Healing Nature Divorcement with Ancestral Skills in the Great Outdoors with Micah Mortali

Micah Mortali, author of Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature, gives background on the rewilding movement, the effects of nature divorcement, and one accessible way you can start healing nature deficit disorder through mindfulness in the great outdoors. We also discuss how to "rewild" through the practice of ancestral skills, especially those within our lineages who lived in close relationship with the land, and the benefits to humans to rewild in this way. 

Our conversation covers: 

An introduction to the two forms of rewilding The benefits of human rewilding personally and for our planetRewilding as a movement to bond with Nature through connection and loveResearch on the detrimental effects of nature divorcement, including concepts like "nature deficit disorder", "place-blindness", "species loneliness", and the "green wall"Research on forest bathing and its effects on human immune functionHow to reverse the detrimental effects of disconnection from nature and/or to start the rewilding process Micah's go-to practice for accessible rewilding An introduction to the concept of ancestral skills The importance of embodiment to accessing Nature-centered inner wisdomHow disconnection from Nature has dulled our sensesAncestral skills as a form of meditationWhy this form of meditation is perfect for mothers and others with no time to sit quietlyWhy connecting with your own ancestral lineage is important when honoring the land you are rewilding withThe human benefits of rewilding through the practice of ancestral skills

  

Micah Mortali is the author of “Rewilding: Meditations, Practices and Skills for Awakening in Nature”, published by Sounds True. His life’s work is reconnecting modern people with the restorative powers of nature through mindfulness in the great outdoors. Micah is the founder of the groundbreaking Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership at the renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Micah is also a 500-hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher, a Level 2 Mindful Outdoor Guide and is wilderness first aid certified. He has studied with Tom Brown Jr. at the legendary Tracker School in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, and holds a Master’s Degree in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College. Micah leads trainings, corporate events, wilderness retreats and seminars on rewilding and mindful outdoor leadership at Kripalu and across New England. He lives in the Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts with his family.

More information:

Visit Micah's personal website to learn about his work and upcoming retreats and trainings

Learn more about Kripalu's school of mindful outdoor leadership

Connect with Micah on Instagram

Research article on forest bathing's effects on the human immune system