Nature-based traditions and practices have been shown to help people with substance use and co-occurring disorders heal and navigate long-term recovery.  Evidence based nature practices are derived from the applied practice of the emergent field of ecopsychology, developed by Theodore Roszak. Nature based therapeutic practices stem, in part, from the belief that people are part of the web of life and that we are not isolated or separate from our environment. Ecopsychology is informed by systems theory, and provides individuals with an opportunity to explore their relationship with nature—an area that can be overlooked in many other types of treatment or therapy. While some professionals teach and practice ecopsychology exclusively, other practitioners incorporate aspects of nature based traditions into their existing practices. The Four Cardinal Winds are persistent structures used for organizing human experience, as evidenced in early cave art and worldwide mythology.  Presenter will demonstrate a brief guided journey experience, which will allow participants to pinpoint their bearings and quantify their experience using a tool called the Awakening Compass, developed with symbols from seven ancient wisdom traditions.  Attendees will explore transformational tools based in ancient wisdom teachings, designed to nourish mind, body, heart, while acknowledging the spirit's unlimited capacity to heal.

Attendees will be able to:

• • Directly experience nature as a viable resource for building lasting recovery
  • Identify tools to share with clients who wish to develop a durable spiritual foundation
  • Explore a shamanic journey process and quantify the experience using a Compass Model
  • Discover ways to implement these tools with clients