Brian Stafford on Journeys to Soul & Purpose in the Wilderness [episode 37]
Brian Stafford left his 20-year career as a psychiatrist to become a wilderness guide and agent of human and cultural transformation. He completed the intensive training as a psycho-spiritual wilderness guide with the Animas Valley Institute, and now guides individuals to the place they most long and fear to go – their soul place and purpose. He now guides primarily in Ojai, California. In this episode he shares:
- How he made the dramatic transformation from psychiatrist to wilderness guide
- How his wife reacted to his shift in values, focus and lifestyle
- How our ego can grow to support our soul’s embodiment in our lives, according to Bill Plotkin
- The power of rites of passage
Saint Animal. by Chase TwichellSuddenly it was clear to me -I was something I hadn't been before. It was as if the animal part of my being
had reached some kind of maturity that gave itauthority, and it had begun to use it.I thought about death for two years.My animal flailed and tore at its cagetill I let it go. I watched itdrift out into the easy eddies of twilightand then veer off, not knowing me.I'm not a bird but I'm inhabited by a spiritthat's uplifting me. It's my animal, my saint,my soldier, my flame of yearning,come back to tell mewhat it was like to be without me.
Links:
- Learn more about Brian and his journeys into the wilderness at
http://eco-psyche-artistry.com/ and http://wildernessismedicine.org/
- Connect with Brian on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/EcoPsycheArtistry
- Learn more about Bill Plotkin and the Animas Institute http://www.animas.org/