tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31337900065294307872012-02-14T19:50:18.523ZPathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-6554187833900839832012-02-12T15:47:00.001Z2012-02-12T15:47:51.549Z

In 19.. I attend a Battlefield Survival Course at the International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRPS) in Southern Germany. It was one of them courses that changes your life, one that you will never forget. No more so when we were required to kill an animal for our food.This was my first time killing an animal, and I found myself walking away from the group with my rabbit in

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-67418279666964585772012-02-03T21:36:00.003Z2012-02-08T01:29:28.040Z

In the past the when they were deemed ready elders would perhaps send the young bucks away from the village to go through their transition from Boys to Men my friend Will Lord once shared such a story with me, it went something like this.It was time, time for him to leave, a bot of 13 years, he was taken to the edge of the encampment, there he was given a flint and told not to come back until

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-35371699570380495712012-02-01T14:42:00.005Z2012-02-01T14:53:12.024Z

What I tell you now is my truth and it may not be your truth, however I would like to ask you to keep an open mind, I ask you to trust and that you to take what you feel comfortable with and what you are not comfortable with just set it to one side, as with your beliefs, I ask that you also set these to one side for the purpose of reading this post, afterwards you can pick them up again.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-14704158675494068182012-01-30T23:45:00.005Z2012-02-01T14:59:46.451Z

I would like to share with you an experience I had while working with a young man in Spain while dealing with his anger issues. Having completed a successful ‘Meet a Tree’ game which in it’s self is another story, a Chaffinch landed in the middle of the track about ten meters from us. The young man I was with looked at me and asked “Can I stalk it” my answer was of course yes

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-68872580746683419372012-01-02T14:28:00.008Z2012-01-26T18:48:23.564Z

Someone once said to me that they could not understand how I could work in the care industry and was once was a soldier. The two do not add up. Since I left the Army in 1996 this has been a common question; "How could you kill and then take care of people?" I was once even called a murderer. This still goes on today and many would not have had me down as a soldier, if I do not mention it

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-69929653181825292242011-12-31T01:38:00.003Z2011-12-31T02:36:59.639Z

Hi FolksI trust that you are all well and looking forward to the New Year, I have been very busy of late and not had a great deal of time to write on here, I hope this will change in the coming year. I thought I would share with you a game I played with a group of young boys in a residential school I once worked in.The game requires one person to be blindfolded and I would normally start this off

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-49170213014266631682011-12-04T07:49:00.004Z2011-12-04T08:17:56.037Z

<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]-->Sometime ago I was sharing with a work colleague some of my experiences around food and how my body seems to let me know what it is I really need in the

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-1768607922297398042011-11-25T12:50:00.005Z2011-12-03T23:20:39.725Z

As a small child, with four brothers and living in the countryside in Devon we were always running around in the fields and woods playing games such as Fox and Hounds. This consisted of one of us being the fox and hunted by all the others. As a fox if I couldn’t out run my brothers and other kids from the village or other young friends, it was important to know how to hide. Using the foliage in

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-77934545320069093202011-11-06T08:43:00.002Z2011-11-06T08:46:50.950Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-79317483871146709442011-11-05T04:52:00.004Z2011-11-05T05:03:20.366Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-59242904649155873862011-11-02T09:22:00.004Z2011-11-02T09:28:42.996Z

This is something I talk about to people who attend my courses in particular the Natural Awareness and Nature Awareness courses. I believe that we have contained within our DNA all the knowledge and experiences that our ancestors had and when we need to tap into this we can, thus allowing us to do things we never thought possible. Sometimes when I need to call on them, I physically turn

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-3497743394885234002011-10-29T05:16:00.003+01:002011-10-29T05:20:01.304+01:00

I sometimes use a piano (or other instruments for that matter) in my sessions when working with addictions. I usually offer it as a challenge the week before the next session.How does it work well I get them to go on a journey with the wood from the piano or guitar by asking them to connect with the wood and to tell the story of the wood.I inform them that they must not play any known

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-64787535403506376642011-10-14T09:45:00.002+01:002011-10-14T09:50:52.624+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-68936625468206207072011-10-10T09:09:00.006+01:002011-10-10T10:23:49.075+01:00

