päänavigointi

Päänavigointi refers to a method of navigation that uses the body's inner ear and the vestibular system to detect movement and maintain balance, particularly in the absence of visual cues such as during a storm, in a dense forest, or when navigating in complete darkness. This reliance on body awareness allows the individual to infer their orientation and movement without relying on external visual references.

During päänavigointi, an individual seeks to align their body with major directions such as north, south, east, and west, to judge the distribution of solar heat. They use the passive thermal sensations on the body, sometimes known as "human compasses" or "thermalmap" in some texts to navigate. This practice often involves reading nature's clues such as the location of the sun's shadow, its estimated altitude in the sky, and the balance of day and night.

Päänavigointi is an ancient and widely used technique that allows for effective navigation by utilizing one's body and its sensory capabilities to interpret and understand navigational information. Depending on the geographical location and the environmental conditions, the effectiveness and the accuracy of the method can vary. This technique, among other non-visual navigation methods, is an essential part of wilderness survival courses and outdoor activities and can be considered an alternative or complement to traditional navigation tools such as compasses.