Transforming Ancestral Trauma through Nature, Ritual, and Community
Aug 23rd, 2023 - Aug 29th, 2023 | Wild Mountain, Colorado | Nancy Jane, Bettina Straub
When we heal our roots, we open up new possibilities for our future.
–Thomas Hubl
Ancestral Trauma
The stories in our lineage are part of who we are today, but much of their influence
remains unconscious. How we react, what motivates us, and how much we trust
ourselves and others are often remnants of our ancestors’ fears and fragmentation,
keeping us tied to painful patterns and behaviors. Our ancestors lived through traumatic
historical events including wars, the legacy of slavery and Native American genocide,
the Depression, the immigrant experience, and the Holocaust. It is common for
expressions of trauma, such as family suicide, depression, addictions, grief, or physical
health conditions, to be passed down from generation to generation.
Ceremony, Wild Nature, and Community
The journey is both a deeply personal exploration as well as an inquiry into our historical
and collective wounding. Through immersion in wild nature, within a safe community
and supported by ritual, we can begin a process of reclamation and healing. We give
ourselves time and space so that the invisible can become visible. As we bring light to
the stories and emotions that may lie dormant from “looking away,” we liberate our
natural aliveness, inspiration, and gratitude for ourselves and those who came before
us.
Why It Matters
The importance of this work cannot be underestimated. Insights of our time carry
forward to new generations, empowering us to connect and repair with our families and
communities. In order to gather our creative energies and follow a heart-felt path of
service to others and the planet, we must uncover and befriend the entanglements of
the past.
Flow of the Days
The format of the 7-day program is spacious, to allow for profound insights to emerge.
We will meet daily in sharing and teaching councils, followed by experiential reflection
walks on the land and evening gatherings. The framework of the Four Shields will help
us map out our exploration of ancestral wounding. Other rituals and the mirror of nature
will enhance our time together. On Day 5, participants will undertake a 24-hour solo with
optional fasting. Upon return, participants will share their stories and have them
mirrored by the guides. Our last day focuses on how to take the insights forward into
daily life.
Program Questions Contact: Nancy Jane at [email protected]
base camp the first day. Because of our elders, we ask that participants take great care in the
weeks before the program and during travel.
Submit enrollment form
Please fill out and submit the enrollment form and then pay the program deposit below. Before you pay the deposit, please read deposit section below, all deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. After your enrollment form is complete, please submit all health and liability forms.
Pay program deposit
Deposits: This deposit signifies your commitment to the program and is deducted from the tuition balance. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. They cover the work of the specific course you signed up for, including all communication involved as well as the fee that guides pay to the school administration for the course accounting.
Additional Deposit: Some programs require a second deposit to help us affirm commitments. Last minute cancellations make it hard to fill openings and incur a loss of income to the School and the guides.
Tuition Balance: Balance of tuition can be paid before or upon arrival. Simply deduct any deposits made from the amount you’ve chosen on the sliding scale.
Submit Waitlist form
This program is full; however, you may add your name to the Waitlist by clicking the Waitlist button below.
Additional course details & Materials
Please arrive by 10:00am on August 23rd. The ceremony will end by noon on August 29th. More logistical info will be sent when you register for the program. ADDITIONAL FEES: Land Use Fee $80 to be collected at or before the time of the program.
You will be responsible for bringing your own food and equipment, though we can provide some gear if needed. We ask everyone to come prepared to live self-sufficiently. You will need to bring shelter and clothing suitable for a full range of inclement weather.
All participants must submit the required health questionnaire and liability form.
If you have questions about the enrollment process contact us at [email protected] or call 760-938-3333.
A recommended reading list will be provided.
Wild Mountain is land of the Tabeguache Ute people and other Indigenous tribes who traveled through this area of the Colorado Rockies. The Ute lived and hunted in this abundant land of elk, buffalo, deer, and bear before white settlers came and forced them onto reservations in southwest Colorado and Utah.
To learn more about our commitment to regenerative relationships please visit Cultural Relations.
