Human Development
Wilderness travel
Description:
Journeying with the intent to experience the natural environment and to become one with it has a very positive value in developing one's self and one's relationships with others and with one's environment. Eight categories have been listed: (a) Spiritually, there is a growing awareness of the sacredness of and the respect due to life and of communion with others and with nature. (b) Physically, the body's rhythms of breathing and balanced movement are harmonized and mind and body are integrated. (c) Metaphorically, one comes to compare travelling with life itself, to see the integration of natural processes under all circumstances, even in highly technological environments. (d) Historically, one learns to compare one's own experience with that of techniques and symbols developed in other traditions and circumstances. (e) Personal-social development arises, whether on one's own (as self-examination leads to self-knowledge) or with others (one's self in relationships), and ultimately one is aware of the overarching self of nature. (f) Ecologically, one relates to the environment and both experiences and enjoys the reality of the earth and of the whole cosmos; the religious will experience an upswelling of thanks and glory to the creator. (g) Practically, one learns the skill of quality in one's activities which can be extended to the whole of daily life and the work place. (h) Educationally, the whole person - body and mind - develops.Related:
Wilderness experience