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YEAR-LONG/EXTENDED PROGRAMS
Bringing it Home – An 8 Shields Deepening Year Course
Facilitators: Peter Cow, Rebecca Card, Deborah Benham, Klaudia Van Gool, Chris Holland, Jack Payne-Cook
Location: Dartmoor, Devon, UK
An in-depth, yearlong journey to bring 8 Shields wisdom and practices into your life, family, work and communities. Have you been inspired by 8 Shields events like Art of Mentoring and Nature Culture Regeneration, and are seeking inspiration and support to land it more in your own life? Led and designed by experienced facilitators, this rich journey home will help 8 Shields practices and wisdom take deep root in you and your life, bringing connection and cultural healing to you and your people. We will share 4 inspirational weekends through the year, with personal mentoring and co-mentoring in between.
When: April 2018 through to January 2019
Exchange: Early Bird before 1st February: £1,200, then £1,300 – £1,600 (self-assessed sliding scale)
Find out more here or contact peter@8shields.org
The Old Way – A journey into re-wilding our ancestral blueprint
Facilitators: Emily Fawcett and Robin Bowman, with a local team of AoM re-wilders, plus guest contributors Jon Young, Bruce Parry, Linda Lemieux, Martin Shaw and Louis Liebenburg
Location: 5 locations in Devon plus 2 weeks in Namibia
A yearlong exploration into what it means to be indigenous to these islands, returning to The Old Way, to experience life and the land as hunter-gatherers. In this context we will explore awareness skills, tracking, bird language, ancient crafts, food procurement, movement across the landscape, song and customs over 6 sessions. One session will comprise a 2 week adventure in Namibia to journey with the oldest tribal hunter-gatherers on Earth, the Ju/hoansi San bushmen. There we will experience a landscape alongside plentiful game and large predators, and witness some of the few people who have never stopped being indigenous to their place, and in doing so help support the preservation of this ancient culture, our own heritage.
For adults, from beginner to experienced welcome.
When: April 6-9 2018 Moor Barton, May 4-7 Canoe trip on the Dart Estuary, July 12-16 Coastal foray, South Devon, Sept 12-16 Walkabout on Dartmoor, Oct 5-18 Hunting and gathering with Ju/hoansi San Bushmen in Namibia, Nov 16-18 Moor Barton.
Exchange: £4,500
Find out more here or contact Emily elf.emily@gmail.com 07956 148282
Wild Time – Nature-based mentoring programme for teenage girls (12-16yrs)
Facilitators: Emily Fawcett and Israh Goodall
Location: Dartmoor
This wondrous journey from May to September 2018 aims to support girls of a certain age to safely experience a range of physical outdoor challenges, develop and practice survival and bushcraft skills whilst at the same time exploring interpersonal themes of self-reliance, group dynamics, and creativity. It aims to be a magical unravelling, facilitated on a adventure across wild Dartmoor .
We will spend time solo, in pairs and as a group; identifying and playing with some of the topics that arise. Games, environmental arts and crafts, adventure, night exploration and poetry will provide opportunities to weave the imagination as the girls explore the woods and moorland. We will cook together and sleep under the stars. We will spend time as a group of women, sharing stories and experience and most importantly learning from each other.
When: May 12th -13th, Aug 24th – 27th and Sept 29th – 30th
Exchange: £695
Find out more here
Nature Immersion Adult Programme
Facilitators: Anna Richardson and Victoria Mew, plus additional specialist instructors
Location: East Sussex
Come and experience a journey through the core routines of nature connection. Feel embodied and empowered through building connection to yourself, others and the natural world. The programme will be designed on natural cycles as we follow the seasons through the year. We will be connecting through songs, games, challenges, focused activities for practical skill development, timeless wandering, harvesting the stories of our experiences, space for distillation and reflection, sensory expansion and the quiet mind. All of this will sit on a foundation of building a culture of connection and personal growth that can be accessibly woven into your daily life through specific, manageable practices and peer support. This programme is for adults (18+) who want to deepen their own connection to self, other and nature.
When: March-December 2018 – see website for full details.
Exchange: £1600
Find out more here or email: Victoria Mew victoria.mew@gmail.com
Earth Stewardship for Adults
Facilitators: Sacred Earth Community Benefit Society
Location: East Sussex
An immersive journey into our indigenous self, helping support what gifts emerge out of each individual through conscious engaged mentoring in deep nature connection and awareness. Will include close interaction with primitive skills and crafts, quality experiential learning in nature awareness, access to containers for stuckness, and exposure to transformational leadership and facilitation. For connected adults wanting to go deeper / beginners and experienced alike
When: Starting Spring 2018: a year-long journey into deep nature connection, the art of mentoring and earth caretaking. Includes four x 3 day extended weekend sessions through the seasons and also includes additional Sacred Fire and Vision Quest weekends
Exchange: £2365
Find out more here or contact Phil phil@sacredearthland.co.uk 07554 127926
Communication with the Land Weekends
Facilitators: Lien De Coster, in co-facilitation with Greg Sommer, Simon Hodges, Jurjen Annen and Jose Koster
Location: De Uelenspieghel, Uffelte, the Netherlands
Since time immemorial we humans have lived closely to the earth and in an intimate relationship with our natural surroundings. We knew the land throughout the seasons, were aware of the other creatures with whom we shared our space and directly depended upon it for our survival and daily needs. We used to be fully at ease with this ongoing dialogue. Today many of us have forgotten this language. Luckily there are many ways to reconnect to it or deepen it. During this series of ‘communication with the land’ weekends you will have the opportunity to feel more at home in nature, heighten your awareness and connect to your animal body. Each weekend has a different theme and is co-facilitated with an expert in the field. You can immerse yourself fully by coming to all four weekends or join for one or more separate weekends. For anyone who wants to learn about the core routines of nature connection or deepen them.
