[Ben Marchman]

Summary Post:

I really enjoyed Foundation 1. It has given me so much clarity to my current stage in life. Even having a very strong commitment to my Deep Nature Connection practice and focusing on it with vision and through coaching, I have found that my intuition and presence has become much stronger recently. It’s just amazing how we can “re-train” ourselves in these ways to come into better understanding of ourselves and others. I’m super pumped to be diving into all of this much more in the future!

[Ben Marchman]

Initial Post – Foundation One:

For me, being nature connected means that it is an embodiment. We have to train our minds and bodies to “relearn” how to connect. I am a strong believer that our bodies already know what to do and it is part of our instincts to be connected. We just have to support this connectedness through routines in our day. Another way to say this is “connection modeling”. We have to model what deep nature connection looks like in order for others to understand….hence the terminology “Connection Modeling”. (8 Shields)

I once heard Jon Young mention that, “Connection is instinctive, our bodies know what to do. Since our bodies already know what to do, what we really need is to create conditions that support our instinct to connect.” I love this quote because it defines that we have to model/create conditions in order to truly connect and it accelerates when you are around other people who are also connected.

My past experience through careers and studies in nature connection have evolved immensely over the last 5 years. It wasn’t until I really focused on bringing nature connection into my daily routines that I really made some breakthroughs in developing a deeper knowing of myself, nature, and other people. When I spent two full years of training with 8 Shields and being directly mentored by Josh Lane (affiliated with Jon Young) in Shikari Tracking & Mentoring, I started to suddenly realize that by Tracking nature’s patterns I ​resonated something​ within myself. That I was able to activate neural pathways and sensory abilities that brought me into a full connection of mind/body/spirit. I have never experienced anything like that before but wanted it so badly for other people…hence the founding of NatureLink and my quest to become a Nature Connected Coach!! 🙂

To conclude, this nature connection relationship between myself and other people is extremely important to me and that I have to make it part of my everyday routine in order to stay connected in my work as well. I have to model connection in order for others to feel supported. I feel so fortunate that I not only am striving to be a Nature Connected Coach but also do what my calling is in life…which is to connect people back to self, nature, and others in order to build community.

[Ben Marchman]

Ivy,

It won’t let me edit your document but here is my info just so you can update it.

I hope all of this is helpful.

Just over two more weeks until we all see each-other!

ARRIVAL:
January 24th @ 10:00p.m.
– Taking the bus to Airbnb in Boulder

DEPARTURE:
February 3rd @ 9:00a.m.
– Will have a ride to Denver Airport

TRANSPORTATION:
–– Carpooling with Melissa and whomever (January 24th – 31st).
— I will actually have my own car February 1st – 3rd (my friend Matt is letting me borrow a car while staying at his place).

LODGING:
— Airbnb with Melissa, Brooke, & Joshua (January 24th – 30th).
— Staying with a friend in other side of Boulder (January 31st – February 3rd).
**Borrowing his car from January 1st – February 3rd since he is on the other side of Boulder and out of the way for arranging carpool with EBI folks**

[Ben Marchman]

Whoops!

I meant to say earlier that you can find some visuals and understandings about the attributes of connection in Coyotes Guide.

[Ben Marchman]

Really enjoyed reading everyones input here! I feel that if I responded to everyone then this reply would be extremely long!! haha.

So to piggyback on everyone I also liked seeing Michaels example of the indicators. It reminds me a lot of The 8 Attributes of Connection that Jon Young & 8 Shields Institute uses to define in a person. I will summarize them to spare you some time…

North – Love & Forgiveness
North East – Quiet Mind Presence & Creativity
East – Inner Happiness
South East – Vitality
South – A commitment to mentoring
South West – Empathy & Respect for Nature
West – Being Truly Helpful, Gifts, & Vision Activated
North West – Full Aliveness

Notice that these are in the cardinal directions….

I resonated with all of this because my business uses the 8 Attributes in everything. With 1-on-1 coaching clients I use it to bring out specific qualities and even moods of a person so that they merge into the linked attributes of connection. What I have found most interesting is that what with Michael presented and what 8 Shields uses can be laid into how you even construct meetings and programs. Out of my past trainings with 8 Shields in the past I was able to use these energies on how I create flow and structure to my meetings, lessons, daily programs according to the time of day/direction of sun/etc. From a 1 hour meeting or lesson to a multi-day program!

