Shane Davis

I have been on a somewhat spiritual journey the last few weeks.
A story I was reading by Wayne Dyer said, a test you can take to see if you're truly free of your ego is to walk in the woods alone at 3am every morning for a year.

Last night I decided to give this a go. It was 10pm and there was a full moon. None the less the last time I headed out to the bush behind our house around this hour, I was almost run down by a mob of kangaroos being chased by wild dogs. That had happened within a couple of minutes of entering the track and on that occasion had freaked me right out.

Last night was completely different. I wasn't metaphysically alone, having a guide and divine protector within.
Almost straight away the reserve was like a magical fairyland bathed in cool silky moonlight. It was like day in subdued tones. Almost dream like. I hiked to the top of the ridge.
I spent some time at the top peacefully, then headed down through the bush to the other side. I was so relaxed in the experience it just felt right to free hike.
This is in the centre of a built up urban area, but I figured no one else was crazy enough to be up there at that hour. The frequent jiggers and dog walkers etc.

By the time I got back to the streets, after this experience, it felt like I'd been somewhere else entirely. A magical place few if any might visit.
It took me back to the occasions when I'd walk along the beach after work where I'd previously lived. I would observe the city lights across the water and realise how fortunate I was. There were a few thousand people across the water, stuck in traffic, stuck in depressing jobs, shallow relationships and the like. There I was in paradise, at peace, living a life of tranquility. I very much relived that sensation last night. All it took was a shift in paradigm.

To some degree that is what Naktiv is about. Breaking the paradigms of entrapment so we can rediscover true inner freedom.
If you have the opportunity and it feels right, I urge you to give it a go some time.

It's day 3 of my wheat free diet and so far so good.
The two most interesting aspects I've discovered so far is food seems to be tasting better. Perhaps I'm just enjoying it more, and eating it seems a much more orderly process.

Whether it's the lack of wheat, or simply having to stop and think "what can I eat that hasn't got wheat in it" appears to be taming the Cookie Monster within.

I know for a fact I'm an "emotional eater". Especially when I'm tired. If I've been concentrating hard, and feel a little listless, I tend to eat more as a mental break or treat than actually being hungry.

If I'm tired and hungry, it's a near disaster. I'll pretty much mindlessly scoff down whatever I can lay my hands on, which is almost always snack foods I know aren't doing my hungry or weight control any good. None the less, once the "Cookie Monster" within gets started, it's pretty much all over. Probably the main difference between myself and the TV character at those times, is I'd don't let any crumbs go to waste 🙂

The last two days have been somewhat different. I haven't been looking around for something sweet afterwards to finish off a meal.
Previously maintaining control was a conscious effort. I had to force myself to be mindful of my health goals.
The last two days have been entirely different. I've only eaten when I actually feel hungry. If it's not a main meal I've been choosing fruit.
I haven't felt empty afterwards either. Thinking "I've just eaten something, but I don't feel satisfied yet."

It's too early to determine if I've been a food junkie because of wheat. I do feel way more in control though.
I can't wait to see what results 1 whole week might bring. Kicked wheat feels a bit like kicking tobacco. You set your mind to it knowing the results will be worth it, and you do what it takes to be successful.

I've been reading with some interest the posts and comments about Naturism, public nudity and where on the bus we should be sitting.

Taking a somewhat outside perspective on it, my overall thoughts are these.

In New Zealand there is no statue law against public nudity. There have been a couple of cases against people jogging nude along beaches etc, but all the ones I know of have been thrown out.
Despite this, it's not that common to see nudity in NZ. I think once on a hike around Mt Tongarero we came across some skinny dippers, and we ourselves made use of a near by waterfall to shower. Even in summer the water is absolutely freezing.
It's somewhat uncommon to see people naked there even though anywhere there's water, it's basically legal to be naked.

I noticed the comments about Steve Gough not doing naturism much good. Initially I didn't understand him, but now that I do, naturism actually has little to do with what he's trying to do. He just wants to be himself. For him, being himself is being naked.

Here on Naktiv siteI've seen people advocating public nudity anywhere. On that basis you should be cheering Steve Gough. On the other hand there's been others that have asserted that there's a time and a place.

