[Brian Crosby]

Hannah,
So much of what you said was helpful to me personally. I had such a challenge looking past my ideals and really diving in to this discussion. You seem to have a great ability to look at the big picture and to see how both Ecopsychology and NCC fit in to your path. You mentioned that “Seeing these different aims gives me more inspiration to branch out with clients into these realms to play with the best practices for becoming reconnected with nature and themselves.” This quote of yours helps me to look past my issue with “labeling” to something vastly more integral to the work we all will be doing. Being open to learning these labeled practices as coaches we will be able to better serve our future clients. Much gratitude for your post.

[Brian Crosby]

The connection I see these two modalities having is in the guidance of bringing people back to their instinctual connection to the Earth. “Psyche and Nature In A Circle Of Healing” states, “This perspective addresses the critical fact that people are intimately connected with, embedded in, and inseparable from the rest of nature”. The land is a part of us as much as we are a part of it. Through finding healing, peace, purpose, or whatever is being sought out in nature one will, inherently, find a deeper connection to their own Soul. Through this Soul connection and connection to the Earth, a desire to protect the health of Her will be unleashed. Ecopsychology surmises that by healing our connection to the natural world the person to person and person to self interaction will heal by default. A quote from “Ecopsychology-The Principles” says, “Ecopsychology seeks to heal the more fundamental alienation between the person and the natural environment.” This quote exemplifies the idea that there is a layer of depth that other psychological methods fail to reach. Thus the ever growing unhappiness and environmental destruction flourishes. This idea to me seems similar to what we are learning at EBI. I simply want to guide people to a deeper connection to Nature and to Soul, thus allowing a life lived with purpose and passion. If I can help guide my clients to this deeper connection, then their devotion to help heal the earth, and their relationships will naturally unfurl.

The skills needed to do this are being learned through the face-to-face intensives, maintaining the learned practices at home, and the assigned readings. The ability to tap into full sensory awareness and listen deeply are at the core of what is needed to guide clients in the way they deserve. With this, the ability to ask powerful and poignant questions will follow. Showing up with a level of compassion that each of our clients deserves is key to creating a container that fosters growth and awareness.

As I was reading these articles I felt some of my ideals and frustrations with “the way things are”, rise to the surface. This is, in part, why my answer above is a bit short.

Part of what drove me toward EBI is that it seems to pull away from this trend of diagnosing people and throwing them into a box. I have always had a strained relationship with the mainstream therapeutic process. Both through professional work I have done at residential treatment centers or in wilderness therapy, and in personal experience in my own therapeutic process. We as humans have a tendency to be “meaning-making machines” and have this strong craving to put a label on things. Theodore Roszak says in “Where Psyche Meets Gaia”, “Once upon a time all psychology was ‘ecopsychology’. This says it so clearly. Our culture makes things so technical that we lose connection. It doesn’t need to be that complicated. In my opinion these articles over intellectualize the idea of connection to Nature and Soul. Things just seemed to get watered-down and convoluted. I am not sure if these thoughts are rooted in truth or if they stem from some block I am putting up that keeps me from seeing the real value.

I will get off my soapbox now and leave this with one final quote from Theodore Roszak’s “A Psyche as Big as the Earth”. This quote seems to simplify the 30 pages of articles read for this portion of class down into one sentence. I don’t see a need for it to be any more complicated than this…”If we have a connection with nature that expresses itself more authentically as love and loyalty than as guilt and fear, then freeing the ecological unconscious may be the key to sanity in our time.”

[Brian Crosby]

After reading everyone’s posts, I began reflecting back a bit on this entire discussion. I am truly amazed at everyone’s commitment to this process. All of your words touched me in one way or another. I have so much gratitude for all of you and am honored to learn with you. There seemed to be many common threads in what we all wrote. Ultimately what I am taking away from this discussion is that to be connected deeply to Nature is to be connected deeply to your own Soul. Spending time in Nature (deep physical wilderness, the backyard, our inner wilderness and everything in between) with all of our senses fully awakened will allow this process of deep connection to unfold. I am excited to watch this process to develop in my own life, and all of yours, as we continue to connect to Nature, Soul, and Vision. Watching these things all come together will certainly be empowering for us all!

[Brian Crosby]

Mandy,

I relate to much of what you discussed. You wrote, “I feel like there’s a difference between being in nature as opposed to being connected to nature.” As I discussed in my post, I spent a lot of time being in nature. Me connecting to nature is a very new process. The face to face truly cemented how this can profoundly affect my life. I will not go back to the way I approached nature in the past. I wanted to acknowledge the following 3 quotes from your post:

“We often engage with the outdoors in the same manner we engage with the rest of our lives — in a hurried, outcome-oriented, agenda-oriented, and sometimes controlling manner. This is in stark contrast to being connected to nature.”

“When I was in nature in this way, I knew I was okay. I was amongst relatives that accepted me for exactly who I was, and that loved and supported me, giving me everything I needed to survive.”

