Why I'm Setting Up A New Weekly Nature Connection Course

I've just set up my dream course as part of School of the Wild - the project I decided to really 'go for' after doing The Journey at Embercombe in the summer of 2015.

At the end of The Journey, I pledged to stand up for what I believe, and this is it: The Nature Connection course.

The aim of this course is to experience a deeper, more participatory relationship with nature, learn new skills, and discover new ways of seeing yourself and the world. 

The idea is that because it's local, and because it's weekly, we'll all go on a bit of a journey and the relationships and the connections - to the participants, and to the trees, animals, birds and plants - will continue beyond the course.

I've set this up because I truly believe that our separation from nature's health sustaining, nonverbal wisdom is responsible for the world's environmental problems, and many of the emotional and health issues that we suffer from.

If we can get the connection with nature back, we'll become better stewards of the planet, and of ourselves.
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We are part of nature after all.

"I’m looking for ‘the feeling. A sense of being home... It feels like home."

​This course is inspired by principles of ecopsychology, and the works of David Abram, Bill Plotkin and Joanna Macy. It's being hosted by me, and facilitated by Alistair Duncan and Natasha Lythgoe.

In planning this course, we sat down as a group and asked ourselves what we’d like from a course like this, this is what we said:

Me: "I’m just an ordinary bloke, but what I love is sitting around a fire with others, sharing stories and hearing authentic stuff. Having personal, deep and meaningful experiences. I see in my mind the trees all around - tall and supporting.  And I’m looking for ‘the feeling’. "
Natasha: "The feeling?"
Me: "A sense of being home... It feels like home."


Alistair:  "I want to learn more about our animal selves in connection with nature and re-discover the parts of ourselves that we’ve lost touch with. I want to be in a place where I am doing real, experiential things supported by good guides. I want to learn skills with my hands and my body - hands on. We’re animals that make stuff - it’s primitive, it's grounding, it's embodied."
Pauses.
"I want a life event that I can look back upon - that's full of memories."


Natasha: "I want it to be local and grounded in the place where I live. Everyday. I love community, especially with ‘the neighbours’, in this locality - with humans and non-humans. I want to be outside, practicing and sharing skills."
Pauses
"I want intimacy with myself and other people and the elements."
Pauses
"I want to learn how to fall in love outwards."
Pauses
​"I want the feeling of belonging."
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​If this resonates, and you'd like to explore any of these things, or want to know more, get in touch via the form below, or for more information and to book, you can do all that here.

The Nature Connection
A 9-week journey of rediscovering nature and re-wilding yourself
Info: www.schoolofthewild.com/the-nature-connection.html 
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