'Rewilding the Mind'

‘Rewilding the Mind’ is what we call Creative Recovery’s our own breed of Poetry Ramble.  The name was coined by poet Winston Plowes who continues to develop this approach to walking in nature, with us. 

The project is currently funded by Creative Minds and sits neatly within our social perscribing project ‘Green UPLIFT’.

 Here are Winston’s thoughts on the subject….’

 

 

What is ‘Rewilding the Mind’ as a concept, and why do you think it’s important for our well-being right now?

Rewilding the Mind (RTM) is a chance to reconnect with nature. As humans we are all 'from nature' and by getting to know nature better, maybe we can know and understand ourselves better also.

It's a chance to 'take the slow way' and amble through our natural world to a backing track of poetry, spoken word and shared stories and tales. Everyone has an opportunity to speak voluntarily on the basis of honesty and acceptance.

RTM is not over planned and doesn't have a tight time table or particular goal and it's certainly not scripted in any way and that is one of its main strengths. Its success relies on the input of its participants, right down to the route we take, where we stop and for how long. Like the U.S. military, we look out for one another on our ramblings, go the speed of the slowest and 'leave no one behind'.

Each edition of RTM has its own theme according to the location. Bird life, railways, industrial heritage, the choir and 'park life' have all been covered.

How do you plan/or indeed not plan for an rewilding walk? 

I have lots of tricks in my black bag which has become synonymous with RTM events and have been compared to Felix the Cat and his "little bag-of-tricks" as he called it. In there, I have favourite nature poems, old poem and new poems, mystery objects and surprises.

I am no expert and am always happy to be wrong or not know an answer.

If you get nothing else from an event, just the chance to slow down and stop, to let your mind be filled with the joy of words and the natural world is a tonic.

 Is there anything you do personally that helps you to connect with nature and notice more deeply? 

I think back to the time my daughter and I sat either side of a shield bug and silently watched it delicately fold its wings under its elytra. We looked at each other, aware that we had been the only spectators of the scene, the little miracle that had just played out for us both. Neither said a word.

I believe we have taken about 10 rewilding strolls. Maybe you could share with us your own highlights?

I love how people's eyes light up when the penny drops or a random fact about nature stops us in our tracks, nature is amazing!

I also love how the participants' own experiences bring the poems I read to life. The more we talk, the more we discover we have in common.

There is something special and tangible about reading a poem about a particular tree whilst gathered under its boughs, about reading a poem about a kingfisher as, at that instant it paints a streak of blue across the water right in front of you. 

General...

This week Ada Limon was announced as the next US poet laureate and will begin her tenure in the autumn (I have used her poems in RTM). She said recently that "Poetry helps us remember that, we too are an imperfect animal, and we too are nature. Poetry can help the nation become whole again".

"Rewilding the Mind by digging down into nature to reveal surprises and revel in the things we pass by unnoticed everyday. Recognising the value in simply stopping, looking and listening. Mapping our place and time in the world as we celebrate the changing colours of autumn. Sharing the enjoyment of a journey through nature together and not knowing what we will find".

“Where will the path lead? What is the purpose of following it? The path IS the purpose, and that should be regarded as a secret to be revealed only when the path ends”.

William & Chris Yates (from Nightwalk)