I was with my good friend Will Lord a short while ago and he was teaching me to flint knapp part of the reason for learning to flint knapp was that I wanted to explore if I could use flint knapping as part of a therapeutic process.I decided that as part of this exploration I would look at how I feel about relationships and why I find that in my mind I am attracting the wrong kind of women

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-36301743053735647972011-10-05T09:41:00.003+01:002011-10-05T09:44:24.635+01:00

What I tell you now is my truth and it may not be your truth, however I would like to ask you to keep an open mind, I ask you to trust and that you to take what you feel comfortable with and what you are not comfortable with just set it to one side, as with your beliefs, I ask that you also set these to one side for the purpose of reading this post, afterwards you can pick them up again.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-87924152264383469922011-09-27T22:22:00.000+01:002011-09-27T22:23:12.704+01:00

gets participants to connect with their heart and to transfer the lessons learnt from nature (be it connecting with a tree, an animal, plant or another human being) into an opportunity to change old behaviour thus creating the potential for new healthy behaviour to manifest, by becoming more self-aware. Within an established therapeutic-programme, individuals can reflect upon their

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-53001554701528520942011-09-22T05:59:00.003+01:002011-09-22T06:03:53.514+01:00

When playing 'Meet a Tree' I can usually tell if a person is a compulsive helper, for example in one game a sight guide took his partner to one one the most prominent trees in the woods.This was to make it easy for their partner to find their tree.This would also happen in rehab, they would find the biggest tree or most obvious tree in the garden which usually stood out on it's own.If this

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-86493876750412346182011-09-19T08:05:00.003+01:002011-09-19T08:07:58.230+01:00

Natural Awareness as medium motivates internal/external communication helping to 1) promote confidence and self-esteem while 2) creating a sense of trust 3) in the “here and now” (Ward, 2007), 4) allowing individuals to connect with their hearts to a sense of place, 5) encouraging participants to be honest and take responsibility for their actions, 6) developing independence and creativity

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-71899720904101228522011-08-29T08:33:00.001+01:002011-08-29T08:33:41.061+01:00

It's a trope but, by adding an 'ism' to the ideas of any one who has realised or teaches the true nature of self or 'reality' we instantly make it a 'graspable subject' and therefore set ourselves up to miss the point. We can listen to the enlightened, speak, quite easily nowadays, and then go back to our habits... Or we can find...in our habits, patterns, that are repeated, and

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-81182501422802370782011-08-28T07:28:00.000+01:002011-08-28T07:29:05.719+01:00

I would like to share with you something that I feel is deeply powerful and that shows the benefits of working with people in Nature whatever form that takes. I met his lady several years ago in rehab. "Nature awareness is a precious gift. it has given me a sense of purpose, belonging and feeling of well being. I can feel wind, water, earth and sun; and am able to hear the music of

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-1954699599093963662011-08-27T19:01:00.001+01:002011-08-27T19:03:22.657+01:00

An old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people... He said, "The battle is between two wolves. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-70640677504071889632011-08-24T13:25:00.001+01:002011-08-24T13:25:49.783+01:00

I was up in the woods one day with a group of boys, when one of them spotted a rabbit nearby. He looked at me, I could see by his face that he wanted to stalk it, I said to him go for it and remember what I said about peripheral vision. We had spent some time over the previous weeks playing games that taught them how to do silent movement. He slowly removed his shoes, then he

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-8314468704099637362011-08-17T18:15:00.002+01:002011-08-17T18:21:15.815+01:00

Blind man demonstrates a phenomenon called 'Blind-sight' by navigating an obstacle course. On the 23rd December 2008 the press reported that a. A man known only as TN who has completely lost his sight after suffering brain damage astonished scientists by being able to negotiate an obstacle course in what has been called a powerful demonstration of a phenomenon known as “blind-sight”

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-30705989922381246712011-08-08T08:43:00.006+01:002011-08-09T07:52:47.156+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-20583083405685810252011-07-31T18:40:00.000+01:002011-07-31T18:41:19.588+01:00

Young men whose dads where not in their lives, no right and no wrong, they were just not in their lives and their mothers were left to take care of them. My sense was that the home environment was contaminated with ill feelings towards men and the young men needed to feel nurtured.What do I base that on, well during our weekend workshop with these boys we played many different games and

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-43204799575746776492011-07-31T13:57:00.004+01:002011-07-31T16:54:07.638+01:00

