MURMURATIONS
Finding our way back to being dreamt by earth. Together.
Murmurations
Apprenticing Earth | Six Month Group Mentoring Programme
Grounded in 25 years of Buddhist practice and my work as a vision quest guide, this experiential programme integrates traditional teachings and practices of wilderness rites of passage.
Whilst this programme focuses on the essential elements of rites of passage and vision quests it is designed to equip nature-loving participants and aspiring guides alike with a practical understanding of the territory. This earth apprenticeship offers practices for a way of living that would have been second nature to many of our ancestors. As well as instructions for those who wish to learn the craft of questing.
This is a slow response to the fast pace our times; a living enquiry into how we might root ourselves once more in relationship, reciprocity and reverence.
We will do this through:
~ Threshold Walks, The Mirror of Nature and The Art of Mirroring Stories
~ Deep Listening practices and The Way of Council
~ Expanded Sensory Awareness | Gendlin’s Somatic practice of Focusing
~ The Four Directions Nature Based Map of Psyche and Soulcraft
~ Embodied Animicy and Mythopoetic realms
Whilst there is plenty of information available about the 'What to do' in nature-based practices, there’s very little on the vital 'How to' engage with them experientially - which is where, I believe, the true aliveness happens. This focus is the core of the Murmurations Mentoring program.
“ Hildegard of Bingen cleverly combined two Latin words: veritas and verde - truth and green - to make one word. It’s a word that means - allatthesametime - the living intelligence of the green world and the sacredness that can be found there. It’s a path filled with soul shaping as old as First Man and First Woman”
Deep nature connection doesn’t end with increased mental and emotional wellbeing; it aims to transform your identity. It’s about shifting from an "Isolated Self" to an "Ecological Self" - a state of being profoundly rooted in relationship with everything. A Collaboration of Being if you will.
I am deeply drawn to systems-led leadership and group work as living fields of aliveness. As such, the specific content of this work emerges in relationship to each cohort rather than being fixed in advance.
In recent years, this field has increasingly been diluted through secularisation and excessive psychologising. My commitment as a guide is to protect the integrity of the work by centring its sacred, mytho-poetic, and embodied core.
While these teachings are rooted in initiatory wilderness rites, each element can also be practiced independently and adapted to a wide range of contexts and applications. In other words, one does not need to be engaged in traditional vision questing to benefit from these potent tools for connection and facilitation.
As an ordained lay Dharma practitioner of more than twenty-five years, this programme is naturally informed by my Buddhist orientation - particularly the truth of our inter-being. Through my work, I support individuals in deepening their relationship with themselves and the natural world, cultivating self-awareness, reverence for the Earth, and a felt sense of interconnectedness with all beings.
These practices change us at depth. We are grown through Earth’s Dream of us. It is this kind of shift in our perception and relational capacity that I believe is necessary to build healthy communities and meaningfully address today's social and environmental challenges.
You are who your Ancestors
sang about in their ceremonies.
You are their revolutionary prayer.
You are their sacred gift to the world.
Is this for you?
This mentorship aims to provide you with a deeper understanding and experience of profound initiations into Earth's Dreaming and a living enquiry into how we might root ourselves once more in relationship, reciprocity and reverence.
It’s for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of this field, it offers a deeply personal journey of connection and remembering our true nature.
I want to emphasise that each teaching element stands on it’s own - is a world unto itself - and can be explored independent of the overarching frame of rites of passage. Take myth, for example. I could spend my life happily immersed in myth alone.
For those seeking professional development:
This programme is designed for anyone looking to start or deepen their experience leading nature-based groups. You will learn experiential practices for bringing these deeper nature connection practices to your clients, colleagues, and communities, allowing you to integrate this work into your existing professional modalities.
It is of benefit to those wishing to offer any type of wilderness solo or initiatory experience, and looking for a deeper dive into the modalities needed for this kind of guiding.
Some images from programmes I’ve guided over the last decade. For more, alongside testimonials click here.
