Comments on: Jungle Madness http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/ A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:09:36 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Julia Widdop http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 Julia Widdop Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:24:52 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/#comment-1005 Coming from the high desert of Colorado to the jungle I was struck by how visible the process of death and decay is in the jungle. I can understand how that might cause some psychological discomfort especially combined with culture shock and isolation. Coming from the high desert of Colorado to the jungle I was struck by how visible the process of death and decay is in the jungle. I can understand how that might cause some psychological discomfort especially combined with culture shock and isolation.

]]> By: Farming Woman http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Farming Woman Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:58:00 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/#comment-361 In a way, the arctic does not suffer fools at all. Perhaps the jungle suffers fools just enough...to let them suffer. In a way, the arctic does not suffer fools at all. Perhaps the jungle suffers fools just enough…to let them suffer.

]]> By: Steve Beyer http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Steve Beyer Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:11:00 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/#comment-351 That is an extremely interesting observation. The irony is increased, I think, by the fact that the tropical rainforest, when properly approached, is a relatively benign environment that readily provides food and shelter. In fact, one of the reasons for the apparent poverty of the Amazonian peoples — that is, their lack of durable tools and goods — is that it is often easier to make, say, a basket out of readily available materials, which I have seen done in about a minute and a half, than it is to keep one. <br/><br/>If I had to <em>guess</em> at a reason, I would think that perhaps a significant stressor for Europeans in the jungle is the almost complete lack of a visible horizon. And, of course, insects. :-) That is an extremely interesting observation. The irony is increased, I think, by the fact that the tropical rainforest, when properly approached, is a relatively benign environment that readily provides food and shelter. In fact, one of the reasons for the apparent poverty of the Amazonian peoples — that is, their lack of durable tools and goods — is that it is often easier to make, say, a basket out of readily available materials, which I have seen done in about a minute and a half, than it is to keep one.

If I had to guess at a reason, I would think that perhaps a significant stressor for Europeans in the jungle is the almost complete lack of a visible horizon. And, of course, insects. :-)

]]> By: Farming Woman http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Farming Woman Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:50:00 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2009/03/jungle-madness/#comment-350 Really, from crevasses to frostbite, the Arctic Tundra can kill the unfamiliar traveler with just as much speed and impunity as the jungle, but there's not the same romantic fascination. I can't recall many movies about tundra madness. In fact, Herzog's recent film about the Antarctic showcased a lot of well-grounded inhabitants. Hmm. Why is that? Really, from crevasses to frostbite, the Arctic Tundra can kill the unfamiliar traveler with just as much speed and impunity as the jungle, but there’s not the same romantic fascination. I can’t recall many movies about tundra madness. In fact, Herzog’s recent film about the Antarctic showcased a lot of well-grounded inhabitants. Hmm. Why is that?

]]>