Do you think we should Return to Natural and Ancient Wisdom for the kind of Healing that Builds Confidence, Authenticity, and an Ability to be At Ease with those we Love?
- Mandy Young
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Have you ever sat quietly beneath a tree or beside a lazy stream, feeling—if only for a moment—your heart settle and your breath deepen? In a world where healing is often reduced to pills, could the greatest medicine be the wild world itself, guided by the wisdom of those who have lived in harmony with it for centuries?
Modern psychology is finally beginning to catch up to something Indigenous.
Have you ever sat quietly beneath a tree or beside a lazy stream, feeling—if only for a moment—your heart settle and your breath deepen? In a world where healing is often reduced to pill? Could the greatest medicine be the wild world itself, guided by the wisdom of those who have lived in harmony with it for centuries?
As far back as 1999, Linda Hogan, co-author of Intimate Behaviour, whilst observing wild eagles says:
Working with animals became the centre of my life, the pivot point at which I learnt to think differently. I knew I was in the presence of intelligence, and I had to learn new kinds of behaviour to be with them, a slowness, a stillness and inner silence that is no longer common in our fast-moving lives
Because of this work I took a fresh look at the traditions of the past, those of my ancestors and other tribal people to help me define the possibilities of the future and how to better the relationship between animals and ourselves
I looked to these older traditions because of the inhumanity of the Western world, the places – both inside and out – where that culture’s knowledge and language no longer goes, spawning despair and desperation.
I’ve found, too, that the ancient intellectual traditions are not merely about systems of belief. Belief is not a strong enough word. They are more than a belief. They are part of lived, ongoing experience of people rooted in centuries-old knowledge about the magnificent terrestrial law of the Earth, from the beginning of creation, Theirs is an intelligence that is held deep and strong, still at work, an intelligence now newly called ecology by Western science.
In the sacred rituals of the San Bushladies finding food and herbal remedies, or the mindful presence of a Masai tribal elder sharing stories with the children in his village under a vast African sky, lies an approach to well-being both ancient and astonishingly relevant for our restless, disconnected times.
Ecopsychology, the science that explores our deep bond with the earth, helps make sense of why simply being outdoors—especially within diverse landscapes—boosts mood, calms trauma, and strengthens resilience. But what makes nature so potent is not the landscape alone, but our way of being within it. Here, Indigenous practices and contemplative mindfulness become the bridge.
What Life Lessons can be Inspired in the Wild?
In my years witnessing the healing power of wilderness, wild animals and tribal peoples are our greatest teachers.
Observing an elder perform a slow, attentive walk, barefoot, attuned to every sound, and watching the way his hands reverently touch the soil or his eyes track the shifting light, is very grounding, It helps us connect with ourselves and brings us back into our skin and our senses.
Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, reminds us this is where we need to return, to our bodily sensations and memories for the healing of trauma. Being in nature in this way, encourages just that.
Try These Nature-Based Practices to Weave Old and New Wisdom
Ritual Pause: At sunrise or sunset, create a small daily ritual—light a candle, pour a cup of tea, step outside and greet the day. Let this be a quiet ceremony for noticing, listening, and offering gratitude to the land.
Listen Like a Tracker: If you’re outdoors, spend ten minutes listening to the world as if it’s trying to tell you something important. This is how Bushmen learns to track—not just animals, but themselves.
Contemplative Sit Spot: Find a place under a tree, on a hill, or in your garden. Close your eyes, feel your body supported by the earth, and allow sensations, memories, and emotions to rise and fall. What does this place invite you to remember about belonging?
Stories from the Wild: Integrating Traditions, Finding Wholeness
In the wild with tribal people, healing often happens in community. Recently on an immersive Meet the Masai journey in Amboseli Nature Reserve in Kenya, I watched a participant who had struggled for years with unresolved grief. It wasn’t until she joined an evening circle with the Inkankare village people—where stories were shared, songs were sung, and grief was welcomed without hurry—that she felt something shift. Under a sky splattered with stars, she whispered to me, “It isn’t just the wild that heals. It’s being witnessed by others, in a place that feels timeless and true.”
If you are longing to experience this fusion of Indigenous, wilderness, contemplative, and ecopsychological wisdom first-hand, listen and respond to the call of the wild, You deserve to experience your own inspirations and healing as we re-learn not only from the bush itself, but from its original people and their ways of being. Try our Healing Power of Dolphins wilderness Meet the Masai, or read fresh reflections on the blog.
You deserve the belonging, insight, and quiet transformation that come from walking ancient paths—with current personal intentions. Let nature and her oldest wisdom keep you company this season, and watch what opens up inside.
With wild wishes,Mandy YoungPsychologist & Ecopsychologistwildernessencountersafrica@gmail.com
You deserve the steadying, honest presence of the wild. If your mind is al over the place, let nature be your gentle guide back to focus, curiosity, and a deeper sense of belonging.
With wild wishes,
Mandy Young Psychologist & Ecopsychologist
WhatsApp: +44 7456 184 700
P.S. If you’re curious about integrating Indigenous and contemplative healing on your life’s path—or simply need a reminder that you’re not alone—reach out. When we return to wild wisdom, even for a day, we begin the journey home to ourselves. Join the next wilderness experience—the wild is waiting to meet you.
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