Home     Bookshelf     Bio     Shadow Soldiers     Photo Gallery     Contact     Links     Running Commentary/Blog

June 12, 2008

WAY FINDERS

inuk-1.JPG

The Inukshuk I found in my forest today.

For those who might ask, Inuksuit were originally directional markers left by the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic as they traveled across the barren tundra — a vast landscape where permafrost leaves few natural landmarks. The carefully-balanced stones have different meanings, and are a language of navigation with roots deep in the Inuit culture. The markers also signify safety, hope and friendship. They say that someone has walked this way, that you are not alone.

The inukshuk concept has been embraced by local hikers in these hills and woods, a form of impromptu art … a strange urge people seem to have, to pick stones up from the moss, feel their heft, and temperature and shape … to balance them carefully in often very complex ways. To tell someone they were here.

The sculptures stand for a day or so, then they are gone.

And to come across one in the silent, dripping forest feels somehow …. magical. Like a story.

Posted by Loreth @ 9:48 pm | THE RUNNING LIFE, THE WHISTLER LIFE, THE WRITING LIFE  

3 Responses to “WAY FINDERS”



  1. Toni Anderson Says:

    I love finding them. Even in gardens…we do have some rocks in our garden now I think of it…


  2. Elaine Says:

    Loreth, thanks for sharing this with us. Here, in NY, I’ve never heard about these stones, but what a fascinating insight to see how people through hundreds of years wanted to encourage others that they are not alone.

    Elaine, who may have not commented in a while, but still checks in for a taste of life in BC :)


  3. Loreth Says:

    Good to ’see’ you Elaine!!!

Leave a Reply


Running Commentary

Point of View


follow Loreth at http://twitter.com

THE SHADOW SOLDIERS

Blog Links


Categories

Archives

Search

Feeds

Meta

Click here to join LorethAnneWhite
Click to join LorethAnneWhite




Free Java Chat from Bravenet.com Free Java Chat from Bravenet.com
Home | Bookshelf | Bio | Shadow Soldiers | Photo Gallery | Contact | Links | Running Commentary/Blog