Dirt Pagans

[Piney Boy]

This question comes out of curiosity from a solitary practioner. How many of you folks out there practice in remote or hard to get to places? Often, I'll take three days and backpack deep into a wilderness area to commune with nature. Nothing against places close to or in my house, as I do use them for communing, but when I find a remote place untouched by modern civilization my spiritual connection is definitely stronger.
When I am alone, smelling of smoke and have the touch of earth on me my bond is sharper and stronger with the beyond. Anybody else out there have similar practices?

[Xirian]

I don't have similar practices, but it is something I certainly want to experience in this lifetime.

I know there are places around here, but I'm not familiar with the area as much as I'd like to be and I don't know enough about camping to go it alone. I don't even know enough about this area to camp alone without being fearful of other people venturing in to my campsite.

I'm sure there are plenty of places to go, but it's rather difficult to find an area untouched by humans here or places where I wouldn't be trespassing.

I guess I'll have to do a better search of the area.

[aylwyn27]

My husband and I are currently planning such a trip. I think it should be interesting although my oldest two kids are not utterly thrilled with the ides they're up to the challegne. My youngest four think it will be fun. We shall see.

edit for typos

[Piney Boy]

Xirian,
Well its smart not to jump into things without outdoors experience. Try some light day hikes and build up to things as you become more comfortable. I have hiked pretty much my whole life, and the most rewarding thing, spiritually and mentally, is going solo. My relations to the natural world are never closer than when I am on a trip like this.
Dont know your location in Iowa, but somewhere in the North East of your state (I did this trip years ago), is the BackPack Trail. I think its in Yellow River State Forest, but not sure. No real climbs, but there are sandstone cliffs, woods, and meadows. Really diverse makeup that is a worthwhile place to check out.

[Piney Boy]

Well Aylwyn I would say as long as you plan well it will be a wonderful experience, have a great time.

[aylwyn27]

Thanks! It will be planned well. There's no way I'd take the kids out in the middle of no where unless we planned every detail. Plus friend of ours went to the spot we have in mind so they kinda helped us by telling us about it.

[CelticMoon11]

I'm not sure the wilderness is ready for the likes of me :lol:

[Piney Boy]

I'm not sure the wilderness is ready for the likes of me :lol:

Maybe not:lol: , but if you wnat a touch of raw power give it a shot sometime.

[Xirian]

Xirian,
Well its smart not to jump into things without outdoors experience. Try some light day hikes and build up to things as you become more comfortable. I have hiked pretty much my whole life, and the most rewarding thing, spiritually and mentally, is going solo. My relations to the natural world are never closer than when I am on a trip like this.
Dont know your location in Iowa, but somewhere in the North East of your state (I did this trip years ago), is the BackPack Trail. I think its in Yellow River State Forest, but not sure. No real climbs, but there are sandstone cliffs, woods, and meadows. Really diverse makeup that is a worthwhile place to check out.
I think my male has been there, he thinks it's very pretty up there. He's really the outdoors person in this house. I will take your advice. I'm still working on other issues that I have within my personal life and that is animals. I know, it sounds odd, but when you're not exposed to certain things, you have to start somewhere and sometime.

I have hiked around here and there are definitely beautiful areas, but without proper equipment and being female, I think it would be best to do a three day spiritual journey with someone I trust and who knows what they're doing when it comes to being outdoors.

It's funny that you bring this up because I was on another forum and someone suggested to someone else that they should just go outside and look at their surroundings and be one with nature, when this person was trying to find someone that would teach them Wicca.

The only times I really remember being outside as a child was to go from door-to-door or for some gym class thing (I hated school). You can ask all of my friends (after I left the JWs) that I didn't really like going outside. Going outside and sitting in nature never occured to me. Simply because whenever I was outside, I was being forced to talk to strangers, do some gym activity that I didn't want to do, or because my brother always got us into trouble whenever I had to go out and play with him.

It has taken me a very long time to be able to sit outside comfortably and realize all the wonderful things that are in nature. Our family, as well, were not outside people. Maybe their being raised in Chicago and not really having a whole lot of nature (that they actually saw, living in the ghetto), around them and then moving us to Iowa, was their reasoning, I'm not sure. I know Iowa was a huge culture shock for my mother. It was an anniversary gift from my father to her, because they didn't want to raise my brother and I in Chicago. I don't believe she actually realized that a place could have so many trees aside from the numerous bugs and it actually being dark outside at night. It must have been really intimidating for her and that may have rubbed off on my brother and I.

You make some really good points and I thank you.

[Piney Boy]

I think my male has been there, he thinks it's very pretty up there. He's really the outdoors person in this house. I will take your advice. I'm still working on other issues that I have within my personal life and that is animals. I know, it sounds odd, but when you're not exposed to certain things, you have to start somewhere and sometime.

I have hiked around here and there are definitely beautiful areas, but without proper equipment and being female, I think it would be best to do a three day spiritual journey with someone I trust and who knows what they're doing when it comes to being outdoors.

It's funny that you bring this up because I was on another forum and someone suggested to someone else that they should just go outside and look at their surroundings and be one with nature, when this person was trying to find someone that would teach them Wicca.

The only times I really remember being outside as a child was to go from door-to-door or for some gym class thing (I hated school). You can ask all of my friends (after I left the JWs) that I didn't really like going outside. Going outside and sitting in nature never occured to me. Simply because whenever I was outside, I was being forced to talk to strangers, do some gym activity that I didn't want to do, or because my brother always got us into trouble whenever I had to go out and play with him.

