Monday, January 17, 2011

"Circumnavigations....."




The circle is a powerful symbol. Many adventurers embrace the concept of the 'Grand Circle', knowingly or not. It blends with all of what we do out there as we enclose our wanderings within the language, ways, and means of such symbols. The circle has also been viewed as a continuous path in many cultures and histories. Circles upon, and within circles - or circumnavigations; are very potent adventures. Such voyages and journeys take us all around, all the way to the edges, and then finally back again...
We so circumscribe the elements, crossing meridians, and all points of the compass by doing so, in actuality and through the adventure metaphor as well.
I remember... Circumnavigating those many coastal islands, then returning again to the same point we launched and embarked upon, but not as the same persons at all...
We recall... Surrounding Mt. Temple from east to west, north & south and then back again, from trail head to scramble route, through hiking and climbing, and so much more...
We remember... Following the circumference of so many maps from wild places to further wilderness, then on to that internal terrain even more elusive...
I myself remember... The circuitous nature of returning, coming back full circle, to the very first mountain climbed, the initial river rafted, where a certain wild animal was first sighted, that place where the worst fall was taken, the lakes of my youth, the injury that almost ended these journeys, and those so special wild places where some selected little stones were gathered up and an idea was formed...
Such potent symbols circles are, such wonderful journeys circumnavigations become.....
DSD
My appreciation to M. Hill for the above images.

4 comments:

Alexandra said...

What wonderful thoughts you have shared here! I like the idea that even those selected little stones go on their own circumnavigation and end up back in the wild where they came from. I am very thankful I can be a part of this!

Jason A. Hendricks said...

Nice thoughts. I love how you have a way of taking things down to it's most basic level. I included a link to this post on my new site.

Cheers-
Jason
Extreme Adventure News.com

Unknown said...

Thanks Alexandra & Jason.
Hope your new year adventures are unfolding great!
DSD

Gregory Backpacks said...

An eclectic approach to hiking it seems....