The Animas Quest
Kangaroo Valley, NSW, Feb 17 - 28, 2025
An Animas Valley Institute event
Artwork by Doug Van Houten
This contemporary Western embodiment of the ancient, pan-cultural vision fast is a dynamic wilderness rite for all who are seeking greater depth and clarity about life purpose and meaning.
As a rite of initiation, the quest is a ceremonial descent to the underworld, in which you die to your familiar way of belonging to the world, uncover the passion and wisdom of your soul, and retrieve the gift that is yours alone to bring to the world, enhancing personal fulfillment and genuine service. The venue for the Animas Quest is Chakola wildlife refuge and conservation area in Kangaroo Valley Southern NSW.
Program Pricing - Soulcraft ANZ Inc. is a not for profit, volunteer association. There are only 8 places remaining in the Animas Quest:
Early Bird Price: $2,695 - 2 places remain - to be paid in full upfront at registration
Full Price: $2,995 - with a $500 deposit to hold your place - the full price amount must be paid by January 17, 2025.
Concession: $2,295 - 1 places are available. A current concession card is required.
We encourage you to pay the full price if you have the means to do so. This will enable us to cover costs and offer concessional places to those in need. If you are challenged financially, please contact us to discuss.
The Animas Quest catalyses the encounter with soul by temporarily displacing everyday consciousness through five primary means: (1) solitude for three or four days and nights while (2) fasting (i.e., drinking water only), (3) being fully exposed to and enfolded within the forms and forces of nature, (4) enacting a series of ceremonies, and (5) employing a set of practices (Soulcraft) that support you in crossing into the mysteries of nature and psyche. The Quest takes place over a total of 12 days. Preceding your time of solitude are five full days of preparation activities that enhance your ability to benefit from the fast.
During the five preparation days, we work with dreams, poetry, deep imagery, ceremonial drumming and dance, dialogues with nature, the way of council, and other practices to help us slip out the door of our everyday lives and access our own deeper, wilder currents. The heart of the quest consists of the solo: three days and nights without human companionship in nature, fasting, engaging in personal ceremonies, saying yes to the mysteries of soul, tending the true mythos of your life, praising and grieving, and birthing a vision. Upon your return to base camp at the retreat centre, there are three days of reincorporation activities, preparing you to embody among your people what you received on your fast.
No previous camping or backpacking experience is required. (In fact, many of those who have quested with us have never before been camping or backpacking).
Note: following registration, you will be requested to complete an ‘Application Form’ with several pscho-spiritual questions - your answers to these questions will be reviewed by the Guides who will assess your readiness to Quest.
We ask that couples, family members, or friends not attend this program together.
Reincorporation Mentoring: Following your Quest, you face the challenge of integrating into everyday life what you experienced in the wild. This is the key to your further unfolding. To support you in this process, there is a post-quest session with a reincorporation mentor who is also an Animas guide. Ongoing quester-mentor relationships are available to help you grow into a more soul-centred life of purpose and passion.
Venue:
Chakola is a 32ha wildlife refuge and conservation area on the tribal lands of the Wodi-Wodi people in Kangaroo Valley NSW. The property adjoins the Kangaroo River which can be accessed for swimming. It is 2½ hours drive from Sydney or Canberra. Nowra, Berry and the Princes Highway are 25 minutes away over Cambewarra Mountain, while Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale and the Hume Highway are 45 minutes away via the beautiful Fitzroy Falls.
Guides:
Doug Van Houten: Doug draws on the wisdom of the natural world, depth-psychology, eco-psychology, dreams, somatic knowing, poetry, and many pan-cultural, soul furthering practices that include: The Way of Council, vision fasting, shadow work, symbolic artwork, trance dancing and conversations with the more than human world. Doug’s true calling in life is to support others as they uncover their own unique gifts and in so doing, transform their lives in service to what Thomas Berry called ”The Great Work” of our times. Doug is also an ardent beekeeper, a visual artist, a wily wanderer, a dream tracker, an emergent ceremonialist, a heart-centered activist, and a yogi and a dancer interested in new forms of somatic practice.
Rebecca Wildbear MS: : Rebecca is the author of Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration & Advocacy for the Earth and has offered Wild Yoga™ programs since 2007. She guides people to listen to the mysteries within nature and their bodies and dreams so they can belong to and serve the Earth community. Rebecca has been a wilderness and soul guide for decades and has spent most of her adult life in wild places. She has extensive somatic therapy and dreamwork training and loves to tune in to the mythic stories of humans and the animate world. An Earth lover, activist, feminist, and writer, she fiercely supports radical social and cultural change. Rebecca often guides alongside her canine muse-beloved, Xander, who is guide to love, joy, presence, and play.
Food and Accommodation:
The program is fully catered, providing stunning vegetarian food. We will pass on any dietary restrictions advised by you at registration. If you have not already let us know of any dietary restrictions that apply to you, please forward to us as soon as possible.
The venue is Chakola in the Kangaroo Valley region of Southern NSW. There is dormitory accommodation in shared bunk rooms or camping if preferred.