“Connection with nature has been and continues to be totally transformative in my life in ways that aren’t controlled or outcome oriented, but just allow for nature to give me support, belonging, mentorship and unconditional love.”

All I really have to say is…I hear you my friend. Slow down, be present, and allow nature to support, love, teach, and give us all that we need. A pleasure reading your thoughts!

[Brian Crosby]

Wow Rachel…I really enjoyed reading about your thoughts about how connection to nature is equivalent to being comfortable with the unknown. Maybe more than comfortable…intimate intertwined. Not only is this true when thinking about all the unknowns out there on the land when we enter it, but also the unknowns within our own inner wilderness. Being out in nature imposes the shadow self on us. To truly be connected we must be with the shadow.

The following excerpt from your post stood out to me as well: “Altruistic is the happiness that results from acting on behalf of something larger than yourself: this type of happiness may actually come in direct conflict with the pleasure kind, but it doesn’t HAVE to. (aka this could mean you giving up your warm lunch to the homeless person on the street, so now you have less but you feel happy that they have more. But this also could mean that you use your gifts of art to create beauty for someone who is sad, thus you don’t lose in order for them to gain, it gets multiplied)”. It stands out because I think it is very important to acknowledge that we don’t necessarily “lose out” when we go out of our way to help someone else. Our culture has gone down a road that is self-serving to a degree in which individuals are willing to destroy the lives of others for their own gain. Of course this is generalized as there are people like the 10 of us in cohort 15 that are working towards something far greater…a desire to help others connect with nature and soul to a depth rarely reached in this day and age in America. And there are individuals seeking out people like us to help them find a new way. Thank you for sharing Rachel!

[Brian Crosby]

Kent…as I read your post, it seems like you were inside my brain in a way. You said that you struggled to accept the ‘reality’ of everyday existence, and that the more time spent in nature had you feeling more discontent toward civilization. You also stated that you wanted to ‘escape into the woods and run free.” I have had these thoughts for years…maybe even a decade. It wasn’t until I began to connect with my Soul and a greater purpose that those feelings and thoughts have begun to fade away. Helping to create a more connected self and culture is the only way things will change. I relate to you in these sentiments greatly Kent. I enjoyed your discussion of the coyote and how it teaches us to keep one foot in both worlds…the primitive one, and the societal one. I look forward to watching your journey of walking this edge develop over the coming year. Thanks for sharing!

David…I appreciated hearing about how seeing the development from the sky affected you. It pains me as well to think of what we are doing to the Earth. For the sake of “forward progress”. I’d like to think as we help guide others to a deeper connection to nature and self that the desire to slow the development and destruction of the environment will grow significantly. It is so incredible how Soul can go from simply a conceptual idea to way of life. To see you start to connect with this at the face to face was inspiring to watch. Can’t wait to see where you go with this David.

Something I valued reading in both of your discussion posts was how you recognized how intimately intertwined our connection to Nature and to Soul are. This is something that became so obvious to me during the face to face. Honored to be going through this process with you gentlemen!

[Brian Crosby]

Before my journey led me to the Earth-Based Institute I spent lots of time in the wilderness. I means lots…like years of my life. The interesting thing is that in the 9 days at the Starhouse I felt more in tune to the voice of nature than I had in all the years of my life spent in some of the deepest and wildest of wildernesses. During these years I was simply moving through nature noticing very little. All I have is a vague mental picture of what these areas look like. I remember very little detail beyond that. Looking back I was attempting to ‘conquer’ the outdoors. We all know this is a fruitless endeavor. Not only was I disconnected to nature, but I was equally as detached from myself and my inner wilderness. The whisperings of the soul are much easier to ignore when you are hiking 25 miles a day with the sole purpose of getting from point A to point B. After a decade of doing this, I was finally beginning to realize that something was missing in life and I needed to start seeking out purpose.

It was during this searching period that I discovered EBI. I did the intro course and started to notice, through the learned exercises, I was feeling different. Both in what I was noticing out in Nature, and inside my Soul. Over time a more clear vision was being illuminated. Two things kept standing out above the rest…work in nature…help people discover purpose. EBI was it, and 6 months later I found myself at the Starhouse. 9 days of life changing connection to Nature and Soul ensued. A quote from our reading entitled “Wilderness As A Healing Place” highlights much of what I explained in the above paragraphs: “By relinquishing the illusion of control over the environment, people paradoxically acquire more internal control and can relax and pay more attention to their surroundings and to their inner selves.” This was exactly my experience during the Foundations Intensive.

Being connected to nature means spending time there. As much time as possible, whenever possible. Not just in big wilderness adventures, but in the seemingly mundane moments. The day to day, walking to your car moments that harbor just as much incredible insight and connection. It is engaging all of the senses. Listening to the songs of the wind, seeing the way it sways the trees, tasting its coolness, smelling the bouquet of aromas it brings your way, and feeling its rush over your skin. It is honoring that nature is as much a part of us and we are of it. Being aware and still allows us to track how our presence fits into the environment, as well as what is happening in the world around us. Being open and attuned to what our ancestors and the ancient ones whisper will help us to connect in ways we couldn’t have imagined. So, simply being in nature with intention, pulling in all our senses, and doing this often are some ways to be connected to nature.

