Primal Gathering Retreat: Singing to Trees and Other Wacky Eco-Solutions
At the Primal Gathering retreat, attendees seek new – and sometimes surreal – ways to connect with nature and take meaningful action on environmental destruction. But none more surreal than the antics of famed explorer and documentary maker, Bobby Jerry.
Bobby gained notoriety by pushing his penis back inside his body on his 2005 show Tribe, in an attempt to be accepted by the Kombai people in New Guinea. Now he’s using the knowledge he gained from Indigenous societies to form stronger communities in the UK.
But his methods have taken a decidedly odd turn. At the retreat, Bobby demonstrated how to connect with nature by singing to trees. Yes, singing to trees. Apparently, trees have feelings too and singing to them can prevent ecological collapse.
As Bobby belted out his rendition of “Hey Jude” to a group of perplexed attendees, many were left wondering if this was some sort of prank. But Bobby was dead serious.
“I’ve been to the deepest, darkest corners of the world and I can tell you, singing to trees is the real deal,” Bobby said. “It’s not only good for the environment, but it can also improve your singing voice. Win-win!”
But singing to trees wasn’t the only quirky eco-solution on display at the retreat. Attendees were also treated to the sight of a man dressed as a tree, hugging fellow attendees to instill a sense of unity and connectedness with nature.
And let’s not forget the communal naked cow run, a bizarre ritual that involved running naked across the backs of a row of cattle. Apparently, it was meant to symbolize our interconnectedness with all living creatures.
As one attendee put it, “I never thought I’d find myself running naked across a field with a bunch of cows, but here we are. It’s all part of the experience.”
Despite the downright weirdness of it all, there was a sense of camaraderie and purpose at the Primal Gathering retreat. And who knows, maybe singing to trees will become the next big thing in eco-activism. Stranger things have happened.
