The Macmillan Dictionary defines tracking as “the act of following or looking for a person, animal, or thing”. Hence, it does not only refer to following animals, like hunters do, but it can also apply to looking for a place.
We were doing tracking in Norbury Park, and our tracking aim was not an animal or even a person. We were tracking the Druids Grove!
After watching the documentary about Anna Breytenbach the animal communicator, and discovering the art of tracking, I was really eager to try it! The chance came up with us getting lost in Norbury Park in Surrey looking for massive up to 3,000 year old yew trees. You would think that the trees up to 5 metres in circumference would not be very easy to miss, however, we are indeed talented! After 4 hours of wondering around looking for the trees and desperate attempts to find them, I thought it was indeed my chance to try tracking! I tried to picture the trees that we were looking for and asked for the guidance. Never mind that I ended up bringing us to an even further away place from the trees, and in the end it was Gary who found them, I still enjoyed the experience! I think, with practice, tracking can really work well and bring you great results. But at that point, it was also very interesting to see that when I was in the “tracking mode”, my awareness considerably raised, and the senses seemed to have sharpened. It felt like I was a hunter tracking the prey – a very unusual feeling. I definitely felt more aware and mindful as well!
So my suggestion is – when you are in woods, forests, any natural locations, try tracking a place or, maybe, an animal – it might help you to stay more mindful in the process, sharpening your senses and taking you out of your head space. The worst thing that might happen is that you find yourself in a completely opposite location to the one you were hoping to get to. But, if you are lucky, you might even get the delight of getting to you tracked location or animal!
Have you ever tracked a person, animal, place, or a thing? How was your experience? Did you notice that your senses sharpened in the process, and you became more mindful and aware?
We would love to hear your stories!
