• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Rowan Mangan

Writer. Mom. Wild Inventurer.

  • Contact me
  • Wild Inventures Blog

Inventures in Seeing

October 4, 2021

This piece is a longer version of a memory that I referred to in a recent Wild Inventures column in Martha Beck’s newsletter. It’s apropos of nothing, and in some ways, relevant to everything I think of when I talk about wild inventures. – Ro

On a crowded street in rural India, an old man spat in my face and changed my life. I was six years old.

A woman and a girl sit by the side of a river
My mother and me in Maharashtra, India. Mid-1980s.

I’d been clinging to my mother’s hand as we stood at the side of a road swirling with activity and red dust. We were both intimidated by the scene playing out before us—the road populated by all manner of humanity, livestock, vehicles. All my senses were overwhelmed: the saturated colors, the surging movement, the dubious aromas and the thousand relentless sounds—car horns, human voices, animal bleatings and shrieks.

On the other side of this writhing mass was our destination: an ashram, hidden behind grand white walls, peaceful and cut off from the super-vivid India around us. It was a place for western seekers and Indians alike, and would provide a spiritual haven for us after a long journey.

Or it would… if we could somehow get across this road.

Just as my mother summoned all her courage and took a tentative step toward a gap in the traffic, I tugged on her arm until she knelt down. Several specks of the road’s red dust had found their way into my eyes (still very close to the ground) and I couldn’t see.

Mum was trying to help me–probably gritting her teeth at this latest saga in an already lengthy journey–when the man appeared out of nowhere and gently pushed her aside.

My mother watched, too shocked to respond, as he squatted before me and looked into my face with eyes that shone in his deeply lined face. He seemed both timeless and also quite ordinary, lips twitching with mischief beneath a neat mustache. In my mind’s eye I see him leaning on a staff, or stick of some kind, but that could be my memory’s embellishment.

Because to me, he was all wizard.

In a moment that seemed to last hours, the man clasped my shoulders in his hands, and decisively spat into each of my eyes in turn.

Then he turned back to my mother with a sudden radiant smile, hoisted himself back to his feet, and wandered off on his way, disappearing into the crowded afternoon.

When my mother turned back to me, I was smiling, blinking up at her through my new eyes.

face of small girl wearing a sari

~ Ro

PS All inventures in parenting that I embark on now are inspired by my amazing mother. I mean, right?

This article originally appeared on Rowan’s Wild Inventures substack newsletter. To subscribe and get all Rowan’s posts in your inbox, head over to Wild Inventures on substack now. 

you may also like...

  • Parenting inventures
  • Precious precious wild
  • What are Wild Inventures?

Filed Under: Parenting inventures Tagged With: adventures, ashram, India, travel, wildparenting

Previous Post: « Parenting inventures
Next Post: How to talk to Ro and Marty on Bewildered »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Выбрать часы Philippe Patek Nautilus тут says

    June 23, 2025 at 8:10 am

    Коллекция Nautilus, созданная мастером дизайна Жеральдом Гентой, сочетает элегантность и прекрасное ремесленничество. Модель Nautilus 5711 с самозаводящимся механизмом имеет 45-часовой запас хода и корпус из белого золота.
    Восьмиугольный безель с плавными скосами и синий солнечный циферблат подчеркивают неповторимость модели. Браслет с интегрированными звеньями обеспечивает комфорт даже при повседневном использовании.
    Часы оснащены функцией даты в позиции 3 часа и антибликовым покрытием.
    Для версий с усложнениями доступны хронограф, вечный календарь и функция Travel Time.
    Выбрать часы Patek Philippe Nautilus здесь
    Например, модель 5712/1R-001 из красного золота 18K с калибром повышенной сложности и запасом хода до 48 часов.
    Nautilus остается предметом коллекционирования, объединяя современные технологии и классические принципы.

  2. registro de Binance says

    June 24, 2025 at 9:29 pm

    Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.

  3. Eugenebruth says

    July 10, 2025 at 9:51 pm

    Дом Patek Philippe — это эталон механического мастерства, где сочетаются прецизионность и художественная отделка.
    С историей, уходящей в XIX век компания славится ручной сборкой каждого изделия, требующей сотен часов .
    Инновации, такие как автоматические калибры, сделали бренд как новатора в индустрии.
    наручные часы Patek Philippe купить
    Лимитированные серии демонстрируют вечные календари и декоративные элементы, подчеркивая статус .
    Современные модели сочетают инновационные материалы, сохраняя механическую точность.
    Это не просто часы — символ вечной ценности , передающий наследие мастерства из поколения в поколение.

