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Sacred Relation Wilderness Workshop

what is animism?

Animism is the understanding that all things are in relationship with one another. Life is relationship. With your environment, family, partner, but also with yourself, your work, your passions, and indeed the natural world around you.

Dictionary definitions of animism often misunderstand this, defaulting to, "belief that everything has a spirit". There is some truth to this, but it doesn't get to the heart of the matter. Ancient people from virtually every corner of the world were animists. They understood that the interaction between sun, water, and soil created food for them. Their connections with each other kept them safe. Relationship with the animals around them was a central focus of their lives.

Things have changed a great deal for most of us.

We feel longing, distance, and disconnection every day. Certainly people have always had these sensations but everyone agrees it is growing steadily worse. Many wisdom keepers from cultures across our world warn of the lack of animism in our lives. It has been replaced with screens, packed schedules, division, hatred, and the inescapable feeling that we've lost something as a species that we once held dear.

Bringing Animism back into our lives

In truth, we are still animists. We evolved this trait as a survival mechanism and it can still be seen in a myriad of ways. But how can we fully embrace our animistic nature in a way that works better for us in our daily lives?

A great deal of scientific study, anthropological scholarship, and historical research continues to be done regarding these complex topics. Some cultures retain their ancient knowings and have eagerly shared them with the wider world in hopes of reawakening our sleeping spirits. There is a worldwide effort to begin healing, to reconnect, and to find means to apply the wisdom of the elder days to our modern chaos.

This workshop aims to be part of that movement. We have been collecting information, knowledge, and experience through years of study and practice. We are eager to share it with you!

SACRED RELATION WILDERNESS WORKSHOP

Our adventure will take us into the wilderness where we will camp for three nights. Our camp is tucked into a beautiful forest valley near a crystal clear creek, dramatic cliffs, and a perfectly pristine meadow. If we're lucky we'll see frogs in the wetlands and eagles in the trees. Bats feast on bugs over the creek at night, sometimes passing close enough that you can feel the beats of their wings. Coyotes cackles often echo in the darkness.

We will hike to the top of a mountain with backpacking gear to prepare you for your own adventures deep into the wilderness. Experienced hikers and backpackers consider this hike to be relatively easy. New adventurers may be challenged, but will find the journey well worth it. We will teach you everything you need to know about living out of your backpack in the wilderness, and will ensure that you are well prepared.

The purpose of this workshop is to teach on and share in the quest to bring animism back into our daily lives. We will inform you about the history of animistic living and share the tools that such cultures use. Our knowledge is both rigorously researched and deeply felt through personal experience. Our hope is to teach, learn, share, and grow stronger in our relationship with the universe and each other.

See "Your Hosts" below to learn more about us and our credentials.

Outline

Prep Day

A couple weeks prior to the workshop we will (virtually) meet one another, go over the supply list one more time, prepare you for your journey, and answer any questions.

Caravan from Missoula

The morning of August 13th we will leave Missoula from a prearranged meeting spot. If you need a ride we will be happy to provide you one!

Set Up Camp

Upon arriving at the lake we will set up our camp and soak the deer hides for the drums we'll be building together. Then we will set up our camp and prepare for our journey up the mountain.

Daily Schedule

Each day after the first we will begin with an optional cold plunge in the creek, guided by Ashleigh.

We will spend time teaching on the topics below throughout each day, and will have several activities. There will be a number of guided meditations using various methods. There will be plenty of time to explore the mountains, ridges, forest, and meadow. Napping in the hammock and lounging around camp are also highly recommended!

At night we will roast marshmallows and tell campfire stories, ending the final night with a group ritual in which we will play our new drums together and howl to the moon alongside our coyotes neighbors. Sleeping by the fire underneath the stars is recommended but not required.

Farewell

On the morning of August 16th we will say farewell to the forest by playing our drums one last time. It is our intention that we all return to civilization renewed, empowered, and ready to bring new energy into our lives and community.

Skills and Knowledge

Animism 101

The basics of animism, how animistic people think, and the benefits of animistic living

Drum Building

We will provide the materials (including deer hide) to build your own drum, discuss the significance of drum building, and show you how drums are used in animist rituals

Entering the Wilderness

Pain, Sacrifice, and Empathetic Reciprocity

How ancient and modern animists enter the wilderness, the spiritual and practical reasons for this, mythological evidence for these practices, how to listen to the wilderness, safety tips

Pain, Sacrifice, and Empathetic Reciprocity

Moving into relationship with sacrifice and our exchange with the landscape

Relating to Your Body

Developing a better relationship with your body and learning how to listen to its needs

Offerings

Making appropriate offerings with a helpful mindset, history of traditional sacrifices throughout the world

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

What anthropology, history, and myth teach us about animism and shamanism

Discussions

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

We will have several group discussions about our lives and personal paths, focusing on how animism can be applied to you personally, sharing not required but recommended

Additionally...

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Additionally...

A cacao circle, the significance of spirit animals, working with animal remains, creating sacred symbols, and much more will be discussed and shared

Sacred Relation Wilderness Workshop

Sacred Relation Wilderness Workshop

Send us an email to get on the 2025 mailing list: contact@sacredrelation.org

A 4 Day Adventure into the Wild Mountains of Montana

Experiences

Discussions

Discussions

what is animism?

Recommended Listening

Bringing Animism back into our lives

SACRED RELATION WILDERNESS WORKSHOP

Outline

Prep Day

Caravan from Missoula

Set Up Camp

Daily Schedule

Farewell

Skills and Knowledge

Animism 101

Drum Building

Entering the Wilderness

Pain, Sacrifice, and Empathetic Reciprocity

Pain, Sacrifice, and Empathetic Reciprocity

Pain, Sacrifice, and Empathetic Reciprocity

Relating to Your Body

Offerings

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Discussions

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Additionally...

Historical Understandings of Animism and Shamanism

Additionally...

Click here to learn about your facilitators, including our credentials and previous experience.

To Join

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