February 3rd: The Stillness of the Hunt

Quote: “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, and naturalist. He spent two years living alone in a cabin by Walden Pond. This is a man that truly understands the wildness of nature, and the beauty of stillness. He lived. You can find this stillness anytime you step into the woods. For me, i think about later in the season when the weather is cold, the wind is biting, and there’s a frost on the ground. That stillness really hits me when I’ve climbed into a tree and I’m waiting for the sun to rise, and it’s before all the birds and other animals have awoken for the day. It is at that point that I really slow down, and take in the beauty of what’s around me. The stillness of the hunt, for me, grounds me and reconnects me with nature. It is a reminder that I’m a participant in something greater than my self. The stillness teaches patience, and reminds me how much wisdom is to be found in the woods. 

Tip: Embrace the stillness. Embrace the quiet. Let yourself slow down and observe. Watch the sun rise and enjoy the world coming alive as the birds start to sing and the squirrels start to make their racket. Watch the way the wind moves through the trees, the faint traces of a deer’s passing. Hunting is not just about pursuit—it is about presence.

Takeaway: In stillness, we find ourselves. The hunt is not only about taking, but about learning, respecting, and becoming part of the world as it is.