Joy is...Right Now.
Markus Torgeby is a Swedish runner, author and lecturer. At age 20, with nothing but an axe, a sleeping bag, and the clothes he was wearing, Markus bought a one-way ticket to Gothenburg train station. There, in the Jämtland forest, where temperatures plummet to -40°C in winter, he lived off-grid for 4 years. Existing in complete solitude and harmony with nature, Markus constructed a hut by hand, slept on reindeer skins, survived on a diet of oatmeal, berries and fish and found a way to rebuild both his body and mind away from the pressures and heartache, on both the track and at home, which had driven him to the forest in the first place. This journey is chronicled in his book The Runner, a powerful exploration of running, resilience, loss, and self-discovery. His second book Under the Open Skies: A Practical Guide to Living Close to Nature offers advice on how to survive in the wild including how to build a fire, which plants are edible, the best techniques for chopping wood. Today, Markus lectures on heath and nature, as well as building houses and outdoor beds. Markus and Frida have three daughters and live in Jämtland, outside Undersåker.
Speaking with Markus was an immense privilege (and not just because it came to light that he only speaks in English once a year!). His sparkling eyes carry so much wisdom and the empathy and depth that comes from years of struggle and survival. Although we began by discussing movement, we spent much of the conversation considering the profound healing that comes from stillness. Markus's open, poignant reflections on the emotional turmoil that led to that day of buying the train ticket were incredibly moving and gave context to the decision that would literally save his life. His story is one, ultimately, of love that shows that, even at our most broken and fragile, humanity has the capacity to still, literally, see the stars in the darkness.
As we spoke, thought, cried and laughed together the light faded in Sweden, mimicking the days when Markus would live by the natural rhythms of day and night, sitting on a tree stump until running away became a way of coming back.
In Markus's words: 'we are afraid of the darkness and that's ok'.
Learn: markustorgeby.se
Follow: @markustorgeby
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.