[Z Baker]

My summary of this weeks prompt is thus….

After reading everyone’s post, I too am in awe of the depth of learning and work this group is experiencing. Many have expressed confusion and/or uncertainty about ideal clients. But having read everyone’s posts, I saw a great deal of clarity and focus. I saw inspired, driven people moving in the direction of their vision. Really great to be a part of this cohort! Thank you, -Z

[Z Baker]

When you think about coaching and/or guiding others, who comes to mind? What is the population that most excites you, and why? How do you imagine working with them?

The answers to this Foundations module’s question has presented itself for me in an organic way.
It wasn’t too long ago, about 7 years, that I found myself sitting on a hill, alone, in 100-degree temps, with no food nor water for an extended period of 4 days. Prior to this quest, I had set intention around finding my true path or original instructions. So, I sat without expectation, but with hope for a revelation. The lessons that came were multiple (many I am still unpacking to this day), and intense.

In retrospect, that experience was one of the toughest of my life yet one of the most rewarding. It’s substance created change in me at its soul level that would effect the trajectory of my life. The vision granted unto me was one of service, and transformation. My “original instructions” are to assist others in finding their own souls purpose through working with the natural world.

Stepping into that vision with authenticity and commitment created a domino effect in my life where opportunities to assist others began to present themselves. The first was at a local restaurant, my wife and I had been discussing a recent quest I had undertaken and a gentleman from the table behind me gentle tapped my should saying…”excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation…I WANT to experience what you were just talking about, can you tell me more?”.

That gentleman ended up assembling a group of (8) family and friends for a 2-day quest. That experience began the unfolding of my vision.

The demographic of my clients has chosen me as much as I have chosen them. They tend to be men and women, ages 30 – 40, who are waking from the false “bill of goods” that was sold to them in their 20’s and have found life and the pursuit of “stuff” and career to be empty and soulless. They often contact me with a deep desire for change in both themselves and the community they live within.

How would you like to collaborate with nature to support their awareness and success?

My experience with EBI to date, has been edifying. I have added a significant amount of “arrows” to my quiver of skills in working with my clients. I’ve integrated deep listening and awareness into my pre-quest curriculum and sensory meditations into their solo time alone. My experience so far has been that the addition of these techniques and skills has deepened the experience for both client and myself.

I am excited to add to further add to my skill set with upcoming intensives.

Also, search the web and share with us a few examples of individuals or organizations who work with similar populations. Add to your post, a comparative critique of these organizations based on what you know about Nature-Connected Coaching.

As I read the prompt above, the organizations that came immediately to mind is the School Of Lost Borders (schooloflostborders.org) and Animus Valley Institute (animas.org).

School of Lost Borders is the oldest (modern) wilderness quest school in the US, founded in 1976 by Steven and Meredith Little. They pioneered the pan-cultural vision quest format that many guides use today. Their approach is Earth based, where-in they support and facilitate the questers experience while allowing the land to do the teaching. Further training and opportunities are offered around keeping council, the medicine wheel and entering elderhood.

Animus Valley Institute, founded by Bill Plotkin PhD in 1981 after a solo winter ascent of an Adirondack peak, which became his “call to adventure”, leading him to abandon academia in search of his true calling, leading others into the wilderness to recover their soul’s. Animus’ focus as a organization is heavily intellectualized with a focus on experiencing wilderness as a reflection of soul/self. Shamanic techniques are blended with Joseph Campbells theories of the “Heroes Journey” and poured into Carl Jung’s dream work creating a concoction of soul discovery.

Having research both organizations, I see the NCC Coach as navigating between these two approaches, taking the middle path. By allowing the 50/50 principle to manifest and with deep listening and awareness a NCC offers a unique melding of the two perspectives. -Z

[Z Baker]

In summary…..this modules discussion has been an interesting one for me. I find it curious how each of us are experiencing and perceiving not just nature connected coaching but OUR personal perceptions of nature and our place in it the same.

[Z Baker]

In summary…its interesting to watch my cohort and to see the parallel experience we are all having. My takeaway form this Foundation 3 discussion is one of experience, authenticity and vision. At the Starhouse, Micheal said many times, WE are our first and most revealing client. This is beginning to sink in, we cannot take a client someplace we have not been, experience something we are not familiar with. Learning the tools to find OUR unique visions and pathways, offers us a unique perspective and tools which we can assist our clients in that same pursuit. -Z

[Z Baker]

In reflection to my client experience with Katy, one…I was feeling extremely under the weather, and two…truth be told much of that day is a blur. That being said, I liken my experience as client to that of the entire Foundations Intensive. My experience up to this point has been that the entire EBI journey has been one of crossing “Thresholds”, of stepping away… and into transformation, deeper into “self”.

