Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature

Micah Mortali

Sounds True (DEC 3) Softcover $17.95 (256pp) 978-1-68364-325-8

Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership Micah Mortali’s engaging and accessible guidebook Rewilding forwards practical exercises for experiencing nature, whether in the middle of a city, a suburban park, or a forest.

Sealed away from nature in pristine subdivisions and office buildings, people spend most of their time in front of computers, smartphones, and television screens; we’ve lost touch with the wild earth, though it is foundational to our being. So argues Rewilding, which also asserts that accelerated alienation from the natural world contributes to a general sense of anxiety, isolation, and restlessness. Getting back in touch with the wild is proposed as a way of helping people “remember what we are, where we belong, and how much we have to be grateful for.”

Unfolding like a gentle saunter in the woods, the text is assured and conversational, whether it’s recounting Mortali’s family’s treks in the Berkshire mountains, sharing the lessons he learned as a retreat leader, or citing the spiritual wisdom of Black Elk, David Abrams, and the Upanishads. Its exercises focus on being present and attentive; many are based on principles of yoga.

The book also outlines practical survival skills like building a shelter from branches and leaves, using ancient techniques to start a fire, and foraging for food. Soulful insights combine with practical advice for accessing nature wherever it’s found, including lists of essential items to pack for a day trip and tips for ensuring safe exploration.

What makes Rewilding most engaging is how grounded it is, and how open and humble its guide is, sharing personal experiences and insights drawn from hundreds of retreats. Rewilding is a vital resource for restoring and deepening connections to the primal world with joy, wonder, and confidence.