[Ivy Walker]

Hi friends,
How has art been showing up in your sessions lately? Or how would you like to play with that possibility?

I will answer these questions, too: I find that sometimes I draw a picture before I meet with client. More often than not the imagery will relate to something in the session. It’s an interesting dance with intuition and tracking. Sometimes I show my client the image, if it seems appropriate.

I have a client in my private practice who has been experiencing a physical ailment. We spoke about the idea of exploring the expressions of this through a drawing or through song/movement. I really hope this opportunity comes to fruition– but only if they still find it relevant next we meet. I did this exercise with myself recently and found it enlightening. Best, ivy

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Brad,

From your reflection, I see how you were able to hold space for and validate your client’s true experience with grief and be an authentic human in the moment. I hear how you checked out some different options with him, to see how they might land (forward movement/change of scenery/connect with others) for him. These were in service of forward movement, a new normal that he would create (rather than expecting the old normal to return). I heard that for now— reading a book on the porch was a doable, possible change of scene and then eventually, someday he might be able to get out and go to Spain with the right resources in place.

It was interesting to hear how this spectrum lined up for him with your presence and gently held, non judgemental container. It’s interesting to note how holding space for another’s reality and grief can create a sense of being seen, accompanied or held/acknowledged and this can be enough to create a little movement or safety for them to peek into their next possibility.

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Cohort 15,

I have been following your posts all along the way. I am continually struck by how you each are pouring yourselves into this work in way that feels authentic, enthusiastic, expressive and soul-based. I appreciate the questioning, the refining, the surprises that have come forward. When I look across the span of the conversation here, I see a commonality of creating a practice from a place of passion, joy and to be a support. I see the possible wholistic and repeating layers of showing up as a coach from trusting this place (passion, joy, support), to creating a business that is built from and carries the resonance of this place (passion, joy, support), to bringing that possibility to others to experience, tap into and build their lives from that place (passion, joy, support). Where else in this life have you seen structures created from passion, joy, support? Yes, this! This is playing a part in transforming self, clients and culture at large. It is exciting and humbling to see into the futures you are painting for yourselves and how they link up with the futures of others, your current and future clients, to promote joy, passion and support on so many levels. Keep visiting with the questions and nature. Keep listening and building with open creativity.

[Ivy Walker]

A fun thing to share is– I like to carry some unexpected art materials with me for sessions. These can include mirrors of a variety of sizes, marbles, old figurines, poems or cards with nature related imagery. I don’t take the same materials every time to every session. Not always but often, I will listen to intuition before a session with a client to see what is tapping at me or what I might wander by in the studio that ‘asks’ to come along. I hold this with unattached curiosity throughout a session to see if the moment will come up to present/suggest the object that wanted to come to the session. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does it feels like magic. 🙂

[Ivy Walker]

Hi All, You are invited to subscribe to the Arts Forum. This forum is for those who are incorporating all variety of art and expression into their coaching practice. It’s a space to explore, share and question how to encourage and engage creativity in nature connected coaching sessions.

Subscribe at:

learningcenter.earthbasedinstitute.org/Discussions/topic/arts-forum/

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Cohort 15– for those of you interested in incorporating the Arts into your nature connected coaching, please subscribe to the Arts Forum. It is for those who are incorporating all variety of art and expression into their coaching practice. It’s a space to explore, share and question how to encourage and engage creativity in nature connected coaching sessions.

Subscribe to the forum at:

learningcenter.earthbasedinstitute.org/Discussions/topic/arts-forum/

[Ivy Walker]

Oh my! How I love the questions and conversations that are coming up here around one of my fave topics–ecopsychology. What comes forward for me as I read your posts are themes of:

1.) noticing of the academic (over-intellectualized) quality of the conversation among the ecopsychologist-authors,
2.) a need for somatic-felt wisdom or experience,
3.) a few AMAZING, affirming + personal nature connection experiences and
4.) how to create a balance that is personally relevant to each you, as Nature Connected Coaches and eco-practitioners.

Within the academic realm, it seems that ecophilosophers and ecopsychologists have been working hard, especially for a few decades, to challenge the dominating human-centric story with western european roots that follows well worn inter-related paths of: reductionism, scientism, patriarchy, dualism, Freudian psychology and the metaphor of machine for all life processes (rather than interconnection and systems theory). Ah yes, I may have read too many of these very intellectualized articles within the last 6 months. But—this is what the shift within the academic world looks like. Ecopsychologists are attempting to shift cultural vision from within the ivory tower and are using the language of that territory to insert new dialogues, methods, options, to inspire, demand and create justice.