I'm inclined to fall into this latter category for pragmatic reasons.

The fact we must face is that cities and modern society are basically unnatural. I had the pleasure of watching Xingu. A movie about the Villas-Bôas brothers, and Brazil's first Indian reserve.
That movie underlines the impacts of modern life and how it separates people from the land, the environment and a more natural, simpler way of life.

I think a cold hard fact that isn't going to change is that city folk like their shops, roads and cafés. There are those that will head for the great outdoors. A small percentage of them will identify with doing so sans clothing.
I am extremely skeptical of urban nudism. At least in the form some would advocate.

It appears the latest fashion for women are tights. In a good many cases this leaves less to the anatomical imagination. It isn't exactly people connecting with nature. Likewise swimwear those of lithe statue can pull off. A triangle strip of fabric in front, little else holding it together.

In my mind, I'm not so sure anybody should be pushing for public nudity. I think the first step is getting people out into the countryside connecting with nature again. They first need to get that connection in order to appreciate why it is people want to get naked at all.
In an urban setting nakedness is distorted. People can't relate to it as it doesn't have an appropriate context. I think nudist clubs and facilities have suffered decline not simply because they've been separate, secretive, and generationally isolated. It's also because far more people are less interested in the outdoors.

It's a somewhat complex issue, and there's more to it than I've outlined here. None the less, I think the starting points need to be carefully evaluated. Within the context of this evaluation, commercialism needs to be accounted for.

It's raining right now. I actually like the rain and rainy days. There's quite a lot you can do with them. There aren't nearly enough in Australia.

When I lived in New Zealand by the beach, rainy days were perfect for heading along the beach to collect fresh pacific oysters from the rocks when the tide went out.
During winter you'd absolutely freeze in the cold and wet. It made the warm hot shower afterwards all the better.

In New Zealand it seemed you'd get a big storm blow in the end of February March and it wouldn't leave until late December early January. It was however lush and green, and there were probably far more acceptable days than I remember. Living in a far colder climate in winter now, it's clear that I didn't know what cold was. 17C was my discomfort zone then. I can be comfortable at 10 and 12 these days. My wife turned on the central heating the other day. The house was about 17 and I felt like I was sweltering after all the naked time at much lower temps.

I'm waiting for a day I can free hike around 5-6C. That and a day I can free hike in the rain. It's a little too cold in winter to try that. It's very important to avoid hypothermia.
A bright sunny day for the low temps, and a not so icy day for the rain hike.
Like all things in life, make the very most of what's at hand.

Reading Robert's post ( http://www.naktiv.net/blog/147/why-can-039-t-you-just-wear-clothes-like-everyone-else/ ) about the "Dark Night of the Soul" brought to mind a time when I felt frustrated and boxed in a similar manner to what he described.
It seemed at the time there was nowhere I could readily enjoy naturism. Not at home, not within reasonable driving distance. Not without taking what felt to me unreasonable risks.
As circumstances permitted I could find a rare moment when it was possible to free hike. This was perhaps once every second or third week, but it required a lot of pieces to fall into place. Work and home commitments, time, location and weather. It felt fantastic when I could get out, but overall this was less than ideal.

Initially I focused on all the factors that prevented me from doing as I wanted. Even needed in terms of stress relieve and relaxation.
First and foremost was my wife's attitude and response to the situation which was at best begrudging and not at all accepting. A close second was time and location. A 2.5 hour drive to a clothing optional resort, or 30 minutes to a remote walking track, which at the right time of the week, was usually deserted.
Work commitments didn't help. It was difficult to create a space in my schedule to get away to either of these places.
All in all I felt I'd taken a wrong turn in my life. I should have stayed single, should have stayed in New Zealand where mere public nudity isn't a criminal offence. I felt very frustrated. It's probably worth noting I didn't feel any of these "easy out's" just noted with any conviction. Rather, I identified these as the bars of my prison.

I think in almost any circumstance where it feels the world is closing in on you, the first place you look is to your exterior. The forces and factors that surround you. "If only this, or only that." How many times do you hear people say that? "If I had more time. If I lived in the country. If I had an accepting spouse."
These are things you think will change your situation, but they won't change you. Not in the way you want.
The first place you need to look is within, especially if you feel trapped by circumstances.

