There is at least a punky spark in my heart and it may blaze in this autumn gold, fanned by the King. Some of my grandfathers must have been born on a muirland for there is heather in me, and tinctures of bog juices, that send me to Cassiope, and oozing through all my veins impel me unhaltingly through endless glacier meadows, seemingly the deeper and danker the better.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Muir feels an innate wild spirit within himself that thrives in nature, connecting him to his ancestral lands and driving him to explore vast, rugged landscapes.
- In plain terms
- He believes his soul is wired for the wild and draws him to remote natural places.
- What can you take from it?
- Nature calls to those with an innate wild spirit.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do you feel most alive?
- Does your heritage influence your view of nature?
Another view
It assumes a romantic connection to nature that not everyone feels.
More from John Muir
There is a love of wild nature in everybody an ancient mother-love ever showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties.
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