Personally, I see you and I working alongside them, in our various practices with hearts and feet on the ground. Reminding and re-connecting people, individually and in groups, of what their bodies are made to know and “belong to”: Earth as being, as an interconnected system (Gaia) and as an expression of “larger Self” (the nondual, the All that mystics and poets remind us of throughout millennia). And personally, I think we get to do the fun part. Everyone has their part to play in this massively creative and intentional undertaking of shifting the dominate culture towards an expression that is life affirming/sustaining. Dropping into the realms of the academic conversation could be helpful to come away with questions of “yes, but….how do we do that out in the land with sensitivity, compassion and thoughtful intention fueled by (ultimately) L-O-V-E”? 🙂

[Ivy Walker]

As I read the posts that are up so far, I see a naming of a journey to Soul and a recognition of how relationship with wildness mimics relationship with self. What we know, explore and dare to see in one, we tune into within the other. Also, I notice how the writings name a sense of embodying this calling, this truth: to be in touch with the intersections of nature-wildness-self and let it inform what is blooming into the world through you and your work with people. For me, this is ecopsychology at its core– identifying with Earth/Nature/Gaia in a way that brings its needs, its consciousness back into the everyday conversations and human purpose.
~Gratitude

[Ivy Walker]

Awesome! What a great illustration of checking out the client’s understanding/perspective of his reality through his vocabulary. And also your understanding of checking out the fear response and guiding your client towards a creative, choice response. A really great example of helping a client move from the habitual into desired choice through your understanding of the Brain functioning. You helped him to build these new neuro pathways— to empower and “Do It Now” during the session which was beautifully mirrored by what he noticed in the land. Skillful coaching, Brad! I appreciate and second Carrie’s question of ‘what did that feel like as a coach’?

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Mandy,
Here is Derek’s info:

Derek Schmidt, MA, LPC
Address:
1777 S. Bellaire St. Ste 420
Denver, CO 80222

Email: (303)691-8805
Fax: 303-691-8705
reachcolorado@msn.com

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Kent,
I appreciated the way you’ve directed attention towards ’empowerment’ as an important element for moving into the threshold, having just experienced the vulnerability of severance. This reminds me of the guide tracking the sense of energy as the session progresses. Initially, when a client is sensing into the issue, the opposition becomes exposed and the energy is still yet on the low side or prickly. The client might be pondering– how am I going to figure this out or ever “do” this? Then, as the session progresses, the energy from the want to the deeper need, continues to rise. Almost at the threshold, the opportunity to experience it RIGHT NOW becomes irresistibly exciting or elevated. I appreciate the word “empowerment” for this moment. As coach and client together, the two have found a sweet spot for the client to believe s/h/ze can experience something else beyond the opposition— the self trusting into the flow of nature and finding what is needed to BEcome the highest vision of oneself. Empowering indeed.

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Elizabeth, I look forward to your dream retreats happening! 🙂 You might enjoy knowing about radicaljoyforhardtimes.org. This group creates artwork with “damaged” places and generally supports artmaking in the land. A place for inspiration.

I must give credit to Kent who had the inspiration for this space. So here we are…. Thanks, Kent! And thanks for all who participate here. <3

[Ivy Walker]

I love the idea of sharing a “dialogue deeper than words” through your imagery in a blog format. I think this could be a really interesting way to share nature connected experiences with a doorway through the visual. So much information can be intuited from an image. I imagine that prospective clients could be looking at this visual blog, really resonating with what you found and what you might have to offer them. Looking forward to hearing about your experience with this as it unfolds.

[Ivy Walker]

Zak, thanks for the message (poem) from your journeys. To me, your post feels a long way off from convoluted– rather it feels poetic, succinct, informed and connected-to-land. What an accompanied and resourceful place to find yourself “feeling a heightened sense of integrity and drive, my dreams and visions are merging into a single pathway”. The words ‘reciprocal relationship’ really stood out for me in your post and in what you described. Is this felt understanding part of what you currently are, or envision, weaving into your offerings/teachings? I ask this with curiosity for the long picture and not necessarily for a clear, defined answer at the moment. Thoughts?

[Ivy Walker]

Yes! Thanks “Professor Thor”! 🙂 I super appreciate the depth of your post and in the final paragraph your naming of the unknown as the shared movement running through nature, as it runs through each of us, as coaches, within our clients, and beyond. To be able to track its presence and be conscious of how we choose to be with the unknown can be a really powerful, humbling practice. The unknown is a super exciting place in coaching, creating and just being alive. A challenge and wonder is being able to walk the learning edge the unknown can provide with spaciousness and discernment.

Loving all the posts and deep conversations here.