In the last green season of what some might call the year of 2024, some brave Earth Wanderers ventured out to explore wild lands. To go back in time and join us for a brief moment on our wanders, read on.
The first week – or quarter moon – we start with a wonderful group of 14 in total, including two kids. By the salty waters of the sea we leave our old names and modern roles behind to fully dive into our wild selves. We get to know each other and become familiar with our surroundings, on land and water. We learn how to paddle the kayaks and save each other – it does need a lot of courage to intentionally flip yourself upside down! We feast on yummy fish and lots and lots of seafood, and let me tell you, without the kids we might be a lot hungrier! Also the blueberries continue to ripen, add to the delight and slow us down on our wanders. We grow to be a clan, even in that short amount of time, and there are not only many stories shared but also cuddles and lots of play. And as the first week comes to a close, we celebrate, faces painted, and drums and the voices of the wild ones sounding through the forest as the sun sets over the sea and descends into the night.
A lot changes as we say goodbye to 5 of our clan members and send them back through a portal into the modern world. We are a smaller group after this, which feels more intimate and easier in some ways, but we definitely miss the energy of the kids. It is just too awesome how they can get us out of our heads and model what it’s like to just be.
We move a lot more now, with all the challenges it brings, but also a lot of excitement to discover new places. The next stop is supposed to be a fish camp to fill up our resources before we leave the coast to move inland. But where did the fish go? No matter what we try, there is not a single one in our nets, and not a single oyster to be found in the vicinity. We learn how hard it can be to survive on wild foods if you don’t know the area to move to the right spots at the right time.
After moving up the river it is time to leave the kayaks behind and continue on foot. For an additional challenge, a period of rainy days is coming. As we walk on, our feet are wet most of the time, either from the rain or because there is no path that doesn’t require crossing a bog. The conditions are truly demanding, and we have to support each other to get through. Lots of questions come up: “Is it more important to have a fire and dry up or save the energy and just eat cold food and sleep? Do we risk to continue in rainy and windy weather or do we wait – dry and cozy – under the tarp until it gets better?” Well, to make good decisions, we practice expressing what we need and want authentically. Because if everyone says what they think the others want to hear, you don’t know anything about what the group needs in the end. This is not always easy, but definitely worth the effort – and all the challenges we are facing feel much lighter when we share them!
On we walk, through the mossy forest, up and down many hills, finding trails on the steep slopes, crossing babbling creeks, magical valleys and onto shores of beautiful lakes. When one gets tired another has energy left over and we take turns to take care of each other. Between the walking days there are resting days, and there is time to craft, play, just be with the earth or be in ceremony with the clan.
By the time we arrive at our last camp spot we have grown really close. So many adventures were shared, but also tears and lots of joy. All of it. It was an experience of feeling truly alive and being deeply human, in all of its aspects. Even after parting, we carry the experience with us, and the people we met. We will keep wandering together in one way or another.
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