I did an exercise at the beginning of the year to see if living in the countryside would make any difference to our lifestyle. I wrote down all the ways I thought lifestyle might change.
"I'd spend more time outside. I'd do more gardening. I'd have more opportunity to be clothes free."
Realistically if you aren't doing any of those things now, a change of location won't fix it, because you'll be the same person in a different place with a whole new set of challenges. Challenges equate to excuses not to be living exactly how you want.
So the sum total of this experiment was to change myself.

For every benefit of a move I listed, I enacted. More time outside, more time in the garden. So, when the weather permits I always eat breakfast outside in the sunshine.
Interestingly, this has led my wife to spend more time outside. Particularly breakfast and lunch which she rarely if ever did.
Slowly as my own attitude changed, so did my circumstances. More clothes free time at home without an issue. Did my wife have some sudden change of heart? Most certainly she did, but only after I made a change myself. I created a comfort zone where I could be happily clothes free in a manner she found acceptable. With the zone established, it's boundaries have been expanded. My own self imposed boundaries I might add, as my comfort zone has grown.

Perhaps more significant than this was the change that occurred in environment. Not the environment itself mind you, but my comfort zone and attitude towards it.
To date I'd go out of my way to pick times and locations I was almost certain not to encounter anyone else when free hiking. Nine times out of ten this worked. I'd be cautious, feel on guard, but mostly relax and enjoy my walk.
During my commute home last week I thought to myself, "With all the vast tracts of nature reserve around, it's a pity you can't just free hike within it." Some of these parks are frequently used by many people. The chances of bumping into somebody is pretty high. I did a mental tally of locations that weren't frequently used. On the whole, not many aside from those I used at the "right times". Remote and infrequently used.

Cutting to the chase a little, I started realising how uncommon it was to bump into anybody, and on the occasions I did, how uneventful it was. People don't seem to be overly interested in what you're doing. You might strike them as odd, but so long as you're not threatening, or causing a disturbance, they really pay you little attention.
Within my own mind I figured all I really needed was a quick acceptable way to cover if I needed. This would expand my horizons considerably.

With this new found realisation, I set out Saturday afternoon to the track I often use that's about a 10-15 minute drive from home. Rather than tramping along wishing I wasn't caught up in sticky uncomfortable clothes, I got naked as soon as I hit the track proper.
It wasn't more than 5 minutes later that I heard thundering footsteps heading toward me. My main thought was "WTF is that?" It wasn't a kangaroo, but too loud to be a lone jogger.
I made a half hearted attempt at covering up. There wasn't time to do anything convincing so I just stood to one side.
Two teenagers went thundering past me in the direction I'd just came, fishing rods in hand. A quick hello. They had little to no interest in me.
As soon as they passed I carried on my way, and enjoyed the rest of the 2 hour hike incident free.

What I've realised through all of this is that comfort zones within your mind are important places to establish and expand. Within them you can identify and put into perspective your assumptions, reservations and fears. This enables you to take control of them rather than having them control you.

Through my experiences I've learnt that the "darkness", the barriers and limitations you perceive are largely created by yourself. It's your beliefs, fears and assumptions that imprison you. The keys to freedom aren't a change of circumstance, aren't "if only this, or if only that" The keys to freedom are inside you. Change yourself and you change your environment.

As things stand my journey is by no means over. Like a mountain climber that's about half way up an ascent, I can actually see how far I've come. I feel the summit is achievable. The view will be fantastic.
Hopefully by sharing the discoveries I've made so far it will help others with their journey.

Has anyone noticed how intrusive modern life is?
There are times when I would like to step out and look up at the stars, or just find a quiet spot to sit peacefully, free of artificial clutter.

If you live in town it's virtually impossible to do without light pollution, power lines, roof lines etc. At best you can find a small window of sky and focus on that. What you can't take in is it's Vista.

Where can you actually go where there aren't roads, power lines and farmland?

I'm fortunate enough to live somewhere that 30 minutes from my house are some isolated National Parks. It's possible to be free of clutter. Indeed to get lost, seriously life threateningly lost.

