As we reach the end of Season 8 of the Wild Minds Podcast, I want to take a moment to reflect on this incredible journey we’ve been on together.

It’s been such a privilege to speak with so many inspiring guests, each contributing their knowledge and experience in reshaping our relationship with the natural world. In this final episode, I’m diving into some of the reflections and insights I’ve gathered over the season.

I’ll share personal thoughts on trust, fear, the power of silence, and the importance of reconnecting with the Earth. 

Here’s what’s on my mind as we close this season and look ahead to the next.

• I reflect on fear, paper tigers, and the importance of letting go, including a reading of The River Cannot Go Back by Kahlil Gibran, which explores trust in transformation and the unknown.
• Discuss the view of nature as alive and conscious, challenging the tendency to see it as an object rather than a subject.
• Share Robert McFarlane’s experiences in the Ecuadorian forest, where everything feels electrified and alive, shifting his perception of nature’s vitality.
• Question how we might experience the world through a different lens and open ourselves to communication with the more-than-human world.
• Highlight the scientific evidence of life in the soil and the Earth’s positive impact on human well-being, including beneficial bacteria, serotonin, and energy exchange.
• Emphasize the importance of deep connection to the Earth and to one another for mental and emotional health, drawing on John Young’s teachings.
• Critique screen-based culture and its effects on children and adults, including disconnection, mental health challenges, and the loss of embodied, social play.
• Share the value of silence and deep listening, drawing on Sam Lee’s message and the importance of making space to reconnect with ourselves and the Earth.
• Explore the concept of reconciled ancestors, inherited trauma, and our responsibility to heal and not pass on damaging patterns.
• Conclude with reflections on the oak tree’s symbolism, the balance of masculine and feminine qualities in nature, and a preview of next season’s focus on personal growth and valuing difference.

Show Notes:

https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-64-rivers-oaks-and-silence/

Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com

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