GCC 2019 - 10 Take a Walk

Take a Walk in Nature

Nature is not a place
to visit. It is home.
-Gary Snyder

Nature is orderly. That
which appears to be chaotic
in nature is only a more
complex kind of order.

Design notes from Chris Mackey:

I had a vision recently for a friend's personal coin, but it wasn't quite on target so like many other ideas of mine, it was laid aside to be examined again at some later date. I went on to new designs and new ideas for awhile, but I kept coming back to this idea though. I really enjoyed the concept so gave it another chance on the drawing board and I'm glad I did now.

It was inspired by two quotes by Pulitzer Prize winner Poet Laureate Gary Snyder. It's a reminder that the outdoors isn't some alien place, but rather your home. Going into your house or apartment is the alien concept out of sync with nature. We're meant to be a part of a living, breathing world of constant and natural change. Nature is the pure form and probably why our souls feels so much more at peace when we once again embrace it.

On the face of the coin we see a hiker with her faithful trail companion stepping boldly into a scene of earth and water, sun and light, plant and animal life threading through it all. Geocaching is a wonderful bridge between the alien order of technology and the natural order of the planet. It encourages us to embrace both together in harmony.

From a distance or in a sudden moment, nature can appear as a wild confusing tumbleweed of disorder. When you slow down and immerse yourself in it though... all the details come to life. I love how at a glance, the reverse side of this coin can seem a tangled mess without order. When you slow down and examine the details though, a whole new image comes to life. A cycle of perfect harmony beats through nature and is mirrored in the details here. The chase, the cycle of life, death, movement and season are constantly rolling inexorably forward.

So get back out there on the trail and visit the home for your soul!