“That which you most need will be found where you least want to look”. – Carl Jung
As we approached the spring I spotted some Buffalo through the broad-leafed woodland about fifty paces ahead of us. The light breeze on my face seemed good, but in the few seconds that it took the Trail group to move into my position; it had turned fickle and betrayed us. As the herd caught our scent, the earth began to tremble as hundreds of thunderous hooves hastily departed in a cloud of dust. The viscous scent of Buffalo lingered long after the final bellows and Yellow-billed Oxpecker calls could be heard. The Buffalo had moved much further south.
It had become hot and we decided to settle in the shade nearby for lunch and a siesta on the second day of our Primitive Trail. This is a completely immersive experience during which participants carry everything they require for the duration of the multi-day Trail (walking safari) in a backpack. With no fixed camps, no tents, no technology and no extras, each night is spent under the stars with participants sharing the responsibility of ‘night watch’. Having spent most of my adult life guiding Primitive Trails in Africa’s wild places, there is one thing that I know for certain; ‘meaningful nature experiences’ changes people. It changes the way that they think and it changes the way that they behave. But what is it about Primitive Trails that make people feel so good and why does it stir something, which is often difficult to wholly describe, within them? Fundamentally, the building blocks of the experience align with our psyche, something embedded in our sub-conscious, a need, a longing to be the hero in our own story.
The ‘Hero’s Journey’ is one of the most influential archetypes in almost all cultures around the world. Often referred to as the monomyth due to its pervasiveness as a foundation or backbone for man’s greatest tales and lore, the story of the ‘Hero’s Journey’ resonates deeply with everyone, whether they are aware of it or not. The ‘recipe’ is found in our most popular stories, myths and movies; think of the story of Jesus Christ, Buddha, The Hobbit, Spiderman, the Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. The typical Hero’s Journey can be broken into a number of components, all of which are experienced during a Primitive Trail.
Departure
The Hero receives a call to action, to leave their normal, comfortable world, to go on a quest into the unknown, into a new world full of fears and uncertainties. In our scenario, the call to action can come in the form of an advertisement, a media article, or stories from friends that excite the adventurer deep down in all of us. Often there is resistance at first. We are hesitant to leave the known, comfortable, predictable lifestyle for the unknown. Typically, a mentor or friend offers encouragement and advice. In our case this comes from someone who has already experienced a Primitive Trail, who advises on how to prepare, what to expect, and what to bring or leave behind, helping the Hero make a decision and take the plunge. The Hero then crosses the threshold from the known, comfortable, unchallenged existence into the new and exciting, unpredictable world. This process involves leaving home, often with both trepidation and anticipation, travelling to a distant and unfamiliar place, and culminates in leaving the security of the man-made world and departing civilisation with a group of like-minded individuals carrying in their backpacks, only the essentials needed to thrive.
Initiation
The Hero starts to face trials and challenges, which either on their own, or with help from others, are engaged or overcome. On Trail, these can come in the subtle form of an uncomfortable backpack or sore muscles, or they can be more prominent such as weathering the sometimes hostile conditions such as extreme heat, wind or rain. Even just sleeping under the stars, around a fire in the open, on the hard ground and exposed to the elements can be very challenging for some. There is usually a culmination or climax point where the metaphorical dragon is fought and slayed. This climax or turning point often arrives in the form of an encounter with a wild, potentially dangerous animal or an internal battle in one’s own mind as we are allowed the time and space to bring up and deal with the demons in our own psyches. This is not to say that Primitive Trails are filled only with discomfort and challenge, although to a certain degree these elements are ever-present, only emphasising the pure joy, satisfaction, wonder, gratitude and achievement that the Trail journey affords the Hero.
Return
After surviving in the Wilderness and coming through the trials and tribulations faced, the Hero gains a magic elixir or superpower. In our case, this comes in the form of new knowledge and wisdom gained about the value of simplicity, an appreciation of the little things usually taken for granted and the endless connections between everything in the Natural world. Participants learn more about themselves, the importance of their relationships with other people as well as the importance of their relationship with the Natural world. Increased confidence and self-belief are natural consequences of putting oneself ‘out there’ and participants come through the other side as wiser, stronger individuals. On crossing the threshold back into the ‘known’ world, this knowledge and wisdom is taken home and shared with our community for the benefit of others and the world at large.
The fulfilment, validation and confidence you gain from putting yourself ‘out there’, out of your comfort zones and being willing to challenge yourself, cannot be under-estimated. You learn that you can do things that you previously thought impossible, and come out the other end as a stronger individual with a new perspective on the value and meaning of your place in the cosmos.