  4. JaimeTom says

    July 12, 2025 at 3:32 am

    Доставка грузов из Китая в Россию проводится через морские каналы, с проверкой документов на российской границе .
    Таможенные пошлины составляют в диапазоне 15–20%, в зависимости от категории товаров — например, сельхозпродукты облагаются по максимальной ставке.
    Для ускорения процесса используют альтернативные схемы, которые избегают бюрократических задержек, но связаны с дополнительными затратами.
    Доставка грузов из Китая
    В случае легальных перевозок требуется предоставить паспорта на товар и акты инспекции, особенно для технических устройств.
    Сроки доставки варьируются от одной недели до двух недель , в зависимости от вида транспорта и загруженности контрольных пунктов.
    Общая цена включает логистику , таможенные платежи и услуги экспедитора, что требует предварительного расчёта .

  5. Jerryrorne says

    July 12, 2025 at 8:07 am

    I used to think following instructions was enough. Doctors give you pills — you don’t question the process. It felt safe. Eventually, it didn’t feel right.
    At some point, I couldn’t focus. I told myself “this is normal”. And deep down, I knew something was off. I watched people talk about their own experiences. No one had warned me about interactions.
    cenforce 100 india
    I started seeing: your body isn’t a template. The same treatment can heal one and harm another. Side effects hide. Still we trust too easily.
    Now I question more. But because no one knows my body better than I do. I challenge assumptions. But I don’t care. This is self-respect, not defiance. And if I had to name the one thing, it would be keyword.

  6. Kevindar says

    July 14, 2025 at 6:01 am

    Нужно собрать данные о человеке ? Наш сервис предоставит полный профиль мгновенно.
    Используйте уникальные алгоритмы для анализа цифровых следов в открытых источниках.
    Выясните место работы или интересы через автоматизированный скан с верификацией результатов.
    глаз бога поиск людей
    Бот работает в рамках закона , обрабатывая общедоступную информацию.
    Получите расширенный отчет с историей аккаунтов и графиками активности .
    Попробуйте проверенному решению для digital-расследований — точность гарантирована!

  7. rolex-submariner-shop.ru says

    July 14, 2025 at 4:05 pm

    Модель Submariner от представленная в 1953 году стала первой дайверской моделью, выдерживающими глубину до 100 метров .
    Модель имеет вращающийся безель , Oyster-корпус , обеспечивающие безопасность даже в экстремальных условиях.
    Дизайн включает светящиеся маркеры, черный керамический безель , подчеркивающие спортивный стиль.
    rolex-submariner-shop.ru
    Механизм с запасом хода до 3 суток сочетается с перманентной работой, что делает их надежным спутником для активного образа жизни.
    За десятилетия Submariner стал символом часового искусства, оцениваемым как эксперты.

Footer

find me on instagram!

A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱 The personal is po A feminist gardening dilemma 🌱

The personal is political. The garlic is groomed.

#gardening #garlicharvest #homegrownfood
“Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time “Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting time on this? What’s it for?”

That’s the “culture worm” talking... 🐛

Culture says everything we do has to be for something: for prestige, power, wealth, and status. Even practicing an instrument becomes preparation for a moment that has to exist.

On this episode of Bewildered, we’re asking: What if that moment doesn’t have to exist?

What if you can just keep getting better and better, not for anyone or anything, just for the moment and the sound of the notes?

Tune in for the full conversation to hear about cultivating the play vibe, living in the present moment, and breaking free from culture worms to pursue what you love.

You can listen to Bewildered episode 133: Playing Without Performing, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freeran Big day at Coven Farms… #backyardchickens #freerangechickens
Ah, Saturday Ah, Saturday
We were talking to Ro’s father about songwriting a We were talking to Ro’s father about songwriting and the process of writing songs and playing music, and he said, “Just don’t forget that it’s called playing the guitar.” 🎸
Emphasis on playing.

Somewhere along the way, the “culture worm” gets in there and stops us from doing things for their own sake. We stop playing and start performing, even when there’s no one watching.

