[Sara Brells]

I’ve been putting off writing a “Summary” for Foundations 1 because my logical brain was grappling with which content falls under the category of Foundations 1. It was trying to filter by chapter and by day and by pages of notes in the Handbook.

Excuses. I’m avoiding something.

As Toni pointed out so eloquently, “nothing stands alone.” Part of my journey in this work, both personally and in my work with clients, is to shift out of my tendency to compartmentalize and look at things with a duality mindset and move towards expanded awareness. This morning I practiced some of my own nature-connected rituals and, sitting under the shade of a Saucer Magnolia, drew a tarot card asking for guidance in intention this next moon cycle as I settle into the next phase of my life here in Oregon. The message was loud and clear: Expansion. My first reaction was a grimace. What does “expansion” really mean, anyways? And then I realized, the answer lives inside the question. Expanding my understanding of expansion to include multiplicity. Embracing the gray area. Being ok with living in the unknown. Exploring what expansion feels like and means to me. A mentor once encouraged me to “live out the question.” And that is what expansion is about for me right now.

Once I recognized that, I dove back into the content. I realized how I was avoiding digging into the concepts because I was focused on the duality of right and wrong as opposed to the multiplicity of understandings that might exist. Dream vs. vision, coaching vs. therapy…I don’t need to have the perfect definition or explanation or understanding to move forward. I can live out the question and continue to expand my meaning-making. In a coaching session with my mentor last week, she pointed out to me how Vision can be all the things I was speaking of, they do not have to be conflicting parts.

And so to act on my intention, I offer here a messy, evolving blurb of my understanding of myself as a NCC that will exist somewhere in my disclaimer (maybe):

As a Professional Nature-connected Coach I partner with nature to ask the questions that unearth your deeper needs and guide you toward greater self-awareness and connection with your true inner voice. I believe you are the expert in your own life and know that you can discover the answers within your own inner wilderness. We ground in the present to ask what is possible, and tap into your deeper wisdom and creativity to bring it to light.

[Sara Brells]

Nature connection is what led me back to my Sit Spot the second time. First I had to pee, I wanted to get there fast, and my brain tried to analyze where it was located based on that Aspen or this fallen branch. It was not until I slowed down and tuned in to my center and to the forest around me, that I walked straight there.

Nature connection is quieting my mind and slowing down, where “slow” does not refer to time but rather to the full sensory awareness of each step, each sensation, each emotion, and the energy encompassing it all. I think his is what Harper means when he speaks of experiencing the world through senses, not through mental interpretation. It is a deep sense of trust in Mother Nature, la Pachamama. Trusting that when we listen to her, she will guide and provide. It is this trust that led me to a job offer that seamlessly merges working outdoors with kids and non-profit management. During Foundations, my logical brain was pitting these two paths against each other as competing commitments. Nature whispered to me, “be patient, it will come.” And so I trusted, and so it did.

Nature connection is living in alignment with my inner knowing, with my values and beliefs, and with nature. In Wilderness as a Healing Place, Miles writes, “…People are bombarded with diverse information and demands and are often unable to do what their environment requires of them as well as what they desire.” To me, living life from a place of deep nature connection is the antidote to this bombardment. Through strengthening our inherent connection with la pachamama, we are gifting ourselves permission to live in integrity with our true self.

Being connected to nature is surrendering to her, recognizing I am part of her and not a separate entity from her. As Harper says in The Way of the Wilderness, “We are nature, we do not have nature.” This is critical for me. Modern society is built on the premise that humans should control the natural world for profit. I believe that to cultivate a thriving, sustainable society, a drastic shift needs to happen in our culture – and that shift is one of returning ourselves to Nature. Like written of Coyote in the Coyote’s Guide, we need to be “the one who breaks ‘out-of-the-box’ of our cultural conditioning to see things anew.” As Richard Louv mentions, youth mimic what they observe in adults, so it takes both a shift in adults and in how we educate youth.

This is where I see nature connection and coaching merge into a powerful change agent. Not only can my own evolving connection with nature support me in showing up as my best self for my clients, but also I can guide others to find their true voice through the support of their own nature connection. I think Harper says it perfectly: “When we are truly willing to step into the looking glass of nature and contact wilderness, we uncover a wisdom much larger than our small everyday selves.” And when people tap into their inner wilderness through nature connected coaching, they also are strengthening their own personal connection with nature. And when we begin to live from this place, change will ripple out.

[Sara Brells]

Hi again everyone!

Also wanted to throw a wondering out there to the whole group ~ wondering if anyone who is more local and will be driving to Gunnison might have room in their car for those of us flying in? It would be great to be able to avoid paying for a rental car all the days that we are camping. 😉 Just thought I’d put the idea out into the ethers! Thank you for considering!

[Sara Brells]

Hello everyone! My name is Sara. I live in the beautiful PNW and am eager to kick off this journey with all of you in June. I’ve had my eye on this program for a number of years, and after engaging with a couple of shorter EBI courses as well as working with a coach currently in the NCC program, I cultivated the courage to make it happen. I currently am an elementary school teacher in Seattle but my partner and I are making some moves to proactively create a lifestyle more aligned with our values and beliefs. NCC will play an important role in that shift for me. I look forward to learning more about your journeys and visions and how we can all support each other!