Many animals have lost their natural habitat due to human activity. Have humans lost their natural habitat without even realising it?

I'm curious whether anyone else has noticed how much better the body is at establishing and maintaining a comfortable body temperature when naked, without feeling too hot or too cold.
I used to be extremely sensitive to cold, and with the slightest chill would pile on clothes or turn up the heater.
What I've noticed with autumn temperatures coming in, and more time active and naked, I don't notice the chill nearly as much. The other day I went hiking naked when it was 10C and felt quite comfortable.
Monday I spent the whole day naked, and as the evening set in, even camping outdoors, an evening naked walk was quite comfortable. I find this quite astounding. What I noticed is that rather than feeling uncomfortable, coldness is simply another sensation my skin senses. More than this, it isn't a chill that causes shivering, it really is just feeling a different temperature.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'd be very interested to hear your views.

I have just spent an absolutely wonderful day at the clothing optional resort south of Sydney called River Island. I've only ever been out here for day trips twice before. On those occasions it was a long walk, dip in the pool then off home again.
Today has been much different. I booked a camp site for the night, and have been able to spend the whole day here.
I took a gamble on the weather, and as I was leaving Canberra, it was low cloud, gloomy and drizzle. The forecast assured that Mittagong, the nearest centre on the map, would be showers in the morning, but sunny in the afternoon.
The closer I got, the more promising the weather looked, with bursts of sunshine, and increasing patches of blue sky. By the time I arrived, a little after 11am, it was warm, sunny and generally great weather with no wind.
I didn't waste any time stripping off. The first order of business was setting up my tent. It's a very old one my wife and I used when we first met, and it was at least 8 years ago since I last put it up. Luckily enough it's one of those very easy tents, that basically "pop" up when you erect the main two fibreglass cross poles.

With the tent set up, and car unpacked of bedding, it was time to hit the hills. I walked up the valley in the opposite direction I had explored on previous trips. The temperature was just right for walking. Bursts of autumn sunshine, with comfortable breaks behind light cloud.
I hiked up out of the valley following a 4WD track. Views through the bush clad hills and valleys were spectacular, with a picturesque river flowing throughout.
The entire return walk was about 2 hours. Probably about 12kms.
After ditching my walking belt, which carries a water bottle and some snacks, I headed up the river towards a location called the Cascades.

Not too long after leaving the camping area, and hitting the National Park, there's clear evidence where the river has previously flooded, and wiped out what used to be the track a little up from the river bank. Negotigating the track via the river bank isn't too bad, though I initially missed the detour and ended up clambering over tree debris. Quite an intrepid endeavour.
The aspect I like most about this part of the river is the outlook into the wilderness, and the rocky surrounds. It's not long before you encounter a dry river bed, and head towards a part of an adjoining river called the Cascades.
On my very first visit, the water levels had been so low, I didn't actually see any Cascades. This tie around, with some rain the previous week, the water levels were up, and the Cascades lived up to their name.
By the time I got back to the camp ground, that was another 6km return. Time for a quick dip in the pools. First the cold water pool after a nice warm shower. A couple of dives and laps in there, then over to the heated "Noodle" pool. With one noodle under my neck, the other under my legs, I laid back and enjoyed simply floating. What a fantastically relaxing feeling. Total weightlessness.

The later afternoon is warm and blissful. A quick meal of nachos using my camp stove to heat up the chilli beans. Some home made lager, then a quick call home to check on the family.
Although the camp is nearly deserted, there is a couple of other people here. Two single guys who are pleasant enough to chat with, and a retired couple. We spent about an hour in the spa talking about various trips, locations and walking.

It's still early evening, about 7:30. I'm amazed how comfortable I am even though it's probably 16-17C. The stars are spectacular, even if a little muted by a 3/4 waxing moon. I decide on a naked evening stroll.
I'm hoping to head for the grassy riverside where there are no lights so I can enjoy the stars in all their glory. I'm rewarded with a close up view of a wombat out for an evening meal.
Sitting with the light of the moon is so absolutely relaxing. What a fantasic day.
Now I have the moonlit night to look forward to. An early night for an early start me thinks. I have to head off around 10am, but this has been a trip well worth remembering.