The Practice of the Wild Post 1: Nature as a Teacher

On page 25 during the Etiquette of Freedom chapter, Snyder talks about the wilderness being a ferocious teacher, and mentions how the “inexperienced are stripped down.” I view this as wilderness imposing humility onto those who have never experienced it. Knocking someone off their high horse, if you will. Wilderness to me describes something that transcends control, especially that of humans. It is not that wilderness is trying to punish those, but merely to show them its power and existence. By stripping someone down of their power and ego, that they might have carried in there, it allows this person to be more open to new ideas and gives them the ability to get out of self. Humility in my eyes is thinking of one’s self less, so here we have an idea that nature provides an escape for the human from selfishness and self-centeredness.

Snyder also talks about how some of the mentioned characteristics such as humility, gratitude and simplicity are the keys for a close-ness with the world as a whole. Attitudes like this are part of realizing that we are in fact part of a bigger picture, whose scope is far greater than anything we could imagine.