I plan on flying into Denver on Friday the 25th. If anyone else is driving from Denver, or flying into Denver, please reach out! I would love to coordinate a rideshare from Denver to Boulder on Friday so we can join the crew leaving early the morning of the 26th. Thank you 🙂

Cheers!

[Sara Brells]

Hello @marnie.rehn! I’d love to learn more sometime about your transition from being a public school teacher into what you are doing now, if you’re open to sharing. 🙂

[Sara Brells]

Greetings, everyone!

My name is Sara and I am writing from the beautiful PNW. I have spent most my life in Western WA and OR, with a meaningful chunk of years in Ecuador. I am looking forward to this journey with each of you as I explore and solidify what is next for me both professionally and personally.

For the past 10 years I’ve worked in education: environmental, international, ancestral skills, leadership development, early-childhood, and currently as a public school elementary teacher. My connection with nature and passion for fostering this relationship in others has been a common thread through my experiences. I feel a deep entrepreneurial drive and am cultivating a vision for how my various passions and skillsets might merge into a coaching business.

I participated in the Spring course (Applying Nature Connection to your Life and Career) and felt so grateful for the community and the learnings that took place. I plan on doing the full coaching certification program down the road a bit. In the meantime, this course feels like a perfect bridge.

In other news, I love to read and write, do yoga, and am a spreadsheet nerd and an overly proud dog mom.

Cheers,
Sara

[Sara Brells]

Hi John,

Thank you for your accountability in getting this discussion post started on time! Many of the quotes you highlighted are the lines that struck me as well. I’ve particularly been reflecting on the commentary in the article regarding environmentalists who “seek to rescue the planet…” Does she really need rescued? I often think that if humans were to disappear, Earth would slowly but surely rejuvenate herself and be just fine (if not better off) without us. It is humans that need rescuing from ourselves. I think this is what you’re highlighting here, so thank you. I’d be curious to hear others’ thoughts on that hero-mindset us humans tend to have around “rescuing” the Earth…

[Sara Brells]

Hi Toni,

Thank you for sharing vulnerably about your father. I hope that he is healing well.

I appreciate your connection between your family and the interconnected weave of roots below. This past week or so in my sit spot, I’ve been struck numerous times by the notion of trees rising up out of the earth as a messenger and the ways they intertwine and communicate below our feet. Then I got on today to do some writing and led to your post – powerful, thank you.

[Sara Brells]

I found myself saying YES at the end of each of your paragraphs! 😉 What you described regarding the “busy & tired” culture and the repercussions of a society that operate from a place of Doing instead of Being are exactly why I am taking steps to change my way of living. Being back in the US just three years, this past year helped me recognize how I was already succumbing to that culture, and that is not how I want to live my life. As I make these changes, I am grateful to learn from the journeys of everyone in our cohort, and prepare to guide others on a similar journey! Thank you for sharing your perspective.

[Sara Brells]

Hi John,

What a beautiful memory, thank you for sharing. It sounds like in its own way, that moment with the rising sun was a threshold experience. How powerful to think that a threshold type experience of a young boy can persist into adulthood! I find this really inspiring when I envision working with youth. What you wrote regarding the “lost it or use it policy” really resonates with me – I saw that as a teacher, as I imagine you did during your days in outdoor ed. I appreciate the way you described coaching as a way …”to help rekindle the inherent spark of nature connection which lies dormant in so many of us.” This is key. Thank you! You always have the way to phrase things. (I still have the note with the definition you gave during fish bowl!)

[Sara Brells]

Hi Hannah!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful connections. I appreciate you pointing out the “being” vs. “doing” state – this is huge for me, as someone who has learned to operate from a very mental state of doing, nature is what helps me drop back in to…me. “We are made of earth, from the elements. Earth is like a mother.” I completely agree with this and link it with the quote from the Coyote Guide you shared about kids growing up without that realization…it simultaneously breaks my heart, and drives me forward on this path of guiding kids to recognize and maintain their natural born connection. I remember you also sharing a bit about youth being part of your vision and I am excited to see how kids might be part of yours as well!

[Sara Brells]

Thanks so much, Amy! So happy to see you joined the NCC course! I would love a ride as well, thank you. I’ll coordinate @lindsayforsythe and @cecilebonnet on arriving in Boulder on the 25th so that we can meet you early the morning of the 26th. Woo hoo! It is almost here! SO looking forward to this journey with all of you.

[Sara Brells]

Hi Joy! You’re vision is really inspiring – I look forward to learning more. 🙂

Thank you for the potential ride offer! There are three of us who have been communicating about renting a car together in Denver on the 25th, so please do just let us know once your plans are established! Thanks so much.

[Sara Brells]

Yes! Gunnison! Thanks 🙂 I was originally thinking just as far as Boulder on the 25th with the caravan planned, but it sounds like now were meeting up in Gunnison so we might as well head there! I will e-mail you and @cecilebonnet this weekend, and anyone else who wants to join the flying-into-Denver crew!

[Sara Brells]

@lindsayforsythe Hi Lindsay! I’ll send you a private message and let’s start to coordinate! If anyone else would like to join a rideshare type situation from Denver to Boulder on the 25th, please reach out 🙂 Thanks!