On this episode of Bewildered, we’re dissecting what it means to reclaim the play in whatever you do. Come play with us! ✨

You can listen to Bewildered episode 133: Playing Without Performing, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Just a rooster, standing in front of a lesbian, as Just a rooster, standing in front of a lesbian, asking her to ignore gender stereotypes
Did you know that you don’t have to do everything Did you know that you don’t have to do everything by yourself?

For example, you can be the one who makes the thing, and someone in your community who enjoys photographing the thing can do that part. 📸

No matter how introverted we are, we just keep landing back in community because it’s never supposed to be self-sufficiency. It’s always supposed to be interdependence.

You can have a part yourself that makes the art, and you can have other parts that do other stuff, but you can also externalize those things to actual other people.

We can help each other. What a concept. 🤯

The culture’s monetization of everything often makes us forget that it doesn’t always have to be a transaction. It can just be a favor.

We saw this happen at our Pure.Wild.Self retreat in Costa Rica. There were twenty-five people there, and Liz Gilbert stopped by one day, and the whole thing turned into people rejoicing in each other’s genius.

Person after person connecting with someone whose joy would help them make their joy into something sustaining. They were trading passions, trading specialties. It was a little village of 25 people, just bursting with interdependence.

That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Bewildered. Join us!

You can listen to Bewildered episode 132: Enriching Your Enclosure, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
We’re always trying to hack our own psyches, right We’re always trying to hack our own psyches, right?

We’re looking for ways to game the system…to reframe things from Sunday-scaries mode into exciting mode.

One hack we keep coming back to is: Money equals points. If you can get the little Pac-Man part of you engaged in money (nit-nit-nit-nit), suddenly you’re moving.

A friend of ours said it best. When Ro asked her what was pushing her to her desk every day to finish her book, she looked up and said: “Well, I’m really looking forward to getting paid.”

It was such a great cut-the-bullshit, cut-all-the-highfalutin-stuff moment.

One way of tricking yourself so that you can move toward the money thing and not get stopped by the switch into “I have to do a job now!” panic, is this: Just make something. Anything.🧶

To hear more about the hacks, tricks, and reframes for getting more of what you love into your life, join us for the full conversation!

You can listen to Bewildered episode 132: Enriching Your Enclosure, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Happy Lughnasadh, festival of first harvest! It’s Happy Lughnasadh, festival of first harvest! It’s lovely to meet some of the potatoes and onions I’ve been talking to these past few months. I just love these midsummer vibes ☀️
We will not be taking questions at this time. #chi We will not be taking questions at this time. #chickens #chickenswholunch #chickensbigdayattheraces
Some recent summer moments 🥰 Some recent summer moments 🥰
When opportunity arises, the culture tells us to m When opportunity arises, the culture tells us to make a pros and cons list. Count up the columns and follow whichever one has more items. It’s all about return on investment: minimize the effort, maximize the reward.

That’s the rational way of navigating, right?

But here’s the thing: You can’t actually know your return on investment ahead of time. It’s always only a projected ROI. And we are not living life in an environment where that’s easy to project, whether we’re talking financially, emotionally, or experientially.

How the f*ck are we supposed to know how to do any of that? 😅

We don’t think a pros and cons list is the answer. On this episode of Bewildered, we talk about what we think works better, and why it might feel a bit counterintuitive at first. Join us!

You can listen to Bewildered episode 130: Following Your Inner Pull, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧
Nothing like hanging out with my favorite people i Nothing like hanging out with my favorite people in #WilderCommunity with Bilbo Baggins’s chin on my leg. Is this what absolute contentment feels like? 🐾 🌀
These so so precious summer days These so so precious summer days
A summer adventure with my girl A summer adventure with my girl
Do you want to be right, or do you want to make th Do you want to be right, or do you want to make things better?

That’s the question we keep coming back to in this week’s episode of Bewildered.

We’re going with making things better, even knowing we’ll mess it up repeatedly…in the middle of the night in our pajamas and overcoats. (Listen to the episode. You’ll understand.)

What we’ve learned from our friends in Africa is that the word for what we’re all trying to do isn’t conservation. It’s restoration.

And that starts from the inside out, seeking first the conservation of your own joy, and letting that energy be the thing you bring to a world that so desperately needs it. ❤️‍🩹🌍

You can listen to Bewildered episode 128: The Good Faith Footprint, access the show notes, and find links to resources on our website at the link in our bio—or on your favorite podcasting app. 🎧

follow me on twitter!

Tweets by rowanmangan

Copyright © 2020 Rowan Mangan · Site by Lilt Creative