[Kent-Singing Panther]

I’m good with another video call next Wednesday to share vision stuff. Thanks for coordinating, Mandy.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

What a powerful poem Mandy! Brought tears to my eyes 🙂

Thanks, Hannah, for taking the time to write personal notes via snail mail. There is something special about a physical, personal sentiment.

Please use e-mail: kmeasell@gmail.com

Address: 2929 Old Franklin Rd.
Apt. #215
Cane Ridge, TN 37013

Phone: (616) 485-1660

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Beautiful sentiments Angela, thank you! As my plane was taking off I felt a very grounded determination that “the real work starts now.” Coming home felt surreal and I had a hard time getting to sleep the first night. Today I will go to my sit spot with a new insight toward my vision. And that is for real.

Grace and peace everyone.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

My practice client gave consent for me to share what she experienced on her wander and this is what she has shared with me thus far (paragraph below). She was very excited and motivated to do this exercise and is curious to learn more. Even though she didn’t go into much depth it was invigorating for me guide her into the exercise, read her response and share what I’ve learned from this course with her.

Hey Kent, I did the wander exercise this morning.
It was hard for me to come up with a concise question for the particular situation that is weighing on me, so I decided to let that be part of the experience- trying to delve deeper in that sacred space to reveal what the real root questions are. In that mind frame, I was able to articulate some questions.
In that sacred place, I felt a sense that God/the universe loves and accepts me and is not mad at me but wants to help me with this dilemma. I tried to delve deeper by consciously severing myself from outside opinions. This felt very freeing.
When I paid attention to sensations in my body, I noticed a dull throb in my heart. I didn’t know what to make of that, but I acknowledged it.
I didn’t get a sense of a direct answer to my pressing questions, but I did feel a sense of acceptance, benevolence, and peace.
Also, at first I stated some things that I want. Even though you specifically talked about changing my language from wants to needs- this was very hard for me with the particular questions I am asking, and at first I decided to keep phrasing it as I want…. But I forced myself to say I need… When I did that, I noticed an extra gust of wind blew around me.
This was a special experience for me and I know that I need to continue to go into that space.
Thank you for sharing this exercise with me!

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thank you everyone for sharing your wanderings 🙂 There’s rarely a time when I don’t wander. Having a consistent sit spot is nice and teaches lessons in a different way, but I have always loved to just follow my attractions step by step and wander to a place I feel wants to speak to me. But there are times that before I enter a place I stop to ask consent to enter it as I consider the place and my time there to be sacred. Unfortunately, I don’t always keep that intention but when I do I find that I receive much more than I expect. In those times my intention was to wander but I often receive guidance to a place. I recall one time when a crow caught my attention in the sky and I followed it into the woods and came upon a kill sight. There was no carcass, just blood and feathers from a song bird. And around me were several chickadees chirping what I imagined were cries of grief. Whether they were or not the whole experience taught me lessons about darkness, death and rebirth. I was guided both by a desire to wander and by an attraction from the crow. Intention is powerful, but sometimes the most powerful experiences and lessons come when we remain open, but attentive to what might be calling to us.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Hey y’all, I just watched the most recent video conference and was happy to see more faces! I do like this option of talking with one another before the program officially starts. I think it take a lot of the awkwardness out of meeting new people for the first time (and possibly sharing a bed with them…wink, wink Brian). Of course I haven’t been able to share my face with you yet, but hopefully I can next time.

I’m glad Michael started the conversation about daily meditations, etc. As much as I would love to say I have one, or do one regularly, I don’t. I’ve had tried over the years in various ways but I’m just not much of a disciplined person. Zach, I lOVE that you go out to connect with the sunrise and sunset. I’ve thought about, and have tried, doing that so many times but just never got into a rhythm. But I felt I received a very clear message a few years ago when I was trying to get up early on a regular basis so I could go out to the wetland preserve close to my house, and reconnect with nature before civilization started waking up. The morning was very cool and foggy and upon entering the trail head I got this overwhelming feeling that I was walking into a very sacred place. I asked permission to enter and was attracted to a place to a sit spot. I visited that sit spot several times; some times I felt awakened and enlightened, other days I faced darkness and death. And one day as I was just taking in the beauty surrounding me I heard the Creator whisper, “I just want to share this with you.” The message I received very vividly was that THIS was my JOB. And my job came with the understanding that some of these intentional mornings would be about LIGHT, some about DARKNESS, and others simply about SHARING.

