Birthdays, Baptisms, and John Muir’s America: Part I
“Come next year, all of you. Come to the purest of terrestrial fountains. Come and receive baptism and absolution from civilized sins. You were but sprinkled last year. Come and be immersed.â€
Excerpt: BOFAW, chap. 19, Carnival.
 I was saddened by the fact that in a nation blessed with glorious natural resources, we teach children the importance of bathing their bodies without mentioning the same need for their minds and spirits. It later occurred to me that it was a shame that in the Christian faith people are only baptized once. It seemed clear to me that people are spiritually starving and should be baptized many times. Not only that, they don’t need anyone else to help them. I have been baptized by Mother Nature, for Lord only knows how many scores of times, and it is always rejuvenating and often hilarious … carnival.
 I don’t know if John Muir enjoyed celebrating his birthday. I do know, however, that in addition to frequent moments of Nature-induced- ecstasy, he lived in an almost perpetual state of gratitude for his many, many spiritual rebirths. He described them in Wisconsin, Indiana, nearly dying while digging a well, and when he nearly blinded himself with a sharp file. All of these combined, however, could not equal the rebirth he experienced when, in the spring of 1868, he walked into Yosemite Valley. There were no cars, trucks or busses and only a couple hundred people loosely scattered in the area now occupied by Yosemite Lodge, NPS Headquarters, Yosemite Village and Curry Village. The fact that he wrote little more about it other than; “it is the most holy mansion of the Sierra Mountains,†could indicate that he was overwhelmed by its grandeur and beauty. He had to leave to find work in the San Joaquin Valley, but would return later and experience many more rebirths.
He was re-born 100 feet up a fir tree in a fierce wind-storm, riding an avalanche, clinging to slippery rocks behind roaring Yosemite Falls, and nearly dying on an Alaskan Glacier.
 We live in an anthropocentric, pedantic, secular, egotistical age and I will probably be considered a loon for suggesting that I strongly suspect that John Muir is fully aware that I (along with millions) have adopted him as a Godfather figure
[Nearly all indigenous tribes believe in a “happy hunting ground†(or its equivalent) and there is much Biblical (and other religious information), as well as much anecdotal evidence, that suggests that our Earthly life is merely one stage, “avatar,†or incarnation that continues after our “death.â€]
 Muir’s vast writings are God-in-Nature centered and follow protagonist philosophers such as Plato and Socrates who claimed that a satisfactory life can only be achieved through constant self-evaluation and the continual search for truth, beauty and goodness.
I was only casually aware of most o Muir’s writings until the magical class of 1979 came along. It is not that the previous classes were deficient; however, for truly mysterious reasons, the Class of ’79 intuitively “knew†what I was trying to do, before and better than I even knew. The fact is that they completed the foundation that supported 18 more classes. They said and did many things that had never been said or done before. One of these involved discovering that my birthday would occur during our Yosemite trip. I carefully avoided the subject and hoped that the students would not become aware of it. During the free afternoon, on the last day, someone had the thoughtfulness of mind to go to Yosemite Village (or Curry Village) and purchase a wonderful book titled, John Muir’s America. Each student included a thoughtful wish and signed the book. The text was written by T.H. Watkins and included stunning photographs by Dewitt Jones.
It would become one of my most important (and cherished) references and had a profound effect on all subsequent Biodesign Classes. There are numerous outstanding quotes, anecdotes and photos, but two entries were of particular importance.
Paired with a beautiful autumn scene of a high Sierra Valley, Muir wrote:
 “Come next year, all of you. Come to the purest of terrestrial fountains. Come and receive baptism and absolution from civilized sins. You were but sprinkled last year. Come and be immersed.â€
 Muir made no apology for intentionally sounding like a priest or pastor in an organized religion. He regarded both Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valleys as temples for people to play and pray. The Sierras in general, and especially Yosemite, healed the emotional scars that were inflicted by an abusive father, and in the process, he discovered an open window to the universe. Like Moses (4,000 years earlier) he came down from the mountains like a bearded prophet with a message that altered the fate of human history. He dedicated his entire life trying to increase National Parkland and encouraging others to seek the process of being spiritually reborn.
 Thanks to Biodesign ’79, I was better able to understand and communicate Muir’s message about Nature’s healing powers. I don’t think I was brave enough to share the above quote in a public school, but three years later another student would change that. We were coming down from Half Dome on The Mist Trail when Sean spotted the water at the base of Nevada Falls. “I want to get in that water,†he announced. I objected and said that we had to get back to camp and get the dinner crew started. He was equally adamant and repeated, “I want to get in that water.†I acquiesced and we took the short hike, on an “unofficial†trail, to the bottom of the falls. What happened next (for most) was transformative and in some cases miraculous. Hot, dirty and tired bodies were thoroughly refreshed; some were profoundly moved. There was an outburst of joy and enthusiasm that quickly spread through the group.
“I have never been clear on the concept of infant baptism, but John Muir’s description of Nevada Falls having the mystical power to foster born-again experiences was perfectly clear. For those students who stood under the 600-foot column of pounding water, a lot more than their bodies was being cleansed. Any revelations were natural, personal, and were not exclusive to any brand of religion. Even so, I worried about what my principal, the school board, and my critics might say. “Have you heard the latest? He baptized a whole class under a waterfall, and they were only wearing their underwear!†Miraculously, the event was never criticized.†BOFAW: Chap. 26, Soul Medicine.
 For many years, scientists have tried to discover and describe the cause (or causes) for the physical, mental and possibly spiritual changes that typically occur under a waterfall. Some have suggested that the falling water produces more ozone or other ionized particles that have rejuvenating powers.
Muir was a scientist and did much to describe the plant and animal activity of the areas he visited. He was also a poet, sage and mystic and would have heartily agreed with Meister Eckhart (13th century mystic) who boldly predicted that science would not be able to solve the great mysteries of the universe, including God.