In today’s world with the collapsing economy, pollution running rampant across our planet, the threat of GMOs taking over our “safe” food supply, and many other threats to our security, I feel I must share some very important skills. basic to survive. . You never know when these abilities might come in handy.
The most important thing you need to know is the Sacred Order of survival. The sacred order of survival is: shelter, water, fire, food. Know this well because when faced with a survival situation, you will need to focus on conserving your energy and resources. The biggest threat to your survival is YOU. Most people die in a survival situation because they don’t do the one thing that will save their life; Think. If you know the Holy Order, your thoughts can be productive and you can focus on what you need to do first. Remember, panic is more often than not fatal in a survival situation.
Shelter comes first in Holy Order because the most common cause of death in a survival situation is hypothermia. The type of shelter you need depends on the terrain, weather, season, and available materials or resources. In wooded terrain during the summer months, a rubble shack or shed may be all you need to stay warm and dry. However, if it is winter and it is snowing you will need a much warmer shelter. A small cave may be enough, or you can build a shelter out of the snow. Snow is an excellent insulator.
Once your shelter is built, you’ll need to focus on a potable water supply. Water ranks second in the Holy Order because you can only survive a few days without water. Once again, this is where you will have to think! The way you get water will depend on the resources you have with you and what is available on the ground. If there is no running water nearby, you can get water by collecting dew from plants and trees with an absorbent cloth (handkerchief, T-shirt, etc.) and putting the cloth in your mouth. Remember never eat snow unless you can melt it first! Eating snow causes your body temperature to drop and can lead to hypothermia.
Next in the Sacred Order is fire. Having a lighter or matches with you is very helpful, but if you don’t, you’ll need to know how to make and use a bow drill or hand drill to make a fire. Making and using a bow drill or hand drill requires skill and a lot of practice. I suggest you spend time on this at home so that if you find yourself in a survival situation, you already possess the necessary skill. You will need to know what to collect for your bow drill, what types of wood will work, how to assemble it, and how to use it. You will need to know what to use for a tinder pack to start your fire and how to keep it going. The materials for your tinder pack should be dry and light. Lint from clothes, dried grass or leaves, and crushed dried cedar bark are all good for tinder. Make sure you have all kindling and kindling gathered before lighting the tinder bale.
Now that you have your shelter, water, and fire, it’s time to focus on food. What is available depends on your terrain and season. Humans can survive several weeks without food, even so, it’s good to know about some wild edibles. Cattails are edible. The young shoots can be cooked like asparagus, the bulbs can be cooked and eaten like baby potatoes. Pine needles can be boiled and drunk and are rich in vitamin C. The inner bark of the pine tree can be scraped, dried and used as flour to make a kind of bread. All grasses and grass seeds in North America are edible. The grass seeds can be boiled to make a hot cereal. No, it won’t taste like the foods you’re used to, but it will keep you alive! There are also many poisonous plants around. Never eat anything you are not sure about.
These are the basics that can keep you alive in a survival situation. I recommend learning more advanced skills such as trapping, using a trap line, making a fish trap, making basic tools and rope, making utilitarian cooking and eating containers, tanning hides, making clothing, and advanced shelters.
In my experience and opinion, having a spiritual connection to our Mother Earth is the most important skill of all. I have always found that when I sit quietly and ask her a question, she shows me what I need to know. Learn her voice and how to communicate with her and instead of surviving, you will flourish.
It is important to learn and practice skills before you need them. If you remember to think instead of panicking, follow the Holy Order, shelter, water, fire, food, you will significantly increase your survivability. For more details on how to do this, see:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/index.html