Overview:

The classes and services provided by James Bigelow are the culmination of over 25 years of work. 

Using embodied decolonial practices like liberation theory, the erotic (Audre Lorde), ritual, and nonviolent communication participants are brought into a more dynamic relationship with themselves, and all living things. 

Participants will develop a felt sense of connecting to life as it moves.  Skills around listening and eventually speaking are developed in service of relationships that understand and serve life.  

Introduction Classes

The introduction classes are single day experiences at the wolf sanctuary.  9am - 4pm.

For new members these classes will introduce the participants to the wild, to ritual and tradition.  This will be done slowly and simply, in rhythm with the land and the wolves.  James will also go over the basics of Nonviolent Communication and give the participant the experience of using the concept of needs to connect with life as it moves.  This is done initially by giving empathy to other people.  Then in a practical way we explore how attention to needs helps us establish relationships with non-human “relatives.”  And how these relationships and this way of placing ourselves within the natural world in turn helps us understand how to be human.  

**Single day events at the wolf sanctuary, on their own, are between 300-500 dollars.  These intro classes allow new students and people who have studied with James to come meet the land and the wolves and be introduced to his most updated work**

 A quick example of how the exercises would build:

• Opening Circle  
  • In a traditional way James will lead the group in making itself known to the land, and asking for permission and witness.
  • The group then meets each other.  Making introductions, and setting intentions
• Learning, Loss, Trouble, and Natural World
  • Old time learning.  Being troubled. Losing what we know.
    • Building the ability to have sustained curiosity and Wonder. Learning to invite the wild to show itself.
    • Longing, and belonging.
    • Water, life & time 
  • Seeing and understanding ourselves within the natural world. Learning how the natural rhythms of our internal landscape are mirrored for us in the natural landscape around us.  
    • The directions and wheel as a teacher
    • Seasons and feelings
  • Quiet time for reflection. Watering the seeds of trouble and learning.
• Exploring the general concepts of NVC
  • James will engage the group with the basic concepts 
• Group exercise, and group reflection 
  • The group will put theory into practice in service of learning.  
  • After practicing reflection time is made to gather what was learned. 
• Exploring the concept of “relatives”
  • Connection, Relationship, and Needs are explored to tease out a style of relationship and understanding of the collective self. 
• Sitting with a wolf and practicing. With The Wolves as our teachers, we sit with them, and work on applying what we have learned
• Group reflection. 
• Closing circle.  Saying thank you

Sign up here