Erin King- topic of choice reflection

Interactions with nature are essential for human happiness. People are not meant to live in places with out trees, which provide us the oxygen to live. It is sad to think about the value some people place on wilderness, seeing it only as space to clear to make money. One thing I have taken from this class is the variety of sacred place that exists. I had never thought so in depth about the qualifications for sacred space, like Lane's axioms. I had also never considered the participation of the place in the expereince of nature. I definitely have a greater appreciation for wilderness. The different stories of pilgrimages and hikes such as the AT really inspire me to backback through the wilderness. I have always considered the connection with the earth an important aspect of my life, but I have never experienced wilderness in its truest form. Because of this class I definitely want to hike parts of the AT and other trails and really experience the power of sacred space that we have discussed. I really enjoyed this class and would recommend it to anyone that cares about the natural world.