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serenawhitridge
Mar 14, 20203 min read

An exploration of Fear

Updated: Mar 24, 2020



The irony of this title is that exploration (in nature) causes fear, you are distanced from civilization in a remote wilderness. In my adult life, this is where I have a healthy dose of fear— in the unknown. Skiing through couloirs, avalanche territory, underneath cliffs, and through fresh beautiful snow has an ominous, cautionary side. Pristine alpine, summer lakes have temperatures that vary, winds pick up quickly, and wildlife crosses your path suddenly. This is privileged fear, a self chosen path. It is self prescribed unknown that I willingly enter. Why? For the beauty of the natural world and for the elation I feel inside my body when I am moving.


The idea of being so far out in nature is foreign to city folk and fear mongering to the most adventurous of folk, albeit there’s beauty all around. Beauty is laced with darkness. Fear is laced with beauty. Exploring the unknown where humans are in the minority has an edge to it. The unknown is scary because we have to expect the unexpected.


Fear in Chinese Medicine is associated with winter, the Kidneys, and the north. Fear can deplete Kidney jing, which causes the upper burner to be obstructed. All the energy remains in your head and chest. This is an issue in Chinese medicine because qi is rising and qi is not descending. How do you combat fear in Chinese medicine? Breathe, ground down, take a foot bath and go for a long walk. Your feet contain Kidney-1, the start of the Kidney meridian, the more you walk, the more engage your Kidney channel and allow qi to descend.



Humans often look at emotions in isolation. Yet, one-sided emotions are not dynamic. Within a day, you move through over ten emotions. Fear is one emotion. An emotion in isolation implies you solely experience one emotion. When I am in the wilderness I move through many emotions. Emotions include serenity, awestruck, quietude and a never-ending expansion of gratitude for the world around me. Fear is a part of my experience, but not the whole part.


If you live in constant fear, you live in constant scarcity mode. Fear is defined as (n) unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. A constant life lived in fear negates the beauty, gratitude, and small acts of kindness. If fear is predominant there is not a lot dynamism or community. There is isolation and crippling emotions.




Indeed, we are living in a bizarre time. One in which COVID-19 has taken lives worldwide and caused a pandemic of disease and fear. I encourage those who feel fearful to participate in small acts of kindness, to give to those in need (virtual donations or provide groceries to a non-able bodied citizen/neighbor). Go to the grocery store for your neighbor or the elderly. And if you are privileged to reconnect with nature, even if it is just a tree or a patch of moss, do so. The natural world has a lot to teach us, especially right now as we learn to slow down and be okay with solitude.


COVID19 has good to offer—spend quality time with family and friends. Catch-up with people over the phone. COVID-19 has encouraged those who travel and live fast-paced lives to slow down. Due to lack of travel, our earth is being replenished. Consumerism and the stock market are at an all time low. This is an opportunity to restructure unstable large companies, learn how to be more self-sufficient. Be curious about this rather than fearful. Take time to breathe, start to meditate, sew, learn how to draw, exercise and step into your senses. It is a wonder that no other event that I know of has everyone staying grounded. Yes, it is a shame for our economy, people struggling financially, people in debt, and those who have no way to pay their mortgage. Help these people. Help small businesses and buy a gift-card. Stay in the wonder and the creativity. If you are fearful, explore that emotion gently too.



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