I have been getting a lot of interest from people who are either still serving or are now ex members of the armed forces. They are expressing the desire to move in a different direction. Their stories are all too familiar to me as I have had similar experiences that they are having. Of course these experiences are unique to each individual but the overall story is the same.I felt the need to move

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-76907598789606229332011-07-27T06:53:00.004+01:002011-07-28T17:36:11.418+01:00

what do I mean by that, well here is something to think about...The Heart, Mind and SpiritProfessor Mohamed Omar SalemIntroductionThe concept of mind is of central importance for psychiatrists and psychologists. However, little attention has been paid in most formal textbooks to this important issue, which is usually studied under the section of ‘Philosophical aspects of psychiatry/psychology’.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-55984917495451886762011-07-27T05:49:00.001+01:002011-07-27T05:51:23.817+01:00

During the tracking course I was running this weekend, we were working up in the sand dunes at Braunton Burrows. I had set up a sandbox exercise to see if we could pick up on peoples intentions laid in their tracks. We later decided to tell a story instead of just placing an intention into a track. It turned out to be an interesting exercise, twice I placed a story into the sandbox which

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-59305576461092552892011-07-21T20:37:00.000+01:002011-07-21T20:38:54.620+01:00

A friend of mine shared an experience he once had.He was walking home after a night out on the town and as he cut across Hyde Park at 5 am, he approached a large Oak Tree, walking around it he was surprised to see a Police Officer in uniform hugging the tree. He said it gave him hope

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-30555487504075504532011-07-16T07:01:00.005+01:002011-07-16T07:08:31.032+01:00

Natural Awareness gets participants to connect with their heart and to transfer the lessons learnt from nature (be it connecting with a tree, an animal, plant or another human being) into an opportunity to change old behaviour thus creating the potential for new healthy behaviour to manifest, by becoming more self-aware. Within an established therapeutic-programme, individuals can

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-86422325194205031762011-07-13T08:18:00.010+01:002011-07-13T08:36:47.841+01:00

Below is a letter from a friend who attended one of my tracking courses, I felt it would be good to share with you how much he got from it. He talks about about a lots of powerful things like being in the moment and emptying the mind, understanding what the birds and nature are telling us.Hi Geoffrey, "Lifting the Veil delivered everything I wanted and more! A radical paradigm shift from what

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-79743885516557112222011-07-11T09:08:00.002+01:002011-07-11T09:34:44.970+01:00

I was out teaching near to Reading at the weekend, what a delight it was... I saw three Red Kites drifting on the wind and after a night of Merlin calling all night long which was a great as he normally does not call out when we are in a strange wood.In the early hours of the morning 6am I heard a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker drumming this was a real pleasure as you do not get to hear let alone see

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-43685430590695005512011-07-08T12:00:00.002+01:002011-07-10T19:07:56.728+01:00

All my life I have had a close relationship with nature, on my return to the UK after leaving the British Army I attended a course run by Thomas Schorr-kon of Trackways, were he talked of Nature-Awareness, suddenly I found a language for what I had always known deep inside, it was like a breath of fresh air. I remember feeling safe and trusted enough to be open and honest with Thomas (who

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-88067168141232965152011-07-04T08:06:00.002+01:002011-07-04T08:11:52.597+01:00

This weekend I was out walking with a friend of mine chatting about all sorts and I was reminded of something that happened to me as I was in the process of leaving the army. At the last minute of my time in the army I had decided to return to England for which I was not prepared for as I had planned to stay in Germany where my kids were living with their mother.One day, I was walking

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-61359894511814157522011-07-01T06:56:00.001+01:002011-07-01T06:56:42.995+01:00

You are never wrong when you track alone. Tom Brown Jr

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-35717856988446058752011-06-30T13:13:00.004+01:002011-07-13T08:43:12.675+01:00

Below is a letter sent to me which reflects the experiences a friend had encountered while out on a Natural Awareness session with me. This was a very powerful experience for both of us and helped me in making the decision to take Natural Awareness to the coast.Down at the Rock pool with GeoffreyFeeling blessed to be walking down to my favourite beach on the Cape of Cornwall at St Just, Geoff

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-66292231286071443082011-06-20T20:12:00.003+01:002011-06-23T11:52:01.822+01:00

