“My mind gathers tranquility from the thoughts of the birds, the squirrels, the mice, the millions of insects, and the other animals that live here.” 

~ Bernd Heinrich A Year in the Maine Woods

Indigenous people had totem animals. Perhaps some of them still do. I assume they chose animals they identified with. Beavers might be my totem animal. I don’t know as I identify with them though most of my life has involved working with wood in some form. But I do relate to them. It does strengthen my connection with nature.

I do think most of us could use some strengthening of our connection with nature. To me nature and spirit are synonymous. And humans are spiritual beings. This is very well expressed in the conclusions of The Dawn of a Mindful Universe, by Marcelo Gleiser. 

Many of us who live in New Hampshire have, to varying degrees, the good fortune to be surrounded by nature. As Gleiser says, “Whenever possible, individuals should engage more with nature.” Why? Because after all we really are just another part of nature, and it would help us to live more harmoniously with nature if we could see ourselves this way. To feel fully a part of nature, no more, no less, will improve our way of relating to our world. 

My father carried me up Monadnock in a little blue backpacking chair he’d made. I couldn’t have had any idea where I was, but perhaps I was imprinted. He spent his time with us on mountains, in forests, by seashores. He was naturalist by avocation and a walking nature guide. 

My family moved to Canterbury when I was thirteen. There was nothing else to do but spend time in the woods avoiding farm chores. I’ve been seeking mountain tops, making trails and taking kids and adults into the woods ever since. Of course most of my life I’ve been preoccupied with getting paid for working with wood. But since I’ve “retired” I’ve been more focused on involving my mind with my natural surroundings. Some study of indigenous people’s thought has greatly helped with this process, reducing my anxiety a whole lot and making it easier to live in these times. It’s taken some work – retraining of mental habits, but well worth it. 

Hike regularly and observe assiduously. Indigenous people knew how to live here.

Recommended reading: Naturally Curious, Mary Holland, The Nature of New England, Dan Sperduto and Ben Kimball, and, of course, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

~ Dave Emerson