Published on May 28, 2025
Before launching Primal Nature, I ran a business called Tide School that culminated in an expedition to Polynesia to learn the ancient art of natural navigation. While there, I discovered that many of these wayfinding principles could be applied to navigating everyday life and this experience inspired me to develop Primal Nature.
At the heart of Primal Nature is the Wayfinder philosophy, which is built around the Four Secrets of Success and the Islands of Happiness visualisation. These tools help people direct their thoughts, feelings, and actions intentionally across three key areas of life: private life (health and well-being), work (wealth creation), and friendships (fun and connection). In this way Primal Nature combines timeless wisdom with modern tools to empower people to find their own way, just as ancient navigators did.
The Four Secrets of Success serve as a mental checklist to align your thoughts, feelings, and actions for success in any endeavour. Here’s how they connect to exploration and navigation, and how to integrate them into daily life:
1. Embrace Chaos and Unpredictability:
Life is like the sea—you can’t control the wind or waves, but you can choose your course. The first step to success is accepting that uncertainty is inevitable. Instead of resisting challenges, adapt to them and find ways to navigate forward.
2. Align with the Cardinal Virtues:
When lost at sea, timeless virtues act as your compass. These virtues—fairness, self-control, courage, and wisdom—help you align with integrity and make the right decisions in uncertain moments. By embodying these virtues, you create a steady internal guide, no matter what external chaos surrounds you.
3. Share Your Gifts with the World:
On a ship, everyone has a role to play, and success depends on collaboration. This secret reminds us to focus on our strengths and share them with others. When we contribute our unique talents to the collective, we amplify both our impact and sense of purpose.
4. Celebrate the Magic of This Moment:
Polynesian navigators lived fully in the present, focusing on their environment to guide their journey. This secret encourages mindfulness and gratitude. Success is not just about achieving goals but about enjoying each step of the journey.
These principles form a powerful framework for navigating both life’s challenges and opportunities with clarity and purpose.
One rescue that stands out was during my time with the RNLI when we responded to a yacht stranded in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane. The elderly couple onboard had lost control after a rope tangled around their propeller, leaving them adrift with powerful currents and enormous ships bearing down on them. It was like a car breaking down in the middle of a motorway.
I was tasked with boarding the yacht, securing it to the lifeboat, and steering it to safety. What struck me was how all the years of training, fitness, and preparation culminated in that single decisive moment of action. This experience underscored the importance of embracing chaos and unpredictability—one of the Four Secrets of Success. You can’t predict when life will test you, but by consistently building your skills, fitness, and focus, you ensure you’re ready to act decisively when the moment comes.
My connection to the sea began during university when I got into surfing. Being out in the North Sea in the middle of winter, riding huge waves, left no room for overthinking. It was pure survival and immersion in the moment, which gave me an incredible sense of calm.
Later, I realised that sailing could offer a similar experience but over extended periods. This inspired me to buy a boat, renovate it, and embark on a big sailing trip. Living on the sea immersed me in nature and taught me the beauty of being present. This journey eventually led to Polynesia, where I learned natural wayfinding—navigating by the stars, clouds, birds, and waves. That deep connection to the environment became the foundation of Primal Nature, helping others control overthinking and find clarity in chaos.
One of the most inspiring figures for me is Tupaia, a high chief and master navigator of Polynesia. Based at the sacred temple of Taputapuātea, which I visited, Tupaia represented the incredible knowledge and skill of Polynesian wayfinders.
Tupaia joined Captain Cook’s expedition and guided the crew across vast stretches of the Pacific, sharing his knowledge of the environment, navigation, and culture. His ability to bridge worlds—combining ancient wisdom with practical action—reminds us to integrate timeless principles into modern life. We can all learn from his calm confidence, his ability to harness collective energy, and his mastery of living in harmony with nature.
For me, my life philosophy is captured in one word: Homeostasis. It’s about being in equilibrium—balanced within yourself and with your environment. It reflects a calm, centered state of being where you respond to life with clarity and purpose.
In practice, this means aligning my thoughts, feelings, and actions through tools like meditation, my Wayfinder philosophy, and the Four Secrets of Success. It’s about adapting to life’s challenges while staying grounded in the present. For me, homeostasis isn’t just a state—it’s a way of life.
Published on May 28, 2025 by Ella Thomas