Wilderness Woman by Deborah Anderson

Wilderness Woman

Deborah Anderson

“What is wilderness, is it what separates people from the natural world? What is wilderness to you, unspoilt beauty and free from people? Or the appreciation of untouched places? New Year 2020 was another great authentic Scottish Hogmanay with friends, watching the famous Medieval parade marching through my village. Warding off evil spirits from each corner of Comrie. The Flambeaux. The Feeling of Scottish tradition, myths, Outlander, and the Scots spirit echoed through me, reminding me of my roots and where I’m proud to be from. Evoking my desires of being drawn to a land rich in history, legend, and beauty. Fast forward, it’s Jan 2021. In this last year every one of us has been forced to reflect and reassess how we live. If, like me, you have learned to be more mindful and thoughtful. You will have been able to appreciate simple pleasures and also realise that our actions can undoubtedly affect everyone of us, nature, and the planet. Something that we should have been aware of before but now this realisation is prevalent in every one of us. And this is it! Our life is beautiful. We realise we are not a necessity on this earth. Power and money are worthless when we don’t have control of our health. Let’s reclaim this time, awaken to enjoying our own company, in nothingness, in our own space and help ourselves by promoting self-care. It is not selfish to look after ourselves and I’m passionate about inspiring people to claw back their own much-needed personal space, time and hidden desires or beliefs. My self-care time is definitely when I feel I have reached the wilderness. I had planned for some further afield wilderness explorations, however, since March I actually discovered the wilderness can be accessed from right here on my doorstep. During lockdown, after many years of yearning to have one, I started my journey into the VW Campervan world. This is how my new love and appreciation of the VWs campers began. Driven by my desire to find a way to explore during Covid times. I expanded my Be Coorie ethos (see p54) by offering a new travel experience, the campervan rental. This has enabled me to feel some freedom and allowed others to discover their wilderness passion right here in Scotland. As we travel to these areas, I do feel that some places are too lovely, too sacred that we should perhaps have left untouched. We need to be mindful of our actions: conscious travellers, protecting the landscape to allow this ongoing experience of romantic ideas for future generations. We need to be conscious, responsible humans, not just travellers or adventure seekers. Through my lifestyle concept Be Coorie’s ‘a way of life’ I want to promote a movement towards a better society where we embrace what’s around us responsibly for the future of our environment, the people we interact with and the planet we leave behind. My promise to myself in 2021, is to be my most authentic self and to be mindful in every choice I make day to day. I may not be the most domesticated, the best mum, or friend and I’m probably a mix of Calamity Jane and a desperate housewife but I try to be the best version of myself. I realise it’s an ongoing transformation process and by reconnecting with our unique set of personal values I believe we connect with our instinctual, embodied wisdom that is at our core, almost our primal feelings. Which must be what draws me towards nature and feeling a need to be a part of it.”

Reconnect using nature’s gifts and embrace this winter.

Forest foraging for pine needles. Make an outdoor fire and brew pine needle tea. There are many Pine needle tea benefits, here are a few. 1.Rich in vitamin C (5 times the concentration of vitamin C found in lemons) and can bring relief to conditions such as heart disease, varicose veins, skin complaints and fatigue. Also an immune system booster which means that pine needle tea can help to fight illness and infections. 2.High in Vitamin A, it improves eyesight. Vitamin A is good for skin regeneration, your hair and improves red blood cell production, and can be used for sore throats, as an expectorant for coughs and to help relieve chest congestion. 3.Pine needles contain antioxidants and are known to reduce free radicals, which are harmful to humans and can cause disease. For your Becoorie home, after you pick some needles, let them soak in boiling water and it will add a crisp pine smell all over the house.

Photo: Yuri Janssen