Mojo in the Woods

Even the trees suffering from crown shyness, an ailment I learned about recently, engulf me. Those beautiful, usually green creatures, looming above my head, enrapture me. Some like bristlecone pines, standing alone, bask in the sun while others reflect the sun’s rays. A few grab one another, shutting out new growth, creating dark canopies. Then there are the talking trees, the ones showing up in books or films, expressing their wisdom or mysterious proclamations.

Recently I’ve been thinking that maybe…perhaps I’ve become a bit frightened of walking in the woods, a frequent activity during much of my life. Lots of people are scared of different places, people, events. But not me. I’m the one friends are usually saying “wow, how did you do that? I’d be so scared.”

Known phobias seem to increase each year. Perhaps I’ve aged to where I know more than I used to know, increasing my awareness of all the “what could happen” events. Whatever. The bottom line is that I’ve become more cautious when walking in the woods.

Maybe I’ve just lost my woods mo-jo.

Xylophobia, also known as hylophobia is fear of wooded areas. That seems a bit strong for what I feel.

Let me explain.

Every year only about forty people worldwide are mauled to death by bears in the woods. That’s at least thirty-nine more than makes me comfortable. Rattling sounds made by a bear retrieving the food my backpacking partner and I strung high in the Sierra trees remain with me. The wieldy…