ANCESTOR MIND
By Dude McLean
I try to adjust my attitude, my state of mind, when I’m in a wild place. I try to have the mindset of a primal human, and mentally block out the modern world. Just be in the moment of the wild. I try to feel what our ancient ancestors must have felt in their world, in their time. The world was a very different place.
I know I can never really capture the fear and the wonder of those ancient souls, but I try. It makes it more interesting to me.
For instance, once when walking on a wild plant hike with Christopher, I work to develop a primal attitude in my thinking. How to use this plant for fire? How to process this bark for medicine? How to collect these leaves right now and take it back to camp and cook it? This process brings home the power of knowing that the “lost knowledge” is very relevant here and now.
Each of you – you, me, those other guys – we each have the knowledge right now that our ancient ancestors had as a part of their culture. That knowledge is not dead, and it’s a living thing
Deep in your brain and our DNA stirs the memory of the ancients. You know, all of our ancestors were hunter- gatherers — that’s why you are here today.
The fact that their DNA was passed on and survives and lives in you is a kind of miracle. Just feel that. And if you “feed” it, that primal part of you will be satisfied as never before.
by SELDOM SEEN Dude McLean