My friend Stefan was out one day with a group of people in nature, some where from the city while others where from rural areas. They where asked to choose a route that they would like to walk along as part of exploring their relationship with themselves in nature.During this time they reached a clearing and as they moved into it, they came face to face with a Stag. They stood for a while in

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-378558011301248082011-06-15T09:25:00.003+01:002011-06-15T10:03:21.584+01:00

I have just been watching Our War, about our guys in Afghanistan and how they were dealing with being out there... seeing some of the footage reminded me of some of them special moments of when I served in the army and being with MEN.Sitting in a field or wood up to your knees in mud, wet cold. Even when spring is all around and yet your in a place that does not fit in with your surroundings such

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-34955468142089819212011-06-12T07:08:00.001+01:002011-06-12T07:11:23.701+01:00

Overview: After initial introduction and spending a number of preparatory sessions developing trust within the group and teaching the difference between peripheral and tunnel vision, the game was on the whole a success. It was enjoyed by all the students, and they are keen to play it again.Issues encountered: Awareness of self: Most students found this concept difficult to come to

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-25273985271866636932011-06-08T00:25:00.003+01:002011-06-08T00:27:52.494+01:00

One Tuesday in rehab I ran a nature awareness session in the pouring rain; we met at the meeting tree which was a lovely cherry tree. Three men turned up out of all the patients’ one of who was only 16 years old. I must admit I was surprised they came as the rain that day was quite heavy. I informed, them that I was not on top form, in fact I felt that my fuel tank was empty and I was

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-53914199854745373882011-06-03T20:18:00.006+01:002011-06-03T20:26:20.406+01:00

Natural-Awareness as medium motivates internal/external communication helping to 1) promote confidence, self-esteem while 2) creating a sense of trust 3) in the “here and now” (Ward, 2007), 4) allowing individuals to connect with their hearts to a sense of place, 5) encouraging participants to be honest and take responsibility for their actions, 6) developing independence and creativity by,

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-52023913507092401792011-05-30T08:23:00.007+01:002011-05-30T11:24:58.978+01:00

On the 21st of this month I was up in Northumberland teaching tracking. On arrival at the woods I realised I was being transported back in time to over 31 years ago.The woodland was between Otterburn and Redesdale on the edge of the artillery ranges there, and as I began to set up my tent I heard the guns fire for the first time in a long time.Funny thing is it felt kind of reassuring in a way.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-42506089843341610942011-05-28T13:17:00.001+01:002011-05-28T13:18:48.758+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-49742394029851203272011-05-24T09:50:00.004+01:002011-05-24T10:21:52.322+01:00

Hi Everyone.Exciting news, well for me anyway. The work that I do has just got a mention in the above book. Funny how things happen just when you think why am I brothering to do this, why don't I just retire on my pension and chill out. Then something like this comes along to inspire and motivate you to carry on.Dear Geoffrey"I much enjoyed our meeting and look forward to further

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-27347534343088281922011-05-24T07:13:00.004+01:002011-05-24T08:31:56.246+01:00

During the tracking course I was teaching on at the weekend and I was explaining to the group about concentric rings/bird language and also how the San Bushmen talk about Zana (The Woodpecker) being the first bird to let them know if anyone was coming.A short while after explaining this I heard a Great-spotted Woodpecker give off its alarm call and as I looked up and called to the group to pay

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-80156377184876925972011-05-23T13:38:00.003+01:002011-05-30T08:34:36.339+01:00

I was up in Northumberland this weekend running a tracking course for Rob from Wild Harmony a really cool guy and a real gentleman and very excellent teacher.Early in the morning on the last day I spent some time chatting with one of the students, we where stood on the edge of the wood by a dry stone wall, when two feet off the deck and flying between us at some speed was a male sparrowhawk.As he

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-3321480775035315612011-05-13T19:22:00.001+01:002011-05-15T13:02:06.740+01:00

Working with some young men over in Kent when I was part of Natural Pathways both Hannah and I had the pleasure to experience a young man come into his own.He was a large boy who presented with low self esteem and lacked confidence within the group, the group on the other hand were loud and very active and we had the impression that this young man may have been the butt of their jokes and indeed

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-21167078010992257322011-05-06T06:49:00.005+01:002011-05-06T07:09:02.308+01:00

