A Wisdom Walk is to connect again in sacred conversation with the wisdom of the wilderness. It is a time of intention, mindfulness, openness, and discovery.

The full moon time offers us an opportunity to be in the fullness of our life, to sit with gratitude and count our blessings, recommit to the path of healing and being whole, and to re-discover our courage in walking that path.

Our Full Moon Wisdom Walk will include community, ceremony, walking and sitting in silence together under a full moon, time for personal introspection, group reflection, and group camping.

Join like-minded seekers-those who know the value of wonder, awe, and deep conversation with all there is.

Location: Private land located in the Arcadia Valley of Missouri (about 2-hour drive from St. Louis). (You will be provided with directions after registration).

Dates: Oct. 8-Oct 9, 2022

Suggested Donation: $80.00

If you are interested, please fill out the contact form below to sign up for the program.

Overview/Schedule: Check-in and camp set-up are between 4 and 5 pm. Orientation begins at 5:00, followed by dinner (see Meals, below). After dinner, we open our ceremony and prepare our minds and heart for our Wisdom Walk through poetry, music, and sharing our intentions. After dark and under the light of the full moon, we cross the threshold and silently walk into the forest together. You will be led into the forest by guides for an extended time of stillness and reflection while remaining together as a group. During this time of waiting and listening we open ourselves to mystery, awe, wonder, and the unexpected. We then journey back in quiet reflection and gratitude for what we have received. A period of solo reflection around a campfire gives time to re-acclimate and take care of any personal needs before we gather in a community circle to express gratitude, share what we have discovered, and make offerings to the forest. Sleep time brings new awareness and consolidation. Breakfast is at 9 am, followed by our closing circle, with the program concluding by 11 am.

Camping: We will camp together under the full moon, either in our own tents, under a tarp, or in the open air. Participants will need to bring their own camping supplies (tent or tarp, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, etc.). Our camping site is within an easy walk of the parking area. There is no indoor space, therefore, it is recommended that you bring whatever you need in the event of rain.

Meals: Drinking water is provided throughout the event. Dinner consists of individual pizzas created for you and made in a wood-fired pizza oven. Pizza crust and sauce will be provided, but you will need to bring your own toppings. In the morning, coffee and tea are provided, as well as fruit and instant oatmeal. You are responsible for bringing your own plate, bowl, cup, and utensils, as well as any additional or optional food items you want, including snacks.

Expectations and Frequently Asked Questions:

Attendance: Participants must be 18 or older. This is an overnight camping experience in what is essentially a backcountry forest, on land that has its boundary with the Mark Twain National Forest. Participants are expected to attend the whole program, including arriving no later than 5 pm and staying until our closing circle is completed, approximately 11 am the following day. Please plan on arriving in time to have your camp set up completely before the orientation, which begins at 5:00. Anyone arriving after orientation is not guaranteed participation, and may not receive a refund. Participants are expected to stay with the group during all group-designated times and to stay within the physical location outlined by the guide during solo and camping times. There will be extended periods of time in which you will be asked to not use a headlamp, flashlight, or another artificial lighting. This is a night-time event, and programming is planned to run until approximately 11 pm.

Location: The location of the event will be given to you after acceptance of your application. It is located on private land in the Arcadia Valley of Missouri, about a 2-hour drive from St. Louis.

Terrain: We will primarily be on a path which at times is rough and uneven. The terrain is varied between flat and hilly. We will be walking up to a mile, in total. We will be walking in the dark with headlamps and in the moonlight.

Duration and Pace: We will be Wisdom Walking and having an extended time of listening and silence for up to 2 hours. The pace taken into and out of the forest is slow to moderate-approximately 2 miles per hour. We will be staying as a group for the entirety of the Wisdom Walk. Please consider your needs to travel faster or slower than what is stated here as you consider joining this event, and consider other events as an alternative if the duration, terrain, and pace do not suit your needs or desires.

Screening: Sacred Journeys-Earthworks, LLC, and Lisa Dahlgren reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who does not fit within the safety standards necessary for this event, which includes, but are not limited to: participants being in physical, emotional, and mental health fitting for this event, including being free of conscious-altering substances. You will be asked to complete a physical assessment form as a method for helping to determine if this event is a good fit for you, and for safety reasons. That form will be destroyed or can be returned to you at the end of the program.

Safety: Safety is the responsibility of the individual participant, and risk is consistent with any backwoods camping experience. All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver, and are expected to inform the guide of any difficulties. Risk and risk management will be reviewed in your acceptance packet, and is available for review prior to your application. We will practice Bear-aware basics, which include having no food or snacks, wrappers, or scented items around the sleeping area. Basic safety while being in the forest and while camping will be reviewed at the orientation prior to dinner. A Zeolo satellite alert device will be on-site for emergency services.

Restrooms: There is a primitive restroom on site which consists of a rudimentary composting toilet contained within a pop-up tent. Toilet paper, a hand-washing station, and hand sanitizer are provided.

Water and Electricity: There is no running water or electricity on site. Drinking water will be available throughout the duration of the event via a portable camping cooler.

Technology: Cell phone coverage is extremely limited to non-existent both on the property and in the surrounding area. Additionally, participants are expected to disengage from technology for the duration of the program.

Covid: Please do not attend if you have tested positive for Covid in the week prior to the event, are living with someone who has tested positive for Covid in the week prior to the event, or if you are feeling unwell. Maintaining physical distance and masking are both optional and supported. It is the responsibility of each participant to assertively make their needs/wishes known about their decision for physical distancing, and it is the responsibility of each participant to comply with the stated wishes of other participants regarding distancing.

Clothing/Equipment/Items to bring: A list of suggested clothing, equipment, and items to bring with you will be given to you in your acceptance packet. The list is consistent with backwoods overnight camping.

Parking: Parking is free and on-site, and is a mixture of gravel and dirt.