August 14, 2024 • 3hr 0min
#763: Margaret Atwood and Boyd Varty
The Tim Ferriss Show
Key Takeaways
- Margaret Atwood grew up in a remote cabin in the woods, which fostered her creativity and love of writing from a young age
- Atwood's "get on with it" attitude came from her pioneering parents who started a safari business in South Africa with limited resources
- Boyd Varty grew up on the Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, learning tracking and wildlife skills from Shangaan trackers
- Traumatic experiences in his 20s led Varty to pursue healing and transformation, which he now incorporates into his work
- Varty emphasizes the importance of attunement to nature and developing a "following state" in both tracking and personal growth
- Encounters with animals like leopards taught Varty profound lessons about presence, stillness, and interconnectedness
- Varty advocates for an "authentic life infused with meaning" as a form of activism in modern times
- Tools like Byron Katie's "The Work" can help question limiting beliefs and shift perspectives
- Time alone in nature, like Varty's 40 days in a tree, can lead to deep insights and connection with natural intelligence
Introduction
This episode features segments from conversations with two guests: Margaret Atwood, renowned author of novels like The Handmaid's Tale, and Boyd Varty, wildlife activist and author who grew up on a game reserve in South Africa. The discussions cover a wide range of topics including creative processes, childhood influences, transformative experiences in nature, and approaches to personal growth and healing.
Topics Discussed
Margaret Atwood's Childhood and Early Writing (6:14)
Margaret Atwood discusses growing up in a remote cabin in the woods, which had a significant impact on her development as a writer:
- There were few distractions, allowing for focus on reading, writing, and drawing
- Her family was very narrative-oriented, with storytelling being a common activity
- She wrote her first novel at age 7, about an ant (though she notes the structural difficulties in writing about an insect's life cycle)
- "Writers make stuff up, Tim. You ask them questions that essentially have no answers, but they make stuff up anyway." - Margaret Atwood on the nature of writing
Atwood's Education and Early Career (15:44)
Atwood shares her experiences in high school and the beginnings of her writing career:
- She started writing poetry in grade 12, inspired by a moment crossing a football field
- Her grade 11 English teacher later said Atwood "showed no particular ability" in her class
- Her grade 12 teacher, Miss Bessie Billings, encouraged her poetry writing
- "I don't understand this at all, dear, so it must be good." - Miss Billings' response to Atwood's early poetry
Boyd Varty's Childhood on Londolozi Game Reserve (37:00)
Boyd Varty describes growing up on the Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa:
- His parents started a safari business with limited resources when they were teenagers
- The land was initially seen as worthless, but they saw potential in it
- Varty was exposed to wildlife, tracking, and conservation from a young age
- The success of Londolozi was built on relationships between trackers and wild animals
The White Knuckle Charter Company (41:23)
Varty shares a humorous story about his parents learning to fly to transport their children to school:
- They would fly the children to town for 3 days of schooling each week
- His parents were inexperienced pilots, leading to tense situations
- One memorable incident involved hitting a stork mid-flight, causing chaos in the plane
- "We are not gonna die." - Varty's mother's response during the bird strike incident
Shangaan Trackers and Tracking Skills (50:00)
Varty discusses the importance of Shangaan trackers in developing Londolozi:
- Shangaan people have a deep connection to nature and exceptional tracking skills
- Tracking is an ancient art form passed down through generations
- Varty learned tracking from master Shangaan trackers from a young age
- Tracking is described as "the language of the wilderness"
Traumatic Experiences and Healing Journey (1:22:46)
Varty shares two traumatic experiences from his early 20s and how they led to his healing journey:
- A home invasion at age 18 where he faced a near-death experience
- A crocodile attack that left him severely injured
- These events led to PTSD and a period of feeling frozen and limited
- Meeting his mentor Martha Beck was a turning point in his healing process
The Tracking Mindset and Personal Transformation (1:14:35)
Varty explains how he applied tracking principles to his own healing and growth:
- Becoming comfortable with unknowns and uncertainty
- Developing "track awareness" - attuning to specific signs and metrics
- Cultivating a "following state" of constant creative response
- "I don't know where we're going, but I know exactly how to get there." - Renias Mhlongo, master tracker
40 Days Alone in a Tree (1:32:40)
Varty describes his experience spending 40 days alone in a tree:
- Inspired by mystics and spiritual traditions of solitude in nature
- Initial anxiety gave way to a different state of consciousness after 3 days
- Deepened his connection to natural rhythms and wildlife
- Led to insights about the interconnectedness of all living things
Encounters with Lions and Leopards (1:57:07)
Varty shares powerful experiences with predators in the wild:
- Describes the "conversation of death" between predator and prey
- Explains the body language and energy exchange in close encounters
- Recounts a transformative experience with a leopard during a bushfire
- "There is something laid down in front of him that he's curious about. He's interested, and he has to know something." - Varty on master tracker Renias's dedication
Byron Katie's "The Work" and Questioning Beliefs (2:19:27)
Varty discusses the impact of Byron Katie's self-inquiry process on his life:
- Helps identify and question thoughts causing stress
- Allows for exploring who you are with and without certain beliefs
- Varty describes it as a form of meditation for getting to know oneself
- "There is nothing more profound than being able to identify thoughts that are causing you stress and then have a system to question them." - Boyd Varty
Sweat Lodge Experience in Arizona (2:23:55)
Varty recounts a powerful ceremonial experience in a Native American sweat lodge:
- His first encounter with plant medicine
- Experienced vivid imagery related to his past traumas
- Had a vision of the mother leopard that connected his healing to nature
- "No, brother, you're just being born." - Navajo medicine man's words to Varty after the ceremony
Conclusion
This episode offers rich insights from two unique perspectives. Margaret Atwood's reflections on her childhood and early writing career highlight the importance of environment and encouragement in fostering creativity. Boyd Varty's experiences growing up on a game reserve and his subsequent healing journey demonstrate the profound impact nature can have on personal growth and transformation. Both guests emphasize the power of storytelling, whether through literature or sharing transformative experiences in nature.
Varty's approach to tracking as both a practical skill and a metaphor for navigating life's challenges offers a unique framework for personal development. His encounters with wildlife and experiences in nature underscore the interconnectedness of all living things and the potential for profound healing and insight through connection with the natural world.
The episode encourages listeners to consider their own relationship with nature, the stories they tell themselves, and the potential for growth through challenging experiences. It also highlights the value of practices like self-inquiry and time alone in nature for gaining new perspectives and fostering personal transformation.