Trusting the ground
Plant Listening began with the simple aim of fostering reconnection through the practices of foraging and tracking. These two ancient ways of seeing and being, take us into the heart of life and remind us of the wealth we are freely offered by the world. In today’s thrusting and juddering financial system it’s easy to forget this simple economy - one in which the earth gives us all we need.
Shortly after establishing our base in Galloway I met a military veteran at the side of the road who is cycling around the UK raising awareness about PTSD. Since leaving the army Alan, or Tiny as he’s known, has lived on the streets for over 20 years and written many poems about his experiences. It struck me as interesting that after sleeping rough through the harsh cold of many winters - not always knowing if he would wake up - that what he writes about isn’t the hardship (of which there’s plenty) but the gift of seeing the stars and waking up to the sight and sound of the birds in the trees.
(You can watch Tiny reading one of his poems here.)
As the cold digs in here on the Galloway hill, I often think how brave the beings are who remain outside all through the winter months. It’s easy to project a sense of fear at the coming hardship of relentless cold. But when I wake up and open the door of the cottage, I’m greeted by the sight of the birds who’ve survived the night and now fly in joyous swoops that speak of something beyond mere survival. And yet these small creatures live on a knife-edge through winters like these, each day having to eat enough to see them through the cold of the night.
Yesterday morning I saw three roe deer standing at the edge of some trees amidst the crisp frost. Bloody hell, I thought, they must be so cold! As I formed the words one of the deer began to run. Soon the other two joined and I watched mesmerised as they played, running in long loops, cutting back and forth, touching each other and then darting away. My research into deer-stalking up here in Scotland has shown me how brutal long winters can be for the animals here, but looking at the deer and the birds, and thinking of Tiny, reminded me that beyond a mere struggle for survival, there is also just joy at being alive too.
Plant Listening has always wanted to operate from this place of trust, made evident to us through observing a fecund, generous world. It’s our aim that the work we do reflects both the generosity of what we’re given by the earth and the trust of the creatures who receive it. With this in mind we have decided to take a leap in the way we work this coming year and make our events financially accessible to all. From here on we will offer all our teaching and facilitation for free rather than a set ticket price. Donations are welcome, in line with whatever you can afford, but our walks and workshops will be free and retreat prices kept to the bare minimum, covering only the basics such as accommodation, food and firewood.
Running a programme of events costs money, of course, but as we’ve decided not to be an organisation built on growth, instead simply taking the little we need to keep going, we hope to open the door ever-wider to these healing experiences as we try and remember to gambol through the cold and find a bird-like faith in the world.