As a wilderness guide, the ability to pivot from your itinerary when the weather, terrain, group, circumstance, or who-knows-what requires it—that’s one of your most vital capacities. The same goes for any practitioner of wild spirituality.
It’s interesting though, because it’s seldom crystal clear whether the pivot is entirely necessary. It’s always some combination of managing risk and expectations, and about moving through with the confidence that you can alter course without needing to compromise the purpose of the experience.
Sometimes it is clear. Sometimes it’s clear because the risk calculus makes it so: The river is heavily flooded, this is no longer where we are going to cross.
Sometimes it’s clear because an opportunity to enhance the experience becomes available: The group has been moving more quickly than I anticipated, turns out we have time for this epic side hike to a natural arch, and the group is game. Duh, let’s go!
I’m making a pivot.
This pivot is the latter sort. As I gathered some feedback from folks interested in Spiritual Formation in the Wild, and consulted with my collaborators at The School of Global Citizenry, I got a vision for a new route that is going to enhance this particular experience.
I’m redesigning the course that I told you about earlier this month. I’ll be offering two experiences of learning and formation, rather than one:
* The first offering will be a stand-alone offering, with much of the same value of the original course, but more financially accessible as an on-demand, self-paced course.
* The second will be a cohort-based experience that I will facilitate for folks who want to apply what they’ve learned on a deeper personal and vocational level.
Spiritual Formation in the Wild • Coming very soon!
This will be a self-paced online course with guided nature connection practices, lessons about the methods, history, and benefits of nature connection, and audio reflections by yours truly.
It will qualify learners for 2 continuing education units (20 contact hours) certified through The School of Global Citizenry.
The course fee: $89 • Enrollment opening later this Spring. I’ll keep you posted!
Spiritual Leadership in the Wild • Coming in 2025!
This one will be a guided online cohort experience for folks who want to strengthen their calling and creative contributions. This experience will build on the personal practices and lessons from Spiritual Formation in the Wild, as I guide you on a multi-week delve into exploring wilderness as an arena of communal formation, and helping you find applications to your work in the world.
I’ll send out more specs around the bend. Meanwhile I’m keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in either or both of these courses: What excites you about them? What are the barriers that would keep you from joining?
Because I really hope you will join.
