opportunity to regain some of our sensory powers.  Right from the beginning, start exploring the wilderness with all your senses. Touch the trees and feel the differences in bark texture; hug trees and feel the differences in girth. Smell the plants and trees. Look carefully at living creatures to see if you can identify specific individuals and give them names; for example, learn to distinguish the two squirrels who live in that tree, and call them Henry and Marsha. Look carefully at trees and notice differences in height, trunk configuration, and limb structure, even among trees of the same species.
Take six or so sticks or rocks of similar size and put them on the ground in front of you. Close your eyes, pick up one of them, and mark it with a pencil. Keeping your eyes closed, touch the stick or rock all over. Learn its shape, size, texture, irregularities; learn its individual character. Put the stick or rock back into the pile, mix them all together, and pick up the sticks or rocks one at a time. Touch and feel each one until you believe you have identified the original one. Open your eyes and see if you are holding the stick or rock you marked. Try this several times.
Close your eyes and have a friend lead you to a tree. Ask permission from the tree, and then touch it gently. Feel its bark and limbs; feel its strength. See if you can put your arms around it. Get to know the tree. Then, with your eyes still closed, have your friend lead you away from the tree by a circuitous route. Open your eyes, and then find and greet your tree again. It is all right if you are given a few clues – "You're getting warmer, you're getting colder." This may in fact be your special tree. Once you have found it and greeted it again, ask if it will be your teacher. < Previous Next > | |