So this message hasn’t changed nor have I gotten another job. The big difference now is that I can share this with others who I know have experienced this for themselves and we are all working toward helping others experience it. This is LIGHT work. This is DARK work. This is the privilege of sharing and celebrating the our bond with all that is sacred. And I am extremely touched and encouraged when I hear all of your desires as they are my own.

And I wanted to share one last thing about “doing” as I heard several of you mention not knowing what you want to “do” with this. It didn’t seem like any one you were terribly concerned about it; I think that mindset of having to have a plan is just a part of our societal DNA. Regardless, I keep coming back to a another message I received several years ago that has been affirmed over and over…and that is to “just keep doing what I’m doing.” For me that’s nature connection, following my intuition, seeking, listening, waiting, acting…basically just life. What I know, but still struggle to remember every day, is that by “doing what I’m doing” it is unraveling the real me; my essence, my soul, my truer self…my BEing-ness. That is the key I believe. Because no matter what we chose to do, if we are not BEing while were doing, then our efforts are only a half measure. My work, my job, is to become undone, rebuilt in truth, and to walk in beauty. And in doing that I become nature’s influence. I have the same effect on others that everyone of us has felt in a connected moment with nature.

Think of one of your favorite nature connected moments; a moment that captured you, made you feel at peace, made you weep for beauty, made you feel like you belong. I want to be that. I want to be a vessel for that awesome power of natures beauty and love to pour through me so that whomever I meet walks away with the feeling that they will not forget. We are energy and it is our job to tune ourselves into natures frequency. That is what will affect our clients the most. And on a level they, or we, may not ever really understand. It’s beyond words and it’s beyond masters degrees or heady education. It’s really quite simple, and it takes a lot of guts to become unraveled to get to that sweet simplicity.

So kudos to us for following our guts!

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thanks for double checking that stuff, Brian. I won’t be able to afford to stay at the lodge if there isn’t 4 of us to split the cost. I think I’ll check AirBnB this weekend and see what comes up.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Sorry I couldn’t make the call today but I am also hoping some out-of-towners are interested in staying at the Starhouse cabin. Pretty sure the website says the cabin is available April-November. I’m guessing they open it special for EBI students in January…?

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Hello Corhort #15! (I think we need a catchier name 🙂 ) My name is Kent Measell (sounds like gazelle) and I currently live in Nashville, TN. My wife and I moved down here from Grand Rapids, MI 4 months ago so we are still adjusting to a major life change. But one change I am excited about is being in this program. I have some previous education in Applied Ecopsychology and have been wandering around the idea of coming back to the work for a few years now. Without this move I don’t think I would be a part of EBI or coming back to what I once felt like was my purpose in life (or whatever you want to call it). I’m looking forward to meeting y’all!

And like Brian I would also like to find ways to make the trips to CO as reasonably priced as possible. I doubt there is anyone traveling from my area, but if there is let’s talk car pool!

[Kent-Singing Panther]

