What draws you to nature, or more particularly the woods? Do most people just enjoy being out there doing their 'bushcraft thing', or do people have other reasons for enjoying the woods apart from bushcraft, such as enjoying the peace and solitude the woods naturally offers - a welcome break from the calamitous world. Or do others have any mystical attraction with the woods?
The mystical aspect has increasingly perked my interest. It is well known that a favourite abode of our ancestral spirits is non other than our favourite woods. Some claim that spirits and ghosts eat through their sense of smell, and whether you realize it or not (or maybe you don't care) when you build a campfire in the woods and burn a pleasant smelling wood, you are in effect feeding the hungry spirits with incense, thereby protecting your camp! They are grateful for this and bring harmony to the surrounding environment...because, there is nothing like hostile spirits! Incense has been used for millenia for harmonizing negative energies and warding off undesirable spirits.
The old pagans had this knowledge and were famous for their frequent "fires" to pacify the hungry spirits. Unfortunately the fires died out with the rise of Christianity but we have a glimmer of that old tradition at bonfire night. For one night of the year many people come together in what might be seen as a massive offering of incense.
There is something magical about the woods. I am always on the look out for an elf, but I am yet to find one! (and maybe never will). I would be interested to know if anyone has spotted an elf, or more practically, shares a spiritual interest in the woods apart from the 'craft' ...say, Neo Pagan, Wiccan or other spiritual interest?
The mystical aspect has increasingly perked my interest. It is well known that a favourite abode of our ancestral spirits is non other than our favourite woods. Some claim that spirits and ghosts eat through their sense of smell, and whether you realize it or not (or maybe you don't care) when you build a campfire in the woods and burn a pleasant smelling wood, you are in effect feeding the hungry spirits with incense, thereby protecting your camp! They are grateful for this and bring harmony to the surrounding environment...because, there is nothing like hostile spirits! Incense has been used for millenia for harmonizing negative energies and warding off undesirable spirits.
The old pagans had this knowledge and were famous for their frequent "fires" to pacify the hungry spirits. Unfortunately the fires died out with the rise of Christianity but we have a glimmer of that old tradition at bonfire night. For one night of the year many people come together in what might be seen as a massive offering of incense.
There is something magical about the woods. I am always on the look out for an elf, but I am yet to find one! (and maybe never will). I would be interested to know if anyone has spotted an elf, or more practically, shares a spiritual interest in the woods apart from the 'craft' ...say, Neo Pagan, Wiccan or other spiritual interest?
