Z.K.
Bronze Member
4. The peace of nature. Excepting the tones of the machine (which I find at least a little pleasing, especially the higher ones😊) the places I tend to dig now range from charming old colonial homes to the forest. There is in my neck of the U.S. natural beauty in abundance. Sometimes I'll turn everything off and just listen to the wind, or a brook, or will watch uncut grass ripple and sway in the breeze. The other day, I surprised a porcupine, and got to see him climb a tree. There's an old orchard I have access to, and can happily munch apples as I watch the sun make its way across the sky. These moments of tranquility and connection with creation sustain me.
3. The thrill of discovery. To reach into the past and see forgotten things of value brought up to the light of day...wow! The moment (it's only happened 3x to me) of seeing that shine of silver peeking out of dirt, unsullied by the years...I know this community feels it! Man, to unearth things that might otherwise NEVER have been found!! I'm aware that, for whatever reason, my brain is wired for treasure. Lots of other things light me up and fill me with contentment, but when I found that pouch of 12 coppers earlier this summer, I had a whole body pleasure rush that I just know is what makes addiction. Those dopamine cascades are wild! But when combined with some self-restraint and all the other good stuff about this peculiar hobby, those experiences of discovery just become nice punctuation marks to an otherwise happy life.
2. Falling in love with history, one object at a time. This summer, this hobby went from a mildly entertaining/frustrating and very occasional thing to feeling like a time traveler 4-6 hours a week. Finding those coppers reoriented my entire view of things, and ignited a genuine passion for history. While I'd always enjoyed learning, and how facts connect with larger cultural themes, suddenly holding objects from another time and person connected me intimately, viscerally, with the past. Now, every object feels like a portal through time. From learning of the British oppression of colonists through restricting monetary supply, to imagining the toil of a homesteader using the primitive tools I've found to carve a life out of a landscape we still find a little hard to live in, I'm in awe of what the past has to teach me, and humbled in the best way by how very little I know.
1. The opportunity to practice the qualities which mean the most to me. There is a greedy little piggy in me, and I get to work on him by being principled in my treasure seeking. This hobby affords me the chance to treat others the way I want to be treated. To be honest, ethical, trustworthy, and generous. I am transparent and considerate about permissions, honor agreements, and I give freely. This is the first year I've found things worth hundreds of dollars, and it was great to pass the test of overruling a little Golem voice in my head, which suggested that no one had to know...it could all be mine! This trustworthiness has led to deeper relationships and new connections, as well as more opportunities. By loaning my key finds to a historical society for all to share, they now want me to present on metal detecting and what I've found, and to dig at more sites! It is important to keep perspective on what is truly valuable in my life...oddly enough, finding other people's treasures of the past has allowed me to become more in tune with the better aspects of my spirit and the goodness of my relationships in the present. Now that is real wealth.
Would love to hear from others about what they love about this hobby!
3. The thrill of discovery. To reach into the past and see forgotten things of value brought up to the light of day...wow! The moment (it's only happened 3x to me) of seeing that shine of silver peeking out of dirt, unsullied by the years...I know this community feels it! Man, to unearth things that might otherwise NEVER have been found!! I'm aware that, for whatever reason, my brain is wired for treasure. Lots of other things light me up and fill me with contentment, but when I found that pouch of 12 coppers earlier this summer, I had a whole body pleasure rush that I just know is what makes addiction. Those dopamine cascades are wild! But when combined with some self-restraint and all the other good stuff about this peculiar hobby, those experiences of discovery just become nice punctuation marks to an otherwise happy life.
2. Falling in love with history, one object at a time. This summer, this hobby went from a mildly entertaining/frustrating and very occasional thing to feeling like a time traveler 4-6 hours a week. Finding those coppers reoriented my entire view of things, and ignited a genuine passion for history. While I'd always enjoyed learning, and how facts connect with larger cultural themes, suddenly holding objects from another time and person connected me intimately, viscerally, with the past. Now, every object feels like a portal through time. From learning of the British oppression of colonists through restricting monetary supply, to imagining the toil of a homesteader using the primitive tools I've found to carve a life out of a landscape we still find a little hard to live in, I'm in awe of what the past has to teach me, and humbled in the best way by how very little I know.
1. The opportunity to practice the qualities which mean the most to me. There is a greedy little piggy in me, and I get to work on him by being principled in my treasure seeking. This hobby affords me the chance to treat others the way I want to be treated. To be honest, ethical, trustworthy, and generous. I am transparent and considerate about permissions, honor agreements, and I give freely. This is the first year I've found things worth hundreds of dollars, and it was great to pass the test of overruling a little Golem voice in my head, which suggested that no one had to know...it could all be mine! This trustworthiness has led to deeper relationships and new connections, as well as more opportunities. By loaning my key finds to a historical society for all to share, they now want me to present on metal detecting and what I've found, and to dig at more sites! It is important to keep perspective on what is truly valuable in my life...oddly enough, finding other people's treasures of the past has allowed me to become more in tune with the better aspects of my spirit and the goodness of my relationships in the present. Now that is real wealth.
Would love to hear from others about what they love about this hobby!
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) and would add a couple more in my case. 5. I love the competition between myself and my detecting buddies. A friendly rivalry for best find is a great motivator. 6. I also have a love for researching and returning lost items of a personal or historic nature. Finding the person who lost a wedding ring or family heirloom is just as much fun as finding the item itself. Even simple and inexpensive items like dog (canine) tags or house keys can be satisfying to return.
but that's where the big compass points, so...