It has taken me a very long time to be able to sit outside comfortably and realize all the wonderful things that are in nature. Our family, as well, were not outside people. Maybe their being raised in Chicago and not really having a whole lot of nature (that they actually saw, living in the ghetto), around them and then moving us to Iowa, was their reasoning, I'm not sure. I know Iowa was a huge culture shock for my mother. It was an anniversary gift from my father to her, because they didn't want to raise my brother and I in Chicago. I don't believe she actually realized that a place could have so many trees aside from the numerous bugs and it actually being dark outside at night. It must have been really intimidating for her and that may have rubbed off on my brother and I.

You make some really good points and I thank you.

I understand perfectly. I grew up in a small rural community and was green bonded from the time I could walk. While I have learned to work in the city I am still much more comfortable in woodsy surroundings. Its not easy to break a comfort zones, good for you for attempting, you will be a stonger person for it.

[Xirian]

I understand perfectly. I grew up in a small rural community and was green bonded from the time I could walk. While I have learned to work in the city I am still much more comfortable in woodsy surroundings. Its not easy to break a comfort zones, good for you for attempting, you will be a stonger person for it.
Why thank you, I believe I will be stronger for it in the end too. It's weird that I have this place in my head that I want to build when I have the opportunity. An underground house that's fueled by a large windmill. I want it to be at the foot of a mountain near a natural spring far away from other people.

I guess it would really help a lot, if I could get over my issue with being outside. LOL

Thanks again for you comments!!!

[Grimr]

I always go to a nature preserve to be alone to do my rituals with reverence of the earth and Gods.

[omar]

Since I now live in town I go to my brother inlaws farm 15 miles away. It is all grown up in woods & big weeds. I camp out & do my thing.

[CelticMoon11]

Maybe not:lol: , but if you wnat a touch of raw power give it a shot sometime.

Need camping gear though unless I want to lay on the ground which in Australia prolly isn't too advisable although I've done it before :lol:

[Cindlady2]

I never did a 3 day hike (Although when I was young and healthy I would have loved to!) I have however as a child spent entire days alone in the woods, often gathering my own food. Drove my mother nuts, but I loved it. I also camped as much as I could. Wish I could dig up some of my old posts.

[Piney Boy]

Need camping gear though unless I want to lay on the ground which in Australia prolly isn't too advisable although I've done it before :lol:

Unless its a comfortable bed of pine needles or the like I dont make the hard ground my bed. In comfortable weather though I go sans tent and its just me, my ground mat, and the stars.

[Philosophia]

This question comes out of curiosity from a solitary practioner. How many of you folks out there practice in remote or hard to get to places?

*raises hand* I'm surrounded by the Australian scrub so its difficult for me not to go out into the bush. I don't mind sleeping out there (though I haven't done it for years) but summer is a "no go zone" for me because of the snakes and the cold.

[Piney Boy]

*raises hand* I'm surrounded by the Australian scrub so its difficult for me not to go out into the bush. I don't mind sleeping out there (though I haven't done it for years) but summer is a "no go zone" for me because of the snakes and the cold.

Thanks for sharing. I hear you about snakes, they all need to be respected and given their fair share of distance. I had a run in with a northern rattler a few weeks ago. While hiking along the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey under warm sunny skies I surprised, and he surprised me, a northern rattle snake sunning himself on a rock. He reacted quick and shot up, and me with cat like reflexes:boing: , tripped and went tumbling down a hill (lol). No harm no foul though, as he was there first and I had nothing bruised but a wee bit of ego.

[WillowsMuse]

When I am alone, smelling of smoke and have the touch of earth
Mmmmm, I miss deep wilderness. **sigh**

[Piney Boy]

Mmmmm, I miss deep wilderness. **sigh**


Only place I'm really at home with eternity is in a deep glade or windblown mountain top. In two weeks I'll be in an incedibly sacred place, I'm counting the hours....

[CelticMoon11]

Unless its a comfortable bed of pine needles or the like I dont make the hard ground my bed. In comfortable weather though I go sans tent and its just me, my ground mat, and the stars.

I more meant the Aussieland critters that would want to cuddle up with me, brown snakes, funnel web spiders, and of course the killer drop bear :lol:

[Crysiira]

There's a nature preserve I've just discovered barely a few miles from my house! I've been going there a LOT since then... but as it is overrun with other people, I don't do rituals there or anything like that. Just go to take some pictures and enjoy nature....

[Piney Boy]

I more meant the Aussieland critters that would want to cuddle up with me, brown snakes, funnel web spiders, and of course the killer drop bear :lol:

Not cuddly at all:lol:
In Shenandoah Park in Virginia a few years ago a black bear decided to make himself comfortable in our camp and sat on the tent as if that was the perfect place for him.
Or a couple of weeks ago I was scrounging for some fire wood in this rock cleft when I see two yellow eyes blink out at me right at crotch level:lookaroun , I bid a hasty retreat and thanked the critter for not taking a bite out of me.

[Piney Boy]

There's a nature preserve I've just discovered barely a few miles from my house! I've been going there a LOT since then... but as it is overrun with other people, I don't do rituals there or anything like that. Just go to take some pictures and enjoy nature....

Its always nice to find a little piece of nature were you didn't expect to find it. I find dusk and dawn are the best times to get woods free people time, or do more than 4 miles and the numbers tend to drop.

[HorseCrow]

I do retreats/visionquests. I go somewhere remote, lay out a stone circle big enough for me to lie in streched out and then I stay in the circle for anything from 1 day to 2 weeks, most often about 3- 5 days, only leaving to answer natures call. I always make sure to let others know where I am, and if I'm on a long stay I arrange for someone to drop off fresh water and also food, if I'm not fasting.

[WillowsMuse]

Only place I'm really at home with eternity is in a deep glade or windblown mountain top. In two weeks I'll be in an incedibly sacred place, I'm counting the hours....

So jealous. My first love was nature. I'm living in corn country right now and while the trees are lovely and meaningful, it's flat here and there is no where to run.