The wilderness can change a man............

[Sourdough]

There is a real transformation that can metamorphose within a man who is alone in the wilderness. He can exit the wilderness fragile, very fragile, he is no longer sure where that which is himself ends and that which is not himself starts.

Everything is kind of fuzzy, and has a softness about it, all things appear slightly blurred to the eye, like after one has been crying, and it can be hard to distinguish where one object stops and another object starts.

He feels weak and vulnerable, but centered. In fact he is stronger, but the feeling of weakness, and vulnerability comes from the loss of arrogance.

There is a clarity about the perfection of everything. Sounds are crisper, colors are different, there are so many more (new) colors now.

He feels as if he is looking through things and through people, this is a very uncomfortable experience, he tries to focus, but he just looks through everything.

Part of him wants to go back to the way it was, before being alone in the wilderness. But he also enjoys the bliss of how it is now. He wants to weep for no reason, but for the perfection of everything.

He has change, and can not change back to that which he was before, being alone in the wilderness.

I know not of drugs, but being alone in the wilderness, for long periods will change your perception of the universe. The universe is the same, but you have shifted to a place where you can see, with new eyes, a new heart, and a new empathy for all life. You have been born a second time, and are a child of the wilderness.

There was a time long ago, that a man was encouraged to go into the wilderness alone for a extended period, so that he might find wisdom about life. Sad it is discouraged today. Welcome home....welcome home. Home from the wilderness, for he free to return at any time to your true nature.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

There is a real transformation that can metamorphose within a man who is alone in the wilderness. He can exit the wilderness fragile, very fragile, he is no longer sure where that which is himself ends and that which is not himself starts.

Everything is kind of fuzzy, and has a softness about it, all things appear slightly blurred to the eye, like after one has been crying, and it can be hard to distinguish where one object stops and another object starts.

He feels weak and vulnerable, but centered. In fact he is stronger, but the feeling of weakness, and vulnerability comes from the loss of arrogance.

There is a clarity about the perfection of everything. Sounds are crisper, colors are different, there are so many more (new) colors now.

He feels as if he is looking through things and through people, this is a very uncomfortable experience, he tries to focus, but he just looks through everything.

Part of him wants to go back to the way it was, before being alone in the wilderness. But he also enjoys the bliss of how it is now. He wants to weep for no reason, but for the perfection of everything.

He has change, and can not change back to that which he was before, being alone in the wilderness.

I know not of drugs, but being alone in the wilderness, for long periods will change your perception of the universe. The universe is the same, but you have shifted to a place where you can see, with new eyes, a new heart, and a new empathy for all life. You have been born a second time, and are a child of the wilderness.

There was a time long ago, that a man was encouraged to go into the wilderness alone for a extended period, so that he might find wisdom about life. Sad it is discouraged today. Welcome home....welcome home. Home from the wilderness, for he free to return at any time to your true nature.

How inspired,In the wilderness I become myself,in society I become what they expect me to be.

[Gray Wolf]

Hopeak, are you sure you didn't eat some of those crazy mushrooms while out there, or some of klkak's meds.

[Sourdough]

I am sure that I did not consume either. I am sure I would not knowingly consume either.

I wonder if one might learn more in 40 days and 40 nights, alone in the wilderness; than one might learn in 4 years at a modern university.

The one thing I am sure of is one will not "GET IT" via Google at Starbuck coffee bar.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I am sure that I did not consume either. I am sure I would not knowingly consume either.

I wonder if one might learn more in 40 days and 40 nights, alone in the wilderness; than one might learn in 4 years at a modern university.

The one thing I am sure of is one will not "GET IT" via Google at Starbuck coffee bar.

Need is the Father of invention,casual exploration is sellective.

[klkak]

There is hope not just in your name or where you live but in your words. Thank you.

[Gray Wolf]

I don't get why someone would drink Starbucks coffee. A friend brought me a cup, just black, no sugar, and it was the most bitter tasting coffee I've ever had.

[Sourdough]

I am addicted to grocery store vanilla favored creamers, which cost me about $24.00 per month for 6 quarts @ $3.99 each. My friend in Portland, Or. has a mocha something everyday from Starbucks, at $4.65 each. That is like $1,700.00 per year, for his daily fix.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I know, thats my favirite too, coffee is escencial to kick start my motovations......