It is important to understand the ‘value of play’ in relation to Natural Awareness and addictions.Play is an important part of our growth, it can give us positive-experiences where today, play is all but ignored (i.e. lack of sports in schools), from play we learn about our boundaries and capabilities and according to Stuhlimiller (2003) “…learning from a positive encounter can thus become

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-57934994896202512342011-05-04T14:28:00.010+01:002011-05-04T19:49:04.425+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-28329358405055715652011-05-02T22:42:00.005+01:002011-05-02T22:54:55.236+01:00

Spirituality and Nature Awareness My name is John and I am a recovering alcoholic living in France. A little bit about my background is useful in understanding why nature awareness has been so important to my recovery. I was brought up in an upper middle-class home. My parents were quite normal and neither was an abuser of alcohol or drugs. My upbringing was not void of contact with

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-18442958722837819252011-04-30T06:05:00.008+01:002011-04-30T06:25:33.406+01:00

According to Howard Clinebell, who wrote a 1996 book on the topic, “ecotherapy” refers to healing and growth nurtured by healthy interaction with the earth. He also called it “green therapy” and “earth-centered therapy.” Although Clinebell preferred the term “ecotherapy,” which includes work with the body, to “ecopsychology,” the study of our

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-25128475859565022542011-04-29T05:27:00.005+01:002011-04-29T05:41:36.706+01:00

Earth Tree and the Invisibles, as they stand with their feet firmly rooted in the soil with their thoughts and feelings.We begin to deal with them by excavating the child and parent egos, the adult ego becoming the archaeologist.There will always be transference in any counselling relationship, it's understanding why it is there, and being aware of potential counter-transference.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-41939936484479834052011-04-28T03:28:00.003+01:002011-04-28T03:34:44.061+01:00

I have posted the introduction to this report as I believe it has far reaching implications for the future of Nature Therapy within the UK, you can read the full report on my wilderness therapy articles page… The Value of the Natural Environment This report, commissioned by the RSPB, looks at the evidence linking wildlife-rich areas and green space with mental health. Past

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-10273731704664099042011-04-23T04:57:00.007+01:002011-04-23T05:09:38.101+01:00

I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my experiences with nature from around the world. While serving with the British Army I had the pleasure of doing several tours of BATUS near Medicine Hat in Alberta. Double pleasure as I have family in Calgary so my R&R was spent with them. Prior to going onto the prairie we are given a briefing by the Canadian authority’s, part of which is

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-55401928145201964212011-04-21T23:38:00.000+01:002011-04-21T23:39:49.759+01:00

He had all the answers, the expression I might not always be right but I am never wrong comes to mind. He was very much in his head, he was having trouble finding the other person in the circle who was sat down and asked to just imagine that she was a lost child and to send out the thought, I am here, I am lost and I need you to find me, I am scared and I need rescuing.I asked John if

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-78053225343143503242011-04-21T23:32:00.001+01:002011-04-21T23:34:17.148+01:00

While working in a rehab I had one of my usual sessions of nature awareness, on this occasion we played a game called animal tag. This game involves many aspects but it primarily works with the energy of the group, in an attempt to show them on a physical level how our thoughts and energy can affect the outcome of others.The other important aspect of the game is to get people to take on

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-53117616968740145972011-04-18T23:42:00.003+01:002011-04-18T23:52:22.443+01:00

Hi Mate.Julie sent me this, the young lady that said she could not do the exercise:Just thought I'd share with you a poem I have written about my tree experience. Hope you like it! Feel free to share it.Tree of Trust I couldn’t actually see you the first time that we met. I didn’t really want to play the game but the bar was already set. I was lead to stand beside you, I felt your trunk, your

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-81364703449173476552011-04-13T07:00:00.004+01:002011-04-13T07:35:13.847+01:00

This was my first time working with Natural Awareness along the coast, at the weekend I went down to Cornwall and over to St Just with a friend who is entering into active recovery and has expressed the wish to work with nature and part of their personal 12-Step programme.Personally for me it was wonderful to spend time with a friend and to support them in their new adventure of self-exploration

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-52785161034695172272011-04-12T08:39:00.003+01:002011-04-13T07:00:00.053+01:00

Over the years I have read about bird language and how it is changing. Researchers have over the years been investigating into the regional accents many birds seem to have and it has even been said that city birds are or have changed their song so as to be heard over the noise pollution of the traffic. As a keen birder I have always been aware of minor differences between the birds in the various

