In Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture it talks about communitas. This is defined as an unstructured relationship, spontaneous bond, or comradeship formed on the Trail. Then in Wilderness as Axis Mundi, it discusses that the Appalachian Trail separates people from cultured systems, hierarchical structures of society, making a communitas more possible. This made me start thinking about how social hierarchy shapes out relationships with the people around us. I have witnessed situations where people have treated someone differently when they find out what the job is, or their religion or sexual orientation. These are all things that are influenced by ‘social norms’. I wish that life was like it is on the trail, in a communitas. On the trail a person’s job or social standing means nothing to anyone else. While in the outside world, things are completely different. But is there anything we could even do to change that? I imagine, maybe one person at a time, maybe we all need to experience the Appalachian Trail in order to grow spiritually. Maybe one day.
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