Its fascinating stuff yall and I hope that EBI talks about this more! 🙂

Vision Council –– Super excited about this component from the Session 1 and really wanting to learn more from you all on your success too. I am no expert in this but have found great support with seeking people in the community to fully support my personal and career visions. For example, before I started NatureLink I reached out to people of mentor status and simply asked if they wanted to be part of an Elder Council. Now my Elder Council is being used as sort of like an advisory board….. with people that can help me fully support families and individuals as they transition back to “Society”. Sort of like setting up containers of support in the community for individuals involved with NatureLink.

Anyways I hope all of that rambling makes since to yall and can’t wait until session 2.

[Ben Marchman]

Hey everyone! My name is Ben & I’m part of this Cohort. I’m sitting here on my front porch taking a break from a busy morning. Enjoying the cool breeze and just watched as a Coopers Hawk tried to snatch a Robin on the edge of the meadow….pretty cool and right in the open too!

I have a background in Eco-Therapy work, teaching, and Ecology.

Currently I am in the stage of starting my own business – NATURELINK,LLC (mynaturelink.org) Check us out!

We work with helping individuals (3 yr old to adult) form deep nature connection and relationships with others + the natural world, and we then guide them towards applying their gifts back in their community. Really looking forward to learning with all of you and going on this amazing journey with Earth Based Institute 🙂

[Ben Marchman]

Thanks for the stark contrasts and enlightenment! Your observations are eye opening and worth for all of us to take notice in. I enjoyed your story about taking off your earphones on your run and listening to the Robins. Then asking yourself, “What Am I Missing”. Did you find what you were missing?!

I sometimes am asking myself similar questions then finding the answers and then…..having to find deeper questions that I will never know the answer to….drives me crazy! haha

[Ben Marchman]

Ben F/Strong Ben! I really like your examples on how you are carrying baseline behaviors/energy from traffic to clients to the gym. And can totally relate to how an aggravated driver can create negative baseline behaviors for others. Saw this right before I responded to you so very interesting to relate it to words on here. I also thought your statement about working towards threshold was informative in that it doesn’t matter where you are and you can still have a profound experience with someone. Pretty cool!

[Ben Marchman]

Howdy!

Ivy –
Lodging wise I am staying with a friend two nights(not sure which nights yet). But the other parts of the time I am looking into an AirBnB.

Melissa & Joshua –
Did we figure out if there is anyone else looking to stay at an AirBnB other than us three?
– I will be looking at AirBnb’s pretty soon so am just checking so when I look I need to how to see how many rooms etc. Maybe we could split something three ways since we haven’t heard from anyone else? 🙂

Transportation –
I have a ride from the airport to Boulder but will not have a ride the rest of the time. Can we arrange some sort of carpooling? Going to make sure my lodging is somewhere near westside Boulder area so that the carpooling can be easy.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[Ben Marchman]

Maybe Ivy –– Could you respond to Joshua’s question?

Joshua –– I’m down for splitting an AirBnB with you and whomever else is interested (just need to know a total # of people interested). My wife and daughter were going to come out with me this January trip but then decided not to (hence the stay at Starhouse). I’m assuming that Starhouse may be pricier than an AirBnb.
Not sure though, and would have to call them to figure that out.

I am Going to start looking at AirBnb’s this week and if I find one I will run it by yalls way. Maybe one that can hold up to 4 of us if two more people tag along we could split it multiple ways?
–– Just to note –– I also will be staying a night or two at a friends house in Boulder.

Cohort peps who live in Boulder ––
Any chance we could set up a car pool system so us “out-of-towners” won’t have to rent cars?…..

[Ben Marchman]

Following up to the traveling, lodging, transportation link ups conversations:

I am trying to get a flight from Atlanta to Denver the day before everything starts on the January 24th. Haven’t booked a flight yet…..

But…am in need of lodging and transportation somewhere in Boulder (I usually travel with my bike and use it for transportation but will not be taking it this trip)

If someone or multiple members from our group are willing to buddy up on transportation and lodging with me then that would be fantastic! We could split the price of Renting a car and lodging (AirBNB)?
*NOTE* – There will be two nights where I am staying with a friend**

I thought about staying at Starhouse (where training is) but since I have multiple friends in the boulder area I thought that if I stayed in towns then one of the evenings I could catch back up with them.

Anybody want to go in with me?