When: April 6th-8th – seeing animals, May 18th-20th – becoming mythic, September 21st-23rd – becoming invisible, November 23rd-25th – singing with the land
Exchange: 250 euro per weekend plus accommodation (tbc)
Find out more: Lien liendecoster7@gmail.com
Journey into Womanhood
Facilitators: Hana Jones and Penny Jerram
Location: Waldron, East Sussex
Whilst we are so often taught to seek answers from teachers or from others who ‘know’, this is an opportunity for us to enter into an immersive, experiential journey inside ourselves to deepen our understanding and relationship to the sacred internal women’s ceremonies and life stages. We will utilise ancient, indigenous wisdom to help take us to the place where our knowledge of what we individually need, and the knowledge of what we already know resides.
Exploring the landscape of the feminine through all of the different planes of our being, we will be working with the elements, nature and the wisdom of our ancestors during 3 weekend gatherings.
When: May – December 2018
Exchange: £660.00
Find out more here
The Helper’s Journey
Facilitators: Salvatore Gencarelle
Location: East Sussex
This is your opportunity to see and understand the world and all aspects of life in a new way of intimate relationships and unity. This course offers techniques and exercises which will help you become the change you’re looking for in the world. Salvatore Gencarelle is a bridge between traditional cultural practices and the modern world. The wisdom he brings is based upon 16 years of intense initiation to become a ceremonial facilitator, teacher and guide with a renowned Native American healer who was also cousin to one of Jon Young’s mentors, Gilbert Walking Bull. For the past 6 years Sal has worked with 8 Shields and various Art of Mentoring communities around the world teaching techniques of transformation. Sal and Jon brought their joint, deep immersion in indigenous teachings to co-create and design the Leadership Initiation Project which they deliver together to teach a new generation of re-connection specialists. Central to these teachings is the importance of healing historic trauma through the use of indigenous ceremonies as a key to re-connection and cultural repair. Sal is the founder and director of the Helpers Mentoring Society, an organisation dedicated to supporting the return and preservation of connective cultural practices.
When: Online Apr – Nov 2018, Gatherings: May 11-13, Sept 21-23, Dec 8-9 2018
Exchange: £2197
Find out more here
ONGOING AND REGULAR MENTORING AND COURSES
Hearth in the Edgelands: 8 Shields Mentoring
Facilitator: Amy Downing
Location: Skype, phone or in person in north east Scotland
8 Shields rooted mentoring for personal growth, inner tracking and wholehearted living. I’m an experienced mentor with a full basket of skills and techniques that enable me to meet you where you’re at, support you to track your patterns, tend to old wounds and lean into your edges. My intention is to help you feel skilled up and empowered to live wholeheartedly. I have a deep lived understanding of the 8 Shields model and extensive experience using it in many different contexts: facilitating for individuals, couples and communities including holding a variety of staff roles at all the UK AoM camps. I am a skilled mentor, counsellor and facilitator, community builder, ritual holder and song carrier. I also specialise in peacemaking and grief work. I often use deep nature connection practices and ancestral crafts in my mentoring. I am a herbalist and forager.
When: I offer regular weekly/fortnightly sessions and residential intensives for individuals and couples, adults and children. I also can anchor you for a specific event or training.
Exchange: Sliding scale £20-£60/hr. I’m open to part-exchanges of things other than money. Shortest sessions are 1.5hrs. Free 1/2hr taster/intro session.
Find out more: hearthintheedgelands@gmail.com – 07786 068057
Nature Mentoring with Dan Puplett
Facilitator: Dan Puplett
Location: Skype or phone
Nature Mentoring is tailored very much to your own curiosity and interests, whether you want to delve into the worlds of tracking and bird language, get to know your wild neighbours, or experience the vital aliveness that comes with expanding your felt sense of kinship with the more-than-human world. I offer relaxed and friendly mentoring that meets you where you’re at. I can help inspire you and stretch your awareness through hearing your stories, asking questions, giving you nature missions and celebrating your wild discoveries with you! I am a naturalist and tracker with a passion for connecting others to nature. I worked for Trees for Life for over 11 years and have been involved with Art of Mentoring since 2010. I’m also an instructor for the Kamana Naturalist Training Programme for Europe.
