Many of us felt called to this path, taught by Tom Brown through the Tracker School. Tom has often said that it was Grandfather himself who called us. There are miraculous stories of Tom’s books falling off the shelf, of “coincidentally” being told of the school, of stumbling across the website. And something was sparked. Something made you go beyond idle curiosity to actually taking a course. Something spoke to your heart.
And you found that the teachings of this path are immense and powerful. It is much more than “just” learning the skills. It is much more than “meditating.” These teachings hold the power to transform us deeply, changing us to the point where our old, shallow way of life seems anathema. The more we integrate the teachings, the deeper, more powerful, and more transformative they become.
What Drew You Here?
Go back to what drew you here first. Was it a love of Mother Earth? Wanting to become closer to God? Wanting to make a difference? This was and is your starting place.
What is it, on this path, that makes your heart sing?
Grandfather was a master of masters. He devoted himself and mastered everything. No small feat. Tom learned everything he could from Grandfather. It took a tremendous amount of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work to become a teacher of this knowledge to thousands from every walk of life imaginable. He was drawn to this path as a seven-year-old boy who loved nature and wanted to learn from an old native who knew how to live in the woods.
We are all older than Tom was when his heart was touched by this path. We have our limitations: ruts honed by years of living in this society, responsibilities, and commitments which we must live up to. We are also living in a far different time than the decades-ago when Tom grew up, or when Grandfather lived. There is an enormous pressure upon us, whether in our own lives and the fast-paced world we live in, or whether by the future we feel bearing down on us. And with this pressure, we can forget that little nudge inside, that little way we were drawn to be on this path.
It can be very fruitful to take a moment and remember what made you say “Yes!” to taking a class. Maybe it was your strong desire to learn the physical skills. And you came to this place and learned that there is so much more than the physical. Maybe you feel a pull to be a champion of the oppressed, and in your heart-of-hearts, you knew that this path could somehow help you to do this and overcome darkness in some way. Maybe you read Tom’s deep messages of loving Mother Earth and his pain when she is treated with disdain, and you wanted to learn how to relate to her as a living, loving entity. To honor her truly as a living entity in her own right with her own purpose, need, and Medicine.
What Makes Your Heart Sing?
Find that sweet spot within. Go deep. Feel into your heart of hearts for why you are here. Honestly, gently, lovingly. Next, using the friendly part of your mind, find a word or short phrase that sums it up. And then, when things become overwhelming, or we feel like we just want to lay down and quit, or the trials seem too arduous, we can go back to that place which drew us here, keeping it as our guide.
What was it that made your heart sing? Is it Joy? Love? Protection? Spirit? Making a Difference? Safety? Healing darkness? Strengthening the Light? Living with the Earth?
No one can answer this but you. Allow yourself the latitude for it to deepen, evolve, and grow, even as you deepen, evolve, and grow. And allow it to bring a spring to your step and a confidence to your walking this path. The more we can focus on our positive purpose and joy, the more it will draw us further along this path which has made us all Family.
As Grandfather said, “What good are your beliefs if they don’t bring you joy?” And it is a joy that brings us closer to the Earth, to the Creator, to making a greater difference in our lives and those whom we touch, and to each other. For surely, with each of us being Grandfather’s grandchildren, with each of us being drawn here for a reason, with each of us contributing our hearts and minds in whatever way feels right, we are brothers and sisters all. We are Family.