New Yearlong Cohort Begins May 6th, 2021
"For millions of years, before you arrived here, the dream of your individuality was carefully prepared. You were sent to a shape of destiny in which you would be able to express the special gift you bring to the world… It is in the depths of your life that you will discover the invisible necessity that has brought you here. When you begin to decipher this, your gift and giftedness come alive." - John O' Donohue
The Seminary of the Wild Eco-ministry Certificate Program ™ is an experiential, nature-based, yearlong offering to help you remember your primary participation in sacred Earth. In the face of profound ecological and social challenges, a New Story is emerging. At the core of that Story is a weaving of an ancient path and a new way of relating to Earth, other species, each other, and the Divine. Thomas Berry calls this path "The Dream of the Earth." This deep and wild course is an animated and inter-connected conversation between all things.
This program is for those individuals who sense that their old ways of believing, being, and doing are inadequate for the tasks ahead. We invite all who feel their longing to take their unique and vital role in the emergence of this New Story to join the Seminary of the Wild.
This Eco-Ministry Certificate program offers nature-based tools, practices, teachings, experiences, and support for your inner transformation. You will journey with a band of wild pilgrims and guides as you move toward your wild calling during this period of turbulence leading us into profound transformation that Joanna Macy calls "The Great Turning.”
During four ten-week modules you will:
Wild Earth
Participate in Sacred Relationship with Earth
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This introductory unit begins the trajectory of the program, online resources, reading lists, and group work in cohorts.
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We explore themes of incarnation, and embodiment, a wild communion that helps us deepen our love for Earth as our primary community of belonging.
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Participants will be invited to experience their own wild and indigenous belonging to the whole of the natural world as the primary path to the collective imagination and action required to restore our planet.
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Practices range from dreamwork, contemplative wanders, embodied Earth-based prayers, and ceremony.
Wild Self
Clarify a Sense of Your Wild Authenticity
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We explore our own hidden wholeness, the “treasure hidden in the field” of the Self — astonishing capacities, many of which are latent, suppressed, or unconscious.
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With parables as a portal, we offer practices of dreams, deep imagery, shadow work over ten weeks focused on cultivating the four facets of our wholeness, and Self-healing.
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We also explore the domestication of our inner-wildness, the suppression of the feminine, and structures of patriarchy and racial inequity.
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Close with Wild Ceremony of intention to live more fully and authentically into our communities as leaders.
Wild Christ
Reclaim the Wild Roots of the Christian Story
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We explore the historical narrative of the Christian church in collusion with both empire and culture, supporting the domestication of our original wildness.
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Non-western framework for understanding the Jesus of Scriptures, exploring Christian mystics through the lens of Celtic, indigenous spirituality, and animism.
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Practices offered will help experience the archetypes of the Cosmic and Wild Christ as an invitation to undergo deep ecological metanoia.
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Dreamwork, myth, imaginal journeys, wild liturgy, communion, and ceremony
Wild Call
Embody Your Authentic Identity as a Unique Gift to the World
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We explore the summons of the Wild Christ in rewilding our “call” as leaders, and what it means to embody one’s authentic identity as a unique gift to the world.
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Over nine weeks we focus on practical steps for cultivation of wholeness and integrating practices from the year into your life and ministry
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Mentoring and group work will help participants explore practices, projects, one-step actions, and ceremonies for bringing authentic, soul-infused work into our places of worship and communities.
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The yearlong culminates with an in-person intensive and certificate.
Seminary of the Wild ™ is a unique, psycho-spiritual educational paradigm—the first of its kind— rooted in direct experience. We weave the nature-based practices of wholing and healing work adapted largely from Bill Plotkin and the Animas Valley Institute—practices that have formed us as guides and our approach to human development—within a “rewilded and always rewilding” Christian framework.
A closer look reveals wild roots threading underground beneath the dominant story of the Christian history of visionary mystics who have charted bold and innovative Earth-based spiritual paths. Reclaiming these wild roots of the Christian story is to affirm and encounter the numinous power once available to be reclaimed and embodied in our times.
We will journey away from the domesticating and indoctrinating forces of Western society into a deep rediscovery and enchantment of Earth, Self, Christ, and our Call. Seminary of the Wild brings out of the 'storeroom' of the perennial wisdom tradition 'treasures new as well as old', drawing on the wisdom of ancient streams of Christian mysticism and Celtic spirituality as well as contemporary pan-cultural practices integrated from the Animas Valley Institute.
Nature-based spiritual practices, such as contemplative wanders, sacred council, facilitated group work, ceremony, dreamwork, imaginal journeys, embodied movement, writing, and eco-theological reflection and discussion will help us return to our original wholeness, our wildness, and our authentic service.
Richard Rohr reflects on Seminary of the Wild:
Core Elements of the Program
GROUNDED IN EXPERIENCE The yearlong is designed around at-home intensives with on-the-land invitations that immerse participants in the wild Earth in a way that cultivates deep conversation between the more-than-human community and the Wild Self. The big book of creation offers its revelatory voice and vision, permeating our magnificently diverse and astonishing world. We find our wholeness and purpose in direct conversation with nature and the soul. Wild Seminarians learn to ‘listen to" and "speak to" the land, and to be ‘mirrored’ by Earth. These practices assist the cultivation of our greater wholeness and the discovery of our deeper calling. You could say our nature-based practices help us expand our sense of Self to include the more-than-human world that sustains us, what Deep Ecology founder Arne Naess calls the Ecological Self.
GUIDED SUPPORT & MENTORING Each participant receives ten one-on-one mentoring sessions from experienced nature-based human development guides from various backgrounds in spiritual direction, coaching, and Wild Mind training (Animas Valley Institute). The guides are joined by eco-spirituality authors, theologians, and cultural artists through the monthly Wild Luminaries guest speakers. These individuals offer insights and invitations to deepen our journey toward sacred Earth connection, wholeness and Self-healing, and a numinous encounter with the mystery of God, and practical embodiment of your unique calling.
AUTHENTIC LEARNING COMMUNITY Each yearlong cohort meets online every week throughout the year (with a monthlong break in December) for learning and mutual support. These cohort companions ask similar questions and develop into significant friendships and allies for this work, which can occasionally feel isolating and confusing. The guided practices and in-depth reading syllabus create fertile soil for un-colonizing the imagination. Creative collaboration arises in the context of intimacy built in a group that spends the year together.
The full program includes all sessions, food, lodging for final intensive, mentoring sessions, Wild Luminaries series, and curriculum.
A 10% deposit reserves your place in the cohort. Monthly payments are possible if needed.
Because this program is a serious yearlong commitment, we like to schedule a one-to-one call with anyone who is feeling drawn to join us. We would love to hear your story and can answer any questions about the program.
What Is Included?
Nature-based Guided Immersions into your own wildish Place. At the end of the program, (pandemic restrictions pending), we plan to gather together for a five day Immersion on the land together.
Online Webinars with renowned Wild Luminaries from interdisciplinary fields.
Weekly Zoom-video conference sessions, Councils, and Wild Cafe discussion groups, facilitated by Seminary of the Wild Guides and other participants.
A focused Eco-Ministry Reading List for discussion and reflection (plus electronic program resources)
Ten Personal Mentoring Sessions with A Seminary of the Wild Guide
The full program includes all sessions, food, lodging for final intensive, mentoring sessions, Wild Luminaries series, and curriculum.
A 10% deposit reserves your place in the cohort. Monthly payments are possible if needed.
Because this program is a serious yearlong commitment, we like to schedule a one-to-one call with anyone who is feeling drawn to join us. We would love to hear your story and can answer any questions about the program.