Trackways

[Tomahawk]

Wisdom of the trails, Earth speak

Many people want to communicate with the earth, to feel an intimate connection with the entities of the earth, with the plants, animals, energies and spirits. To develop the ability to ‘see’ beyond the mundane physical level, in to the spiritual realities beyond.
This becomes possible from a very grounded perspective when we start to develop our tracking and awareness skills. Tracking teaches the art of ‘seeing’, it forces us to look harder and at finer details than we may have ever looked at anything before. It allows us to look, deeply and intimately in to the natural world, and to start to understand the unity of all life.
Tracking is one of the most important primitive survival skills as it helps us to see what is going on in our environment. We learn to read the interactions between animals establishing their patterns of behavior. We also discover the relationships between animals and plants. Tracking acts as a doorway to seeing, bridging the gap between physical perception and the development of a far greater awareness.
“Grandfather once said, “Awareness is the doorway to the spirit.” A track is not only a window to the past but a door way to an animal’s very soul. The challenge is to step through the doorway.”
It is possible to read more in a track than we can observe while watching a human or animal. At a certain level it becomes possible to read weather the subject has a full or empty belly, is tired, nervous, under the weather, if they sneeze or burp, or have indigestion and a great deal more. We also develop the ability to track on any terrain from soft mud to solid rock.
Tracks are not just depressions in the ground, they tell us how the earth feels about the way we walk. They are like a microcosm containing the whole. Each track is not isolated, it is like one thread of a giant web, each step responding to and creating innumerable repercussions.
“ The track is a universe in itself, reaching beyond its own parameters to encompass the grander universe of all things. Nothing can move in nature with out affecting everything else.”
The landscape plays it’s part too it affects our tracks creating the flows and eddies through which our movements are channeled. This dance with the landscape brings to our awareness the bigger picture. The focus of our attention must shift between the minute and the majestic continuously in order to stay on the trail.
Once while tracking some badgers I came across a huge Elder flower bush in full bloom, the smell was fantastic. As I approached I realized that under the bush was a badger latrine the smell of which was almost completely eradicated even though it was a hot midsummer’s day. The intelligence this demonstrated moved me deeply.
The relationship that exists between plants and animals is one that begins to unfold as we start to track and our connection to and understanding of nature flourishes. One develops an ability to read the landscape knowing which animals are lightly to be there from the terrain and vegetation and vice versa. There are certain plants that indicate to me the presence of badgers, this is due to their love for those plants and the conditions that support the plants are those favored by badgers.
How different species of animal chew the vegetation and what they prefer and where they feel safe to feed gives another set of clues . This is part of an aspect of tracking called ‘sign tracking’. Sign tracking is perhaps the most accessible form of tracking, finding feathers, bones and scat, noticing trails, runs and places where animals have bedded down, where they feed, etc
Tracking is both science and art. The scientific aspect refers to: ‘pressure release studies’. This is the technical name for how the pressure of your foot affects the ground. These studies come from generations of diligent and precise observation by a unique group of Apache. Continued in part 2

[ingwe]

Hi,

I am new to this website. My reason for posting this note is to find out if there are any tracking clubs in EastSussex.

If anyone reads this and knows of any could you please let me know?

Thanks

ingwe

[greenpete]

Hi! I have only just noticed that no one has replied to this post! I am so sorry! Did you find what you were looking for?
Pete

[quote:b93a602546=\"ingwe\"]Hi,

I am new to this website. My reason for posting this note is to find out if there are any tracking clubs in EastSussex.

If anyone reads this and knows of any could you please let me know?

Thanks

ingwe