[Ruth]

Gosh, I hardly know where to begin to respond to this. So many things you shared really touched me deeply. I too am a ‘student’ of Tom Brown Jr (via his books, etc) and of Jon Young (via his books and online courses with him as the guide). My life shifted profoundly many, many years ago from the influence of these two Beings. I love that you are coming from that background and creating even more depth and expansion to it in this area of coaching & questing. One (of many) thing I found myself nodding my head to and saying, “Yes! That’s it!” to was your explanation of going beyond just being ‘in’ nature to collaborating ‘with’ nature. Instead of just sitting under a tree, as you described, the tree is brought into the process as an active participant! I feel so strongly called to help guide people back to the understanding of being a part of nature and not an outside observer. I feel that the only way we can restore balance and harmony to Earth is when we finally, once again, know that it is us and we are it and we fall in love with it again. We protect and care for what we love and have a personal connection to. If we don’t establish deep reciprocal relationship with Nature, how will we go on? As you know, I’ve been eye-balling your teachings for several years and am extremely grateful for this introductory offer to your certification program to do what I can. Thank you!

[Ruth]

I, too, found this lesson more challenging than the Surround Sound. I am really resonating with the concept of shifting our focus, whether audibly or visually, from a convergent to a divergent awareness. It almost immediately shuts down my ‘monkey mind’ when I move outward into that expanded space beyond the constricted space of a narrow focus. While practicing this in the Natural World is soothing and peaceful, I can see how this skill is beneficial anywhere, anytime we need to shift our perspective and get in touch with our Innate Wisdom and True Nature, the ‘Wild’ within which we were conceived. Whenever we make that shift, we are, in a sense, rewilding ourselves. Love these lessons! Thank you!

[Ruth]

This lesson was very helpful. Any practice that helps shift us from our internal limited mind chatter and opens our awareness to the unlimited Unknown, whether using sound, sight, smell, taste or touch to take us there, is healing in my understanding. It can almost immediately drop us into the Eye of the Hurricane where we can rest and settle so as to connect to our own True Nature and Innate Wisdom, allowing us to interact within this physical world at a greater level of awareness. Love these teachings!

[Ruth]

I confess that I’ve been avoiding this exercise. It was one of the first things I looked at and I just felt so stymied by it that I couldn’t get past it. I can easily understand why you and Michael express how important this particular reflection is to be able to move forward. Every time I tried to sit with these questions, I felt anxious and unsettled and lost. They felt too close to the ‘Who Am I’ conundrum which has always felt too vast, too deep, too unknowable. At any rate…after our really eye-opening coaching session last week, I am starting to feel some things unravel and am less intimidated by these questions. Today I looked at them again and don’t have the anxiety and restlessness coming up like previously. This week I want to sit outside and give these a good pondering and see what comes up! They do feel like crucial pieces of my growth and ability to bravely move forward in whatever direction I go, so I’m intending to feel my way through them!

[Ruth]

Yes, a long-time student of Tom and Jon! Back in my university days, a friend gave me Tom’s book, The Tracker and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven! I started buying and reading everything he wrote and was overwhelmed with a sense of coming home. It has inspired me for decades and shaped my path forward from those early days. To be able to put it into practical practice through what you are offering is exactly what I’ve been looking for and I am genuinely grateful!