This post isn’t specific to three opportunities to practice objective awareness, but it is related and a powerful experience that I wanted to share.
I wrestled a bit with finding, and accepting, my sit spot. I wandered into a wooded area that’s about a 6-7 minute walk from my apartment. It’s very thick brush through most of it and it was difficult to find open, attractive areas. I stumbled upon debris; car parts, tires, and general trash. The area looks like it may have hosted, or been kin to, a business many years ago which would explain a lot of the younger underbrush. Regardless, I finally found a spot that felt attractive to me. The fading sunlight had help me to find it as the sun began to set over the ridge and highlighted certain spots in the woods.
I sat there and felt the space for several minutes until I noticed that near me was some sort of attempted “fort” most likely made by teenagers a long time ago. They had nailed a large canvas like material around a grouping of cedar trees and nailed a board between two of them as a seat. There was some trash, but not enough to determine that this area was visited often. But still, it left me feeling a little uncomfortable. I imagined myself sitting in my spot and trouble makers approaching this sad, little fort to do things I’m not okay with. I didn’t like that, so I decided to wander some more to find a different location, but I kept feeling the attraction to go back to my first initial spot despite its proximity to the fort.
I took another look at the seat nailed between the trees and decided that I wanted to re-claim it. I took my machete and cut down the canvas. If anyone decided they ever wanted to re-visit this little spot while I was there I would tell them exactly why I was there and why I disassembled the fort. I felt good about recovering this spot and overcoming the anxious thoughts about others interrupting my time in the woods. I noticed that I was projecting a fear onto the situation despite the evidence suggesting that it had not been used for a long time. I had to reach a little deeper and pay attention to my attraction that drew me back. And now I enjoy visiting my sit spot and I reap confidence from a very large, old cedar tree nearby.
That tree, and all the nearby inhabitants, have survived the onslaught of humankind’s mistreatment and disrespect. The woods still flourish among the old tires, car bumpers, and manufactured forts. The birds still sing, the crickets chirp, and the wind still rustles the leaves among the noises made by civilization just a few steps away. And there I was feeling sad and angry about civilizations trash imposing upon natures purity. Initially I wanted out of that area. I yearned for a pure, untouched, and quiet forest. And if I really wanted to I could drive a little further to find it. But the chances of me going there everyday would be slim to none. I had to commit to this place…junk and all. After all, that tree can’t just up and move to a nicer area free of garbage. It continues to exude its tree-ness right where it is.
Then I realized this was about me too. The whole situation was a metaphor for my life. I may be able to choose where I sit, but I can’t control what others decide to do in my sit spot of life. I will be disrespected and trashed at some point. Am I just gonna be sad or angry and perpetuate the poor decisions of others? Or will I commit to being among the trash, dig deep, and allow my essence to overcome these obstacles? I think this sit spot has much to teach me.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thanks Brian, I really resonated with this statement you made “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.” Nature connection has been one the most important parts of my life because it has touched my soul like nothing else has or could. And now I feel an even greater responsibility to stay connected to nature in order to serve others. Of course it’s not an obligation but a privilege.

Out of all the transformations I saw in the group over the f2f I was most excited to watch yours unfold. The breakthroughs you seemed to have over that 9 days was inspiring to see and affirming of how powerful the process is that EBI has developed from the legacy passed down through Stalking Wolf. Your future is very bright my friend. And the light you shine into others lives is, and will be, radiant.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

“that programming/ change can be a hard thing for ppl to be excited about.” RIGHT!?! I always want to dive right in with people and get to the nitty gritty, but I try to stop myself and remember that most people are not ready to do that. I suppose that’s a reflection of myself too; that I want to change NOW. I know in my head that change takes time, yet I let myself get anxious about not changing fast enough and I project that on other people too. I need to always remember that nature has never asked me to hurry up and change and so I have to reflect nature’s attitude to the people I work with. To be patient and forgiving with myself and others is key in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing Melody. The friend I asked to be my practice client is actually really excited to do this, even though I know the “why?” she will be intending with is a scary question to ask. As much as I would have loved to go into the woods with her, we had to do a video chat and she will be responding back to me soon. I’m very curious to see what happened on her wander.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Really, really beautiful words Mandy. You are an eloquent writer and a beautiful soul. I think it’s safe to say all of us deeply resonate with your words; thank you so much for sharing them! Looking forward to meeting you next week!

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thank you Melody. And nice to meet you BTW. I enjoyed reading how the water helped you to find your inner strength. Water is an awesome teacher. And I resonate with your thought of needing to let things go. I felt that a lot during my move to Tennessee from Michigan 4 months ago. As hard as it was to do that I figured letting go of something offered me the opportunity to catch something else…a good something else. Sure enough that good something else is this course!

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Wow. I am so glad you are here, and in this course during this difficult time. What a painful, but powerful experience in your life. Thank your for sharing and being vulnerable with us.