Mentorship

Mentoring is an age-old, earth-oriented practice that aims at revealing the inner nature and natural genius of youth, while awakening the inner elder of  the “olders.” Mentoring involves natural inclinations to teach and learn, and essential instincts to guide and protect. When used in creative ways, mentoring becomes a “living bridge” between generations that invites youth into issues of cultural change and environmental healing. 

Creative mentoring involves a consciousness of  “place,” an awareness of the natural elements, cultural traditions, and critical issues in each community.  Creative mentoring draws together the exact skills of  local mentors and the budding genius of local youth.  Thus, each community can sustain cultural traditions while benefiting from change and  innovation. 

Traditionally, the practice of mentoring was related to rites of passage through which a person became more conscious of the unique meaning and purpose of their own life. Initiation typically served two purposes: first of all to introduce young people to the values and responsibilities of their immediate culture, and more deeply, more importantly, to reveal  and awaken the inner spirit and natural genius in the life of each young person. The deeper level of  mentoring becomes the ground for “genius to genius” connections and provides for a creative space  where ancient practices can combine with innovative ideas that can generate healing for nature as well as culture. 

- Michael Meade