Founded by Bill Plotkin in 1980, Animas Valley Institute offers multi-day, experiential explorations into wild landscapes and into the wilds of soul with the goal of discovering the meaning and destiny at the heart of each life.
We stand on the Threshold of great change, and a great unknown. Our collective journey requires a radical shift in the human relationship with the community of all life — a cultural transformation so profound that future humans might regard it as an evolution of consciousness.
Animas Valley guides people on underworld journeys, a descent into the mysteries of Soul and nature. Animas immersions are not designed to transcend the ego, solve everyday personal problems, or help people better adjust to — or be happier in — the flatland of contemporary Western culture. Rather, the intent is a deep-structure shift that matures the ego and elicits each person’s most creative, soul-rooted response to our critical, liminal moment in the unfolding of the world’s story — on the threshold of a future shaped by those who can see beyond our own time.
Animas Valley Institute offers a rich assortment of guided immersions into the mysteries of nature and psyche, including Soulcraft intensives, contemporary Vision Fasts (Vision Quests), and training programs for nature-based soul guides.
In 2023 the first Animas Valley programmes were launched in South Africa, the beginning of a long-term partnership and a local, growing soul community.
Since then Soulcraft Africa has offered 2 - 4 programmes per year including Soulcraft Intensive, Wild Mind Intensive, the Way of Council and the Art of Mirroring, and the Animas Quest.
Soulcraft Africa programmes have been facilitated thus far by Brian Stafford. Brian previously trained as a cultural psychiatry fellow at University of Cape Town Department of Psychiatry. Now, he is a guide to the wilderness of nature and soul. He was called out of academic medicine to serve as a guide to the depths and to serve as an a
Soulcraft Africa programmes have been facilitated thus far by Brian Stafford. Brian previously trained as a cultural psychiatry fellow at University of Cape Town Department of Psychiatry. Now, he is a guide to the wilderness of nature and soul. He was called out of academic medicine to serve as a guide to the depths and to serve as an agent of cultural awakening and transformation. He guides with humor, playfulness, compassion, discernment, and a deep remembering of the fullness of what each human life can, should, and was meant to be. A native of Colorado and the former holder of an endowed chair and professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, he is an avid outdoorsman, teacher, writer, mentor, partner, and parent. He guides individuals and groups in Southern California, the Colorado River Basin, and wherever he is invited. He guides individuals to the place they most long and fear to go – the numinous depths of their soul. Brian currently makes his home in Ojai, California.
Rachael is a Purpose Guide™, SoulCentric Mentor and Coach, Work that Reconnects Facilitator and Sharer of heart and earth songs. Her passion and calling is to support people to live conscious Soul-aligned lives, connected deeply to the natural world they are part of. Rachael has a deep love and reverence for nature and believes that wit
Rachael is a Purpose Guide™, SoulCentric Mentor and Coach, Work that Reconnects Facilitator and Sharer of heart and earth songs. Her passion and calling is to support people to live conscious Soul-aligned lives, connected deeply to the natural world they are part of. Rachael has a deep love and reverence for nature and believes that with nature as our teacher, we will re-member the fullness and truth of our sacred nature, each one of us born with unique gifts to offer as a service to our world.
Rachael has worked as a coach and facilitator for the past 25 years, working with change agents around the world. Born in Scotland she moved to South Africa in 2015 to found Social Enterprise Academy South Africa, providing accredited leadership and entrepreneurship learning programmes for those running businesses for social good. In 2020 she felt the calling to offer a deeper level of nature-based group and individual growth work, trained with Rev Tass Two Crows Flying in Shamanic studies and became a facilitator of the Work that Reconnects. In 2021, she trained as a Purpose Guide with the Purpose Guides Institute where she completed her advanced studies in 2022.
Rachael is the Founder of Soul Nature.
To enroll in an Animas programme is to invite your soul on something like a date; it is to say "yes" to a potentially life-changing journey, a journey of initiation or of deepening into a soul infused life. It's not unusual for fear, resistance, or an apparent scheduling conflict to surface as the time of your programme nears. We believe that whatever arises is a part of your journey and is ripe with opportunity and meaning. Our cancellation policy is designed to support you in keeping your date and to support our staff and guides as they prepare for your programme.
A few notes of particular importance:
1. A 30% deposit is required to book your spot. Full payment is due 30 days prior to the start of a 5-day programme and 60 days prior to the start of a longer programme or Vision Quest.
2. If Animas/Soulcraft Africa cancels a programme due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, registered participants will receive a full refund.
3. Deposits for field programmes and programme fees for online immersions are non-refundable and
non-transferrable. If you cancel a programme for any reason, your deposit is forfeited and will be
considered a donation to Soulcraft Africa.
3. If notice of cancellation is received 30 days or less before the start of a 5 -day immersion or online
programme, all payment is forfeited.
4. These policies stand even if there is a waitlist for the programme and we are able to fill your spot
Copyright © 2024 Soulcraft Africa
Soulcraft™ is a registered trademark of Bill Plotkin and the Animas Valley Institute.
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