Later this month, Luke will lead a workshop and walk in Asheville called Introduction to Birds & Bird Language. “My hope is for people who attend to feel fascinated and inspired by the incredible lives of birds,” says Luke.
“We will explore bird intelligence and bird language, what they eat and how they sense the world. It’s astounding to discover how much birds communicate with each other about their environment and even about us! Hundreds of species of birds in Western North Carolina are migratory, and since many will return in early April, this will be the perfect time to be tuning into them.”
Luke says these revelations help people feel a deeper sense of place and belonging. “So many folks are struggling with a real emptiness right now, and substantial lack in their relationship with nature. Just taking time to make a fire together, meet a new plant or mushroom, or explore a stream, is both fun and fulfilling. I believe connecting with the natural world can be such an important piece in our journey of coming into our sense of belonging. Nature and wild places have a special power to activate our imagination, inspire creativity and speak to us in unique and elemental ways.”
“My hope is to provide opportunities that allow people to explore their curiosity and wonder for the Earth at a new level,” says Luke. “In my workshop we’ll take some time to tune into our senses and engage through intentional sight, smell, listening, touch and taste. When we create a space for personal reflection and expression about our relationships with the natural world, it’s amazing how much emotion, wonder and creative insight comes through. There’s an aspect of exploring and discovering together in a group that ignites the learning in a special way. The group’s curiosity and excitement builds on itself and we end up not only expanding our awareness and understanding; but also deepening our feeling of connection with each other. This connectivity fuels curiosity, relationships, and community when tended.”
“I love when I get to watch folks meet a new plant for the first time, or it might be a plant or bird they’ve seen for years but hadn’t quite slowed down enough to meet properly. I love to see the light in their eyes as they say, ‘Rattlesnake orchid!’ Or, ‘This one has been calling to me for a long time. I’ve always wanted to learn its name!’ They are so lit up. And I often feel that way too. I try to illuminate the connections between the wildlife around us. It’s like connecting dots. The rattlesnake orchid needs the fungal mycelium to nurture their seeds. Fallen branches from the giant oak feed the fungi, and the blue jay, who has been calling to us while we kneel by the orchid, feeds on the acorns and spreads them far and wide.”
“The natural world is amazingly beautiful and inherently profound,” Luke says. “When we take opportunities to explore the natural world together, allowing space for the emotional and mystical dimensions, we find tremendous validation in the beauty, the profundity and even the sacredness of our earth’s biodiversity. It is empowering to not just learn about wildlife but to learn from wildlife. When people express a desire for a mentor who can teach them, I like to say that we have a four and half billion year old elder in Earth and her creations, all who are available for us each day.”
The Firefly Gathering is an excellent container for learning traditional earthskills taught with a modern lens. Luke has been attending and instructing at Firefly for over a decade. It is not uncommon to see him standing in the woods, surrounded by wide-eyed participants, ecstatic at discovering a glistening patch of mushrooms, a wriggling newt or a verdant patch of edible greens. You can be one of those awestruck participants by joining us for Firefly 2026 this July in Green Mountain, NC! You can also register for Luke’s upcoming workshop by clicking this link: Introduction to Birds & Bird Language, with Luke Cannon.
BONUS! Luke shared that he finds incredible joy in learning the ways that his guided walks and workshops inspire folks to create. The talented Samara Jade was inspired after attending one of Luke’s workshops and later created a music album called “Wave of Birdsong” – the experience Luke led being the catalyst for her creation. Check out the art below!