My specific “threshold” experience that day was a culmination of the entire nine days. I literally felt myself stepping into and onto a new path for myself. With it came a shift in energy and trajectory that was supported by my community (both EBI and the greater community, Earth).

The effect the entire Threshold experience has had on my coaching style is profound and foundational. I am a firm believer that as a teacher, leader or guide, I cannot lead/guide someone to a place which I have not been, a place which I do not have an understanding and experience of. I believe that experience/knowledge is crucial in guiding another into their “uncharted” soul.

Nature is the reliable yet “unknown” factor in the Threshold experience. As Jon Young calls it, the “50/50 Principle”, simply…you can plan a whole coaching session or retreat around a certain schedule or structure, but like clock-work we can count on fifty percent being unexpected. My interpretation of that principle is that once Intention has been set and the client has put emotion (energy + Motion) into that intention the Universe/Creator rises to meet that energy.

As a coach, this principle allows me to craft sessions around certain activities and outcomes, while remaining in a state of deep listening and heightened awareness for changes in the baseline. Being “ok” with the “unexpected” nature of NATURE.

The ICF core competencies I deem to be essential to enhance these skills as a coach and guide are;

• Setting the Foundation; this sets the groundwork, creates the safe infrastructure for a “relationship of trust” to be established.
• Communicating effectively; by applying deep listening and awareness, key power words can be identified, and sacred questions crafted around (these tools are key in a coach’s authenticity and presence). This further deepens the “trust” between the client/coach.
• Through these sacred questions, learning is facilitated and results (actions) are initiated. Agreed upon threshold experience is enacted.

My initial impression of the ICF material was one of revulsion. I had perceived them as unnecessary “hoops” required by a “board of suits” somewhere saying I was qualified to coach. In retrospect, my current feeling is that the principles espoused by the ICF and EBI link together almost seamlessly. -Z

[Z Baker]

Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together?

In my current state on consciousness (and it seems much of the cohorts), this question seems to conjure a feeling of complication and “over-intellectualization” of a topic which every human’s birthright, that of connection to source, to Earth.

I’ve been meditating on the question, “what is Ecopsychology?” with my findings being…. from an intellectual standpoint, Ecopsychology is the study of relationship between human beings and the natural world using ecological and psychological principles.

As Roszak states in “The Voice of The Earth”, “the goal of ecopsychology is to awaken the inherent sense of environmental reciprocity that lies within the ecological unconscious. Other therapies seek to heal the alienation between person to person, person and family, person and society. Ecopsychology seeks to heal the more fundamental alienation between the person and the natural environment.” (p 320)

Simply…to the uninitiated, Ecopsychology is the restoration of right relationship and connection to the Earth. In my experience this restoration brings us as human beings into alignment with who we are as a species and as a PART of the greater web.

On the other side of the spectrum is Coaching, which according to Jenny Rogers in “Coaching Skills; a handbook” supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance. In my experience, there is a bit of “Ra-Ra” element involved in the coach role. This conjures images of a goal driven, positive affirmation spouting, cheerleader.

Nature connected coaching is the love child, the expression of the merger of these two oddly paired concepts.

How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach?

The NCC coach is an individual whom has done their own “self-recovery” work and exists in a state of heightened awareness which is supported by their re-connection to Earth. That sense of awareness informs their ability to guide (coach) a client in their “self-recovery” process. I’m a firm believer that a teacher or guide cannot lead someone to a place they have not been.

How might it fall short?

I’m not sure I see ant shortcomings in living from that place of “reconnection”. That state can only enhance one’s ability, not just as a guide, but in navigating daily life as a human being.

What skills are needed?

The skills that have resonated with me have been the connection to soul, i.e. the seven breathes. In addition, deep listening and the awareness of baseline and concentric ripples has added greatly to my own continued “self-recovery” and my work as a facilitator.

I get that if I maintain my connection to self and Earth, I am in a far better position to assist others In their work.

Grounded.