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-2908972357463315642011-04-10T09:34:00.003+01:002011-04-10T09:40:54.627+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-88301960288382960382011-04-02T07:37:00.007+01:002011-04-08T08:03:37.278+01:00

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-91977063740930442152011-03-23T08:42:00.004Z2011-03-23T08:49:37.573Z

I once asked a group I was working with emotionally what is your lowest risk and what is your highest risk, a flood of responses came back at me. Then one of the group turned the question on me, "Geoff What's your highest emotional risk and what is your lowest risk?".I responded with my lowest risk was to go to war with my guys and my highest risk was to allow myself to cry in public while

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-40216945793898317502011-03-20T18:01:00.004Z2011-03-23T08:33:16.172Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-70850771035078017812011-03-16T08:26:00.002Z2011-03-16T08:29:50.633Z

In playing the Natural Awareness games there are many challenges that can take place, however the main issue for all parties has to be around trust.The addict: Can I trust the therapist, does he know what I am going through, does he really understand, he is not even an addict how could he possibly know, is he any good at what he does, I all ready know about nature, what can nature

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-957700837667918722011-03-15T05:36:00.003Z2011-03-15T05:46:01.388Z

12th March 2011Hi Geoff It just occurred to me that "nature awareness" can be interpreted more than one way. My individuated soul becoming aware of nature, or my individuated soul experiencing the awareness of nature. That part of me that's the centre of my universe had assumed that nature awareness was describing me becoming more aware and not that all of nature is aware of me! I feel

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-34152610662481546672011-03-14T07:38:00.003Z2011-03-14T07:45:11.101Z

The San Bushmen call the Woodpecker (my favourite bird) Zana, they said that when the Zana calls, it is telling them that someone will soon visit them and indeed each time this happened they pointed it out to me and soon afterwards someone did visit us.This got me thinking just the other day. I remember as a young boy at boarding school I saw my first ever woodpecker on the school lawn, it

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-63513331879895481512011-03-12T18:04:00.000Z2011-03-12T18:06:17.961Z

While I was in Belize in 1998 I had the privilege to see the power of the Leaf Cutter Ant.They are amazing little fellows as they walked along with a leaf in their mandibles another cutter ant rides on top of the leaf to fend off parasitic wasps and the trail they lay is so free from debris it is as if someone had gone through the bush with a bass broom and had swept a path for them.I

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-71881589827300530092011-03-12T10:09:00.003Z2011-03-12T10:53:16.826Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-68087524375447504932011-03-10T07:24:00.003Z2011-03-10T07:48:41.964Z

The Earth Tree and the Invisibles is one of the most powerful exercises I do with people, it requires someone to be buried up to their ankles in the earth while facing a tree.We then begin to explore the invisible parts of the tree that we cannot see with our eyes, from the inner bark to the far side of the tree down into the roots and up to the top of the canopy. During this journey of

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-84799074926924076602011-03-01T07:48:00.003Z2011-03-07T06:46:04.062Z

I took Merlin my European Eagle Owl out for a stroll one day along the estuary at the back of where I live. During this time some twenty people from cyclists to families out for a walk stopped to ask me about Merlin.What was interesting for me, was on seeing Merlin they were completely captivated I was there just to answer their questions, and while Merlin looked around at the other birds and

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-57012241484796451472011-02-26T07:44:00.004Z2011-03-10T07:50:05.407Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-14200620118301332322011-02-25T07:39:00.005Z2011-03-03T08:29:02.986Z

Driving back from Narcotics Anonymous one night I had a realisation, it was that I had changed many of my views and I had become aware of doing things differently. This was a direct result of working with people who have an addiction I found that by being with them, they were teaching me about myself, without realising it.So, as I dropped them off at the rehab, I turned and said to them all, that

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-86474389987278861002011-02-24T21:33:00.003Z2011-03-01T07:52:41.832Z

If an animal has to die so that you may live, then you have a responsibility.Will Lord

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-71532253142656971192011-02-23T06:21:00.010Z2011-03-09T07:16:55.492Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-9395929053144223752011-02-17T00:05:00.001Z2011-02-17T00:07:50.543Z

Before I met Geoffrey I had only a vague idea of what Nature Awareness was. I mainly believed it to be a way of reconnecting with Nature but not much more. I certainly didn’t realise how powerful this work is and how it can be integrated into more mainstream treatment methods. I am a Consultant Psychiatrist and a few years ago I was working at a recovery centre where Geoffrey was working as

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-28510506896655447082011-02-16T00:04:00.005Z2011-02-16T07:41:40.063Z

The Art & Sceince of Natural Awareness Weekend WorkshopQuote from T. M. : “We started with Chi Kung and emotions began to flow. They were then settled by meditation before beginning the exercise to “find our tree”. Connecting with the woodland was by far my favorite task. The sense of achievement in being able to feel my way around this environment blindfolded and return to a safe place by the

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-35106427425187522742011-02-15T00:37:00.003Z2011-02-16T00:12:49.608Z

Here is an e-mail I received a while back from a dear friend who I have not seen or worked with for the best part of ten years or more. Ian and I worked with young men from Essex who did not have a Dad in their lives and when you heard their stories it would bring tears to your eyes and put your own life into perspective. I have nothing but respect for our youth of today the

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-82828235123488351952011-02-13T09:00:00.006Z2011-02-18T08:14:59.750Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-87338058968818833622011-02-12T08:47:00.010Z2011-02-12T09:10:29.021Z

...it is not a stand-alone intervention, and requires a structured therapeutic-programme.However according to (Ward, 2007; Mortensen, 2006; & Dorell, 2006) it has demonstrated its potential as a therapeutic-intervention. Dorell, (2006) a consultant psychiatrist stated that Natural Awareness was, “able to create the bridge that we were unable to create… enabling them to respond to more

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-27660367533115880912011-02-11T06:56:00.003Z2011-02-12T08:44:40.280Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-54260795242716597702011-02-10T07:17:00.003Z2011-02-12T08:25:36.308Z

Survival is the doorway to the earth,&Awareness is the doorway to the spirit.Grandfather by Tom Brown Jr. Elders, p. 49

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-41166368201021906122011-02-08T10:27:00.002Z2011-02-08T10:29:56.422Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-5105545444796284602011-02-08T06:55:00.002Z2011-02-08T06:57:49.696Z

What are the consequences of a childhood removed from nature?At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, PLAY AGAIN explores the changing balance between the virtual and natural worlds. Is our connection to nature disappearing down the digital rabbit hole?This documentary follows six teenagers who, like the average American child, spend five to fifteen hours a day behind

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-71772920659360966562011-02-07T00:00:00.009Z2011-02-07T06:48:01.680Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-75123949887239316602011-02-06T23:17:00.005Z2011-02-06T23:58:17.510Z

This what David had to say about the Drum Stalk while trying to get into Active Recovery. JUXTAPOSITION Removed from my natural location, I feel lost and disorientated. I miss chaos, noise, the sights and smells of our 21st century world. I crave lights and music. I want my eyes to be blinded by the dazzling array of experience the city offers.This has now happened. I stand alone,

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-45363183966189869842011-02-05T03:49:00.004Z2011-02-05T04:13:56.740Z

"You have given me a whole new methodology of looking at what I do"Thomas Schorr-kon Trackways.

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-53362827000470309232011-02-03T13:50:00.000Z2011-02-03T13:51:15.313Z

After the Gulf War in 1991 it was decided that 127 (Dragon) Battery would remain in Kuwait in direct support of 3RRF (for reasons which I will go into in another post), moral took a dive, after all everyone was going home and we were staying.Soon after we had many visitors to the Battery, General Schwarzkopf, being one of them and of course one of our own high ranking officers whose name

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-52325651478949454462011-02-02T08:41:00.001Z2011-02-02T08:44:41.824Z

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Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-77388822321052370232011-01-29T06:18:00.003Z2011-01-29T06:27:34.802Z

What is Nature Awareness? Nature Awareness, is “Learning with the Heart” (Cornell, 1989, p.12). It is known that Native Americans (The 1st Nation) and other 1st nation cultures use an awareness which is based on a belief that there is a power greater than ourselves and that we are not separate, but a integral part of nature, the American 1st nation calls this ‘The spirit that moves

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-78915761702945459292011-01-27T17:45:00.006Z2011-01-28T16:13:27.905Z

