“I’ve begun to wonder if my whole life has been preparing me to be a good friend to Orca, Moth, other species, and to the Mother of the lands I’m honored to relate with, so that I might serve as a worthy voice for them and help attune and partner my human community with the other-than-human world.” These words are taken from a recent letter from our dear friend Mitchell, who is undergoing a 9-month solo-retreat in a remote wilderness cabin at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains. This way of deep prayer and nature immersion is not new for Mitchell. At 19, he began training in Buddhist monasticism, and at the age of 24, feeling called by the wilderness and his unique gifts for our world, embarked on a series of self-designed multi-month to year-long solitary meditation retreats in nature. In this final retreat of the series, something profoundly new is happening: through grief for the state of the world and surrender to his calling, he is becoming hollowed out and more deeply attuned to the land and the wild beings around him, who share with him their heart and call upon him to make their prayers his own. Michael and I have had the joy of accompanying Mitchell both as friends and mentors during this sacred season and to witness the deep transformation that is happening within him. Mitchell has emptied his bank account answering the tender call he hears from other species. Thus, we’ve created this Go-Fund-Me both to share Mitchell’s story and to raise the money he needs to complete the final 5 months of his retreat, which we see as a culminating time of deep initiation for his soul that is preparing him to bring his much-needed gifts to the world. We’re launching the campaign in time for Mitchell’s 32nd birthday on Aug 6th! In the first portion of his retreat, Mitchell underwent profound personal healing and spiritual deepening even while a very perseverant group of squirrels that resided in the walls of his humble cabin eventually made it uninhabitable. This might have led anyone else to quit their retreat altogether. As grace would have it, at this critical moment, he experienced a mystical opening that led him to do just the opposite. In Mitchell’s words, “Resting in bed, an all-consuming feeling of communion crept over me - goosebumps from head to toe - a meeting between my soul and the soul of Earth. Sudden heart-felt resonance with widespread suffering and unrest in our world sent tears streaming down my cheeks. The level of close-in-ness and direct communication with Earth and my kin of other species that unfolded in these precious minutes is something I’ve been courting for over a decade, perhaps my whole life. In this time of unfettered togetherness, I sensed my initiators- Earth, Whale, Snake, Great Mystery- are not through with me yet. I felt them beckoning me to take yet another faithfully foolish step by moving further into the wilderness and dedicating another 5 months to being alone with them. I don’t remember a time of ever feeling more certain of my destiny or more honored. Nor a time of knowing more belonging, fellowship, and mutual indebtedness with our whole earth family. There was no deliberating that followed, only more tears of knowing what is mine to do. …I want to be one who helps court divinity back into the forest, back into our daily lives. I want to be one who helps my culture see and honor the divinity in wolves, in fish, in the soil, in creeks and mountains and in each other. My prayer is that I am part of many from contemporary society who begin to walk the healing and initiatory journeys necessary to court a remembrance of our capacity to revere and partner with the living world all around us.” If Mitchell’s words move you as they do us, we welcome you to join us in raising $5,500 to help cover his food, rent and post-retreat transportation so he can finish his beautiful journey. We also invite you to get to know Mitchell further by reading the full version of his recent letter to us HERE. After completing his retreat, Mitchell dreams of a life in community devoted to serving the times we are in. In early December, we plan to host a Zoom gathering to welcome him back and hear stories of his 9-month journey alone with the natural world. If you’d like to join us for this gathering, let Michael or I know and we will add you to the event’s email list. Thank you dear friends for receiving Mitchell’s story. With love and gratitude, Carolyn and Michael How the money will be used: $2,750 - to help pay for 5 months of rent $2,250 - to help pay for 5 months of food $500 - post-retreat transportation and to give Mitchell a little money to start from when he returns Donations are deposited directly into Mitchell’s bank account.
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