By developing this connection with nature, inherently the connection to our inner selves will also begin to flourish. Steven Harper’s “The Way of Wilderness” says “Metaphorically, our willingness to be in the mud and rain can reflect our willingness to be in our internal mud and rain.” Nature is full of metaphor and experiences that run parallel to our day to day lives. Some of this metaphor is grounded in reality. These metaphors bring up things going on in people’s actual reality. One could say that it almost forces people to look at their ‘junk’. I have seen it time and time again in my own life and in the lives of other people. Being still and connecting to nature helps one to stay fully present and in the moment. Jon Young’s “What is Deep Nature Connection” says “a person with the attributes of deep connection has the ability to be fully present in the moment, with awareness, compassion and empathy. This leads to the ability to be truly helpful and effective in sharing one’s gifts and talents with the world.”

The quote above leads directly in to how being connected to nature will support my coaching. 1st of all, maintaining my personal connection to nature is vital to me being fully available, without judgment, and full of love and empathy for each client that I work with. Connecting to Nature has allowed me to connect with my Soul in a way I never have before. Staying connected to Nature and my Soul in this way will allow me the depth of listening my clients deserve. And from this depth of listening, powerful questions will arise that help the client discover what they are looking for. It will allow me to keep my own agenda and junk out of the picture. Leaving it up to the client to come up with the answers themselves, as they have them all already, will help create a more meaningful experience that the client has complete ownership of. In addition, I will weave different nature-connecting exercises and metaphors into each session to help the client develop a sense of connection to nature and themselves. The following quote from “Wilderness as a Healing Place” by John Miles expresses some of these sentiments. “Wilderness cannot, of course, ‘cure’ illness, but by its nature it can place demands on us that force us to call upon physical and emotional potential often unrealized.”

The ultimate goal is to stay deeply connected to my Soul by way of being deeply connected to Nature. The natural byproduct of this connection is an ability to connect deeply to my client’s needs and to guide them to whatever it is they are seeking. The power of Nature united with the power of Soul is an invincible force.

[Brian Crosby]

Aaaaah!!! It was so great to see all of your faces today! Sarah, missed yours. Though the transition to the usual home responsibilities has been tough for me, chatting today has amplified my zest once again. I will try and be there next week as well. I should be able to step away from work for a bit. Thanks Mandy for putting it all together!

[Brian Crosby]

Something a few of us discussed on that final day was sharing our contact information. This could be a great way to stay connected to each other, as well as to the content that we learned during the intensive. Hannah was interested in mailing addresses for letters. So here is all mine:

email: briancrosby82@gmail.com

Phone: (541)390-7242

Mailing Address: 3360 NE Canterbury Circle
Corvallis, OR 97330

Much gratitude to you all!

[Brian Crosby]

I am down for whatever you locals suggest. Just looking forward to connecting with you all outside of the class

[Brian Crosby]

Thanks Ryan! Looking forward to getting started in a few weeks.

[Brian Crosby]

You and me both Kent. If there are 4 then I can swing it. Otherwise it is just too much. Let me know what you find. I will do the same.

[Brian Crosby]

Ok Kent and anyone else interested. I e-mailed the starhouse folks and they said it is usually closed in the winter. However, they also said they will open it up for us for an extra one time charge of $100 for getting it opened and warmed up as well as re-winterized after we depart. They sent me a rental agreement and the nightly rates are different than what the website says. Slightly higher. There is a $45 cleaning fee and a one time fee of $30 a person for each individual that exceeds 2. If anyone wants to see the rental agreement, send me your e-mail address and I can forward it to you.

[Brian Crosby]

Hey all,

It was great to meet those that were on the call today. Look forward to meeting the rest of you soon. As I mentioned on the call I am hoping to connect with other cohort members in need of accommodations during our Boulder visit. I looked into the Starhouse cabin Michael mentioned. It looks amazing! Seems like 3 or 4 could definitely fit. It is also around $120 a night for the whole thing, a little more for Friday and Saturday nights. Seems pretty cheap if that is split a few ways. Michael also mentioned there may be a discount for EBI Students. Here is the website…http://thestarhouse.net/stay-at-the-retreat-cabin/. It is first come first serve, and I am assuming it is a popular place to stay in the area. I am down for booking soon so as to not miss the opportunity. Let me know if you are interested.

Gratitude,

Brian

[Brian Crosby]

Hey all!!! I am Brian Crosby. I hail from Corvallis, Oregon. I look forward to meeting all of you through this discussion, video conferences, and our in person visits to Boulder. We will be on what I expect to be an incredible journey over the next year.

Because I will be traveling to Boulder from Oregon I am seeking out options for lodging and transportation. Is anyone else traveling from afar? If so are you looking for something similar? Or are any cohort members living in the Boulder area? I would be open to splitting something with others as well as other ideas you all have regarding this.

I plan on being on our next call in December, and hope meet some of you then.

Gratitude,

Brian