Wilderness, The Gateway To The Soul: Spiritual Enlightenment Through Wilderness (Nature Book Series) Paperback – July 15, 2018

This book was so descriptive, poetic, and grounding. I love how the author described his experiences out in the great wilderness, showcasing his adventures, admiring the beautiful creations of the universe, and showing us just how humbling our natural world is. This book describes a sort of coming home, a return to that deep, primal, spiritual longing we all seek, and he describes how nature beckons us back to her, where we can finally be filled. It’s inspired me to get outside more and focus on finding my own way back to my soul and back to the universe by reconnecting with nature. Beautiful book, and I definitely recommend for others like me feeling restless, longing for something, wondering if we can ever find it if we disconnect from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life and remove ourselves from the destructive, restrictive, constrictive nature of the manmade society humans have created. This book is a return to our wild roots.

Inspiration is found all around us. We first need to be still and be open. Engage our senses and breathe. With opening eyes, a title catches a glint of light. Wilderness - The Gateway to the Soul. By Scott Stillman. Inspiration found.As a silent companion, Stillman takes us along in his rucksack. Together. We tramp. We stand in awe. We are still. We are wild.We walk through the boundless spaces and he gives us confidence. We develop a deep appreciation for these wild spaces and a profound calm arrives when we surrender, let go and venture - towards or into, our heart’s desires. Walking, anywhere, is good for the soul.Had I glanced at his bibliography, I would have known right away that this was a book I’d enjoy. Movies and books and songs that were present in the creation of this book. Wow. What a novel concept!Scott Stillman asks us to leave book reviews on Amazon, he even explains how to do it! He lists his contact information. How to follow along as he travels with his blog. Great information that helps to develop community. The fact that he mentions SUWA, what their mission is and how to support them. Kudos. As a traveler to some of the regions in this book, with an affinity for the Four Corners. This made me smile.I especially enjoy how Stillman closes his worthy book. NO SPOILERS. With wonderfully beautiful and blank pages. White space. So we may draw on our inspiration - to write our own notes, make lists, maybe even compose a picture or lyrical verse.Stillman mentions some well worn, ragged paperbacks that he carries in his pack, into the wild. This is one of those.At a book signing in Durango, Craig Childs wrote an inscription to me. I never thought to share it. But it is apropos. Because when you finish reading Wilderness - The Gateway to the Soul, you will want to…..”Wander out of this book onto the hard, wild ground. Drink from the sky.” - Craig Childs (in my copy of Tracing Time. Another worthy read).— — Walk on.

I just finished the book. I'm ashamed to admit that I did speed read most of it. I read it in one sitting on a rare, rare day, a single day, when I actually had the time. I did slow down, and read intently, those parts that spoke to my soul. Those parts would be where Scott spoke of our neverending business that we all must endure. The relentlessness of modern society. On one of the later pages he spoke extensively of when he was a kid and the little patch of woods, now sadly gone like many others, sacrificed to the god of progress, where he and his friends would spend every last waking second. I lived that life. I miss that life. Parts of this book described, precisely, my human experience, my longings. Though I don't agree with all his conclusions and assertions that the wilderness is love, all is love, blah, blah, the book is a quick and extremely easy read. Definitely recommend. Best if read in a peaceful surround, wilderness preferred. :^)

Three years ago I helped a friend move. I drove her car from Atlanta to LA. I had never been out West except for when I was very young and we lived in Alaska. I had only vague memories of snow, moose, snowmobiles, and huskies.I drove thru north Louisianna in the days after Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston. The clouds and rain still lingered while convoys of Cajuns passed me while I drove through Shreveport with their trailers loaded down with flat bottom boats, airboats, and off-road vehicles. They were headed to Houston to help.I stopped for two days in Waco to visit my sister and her family. I gave my nephew and his friends an impromptu basketball clinic at the YMCA.From there I traveled through northeast Texas to my next stop in Roswell, NM. I began to see the vastness and wide-open space of the West. I was awed by the windmill farms; thousands of giant white windmills over hundred of miles. They stretched above the horizon and beyond. I passed thru Lubbock and saw the small towns of Texas and the prairies.Passing into New Mexico I saw herds of pronghorn antelope grazing on the same grass as cattle and a landscape I had only seen in cowboy movies. I stayed in Roswell that night. I wish I had been able to explore this legendary town. From the home I stayed at I could see the Capitan Mountains in the horizon.The next day I drove thru North New Mexico. Passing thru Albequerque I listened to a heavy metal station. I began to see the mesas and western landscape I had seen only in John Wayne or Kevin Costner films. I half expected a Commanche war party to come over the rise at any moment.I got into Arizona and saw the dessert for the first time as it opened up. I rolled the windows down to feel the heat. I stopped and stood on a corner in Winslow, Arizona even though I don't think I was a fine sight to see.Driving up the mountain to Flagstaff it was 108 degrees. I began to see signs telling me to look out for elk and my excitement peaked hoping I would see my favorite animal.Arriving in Flagstaff at the end of August in the early afternoon it was sunny and 76 degrees! The campsite attendant told me it never got over 80. That night I slept in a teepee and woke up at 5 am to 42 degrees. I was freezing but I felt alive.Leaving that morning the GPS said 498 miles until Highway 15 into LA. Coming down that mountain in the early morning sun I saw the most beautiful landscape I had ever see. Green grass, farms, towns, it was endless and something a picture could not capture. I seared it to my memory.Three hours later I pulled into a truck stop to 115 degrees outside. I still had on the windpants and pullover from the 42-degree morning back on the mountain. Back into my shorts and t-shirt.Coming into California I suddenly felt like I was on Tatooine. Huge sand dunes and hills gave way to the mountains and scrub brush of the Mojave. I felt as if I had gotten lost I would look for Moses and the Israelites for directions. It was endless.Pulling into a lone convenience store I laughed that it fit the stereotype of every California dessert horror movie I had seen. The white-washed building, a lone palm tree, and a hearse. If I had gotten out and heard The Eagles playing I would have pee'd on the side of the road!Passing thru Barstow I remembered 1000 country songs about the town and saw the sign 115 miles to Las Vegas. I came into LA through a huge mountain pass and watched the outside temp dropped from 110 to 84. I had made it. I passed thru Korea Town and by the Tar Pits. Later my friend and I drove down Sunset Strip. We wound up at the Santa Monica Pier where I had my one wish met; seeing the Pacific Ocean. I was early evening and we wore hoodies, shorts, and flip flops. It was the best.The next I began to try and fly home. I sat in LAX waiting to fly standby and it was 12 hours before I could get a flight to Nashville. I had to sweet talk to the gate attendant to get me on the flight and she put me in comfort coach. I got into Nashville in the middle of horrible thunderstorms with the airport closed. I washed off in the bathroom and changed into my last clean pair of shorts, underwear, and t-shirt.I could not get a flight to Atlanta the next morning. Storms had ravaged the area and many flights were canceled or delayed. I bought a bus ticket, not knowing I had bought two tickets. A short cab ride downtown and I was on a bus with two seats to myself. I slept the whole time not knowing it took two extra hours due to an accident. I made it home about 8:00 that night.Why did I write all of this? Because this book reminded me that while I was on that trip I said "I will be back...and I will take my time. I won't drive-thru. I will take my time and I will be back."Thank you for this book. It reminded me where I belong.My first wilderness was my grandparent's farm in Giles County, TN.