Rupert Sheldrake said: "Does not the separation of science and spirituality, mankind and nature underlie the despair and disempowerment of the world we live in?" The ‘Spirit of the Wild’ course that a few fortunate SANParks employees experienced at Bergplaas in the heart of the Camdeboo area in the Karoo addresses the need for a spiritual reconnection with the natural environment.
The initiative was conceived three years ago by Irene van Lippe as a way to extend the ecological skills of field-guides, teachers and managers of the South African Parks and other wilderness areas. Her aim is to reconnect people with the non-human values in nature and to cultivate an awareness of the intrinsic worth of each life form”
Irene invites people to re-evaluate their roles in the web of life. “The more conscious we become of being part of Nature, the more responsible we will feel for Earth and everything that lives on this beautiful planet”, she believes, adding that such a shift helps to redress the loss of respect for Nature, and our inner nature, that has accompanied human striving to meet material goals, particularly over the last century.
Experiential based activities are designed to highlight the interaction between spirituality and nature. The course aims at making participants receptive to all life forms. It is about being ‘in touch’ with the beauty of the natural environment, and places humankind, not as the benefactor or caretaker of nature, but firmly as an equal partner in the greater universe.
“We were never forced to go beyond our own comfort zones,yet, in a subtle manner, we were urged to explore beyond what we already know or see”, explains Fran Hunziker, who is the training coordinator of the Hoerikwaggo Trail Guides. “This was a chance to add to what scientific guidebooks have taught us and to explore beyond the geographic and logistics and data collecting”, she adds.
After participating in the activities and interacting with the mountains, animals, plants, and magnificent rock formations of Bergplaas, and spending quiet time alone, or in groups or in sessions of carefully guided meditation, it is hoped that participants will find an extraordinary moment of inner peace and connectivity. Participants are encouraged to explore the extension of their inner feelings across a wide spectrum that results in an awareness of self worth, responsibility, accountability, and connectivity between mankind and the natural environment we inhabit. In addition to the theoretical knowledge that is part of a more Western approach, Spirit of the Wild offers a chance to recover embodied knowledge and encourages and awakens respect for oral traditions.
The SANParks participants had time to connect with rocks, touch and feel the power of a tree, converse with a stream and absorb a sense of timelessness. “And the many laughs, late night discussions around the fire and fantastic food was a wonderful platform to make new friends and meet and get to know fellow SANParks collegues from Pretoria, Knysna and Cape Town as well as other like minded participants”, Hunziker adds.
The SANParks participants left feeling that there is a place for this concept in all the Parks, especially in the smaller parks where direct contact with the environment is possible and not hindered by the need to remain in vehicles. "The reciprocal benefits to the parks, guests, employees are obvious", believes Hunziker, "and this kind of experience could be offered in all the Parks to staff as well as the public. It would assist those on the tourism and educational side of the activities as it provides another dimension to the general activities the various parks offer". The present partcipants from SANParks, namely Kevin Moore, Ishmael Makwaeba, Maria Moate, Lindela Mjenxane, Elzette Bester and Fran Hunziker still have to complete the 2nd and 3rd part of the training which is scheduled for the end November and the last part will be held in March next year.
Those interested in more information or participating please visit this website