Learning From Kids: Part One: Beginner’s Mind
If your mind is empty, it is ready for anything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few. Shunryu Suzuki The zen master Shunryu Suzuki deftly summarizes the concept of beginner’s mind in the above quote. The concept is familiar to many who have studied zen and […]
What is Nature Journaling?
Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction. E. O. Wilson Sometimes, after I casually throw the term around, someone will ask me, “What is Nature Journaling? My spell check doesn’t even think that journaling is a correct verb!” Nature journaling is a process or substrate for externalizing and recording […]
Rigidity vs Fluidity
Bruce Lee’s philosophy on the rigidity of style and dogma is equally applicable to the visual arts, gardening, land management, and all other realms of human endeavor. Instead of subscribing to one school of thought blindly one should try learning from many masters, weaving together one’s own synthesis. Do not become crystallized. Crystals are […]
Born to Track
So what if you don’t live near a nature preserve with elk, mountain lions, or other big charismatic mammals? Maybe you don’t even have a suburban park nearby with coyotes or raccoons. Never fear, you can still practice tracking. Paradoxically, tracking is not about animals or footprints in the sand, tracking is a way of […]
A Match Made in Heaven!
Tracking and nature journaling; a match made in heaven! Come explore coastal lagoons, meadows, and dunes for an awesome day of tracking and journaling in a great location. We will approach tracking in a holistic sense and learn to integrate it into our quiver of naturalist skills. Abbot’s Lagoon in Point Reyes National Seashore is […]
Seeing and Not Seeing
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” –Sherlock Holmes Have you ever revisited somewhere that you have been many times and seen things that you didn’t notice or never paid attention to before? I know that I have. Have you ever noticed that after shopping for one type […]
Paralysis by Analysis…(rant)
There is a terrible affliction among humans past and present, it does not kill but it cruelly cripples, and it wastes many lives of those who otherwise have all of their physical needs well met. Many of the greatest minds, the most intelligent people, and the most creative types have been ravaged by this disease. […]
Pattern Recognition Saves Lives
On a warm summer afternoon you walk down the rocky trail at your favorite regional park. Despite the beautiful surroundings, your head is full of thoughts about work, family obligations, and financial concerns. Coming to a steep part in the trail, you are about to grab a rock for support when your hand jerks back […]
Eating Babies
Spring and early summer are surely one of the most delightful times of year to be outside. In this vibrant phase of the yearly cycle nature is overflowing with tender new growth, fresh life, and amazing vitality. It is the perfect time of year to enjoy the bountiful blooming of wildflowers, to watch the lazy […]
Urban Tracking
Sometimes it is difficult for tracking geeks to understand why everyone else is not into tracking. When you realize the holistic breadth of tracking, the powers of perception it gives you, and the joy you find in the practice it can indeed be hard to believe that more people aren’t tracking. I believe there are […]