This ONLINE workshop is a six week program for women and men. The group will meet once a week for 2.5 hours, and there will be solo explorations in nature between group meetings.
The Four Directions / Medicine Wheel teachings, first presented to Rites of Passage by Hyemeyohsts Storm over 40 years ago, provide a deep and powerful foundation for understanding ourselves as co-participants in Creation with the entire natural world. In this workshop, we explore each direction through discussion, sharing, assignments in nature, telling the story of these encounters, and mirroring of the stories by staff and participants.
These core teachings are at the heart of the work we do, helping us to understand ourselves, our life changes, our place in the natural world, and the gifts we have to share. This program also forms a portion of the curriculum for the Rites of Passage guide training program.
The idea of the Four Directions is found within many cultures and traditions, often understood as four cycles or seasons of nature.
-Four archetypes of human nature: Spirit, Body, Psyche, Mind
–The seasons of our life cycle, representing birth and infancy (Spring), childhood and early adolescence (Summer), self-consciousness of later adolescence and early adulthood (Fall), full adulthood (Winter) and elderhood (Spring again)
-Orienting our internal process to the landscape: the four directions of the compass
Men in any profession and any stage of life will find this workshop of value as an in-depth application of eco-psychology and as an opportunity for personal growth. It’s also valuable for those who wish to renew and deepen the gifts they received on a Wilderness Quest.
This is an experiential event; each component will include suggestions for spending time in nature.
Testimonials
The Four Directions Wheel is laid out, a map of the journey into inner and outer wilderness. The richness of the workshop lies in the space Mike creates for each person’s authentic experience in conversation with our souls and reflected in the land and in the shining eyes of the other participants.
-Paul Abodeely, youth counselor, Seattle, WA
The power of the course is hard to suggest. The time here, on the land and with these people, has led me to great awareness that will help my in my own life. Most importantly, it has opened my heart, connected me to the beauty in humanity and in myself. I know the gifts given to me over these five days are only the beginning.
-Bianca Di Salvo, businesswoman, Yonkers, NY
