Field Notes
In this month’s guide, you’ll find a section titled Field Notes. This is for those who want to turn their writing to more scientific finds. Field Notes or nature journaling hold lots of beautiful opportunities, but often a lot of overwhelm…
When I first began documenting my finds out in the natural world, I had a very strong preconceived idea about what the page “should” look like. It had to be beautiful… I mean seriously beautiful, illustrations, anatomically correct dimensions, shade perfect colours and absolutely no spelling mistakes or crossing throughs. My goodness it was exhausting and the whole journal (or 4-5 journals) got tucked into a cupboard never to see the light of day again.
But the need to doodle, write and capture the words about what I found out in the wilds, never left me. Over the years I have sketched and held onto words and phrases to explain what I see, some are rolling poetic prose and some are simply words or a flourish of pencil marks on the paper.
The biggest realisation was that it was for no-one but me. It wouldn’t be marked or remarked on, it wouldn’t even be seen unless I chose to show someone. And that was the release I needed to play.
Unless you’re a botanical illustrator or someone in the scientific field, Field Notes are simply that… notes you make in the field. And notes can be what you like, and shared with who you choose. I urge you to play, to capture what you see and feel in your heart.
The pictures below are from some of the adventures over the years I chose to document. A big mama-toad, a sadly deceased mole and a trio of lichen clad twigs. The words to accompany them were a mishmash (a scientific term I’m sure) of questions and ponderings, observations and ideas.
I didn’t know moles had 5 fingers with a bonus thumb-like digit to help them dig… I do now. But I had to get up close and spend some time peering at the lovely little velvety being to learn that.
I also didn’t know female toads are usually bigger than the males nor how many types of lichen there can be growing on one tiny stick!
You’ll find a new Field Guide prompt in my free monthly guide.
Each month there are a set of ideas to help form your experience out in the wilds. This page is from the January guide.
I love that Field Notes provide blend of words and pictures that are solely created by your own experience. Each time you pick up your notebook and pen, a brand new entry will broaden your learning at a pace perfect to you.
With a hefty compassionate note here, some days it’ll flow and others it’ll be as dry as a beck in a heatwave. Be gentle with yourself, there’s no time limit or demands on you. Release all expectation and simply enjoy the opportunity to “be”.
