“You don’t need a weatherman. To know which way the wind blows.”
-Bob Dylan
Being civilized is the human equivalent of being domesticated, in animals. Civilized humans and domesticated animals assume they are safe. Some might say, they take their safety for granted. For instance, you are at a restaurant and a car speeds by outside, you don’t even flinch, right? Same with domesticated animals, cars speed by their homes all the time and they take no notice. Wild animals could never get away with that. Wild animals do not assume safety at all times. Wild animals are alert.
In some ways being civilized has taught us a kind of disconnection from our surroundings.
Most of us have shelter from the elements so we don’t have to pay much attention to the weather. And unlike indigenous people, who can tell the forecast by observing the sky and the wind and the animals, we civilized folk simply pull out our iPhones to check for weather trends, so we know which shoes to wear.
One reality of being civilized is you can call for take-out if you are hungry, Police if you are in danger, Firemen (and women) if, well, there’s a fire. If you are in a major city you can also call for drugs, sex, Laundry Detergent, cookies(!) and much more.
Now, while on the surface, that seems really awesome and easy, this way of being civilized has a high price.
We’ve lost our edge, people.
We have forgotten the art of presence. On yoga mats, meditation cushions, baskets ball courts, acting classes the world over, people are seeking the ability to be present in the moment. WILD beings never forgot it.
We, the civilized, make assumptions of safety. We trust other civilized people to make decisions for us that we do not question. I mean, what do we know anyway? That other civilized person and his very civilized friends will probably make the best choices for us, right? …Right? Historically speaking, not necessarily.
Q: What will it take to make radical change from a world dominated by pursuit of power & domination to a world motivated by love & kindness toward all beings?
A: We need to transform from adorable house cats with YouTube-Worthy personalities into the Lioness, totally awake and invested in her own destiny.
VS.
One of the most accessible ways to start is by developing a personal relationship with nature.
That’s part of why I make such a big deal about moon cycles. All this New Moon, Full Moon stuff is not just some weird superstitious thing I’m into. When we pay attention to the phases of the moon, we are connecting to Mother Nature herself, who changes and expresses constantly. We learn about the natural and uncivilized world by observing the ways of the moon. It is but one small way we can start reawakening the WILD within us.
Here are a few other ways to connect with nature:
Go for a hike. Take a look around and listen to everything
Use herbs. Smell them, drink them, touch them.
Step outside and breathe in and out. Paying attention to the quality of the air-it changes all the time.
Grow a plant in your house and nurture it. Learn about it. Listen to it.
Take deeper breathes. Allow oxygen (for the scientifically minded) and prana (for the yogis and yoginis) to fuel your body. Bigger breathes, bigger support.
Go Barefoot. Feel the earth.
Am I saying technology is bad? Absolutely not. If I did, you wouldn’t be reading this. Am I saying ALL components of civilization are harmful? No.
What I am advising is to seek WILDerness in order to balance the scales inside. We will all be stronger and more awake for your efforts.
Civilized shmivilized, I say. Dare to get your hands dirty, dare to be crazy, dare to question, dare to seek, dare to be WILD.
WILDly,
C
P.S- Know someone who would benefit from this post. Be WILD and share.
P.P.S Tomorrow Night I am leading a call on the Feminine Principle of Surrender (found in nature)…If you want to learn more about the Divine Feminine this will be a juicy and call. Details and Registration HERE.
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On the Horizon
Join us for an hour-long New Moon Meditation Adventure on December 2nd!
Online, from anywhere.
Using a dynamic meditation journey, we will tune into the New Moon, to your own Inner Guidance, synced up with wild-hearted women from around the world. This offering will include music, storytelling, meditation, journaling prompts & intention-setting.
Can’t make it live? No worries. All participants will receive a copy of the recording with 24 hours of the session.
Join the WILD WOMAN UNDERGROUND.
"The Circle Leader Training Program at The Wild Woman Project was one of the most transformative and healing experiences of my life. I have received many tools, resources, support, and connections that I will carry on with me forever." ~ Hannah Devin, Graduate
We have Wild Woman Project-trained Circle facilitators is 26 countries, and 44 out of the 50 United States.
Chris Maddox is the founder of The Wild Woman Project where she teaches women how to utilize the gifts of the Wild Woman Archetype in their everyday lives & how to lead women’s circles in their local communities. She is the organizer & facilitator of the beloved annual WILD WOMAN FEST, a women’s retreat-festival hybrid which fosters a deep connection to nature, a direct experience of the divine feminine & profound spiritual sisterhood among the women in attendance.
An ever student of the great mysteries of existence and nature itself, Chris believes women are holding innate gifts & tools that society at large needs – now more than ever. She is committed to helping women remember their special magic and to bring it forward into every corner of their lives, for the greater good of the planet.
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