Each Month Includes:
2 x 150 minute group mentoring sessions held by myself
Ongoing peer support via WhatsApp
Password protected page with access to recordings
In Addition there will be:
4 x Peer-Led Conversation Cafes: these unfacilitated spaces are for you to use as you need, to digest our group process and support group connection
1 x 120-minute Council: a session in council and have your process witnessed within community as well as build fellowship with other mentees
1 x In-Person Fireside Gathering at the beginning of the programme in Epsom, Surrey. This is totally optional as geography may hinder some from attending.
3 x (Optional) Half Price 1:1 Coaching sessions
1 x Seawhite A5 Concertina Sketchbook for tracking your journey over the six months
A 24 hour Wilderness Vigil:
Some of my previous cohorts requested that I guide as 5/6 day programme with a 24 hour solo. I am happy to offer this opportunity to future cohorts - as an optional extra.
The Process:
This is not a pre-recorded course. We meet live on Zoom for each teaching & mentoring session, gathering together to learn & practice.
Even though all meetings are recorded, you will get more out of the course if you can prioritise meeting with us live.
We will gather as an intimate group. It’s required that videos are left on during the sessions. You can adjust distance and the position of the screen if needed.
When:
Zoom Gatherings will be:
Alternate Thurdays evenings
17:00 - 19:30 (UK)
Spring 2026 Dates
Group Mentoring Sessions
Thursday 9th April 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 23rd April 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 7th May 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 21st May 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 4th June 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 18th June 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 2nd July 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 16th July 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 30th July 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 13th August 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 20th August 17:00 - 19:30 UK
Thursday 10th September 17:00 - 19.30 UK
Conversation Cafe Dates (optional)
Thursday 30th April 17:00 - 18:00 UK
Thursday 11th June 17:00 - 18:00 UK
Thursday 23rd July 17:00 - 18:00 UK
Thursday 27th Aug 17:00 - 18:00 UK
Way of Council Meeting with a Guest Way of Council Trainer and Facilitator
Past Facilitators have included Zara Wald from The Scandinavian Shamanic Centre and Dave Bingham from True Circles
In Person Gathering
An opportunity to meet in the flesh and connect informally around a fire together.
This is totally optional as geography may hinder some from attending.
We will look for a date once the programme starts.
Please note that this is not a complete vision quest guide training programme. It goes without saying that in order to co-guide vision quests one needs to have been guided through at least one quest by an experienced guide and incorporated the change that flowed from it. Alongside this, the North Shield trainings, the in-the-field safety elements and assisting opportunities which are all essential elements in professional guide trainings are not offered here.
I have facilitated two Womens cohorts and one Mens cohort. Right now I am facilitating a mixed cohort. The programme that is up for 2026 is likely going to be mixed but if anyone is longing for something else tell me - I’m sure I can create more than one cohort.
HOW TO APPLY
Places are limited to 8 - 10 people per cohort.
Please contact me to register your interest. Please include what monthly fee you would like to pay.
Upon application I’ll send you an email arranging a brief chat on the phone to ensure this programme is a good match for you.
PRICES
I’ve spent my entire life avoiding working for the 'big money' so that I could help ordinary people with few resources to access excellent programmes.
I need to make a modest living. Please do consider paying what is within your financial reach and a fair price for my commitment to small group sizes and my expertise.
I offer this programme at three prices - all prices include VAT
6 x Monthly Payments of
£150 or £200 or £250
Total Cost for the two tiers:
£900 - £1200 - £1500
If you’d love to join and can’t afford the lowest rate please get in touch.
You can choose to pay a one off payment upfront or monthly payments over the six month period payable 1st of each month
Once you have been offered a place a £200 non-refundable deposit will confirm your spot. This will be deducted from the total cost.
Cancellation Policy:
Your deposit is non-refundable.
There will be no refunds for cancellations
after the mentorship programme begins.
" If you have a chance to work with Natasha seize it. She is a rare gift of quiet determination, deep compassion and authentic wisdom."
- Doug Stewart