Wilderness Within: Retreats and Intensives

New Wilderness Within events coming soon. Stay informed.

This is a journey of descent to soul, the shape hidden in your own depths.

We must be willing to walk in the other direction. To return to the natural world from which we emerged and have radical conversations about what it means to be a human being in the 21st Century is an essential invitation for personal and communal healing. This experience will help deepen your own sense of wholeness and ask questions of your ultimate purpose. We believe this work can be a catalyst for moving toward a more life enhancing, wildly creative world.

As Mary Oliver asks, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?”

Who is it for?

Those who long to reconnect with the natural world, to seek additional healing from their wounds and stories, to listen deeply to the mysterious call of soul, and wander for a few days with like-minded participants.

What topics and type of work do we cover?

Nature-based practices, sacred listening, dreamwork, teachings about the descent to soul, archetypes and myths, and conversations about wholeness, subpersonalities, complexes and wounds. We often use Bill Plotkin’s Wild Mind and his nature-based map of the human psyche as a resource. This helps orient the experience with some common language. You do not need to be familiar with his work, but it will certainly aid in deepening the retreat.

Wilderness Within Intensive

Big Rapids, Michigan

June 13-June 15, 2024

This program is designed to facilitate a deeper conversation between your soul and the natural world. We’ll be working with numerous practices, ceremonies, solo wanders, dreams, active imagination, stories, and group conversation. Accommodations range from tent camping to modern private rooms (extra expense). Anyone is welcome, with or without camping experience. There are few opportunities in the modern world for listening to the Soul and to the Mystery, for expressions of longing, prayer, grief and transformation. This weekend is designed to toward these possibilities. Please apply below.

The cost is $500. *If you financial limitations, let me know in the application

Location: Private and Public Land, Big Rapids, MI

Program begins the morning of the 13th, at 10am, and ends after dinner on the 15th.

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Soulcraft Intensive: Animas Valley Institute

Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado

July 10-July 14, 2024

This is an Animas Valley Institute Program I’ll be co-guiding with Rebecca Wildbear, near Telluride Colorado. Animas handles all applications. Space is limited. Click on the link.

Apply

Wilderness within INTENSIVE

July 31--August 3, 2024

Wilderness Within: Colorado

Angel of Shavano Campground, Salida Colorado

July 31-August 3, 2024

This program is designed to facilitate a deeper conversation between your soul and the natural world. We’ll be working with numerous practices, ceremonies, solo wanders, dreams, active imagination, stories, and group conversation. Anyone is welcome, with or without camping experience. There are few opportunities in the modern world for listening to the Soul, and to the Mystery, for expressions of longing, prayer, grief and transformation. This program will be co-lead with Emma Duke, a friend and nature-based guide from Southwest Colorado (www.emma-duke.com). We’d love for you to join us. Please apply below.

The cost is $600-800, sliding scale. *If you financial limitations, let us know in the application

Location: Angel of Shavano Campground, State Forest Land

Program begins the evening of July 31st, and ends after dinner on the August 3rd.

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THE DETAILS

SESSION LENGTH

You will journey with other women and men as we explore the mysteries of soul-oriented work. Over the course of each program, we hope to deepen together your own relationship with Mystery and get clearer about living the largest story you’re capable of living.

WHERE AND WHEN

In person cohorts meet in Grand Rapids outside or indoors at specific days and times. The other cohorts meet online.

COST

Cost varies depending on session.

Wilderness Within Testimonials

“Some of the greatest moments of my vocational life have been working alongside Kent guiding people into the wild of nature and psyche. Kent has a deep commitment to discovering his own authentic voice in the world and channels equal amounts of energy into his work with groups and individuals as they progress on their own journeys.”

–Ryan Meeks

Wilderness Within Registration

Get Started

Please fill out the form.
We’ll review your application and will contact you as soon as we’re able to.
Information regarding specific program details, payment, and scheduling will be sent to you via email.

Please fill out the questions below honestly, with depth and as succinctly as you’re able.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Age

Must be 18 years of age to participate

Email

Primary Phone

Can we text you?

Yes

No

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Do you have financial limitations that you would like to discuss?

Yes, let's chat

No

Briefly describe your spiritual or religious background.

What is your relationship like with descent, unraveling, and grief? And where are you now?

Please describe one piece of writing, an image, an art piece, a character, a symbol, or a song, that you find particularly alluring? What is it about this thing? What’s the feeling? What calls to you? (Please go deeper than naming things you “like”)

Please describe any significant dreams (the kind you have at night) and/or spiritual experiences that are important to you. What was the feeling or atmosphere like?

If you remember your recent dreams, please describe briefly the most recent dream whether or not you think it means anything.

Why is this the right time for you to wander out into the wild world with a small group?

If you are currently seeing a psychological professional, or receiving psychological treatment of some kind, does your therapist or doctor approve of your participation in the program?

By submitting this application, I agree not to hold Kent Dobson, or anyone else associated with this experience,responsible for any risk, injury or any other problems related to participating in this program.

Wilderness Within involves joining in the careful attention to places of crisis, calling, spiritual blocks, questions, breakdowns, and breakthroughs.

I look forward to our conversations about wholeness, our wounded parts, and listening for clues sent up from the soul. The ultimate aim of this relationship is to help you dive into the realm of your own soul, your unique place in the world. The great conversation with soul, with the voice beneath your voice, is where meaning, purpose, and even a sense of destiny is found. It’s from this place of soul we are best able to generatively serve the world.

Join the Conversation

For those interested in deepening their own unique conversation with soul, I will be sending a monthly update on programs, events, podcasts, teachings, and more.