The Magic of Fire by Friction

Why learning the bow drill is a powerful lesson for life

I came across these 19 useful tips for spending time in the woods by survival expert Todd Walker the other day.

I love that this is his first tip: “Walk slowly and make frequent stops to observe your surroundings… try to send faint ripples in the woods, not tidal waves.”

A few weeks ago I went on a no-torches moonlit walk in the woods with a bunch of people at a social Meetup.

I was expecting we’d walk quietly in the dark, appreciating the softness of the woods at night — for a bit anyway.

Instead, we charged relentlessly through the woods like a herd of buffalo, talking loudly, noticing little, and scaring away wildlife for miles around.

It felt like a missed opportunity to touch something deeper.

Spending quiet time in the woods at any time of day has started to feel like an essential part of life for me, like going home. I feel happy and can relax there, out of the city and away from my screen, connecting with the trees, birds, and small animals.

You can learn lots of things by spending time in the woods, not all of them easy, like trying to make fire by rubbing two sticks together using a bow drill.

Making fire with a bow drill is one of the defining skills of bushcraft. It’s more than a fun thing to do, it’s also the most reliable way to start a fire, once you know how.

Imagine you’re lost in the woods on a camping trip. You have no matches or lighters and it’s getting dark. Using a bow drill, you can make a fire with relatively easy-to-find materials.

I’ve watched one of our teachers Robert Fallon use a bow drill to bring fire to life very quickly. Yet almost everyone struggles with it when they’re learning. I know I have.

It’s one thing knowing in your head what you’re supposed to do, it’s another to know what to do with your body — it’s like the difference between knowledge and knowing.

As Todd Walker writes, “Knowing is the stuff that sticks with you and becomes second nature.”

Robert always says of the bow drill, “you have to invest in the loss.” What he means is “it’s going to take you time and effort to get it, and it’s okay to fail.” When we all want to win, this can be a challenge.

But like learning to ride a bike, failing with a bow drill is part of learning: you have to get used to the posture and get your muscles used to the technique, all while using new materials.

“What’s important is that you don’t give up,” says Robert, “and stay positive.”

If you’ve tried it you’ll know that learning the bow drill is a masterclass in staying positive and not giving up!

A good lesson for life I’d say.

If you’re in Brighton, and up for the challenge, join us on our latest Wild Fire Masterclass on April 10th where Robert will show you how to make your own bow drill kit, and how to use it to make fire.