Roald’s word games have amused me for 5 years now. This morning’s coinage won me over immediately. We’d like the nation to take on a “No Child Left Inside” Policy. Forget the standardized tests– what about the kids ignorant of nature? There is a societal damage done to body, psyche and soul when we raise our kids afraid of nature.
No Fear Here!
This new CSF “motto” also makes me think of our latest CSF member, Barb Huning. She has joined our forest as founder of “Nature Centered Counseling and Education”. She specializes in eco-psychology and shares with me her calling to heal the rift between our species and the rest of the natural world. “We are so afraid of wilderness,” she notes, “and uncomfortable with the apparent chaos of Nature.” And in our need to separate from nature, and control our environs, we create a chaotic psycho-spiritual interior that is destroying us.
As one who dances with depression myself, I have spent a lot of time considering the effects of modernity on the psyche. Living on Driftless Farm, I note the difference in frequency between the forest surrounding me, and the urban world of my past, and my peers. I flutter away from the rhythm of the wisdom humming in these woods– and log onto this blog! Or bounce my baby while answering the phone while making a web-banking transfer while listening to the radio. Given that living amidst the forest still doesn’t slow me down enough to listen to its truth, I am inspired by Barb’s plans to integrate her eco-psychology training with our infrastructure and wilderness. Check out her personal blog if this stuff interests you: