Ancient wisdom – the knowledge and practices passed down through generations – tends to endure when there is a deep resonance with what many perceive as fundamental truths. Such wisdom originates from the earliest thinkers, shamans, sages, and spiritual leaders who sought to make sense of life’s mysteries.
One of these teachings that has proved universal and persisted across cultures is the existence of an inner call to undergo psychological change – to journey into the wilderness (of one’s interior world) to encounter the unknown, risk transformation, and ultimately emerge different.
For some, this call might manifest as the profound, life-altering journey to become a Sangoma, a traditional healer in the Zulu and Xhosa cultures of South Africa. For others, it could be a call to change their attitude, career, relationships, or self-perception.
Folk tales, which have been passed down orally for centuries, are filled with the symbolism of this call as characters venture into dark forests. Stories like 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭 (1), 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯 (2), and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 (3) all depict the forest as a dangerous and risk filled place. However, they also highlight nature’s potential for protection, guidance, and healing.
Many ancient cultures lived in close relationship with the natural world and recognized the significance of nature as a place for connecting to the deeper layers of the psyche and the spirit world. Jung drew extensively from ancient traditions in his exploration of the human psyche and recognised how it is in encountering one’s wild-ness and confronting the shadowy parts within that true growth can occur and equally how resisting this journey towards change can lead to psychological imbalances and difficulties.
Could the ancient practice of physically entering the wilderness and immersing oneself in nature be worth keeping?
Could being in nature resonate for you in any way? If so, honour it, visit forests or any natural spaces and see what comes from the deeper connections that ancient cultures tapped into for psychological and spiritual benefits. The call to encounter our inner world is enduring, and nature can have a great deal to offer in enhancing this journey, if it is sought out.
Post written by Austin Smith, Clinical Psychologist and Jungian Analyst.
References:
1. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘮’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
2. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯 by Robert Johnson
3. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘮’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Image reference: A Pine Forest – Ivan Shishkin (1878)