Exchange: Sessions cost £30/hour and you can book for a no-commitment free half hour trial! Discounts for block bookings.
Find out more here or contact Dan dan.puplett@gmail.com 07952 679640
Peer Mentoring Club
Facilitator: David Smart Knight
Location: Online
Recognising that to provide the kind of support and mentoring that creates a thriving village culture, we need to develop our mentoring skills, Peer Mentoring Club is a living learning community – a space to explore and develop these skills in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
When: Once a fortnight – every other Monday 7-8:30pm (UK time)
Exchange: £15 per month
Find out more: David SmartKnight david.planitearth@gmail.com 07837413202
The Story Catcher Project
Facilitator: David Smart Knight
Location: By Phone/Skype call at a mutually convenient time. Approximately 1.5 hours.
Recognising that a society without mentors forces each generation to repeat the lessons of their forebears, the Story Catcher Project captures and collates those real-life “ah-ha” moments of learning, bringing them alive and presenting them in a way that fosters mentoring relationships, so we each can learn from each other. Anyone who has a story (Hint – if you are alive, you will have several!!). Expect to deepen your understanding of your own story
When: Ongoing
Exchange: Participation is free. Some stories will be published in a book expected by the end of 2018
Find out more: David Smart Knight david.planitearth@gmail.com 07837413202
Mentoring & Tailored Events, with Bell Selkie
Facilitator: Bell Selkie
Location: West Wales
One to one sessions cultivating connection to nature, others and self through nature connection practices , eco-therapy and deep imagination with qualified and experienced counsellor . Also circles of connection and medicine walks. For individuals (adults and teens)
When: Weekly two hour sessions to overnight wild camps to group happenings to medicine walks
Exchange: Sliding scale from £20/hour
Find out more here or contact Bell Selkie bellselkie@gmail.com 07549311832
SPRING/SUMMER 2018 COURSES
Four Sacred Gifts
Facilitators: Salvatore Gencarelle
Location: Waldron, East Sussex.
Many people are looking for something that will help us return to a balanced relationship with nature and each other. The 4 Sacred Gifts of connection were given to humanity a long time ago to help the people live in harmony with all of Creation. These gifts are the Sweat Lodge, the Vision Quest, the Sacred Pipe, and the Drum. These tools are still available to us and we need to learn how to utilise them again. The teachings of the Helpers Mentoring Society are part of the solution. This
3-day workshop will give you an experiential introduction to the 4 Sacred Gifts. For those who want to go deeper in their understanding of these tools and to perhaps eventually become a facilitator of these ceremonies, we are also offering the Helpers Journey, a 7-month course starting in April 2018.
When: 5/6/7 May 2018
Exchange: £380
Find out more here
Nature Culture Regeneration – a Weekend Introduction to 8 Shields and the Art of Mentoring
Facilitators: Peter Cow, Rebecca Card, Deborah Benham, and others to be confirmed
Location: Near Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor, Devon UK
An experiential weekend for adults, introducing the wisdom of the 8 Shields through nature connection and culture creation. There will be two simultaneous programs for adults: ‘The Village’ is for first-time participants. Through embodying many regenerative, nature-based practices, participants will journey through the 8 Shields cycle and explore how we can re-member ‘the village’ and how we can live in Wholeness with ourselves, the communities we are part of, and the global community of all species. ‘The Return’ is for participants who have already been on ‘The Village’ or Ring One at an Art of Mentoring camp. Returnees will experience living at the edge of the village and exploring the wild individually and in tribe.
For adults, both newcomers and people who have done AoM Ring 1 or NCR ‘village’ before
When: 18-20th May. Arrive 4pm Friday for a 6pm start. Ends 4pm Sunday
Exchange: £160-£220 Camping with all meals included.
Find out more here or email Peter
Midsummer Wilderness Solo
Facilitators: Lien De Coster and Katrien Deboutte
Location: Nohedes, French Pyrenees
A wilderness solo is a contemporary translation of the ancient ritual of the vision quest, which was held in all corners of the world. Originally it was a rite of passage from youth to adulthood. Youngsters left their community on a search for vision for this life, their gift to their people. Today we miss this kind of ritual reflection time, which brings lots of people on a path which is not theirs. A wilderness solo retreat can help you to get (more) clarity about what is essential to you. For adults.
When: June 21st-June 29th 2018
Exchange: 700 Euros
Find out more: Lien liendecoster7@gmail.com
Coyote Spirit Adventure to British Columbia, Canada (TBC)
Facilitators: Sacred Earth Community Benefit Society
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Ultimately for young adults (ages 16-24yrs old), but we will consider adult applications also wanting to go deeper into acorn leadership and supportive facilitation. Families will be considered for AoM week and possibly canoe trip.
When: Summer 2018 (mid August to early September). Includes one week at the Art of Mentoring on Salt Spring Island (ring 2), One week: canoe adventure, One week: mountain adventure or quest week
Exchange: TBC
Find out more here or contact Phil phil@sacredearthland.co.uk 07554 127926