I'm wrong and so are you11thAugust
One of my favorite mottos is, "All models are wrong and some are useful". In my younger years as a student of wilderness schools, that attitude made me a bear for any teacher who asserted the infallibility of their learning model.
Though the belief that trite philosophical hoops can fix all our woes permeates our culture, I take special umbrage when it comes to personal connection to the natural world. As useful models become indiscriminate dogma, they overwhelm the interesting discourse that actually leads to real learning.
I must admit to delicious joy in my rants of how even benign leaders can consolidate power and unnecessarily complicate village relationships that are as old and innate as being human. In my own days as a survival school student I had to many sincere questions smacked down by self appointed gurus. Ironically, I'm glad they did. In the resulting disillusionment no one was ever able to hit me with their magic bullet.
In my opinion, genius learning is easy and any overly complex methodology simply holds it back. There's no replacement for living epic experiences with your land and village through the seasons. This may be another wrong model but its certainly a useful "way" for me.
Still, do me a favor. Don't discount those "authorities" I seem to deride. Do place great value in their brilliant contributions. Being wary enough to hold your own opinions doesn't mean these experienced individuals don't have something great to offer. I know for an absolute fact many of them deserve our respect and intermittent attention. When the revered nature icon reveals his or her sure fire system for rebuilding your village, it pays to listen; just hold onto to your own creative genius on those sloppy days the Kool-Aid gets passed around.
Its even harder for these charismatic savants to transition to a real village in lieu of a flock. The nature of their brilliance stems from their conviction in it. Inundated with yes-men and vilifying detractors (such as me), they need rescuing from the bull of "one right way" just as much as we all do. But once we carry each other through such rites of passage, we get to remind one another that the individual philosophies we offer may be wrong but they're still very useful as we make our lives in the new village.
TEAMS Calendar...
New! Part-time immersion program 1 weekend a month. Take terms together or on their own.
Fall Term Outdoor & Wilderness Survival Weekends
Winter Term Hand Craft & Boat Building Weekends
Spring Term Permaculture & Medicinal Plants
Summer Term Wilderness Survival & Tracking
Full-time immersion program 3 days a week. Take terms together or on their own.
Fall Term Wilderness Survival & Bushcraft
Winter Term Boat Building & Folk Craft
Spring Edible Plants and Homesteading
Summer Term Expedition Survival Tour
4 seasons Permaculture Design Certification 1 day a week from January to October
Request for advice...
I might write a book! I would love feedback about what people come to this blog or read this newsletter for as I want it reflect to community I serve. Any thoughts (reply to this newsletter)?
