International Mountain Day
"thinking like a mountain"
In recognition of International Mountain Day (December 11th). I thought it would be nice to share a few mountain-related things that have and continue to inspire and that now weave through my regenerative thinking.
… places of freshness and stillness, of bright and blue, of dark and brooding landscapes, of sunrise and sunset woven through moonrise and moonset, light of silver and gold, of sun, snow, mist and fog … of storms and starlight. (MB)
Mountains and outdoor spaces have been in my DNA for as long as I can remember, fed by experiences from being in the mountains and out of doors but also the wonderful and brilliant minds that have inspired and entertained through words, art and music.
John Muir, naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher: "The mountains are calling and I must go." "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
Robert Macfarlane, writer and mountaineer: "Mountains teach us our place in the world, showing us how small we are, how interconnected, and how much we still have to learn about ourselves and our place on this planet."
Nan Shepherd, hillwalker, naturalist, and The Living Mountain author: "Yet often the mountain gives itself most completely when I have no destination, when I reach nowhere in particular, but have gone out merely to be with the mountain as one visits a friend with no intention but to be with him."
It is in The Living Mountain, where Nan Shepherd has captured that deep personal connection with the mountains, more than just physical features; as living entities to relate to on a deeply emotional level. Visiting the mountains was not just a physical excursion; it was a journey of self-discovery and connection to nature
Rebecca Solnit, writer, historian, feminist, and activist: "Mountains are not just physical forms, they are a state of mind, a metaphor for the human experience. They can be wild and untamed, yet also welcoming and reassuring."
Jim Perrin, climber, writer, and mountaineer: "The mountains are a place of transformation. They can change us, make us stronger, and help us to see the world in a new light."
Eric Shipton, mountaineer, explorer, and travel writer: "Mountains are the greatest teachers of humility."
Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk and influential Zen master, "Mountains are not just physical structures; they are living beings with a spirit that speaks to our own. Let us listen to their whispers and let their wisdom guide us."
“Just as mountains can teach us about perseverance and strength, they can also teach us about humility and our place in the universe. Let us climb them with open hearts and minds, ready to learn from their many lessons."
Why Fairsnape as a consultancy name? Fair Snape Fell, (53°54’57.2″N 2°37’27.8″W) is visible from my base, located in the south west of the AONB Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, England. ‘Snape translates as ‘pasture’; hence FairSnape Fell is the ‘fell of the fair (beautiful) pasture’. With a 360 degree vista it is an impressive place in all seasons.
Fairsnape as a name was adopted to reflect the ‘thinking like a mountain’ required to address our climate and ecological crisis, and the necessary awareness of nature, of time and place, and of long term impacts from our short term thinking.
"Think like a mountain" a phrase coined by Aldo Leopold as a call to adopt a more holistic and interconnected view of the natural world, to see ourselves as part of a complex and interdependent ecosystem, the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of seeing the natural world from a broader perspective.
There are so many music artists I could mention here, three never far from my current playlists are Runrig, Erland Cooper, and I will leave you with the sublime work from Jenny Sturgeon’s The Living Mountain, inspired by and with words taken from the Nan Shepherd work.