WILD ~ How to embrace your wildness & why you should

We are divine human beings — but we are also animals.

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Wildness is something that humans have been conditioned to suppress for centuries, for thousands of years.

It doesn’t matter how smart we are, how complex our tools are, how spiritual some may be — we will always be part animal. For some silly reason, this is seen as insulting or offensive. We go such extreme lengths to cover up the fact that we are part animal.

Society refuses to acknowledge the animalistic parts of us, dismissing it as barbaric and lesser than. So we live life ashamed of ourselves. People say those who acknowledge the animal inside of them must have a lower consciousness. I completely disagree, I think it takes a lot of spiritual discipline to honor the animal inside of you, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.

The more you suppress your wildness, the stronger it becomes. If you do not cooperate with your wild side, your wildness will take over in dangerous ways. You can tame yourself without suppressing this vital part of yourself.

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I recently had a dream that I walked into a room and saw a wild animal lurking inside. It looked similar to a large wildcat and it had very broad shoulders that were hunched over. I was too scared to walk into the room because this animal was so daunting to me. Everyone kept telling me “it’s okay, it’s just walking around, it won’t hurt you.” But I was so terrified of this animal. And I think this was symbolic of the wildness inside of me that I fear.

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Signs you are suppressing your wildness:

• You are stressed out.
• You feel tense.
• You lash out at others without meaning to, or without even realizing it.
• You yell or scream at someone.
• Your body feels heavy and achy.
• You are passive aggressive.
• You are a perfectionist.
• You are paranoid about “doing something the wrong way” and getting in trouble for it, even when you know you’re trying your best.
• You judge people for being “crazy.”
• You hurt someone on purpose, and justify your actions “because they deserve it.”
• You engage in gossip and negative talk about others.
• You dwell on the past or panic about the future more than living in the present.
• You spend a lot of time worrying what others think of you.
• You feel “trapped” or “stuck” in life.
• You snicker at someone.
• You compare yourself to others.
• You are a people-pleaser.
• You binge eat, you binge alcohol, or you abuse drugs.
• You have one or many addictions that are harmful to you and those around you.

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How do you embrace your wildness?

The first step is to acknowledge the animal inside of you. It may help to find out what your spirit animal is, or think about animals you most relate to.

Secondly, you need to let go of judgment. Shed the layers of conditioning that taught you that your animalistic tendencies are “wrong.” Realize that suppressing this part of yourself leads to much more damage than releasing it in controlled and healthy ways.

The third step — this is where you need to use your imagination — is to let yourself be wild. There are countless ways to be wild! I’m going to name a few examples, but this is only the start…

• Spend time in nature.
• Play with your pets.
• Eat with your hands.
• Go hiking.
• Play a sport / workout / be active.
• Try something new.
• Travel somewhere new.
• Go pee in the woods.
• Laugh until you cry.
• Roll in the grass.
• Wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothes.
• Go on a camping trip.
• Unplug from the internet & TV.
• Observe your surroundings.
• Pay attention to your five senses.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Take a bath.
• Add herbs to your meals (garlic, basil, oregano, etc.)
• When it’s raining, go outside and let yourself get wet.
• Eat more earthy-tasting foods such as potatoes, mushrooms, beets, etc.
• Drink earthy teas such as mushroom tea, green tea, chamomile, etc.
• Use less words — speak through body language, grunts, squeals, giggles.
• Walk around barefoot.

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There are many others ways to be wild. It all comes down to living in the moment, being who you are, and acting how you feel without overthinking or judgment. It feels very good to let go of control once you allow yourself to. You don’t have to be vulgar, aggressive, or obnoxious in order to be wild. Find safe and healthy outlets for your wildness.