Wisdom
Nature, thy teacher
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived…”. This quote by the prolific 19th century nature philosopher, Henry Thoreau, sums it up nicely.
The true “nature” of life and living things beholds a wisdom that is so palpable to humans that all one must do is to take sight of a waterfall or smell the fresh ocean air to know of it’s presence. Yet we are so disconnected from our roots that we struggle to understand it or even put it into words.
It is through the most beautifully serendipidous encounter with nature that a wizard is revealed within the man, for the curious soul only need to immerse himself humbly into the fabric of the natural ecoystem, to share breath with the leaves and to feel the the earth’s heartbeat underfoot, before he is gifted with the timely reminder that it is he himself that is part of this immense and mystical source.
And it was in this way that the wizard community began!
We would like to boast that the perspective and insight that we’ve gained over the years was pre-meditated and planned, but the humble truth is that it was given. We wizards can confirm that there is indeed a deep and infinite knowledge in the woods…and perhaps the same inside all humans; something which we have always had; a treasured resource which can be liberated by a genuine connection to the lifeforce of our planetary origins. As if our ancestorial knowledge is inherent and available if we can just stop and listen.
Wizards quickly began to recognize that by wandering through nature we allow her to impart upon us gifts such as deeper intuition, harmony, self-transcendence, and a vast awareness of infinite things simultaneously known, unknown and unknowable.
Once a wizard knows this, he will return to nature to seek it repeatedly.
“A wizard will wander, and in his wanderings lies his wisdom”.
Social learning
“My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration. I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know that it exists.” Nikola Tesla
Nature has such overwhelming wisdom, that a wizard merely needs to turn up and witness it’s beauty for their to be a positive exchange. And what we have found is that the profound effect that nature has upon our selves then manifests into more connectedness to others, becoming then a catalyst for story-telling and the intuitive sharing of collective knowledge.
Wizards have discovered that ultimately, a group of people in nature will promote social learning that is volumous, high quality, and therapeutic.
Awards
The Master Wizard Award is awarded once in a wizard’s life. After receiving the award, a wizard will hereby gain the title of Master Wizard. New master wizards are selected by current masters.
The criteria are as follows :
- Resembling the wizard-way in day to day life
- Promoting wizard values to wizards and non-wizards alike
- Recruitment of great men into the wizard family
- Initiating creative ideas towards improving wizard events
- Charitable dedication of time and other resources
- Demonstrated enthusiasm, participation and commitment to the wizard community
The Golden Wizard Award is given to the wizard who demonstrates the most outstanding efforts during the annual wizard event. The Golden Wizard has sacrificed his own time and contributed significant energy to ensure that fellow wizards enjoy themselves. The Golden Wizard remains titled until the next event.
Master Wizard Awards
2022
Pat Sargent
Paul Michael
2023
Wesley Vasile
Rhys Staples
Golden Wizard Award
2022
Rick McLaren
2023
Adam Copping
2024
Dan Chapman
Wizard of the Weekend Award
2023
Ben Croft
Story
Story telling has become an important part of wizard culture. The practice of story-telling has become a forgotten art, with digital media now becoming the go-to entertainment for the modern world.
But face-to-face story offers so much more! A story told within a group resonates with those who listen. Values and moral beauty can be shared and learned. Stories about myth and legend is a tradition that our ancestors used to find meaning and purpose in our world.
The wizards have grown fond of the Hero’s Journey, a book written by Joseph Campbell. We can relate to the Hero’s Journey in our own lives, and use it as a guide and reminder that adversity and challenge is often the way to new strengths, powers and wisdoms.
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” J.Campbell, 1949.
Creation
Through the act of physically wandering and observing the passing beauty of nature, and in the absence of distraction, it has been observed that the mind will often enter a state of intense mind wandering. In this heightened state of imagination, a wizard can find himself more effortlessly rearranging his thoughts than otherwise possible in his routine life.
A wizard may confront his most stubborn challenges in this powerful state-of-mind, and instead of feeling trapped and without answers, generate useful and creative thoughts and ideas to reveal solutions that were previously boxed in. The power of the mind at this frequency can enable a wizard flexible and fluent thinking which may help him to sort out his priorities, re-order his highest values, find gratitude in his life and re-direct his purpose.
Wizards embrace the tendency of the mind to imagine, and from the imagination comes creation. Enjoy some wizard creation in the form of poetry.
Contribution
The concept of “contribution” became a key aspect of a wizard event, right from the time of inception. By intuition and natural tendencies, a wizard will feel compelled to contribute to a wizard experience.
Contribution is the glue that binds the wizard community together.
A wizard also knows the power of surprise, and so you will never find a wizard revealing too much. A wizard never reveals what is in his pack.
A wizard knows that his contribution is worthy, as long as he believes it to be so; with the emphasis being on believing!
The gift of giving has become a key ingredient of the “magic” that flavours a wizard event. “Contribution” can be in any form or shape, and a wise wizard knows that the more he puts in, the more he gets out.
Into the Silence
As per the usual flow of things, when men get together there is an approximate sequence of conversational topics, starting with the exchange of pleasantries, and often followed by a mixture of well-intentioned enquiries, utter nonsense, humour and general updates.
Hours could go by in this manner of chatter, albeit for the wizards emphasis on of the importance of periodic “quiet time”.
By introducing silence to the wandering group, something powerful ensues. Once the “noise” has been sifted away, a quiet wizard can then readily connect with his genuine self, but in the safe and assuring proximity of his closest tribesmen!
A wizard in silence is not alone, but he is with himself. He can descend deeply into internal exploration, and then afterwards ascend back to an opportunity to share with his fellows the newfound adjustments to his challenges and the foremost matters of the mind. The most therapeutic discussions will happen after “quiet time”, where vulnerabilities, authenticity, and courage are often revealed.