[Gray Wolf]

Who said it was their favorite?

N-o-b-o-d-y.

[crashdive123]

There is a real transformation that can metamorphose within a man who is alone in the wilderness. He can exit the wilderness fragile, very fragile, he is no longer sure where that which is himself ends and that which is not himself starts.

Everything is kind of fuzzy, and has a softness about it, all things appear slightly blurred to the eye, like after one has been crying, and it can be hard to distinguish where one object stops and another object starts.

He feels weak and vulnerable, but centered. In fact he is stronger, but the feeling of weakness, and vulnerability comes from the loss of arrogance.

There is a clarity about the perfection of everything. Sounds are crisper, colors are different, there are so many more (new) colors now.

He feels as if he is looking through things and through people, this is a very uncomfortable experience, he tries to focus, but he just looks through everything.

Part of him wants to go back to the way it was, before being alone in the wilderness. But he also enjoys the bliss of how it is now. He wants to weep for no reason, but for the perfection of everything.

He has change, and can not change back to that which he was before, being alone in the wilderness.

I know not of drugs, but being alone in the wilderness, for long periods will change your perception of the universe. The universe is the same, but you have shifted to a place where you can see, with new eyes, a new heart, and a new empathy for all life. You have been born a second time, and are a child of the wilderness.

There was a time long ago, that a man was encouraged to go into the wilderness alone for a extended period, so that he might find wisdom about life. Sad it is discouraged today. Welcome home....welcome home. Home from the wilderness, for he free to return at any time to your true nature.

Nicely said. Being alone at sea in a sailboat for an extended time can have the same effect.

Oh, and on the coffee.....black & bitter and lots of it.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Who said it was their favorite?

N-o-b-o-d-y.

sorry should have never mentiond me before you got there.what does everybody else prefer to coffee?

[Gray Wolf]

We were saying how bitter tasting and expensive Starbucks coffee was. Calm down, and take a deep breath (unless your in LA). Hopeak posted something to think about.

[vanguard1]

We grew from the earth, yet we insulate ourselves from the earth and dull our senses with distractions and deceptions and tread upon the mother with contempt and disdain.

Good stuff Hopeak, I enjoy reading your posts. They do make me think, just as Gray Wolf stated above.

Peace.

[Rick]

Your words are nice, Hopeak, but I don't think it has anything to do with where you are. It has to do with WHO you are. My uncle was a POW and he professed some of those same feelings even though he was a prisoner during war.

It has to do with growing older, too, I think. We begin to shed the shield of invincibility of our youth and begin to acquire some wisdom that comes with experience and age. We also begin to really understand that it isn't about ourselves but something a lot bigger.

Still, they are good words.

[Pict]

I don't remember if it was in the book "Alive" or in an interview with one of the survivors of the Andes plane crash but one of them said that the time they spent stranded in the Andes was a spiritual experience for him. He said that the isolation, surrounded by untouched wilderness gave him and awareness of a presence far greater than himself.

I'm not going to go all theological in the general forum, but as a Pastor I definitely do have an opinion on why this is the case. In a nutshell I believe that when we are surrounded by other men and the works they create we place ourselves in relation to them, but when we surround ourselves with the creation and the works of the Creator we place ourselves in relation to Him. The experience is universally humbling and uplifting at the same time, an odd mix of emotions to be sure. Just being in the wilderness hits the reset button on my spirit. Mac

[Fletcher]

HopeAk,
Wow! Man you are deep. That was a great post.
Thank you, for the words from your hart.

[Gray Wolf]

Man is forever changing, for that matter, the world is forever changing. Between technology, medicines, weather, disasters, wars, pollution, nothing can go back as it once was. Dominoes, one action affects another, then another....

I also agree with what Rick said "I don't think it has anything to do with where you are. It has to do with WHO you are.
It has to do with growing older, too, I think. We begin to shed the shield of invincibility of our youth and begin to acquire some wisdom that comes with experience and age."

[wareagle69]

"nothing is constant but change"

unknown

[wildWoman]

Well said, hopeak...
And it makes me wonder what effect is has had on humanity that most people don't have the opportunity and/or interest any more to really be out in the bush. I think it must impair us somehow, like wild animals being kept in a zoo. We're just not made to live in the millions in concrete jungles.