Some years ago now I spent a week with my friend Jeremy Hasting who runs Islay Birding/Bushcraft on Islay. We lived in a cave along the coast were we shared story’s and experiences as well as exchanging ideas like Nature Awareness. On the day of our return it soon became clear how relaxed we had become as a result of living out in the wilderness of Islay. We were birding on our return when I

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-11396864341546906682011-01-26T07:18:00.003Z2011-01-26T08:36:17.991Z

I have made many observations over the years working with people in Nature and one that seems to be quite common for most people when connecting with nature is that they refer to it as a 'Spiritual' connection.I would like to assure you that when working with people I give them very little information so as not to prime them in any way.This is what 'A' had to say about her experience in Nature:"I

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-8087231598948656302011-01-25T16:24:00.007Z2011-01-26T07:15:12.130Z

This is what 'J' wrote about his experience of attending a Nature Awareness session. "Just curious really even tough it was explained to me what it was I still wasn't sure.I was surprised and amazed with the results of the games/exercises which left me feeling calm and thoughtful.Meet a Tree: Gave me some physical evidence of spirituality (which before I did not believe in).My Challenge: ('J's

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-54154674154791421492011-01-24T23:08:00.002Z2011-01-26T06:03:29.295Z

I was thinking the other day about all this 2012 business and I came to realise that if it is all true then why bother doing anything at all, after all it is only two years away, according to the Mayan calender it will be around 27th Dec 2012.But in my heart I felt that even if it is true I still needed to keep doing what I do and most important of all (apart from being of service to others

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-74757661272217839902011-01-24T22:51:00.000Z2011-01-24T22:52:40.012Z

Mindfulness-based behavioral relapse prevention (MBRP) Dr. Alan Marlatt and his associates at the University of Washington have been exploring the application of mindfulness and meditation in preventing relapse to alcohol/drugs. He has found that “the heightened state of present-focused awareness that is encouraged by meditation may directly counteract the conditioned automatic response to

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-9566185103891666482011-01-24T14:21:00.009Z2011-01-24T14:35:58.597Z

In Nature there is no right and no wrong there just is... This may cause some controversy I know. However, I feel if we can see the things we need to understand about who we are as individuals, then and only then can we begin to change who we are from the false reality of this world to who we truly are. We are not separate from nature but an integral part of it and its process,

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-50434219105069233032011-01-23T09:10:00.004Z2011-01-23T10:13:34.552Z

A.S. "I was happy to attend Nature Awareness because I thought it would be free time and a break from groups. I didn't understand how trees and nature could be so powerful. I felt something I've never felt before, I can't really explain it.It was like I was high, but it was even a better high than drugs, I felt happy, got in touch with my feelings for the first time I've been here, and I started

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-11301793876650778662011-01-22T08:28:00.004Z2011-01-26T05:56:21.370Z

I thought Nature Awareness sounded a bit like school and was a bit cynical about being told about nature. I felt like I probably wouldn't feel or learn much. However, I have discovered or recovered a sensitivity for a 6th sense and the power of nature. I feel I found a real trust in a higher power through the workshop and believe it has been one of the most helpful groups in rehab so far.Fox the

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-10330480661636079882011-01-21T10:00:00.008Z2011-01-22T08:18:30.496Z

Below is another quote from someones experience of the weekend workshop held last November.K. L. "To sum up my experience - it was magical and I took so much away with me I don't even know where to start. I have to touch and hug trees everywhere I go, even South African trees haha. I took away a realisation of my lack of trust in myself and others, lots of things clicked into place and

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-63741548793093395962011-01-19T13:01:00.001Z2011-01-23T09:58:09.819Z

The jigsaw puzzle only has the straight edges on the outside and inside, the pieces are all over the place and just as in nature there are no straight edges and yet all the pieces fit together and work in harmony with each other.However, our modern world has many straight edges, buildings, roads, fields, bridges, in fact a friend of mine shared with me his experience from the other day. He was

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3133790006529430787.post-19426803492712208552011-01-18T07:45:00.009Z2011-01-22T08:18:58.951Z

In 1999 I did a trek in the Sinai desert to help raise funds for Mencap. We walked for about four days guided by a lone Bedouin and of course we slept under the stars. The Desert in my mind is a wonderful and very powerful place to be, many think that there is nothing there and yet when you take the time to sit and just be in the moment you will see that the desert is full of life. We encountered

Pathfinder-UKnoreply@blogger.com0