P.S. My apologies to the cohort for my tardiness in this post. Im looking forward to seeing you all again (in person) next month! -Z

[Z Baker]

Kent,

Reading this gave me the sense that you are ON your path. The specificity you described in your ideal client shows a clarity in forward movement. Like David, I was also struck by your comment regarding Earth workers, “It’s often ironic that the people working the hardest for nature have the least contact with nature”. This has been my experience as well. At our F2F intensive I kept thinking, “if everyone could experience tree whispering, we would not have the pollution, disconnection from Earth that we do”. Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you next week. -Z

[Z Baker]

Hannah,

I found your post inspiring and insightful. I found your insights into millennial perspectives as unique and quite interesting…”coming into the age of leadership differently than other generations…generally speaking, we have such a passion to change paradigms that have ruled society and the planet for a long time, but concurrently, a lack of direction and tools to make our visions a reality (new paradigms probably means new and different tools)”.

Really awesome, and from my experience right on! The oppressive, “old ways” of being are dissolving and new pathways are emerging. Change is in the air. Thank you! -Z

[Z Baker]

David,

Thank you for this post. Much of it resonates with my vision and the clients I work with. Your comment and insights….”The work I want to do is informed by this need in our world for young people – the seeds of our future – to be connected to themselves, each other, and the planet. I see myself working with clients through 1-on-1 coaching, with goals relating to responsible, authentic, and connected living, harnessing deep respect and connection with Soul, Nature, and relationships” Ring true to me. We NEED these rites of passage as a people to assist us in maturing and growing into members of society which contribute. Thank you! -Z

[Z Baker]

Brian,

I have to say that seeing you step into your vision has been inspiring to witness. I’m a firm believer that as we step into our vision the Universe, Creator, God, whatever you may acknowledge, rises to meet us where we are. To assist us in fulfilling our deepest souls desire. This includes presenting us with opportunities and clients to assist in the healing of community. I’m excited to see where you go with this. -Z

[Z Baker]

Kent,

Thank you for such a deep soulful telling of your experience. I really resonated with your comparison of the severance and threshold to your qigong training. “I see the threshold as the “filling” after much has been emptied during severance….I also see the threshold as the “breathing out” portion of the ceremony. During severance a lot of “breathing in” and tension can be built up, even if the client is experiencing many positive insights about themselves. Threshold turns the focus, energy and intention outward and into the wild”.

I also loved your expression of Threshold offering you the opportunity to celebrate your truth and to take your goals into nature to acknowledge and honor them as a part of the real you. These insights will be valuable touch-point and points of reference with your clients. Thank you! -Z

[Z Baker]

Katy,

Your comment ” it’s not always about living in alignment with what’s comfortable, but living in alignment with what is deep and real” not only resonated with me, but brought goose bumps to my flesh. Beautiful beautiful words!

Your analogy of “river swimming upstream against certain parts of myself, and surrendering to the current feels like a big, scary, forbidden pathway. But in threshold, I allow myself to surrender to the stream. And in the process, I realize that it’s way easier to go with the flow of the water, of my Soul, that it is to constantly struggle against it”.

What your describing, in my mind is following your vision or original instruction. This is at the core of who we are as unique individuals. As a coach, being able to recognize and name these things is essential in working with your clients vision process. Thank you!

[Z Baker]

“The Earth’s cry for rescue from the punishing weight of the industrial system we have created is our own cry for a scale and quality of life that will free each of us to become the complete person we were born to be.” Roszak, The Voice of The Earth (p 14)

[Z Baker]

Hannah,

This statement….”In both the fields of coaching and ecopsychology, I have an overwhelming perception that problems that arise in those seeking healing are not isolated events occurring simply in the interpersonal realms of their lives, but a much larger, and almost generationally-based trauma around their whole connection to all life on the planet.” WHOA!

This resonates with me on so many levels…there is a teaching among medicine people that in every environment there is a medicine for treating that which harms. I.e. Jewelweed is used as a very effective treatment for poison ivy and is often found growing near the ivy patches. From a Earth connection perspective, as the “disconnection” sickness becomes more severe an increasing number of healers will emerge to meet that sickness. A balancing of shadow and light.

[Z Baker]

Brian,

Much like my fellow cohort members, your frustration around the complication of this very simple subject matter is spot on in my summation. By creating its own vocabulary and complicating issues academia is hoarding something that is a human birthright, a connection to Earth.

At our Foundations intensive, several times I found myself comparing the skills and experiences we were all experiencing with those I’ve had in the graduate counseling program I’m currently taking. How natural the NCC process and facilitation feel as opposed to the clinical aspects of a modern therapist.