Where Preparation Begins
Preparation begins before you arrive — with honest inquiry. The questions below are the same ones you will encounter in the registration and intake form. Let them sit with you. The quest itself will deepen what the inquiry opens.
1
Why do you feel called to this experience at this time of your life?
2
What do you feel is breaking down in your life — what is coming to an end, and what is wanting to be born?
3
What attachment(s) are you ready to surrender?
4
What brings you to life and makes you feel whole?
5
What gift(s) do you feel you have to offer the world?

Ready to begin? Answer these questions in the registration & intake form →

The Three Phases of a Wilderness Quest
Severance
Leaving Home

Saying goodbye to loved ones and community. Letting go of distractions and hollowing oneself out in readiness for an encounter with the great mystery.

Threshold
Stepping Into Mystery

Fasting. Beyond identity. Opening to the fresh truth of the unfolding moment in nature. Enacting ritual to participate in the birthing of a new self. An encounter with the soul.

Integration
The Return

Arriving back at the central fire. Sharing your story. Receiving reflections from the group. Coming home. How do I embody my soul self within inner nature and within society?

Recommended Reading
Please read The Story of Jumping Mouse before your arrival —
Read the story →
Preparation Practices

The following practices are highly recommended to support you in the weeks leading up to the journey.

Journal

Begin keeping a journal with entries exploring your intentions for participating in this adventure. Use your journal to note significant experiences as they arise in nature, your dreams, and at the edge of waking and sleeping.

Try to make daily entries so that you can track connections showing up along the path leading to your journey in the wild.

Dreamwork

Track your dreams each night. Court the dreammaker by speaking to the guardian of the dreamworld before you go to sleep and share your openness to receiving dreams that night.

Have your journal next to your bed and write down dreams as soon as you wake up, or in the middle of the night before going back to sleep. Notice the way in which your dreams and their symbols show up in your waking life — note any connections and keep tracking.

Fire Ceremony

There will be a fire ceremony at the yurt before we head out into the wilds — a way to feed the holy and the path ahead, and to mark a severance from your everyday life, habits, and rhythms as you prepare to enter the threshold of mystery in nature.

Please bring burnable offerings and any intentions of what you are wanting to let go of. Take time getting clear on what is truly ready to be released: What phase of your life is coming to an end? What phase feels like it is beginning? What attachments are you ready to free yourself of?

Bring something to burn that can symbolize this threshold moment.

Sit Spot

Court a place or being — a tree, river, or other nature presence — near your home that you can visit regularly. Sit here as often as you can to get to know this nature realm. Ask them what they love.

Notice how you feel and what thoughts, insights, sensations, images, or other experiences arise in their presence. Take notes. Most importantly, treat this place as you would a new relationship you are wanting to care for.

Body

If you don't already exercise, begin taking walks in nature and building your stamina and endurance so that you feel comfortable in your body. Add occasional muscle-building exercises if you feel this would be supportive.

Diet

Gradually minimize processed foods, refined sugar, alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and other substances. Caffeine is okay, but you may want to taper this too if you plan to go without during our time in nature — especially on your solo day fast.

Mind

Lessen media intake — news, social media, TV, movies, phone and computer usage — beginning at least one week before the journey.

Questions? Reach out to Sam at get in touch