Human Development
Wilderness experience
Description:
What has been described (by Donald P St John) as an "in-depth experience of the spirituality of the Earth", wilderness experience is that of the individual aware of the wildness of nature, a mystical experience which is reduced by putting it into words at all and which can only be grasped by exposure to natural surroundings and immersion in them. It is characterized by a sense of one-ness with nature, of integration, the awareness which is sought or arises in other mystic pursuits such as appreciation of poetry, of religion, of mystical literature. It has been suggested that the common factor is the use of what is called the 'wilderness mind' rather than the 'language mind', of using the right brain instead of the left; and has been related to flow experience. Barriers are broken down as non-linear, configurative consciousness co-exists with linear or logical consciousness so that each reinforces the other and feeling and intellect work together rather than against each other.Related:
Deep ecologyWilderness travel