Animá Students – Patterns, Breakthroughs, & Thanks From Us
Over the many years we have taught Animá practice, we’ve come to recognize some repeat patterns. First would be the percentage that will drop out of their course, some because they find they can’t bear honest self exploration and appraisal, most because they find they’re unable to give the work the time and focus it requires, and a few others who have trouble with the Assignments – in which they are expected to act on every new insight and put their developing skills to use in their daily lives. Of these, we have found that most will decide to quit during the Principals & Pitfalls lesson, where the course intention and work becomes clearer, comforting beliefs and illusions are challenged, and the student is asked to create a code of honor and set of commitments to themselves to begin living their world in radically different and empowered ways. Of the majority who remain enrolled, a percentage answer the lesson questions simply and briefly, while a smaller number deeply consider and then describe their selves, processes, challenges, dilemmas, vision and hopes in great detail. Not everyone who answers thoroughly is fully growing of course, as it’s possible to be obsessed with ourselves and our troubles without moving through things or applying what we learn. And there a those who write little, but put all they get to wonderful use.
While we care about every student in a very real way, and give everyone all the help we can, the greatest gratification for us comes whenever someone we work with begins to not only understand their selves better, but also excitedly reports on a major shift in their life and boost in their effectiveness and happiness because of it.
It was huge, to hear about one loved student and ally leaving a codependent relationship that didn’t serve her, without someone else ready to move in, and for the purpose of honoring herself and developing her power. As hard as it has been for her to hear some of our counsel, she has stuck with us, and now we get goose bumps reading of her gratitude for everything, as well as of her courageous commitment in spite of a natural desire for a supportive partner and true love. Then there’s the woman who wrote about starting to consistently stand up for herself in a big way, quitting an unethical job even though she needed the money, and her focusing on building up an herbal based home business. The male student from overseas, seeming to be doing everything he can to manifest what he knows and needs as quickly as he learns. The woman who resisted no truth, set the standard for student excellence, embraced her empowerment and went on to become our first Apprentice – affecting everyone she encounters, and doing superb networking for this teaching project. And the mother and belly dancer whose lesson work and life assignments seem too valuable not to pass on to others… by posting some of her story and lesson work below. To all our earnest and impassioned students, thank you for what your growth and fulfillment does for us!
If you are considering an Animá Shaman Path, Medicine Woman, Path of Heart or ReWilding correspondence course, please go to the website for further details. You can also download a Student Application here: student-application-form.doc
-JWH
(photo of Loba, Darcey Blue and Rhiannon (c) 2009 by Jesse Wolf Hardin)
Categories: Courses, Apprenticeships, Retreats & Quests, Understanding & Practicing Animá
Stacey
I cannot express enough how much my journey in The Medicine Woman Tradition has brought so much of a sense of belonging not only in my environment and small wild community but also in myself…..in a very short period of time. I am currently in the Principles and Pitfalls lesson, and yes it is hard because it requires you to make commitments to yourself and it challenges you to start standing the test of time and living and actualizing your visions and authentic being versus saying “someday, when all the planets are aligned’ as Tracy pointed out in the previous post. This path, this way, is a powerful, challenging, rewarding and loving way. Thank you all so much for providing the opportunity, support, and avenue for those of us who seek, to actually live their dreams!
Love to All,
We Miss you
Stacey
Anima
It feels great, that the call for a self-portrait and development of an empowering self image, resulted in a series of drawing depicting your increasing self knowledge and growth. That your response to the Sense of Place lesson was to intensify your search for the place that calls to you most, while learning to know and love the place where you are now at. And that your Principles work, is sure to result in a code of being that you apply. Thank you Stacey, for being so open, determined to use what you learn, and sweet with your gratitude. You make this work a joy for us.
-Wolf, Kiva & Loba
darcey
Hugs and thanks! I love you all!