Animas Valley Institute

"I attended The Art of Council and Mirroring in Taft Gardens. Our campsite was at Lake Casitas which is home to many species of water fowl, turkey vultures, hawks, frogs, coyotes. The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, There are many opportunities to befriend the dark. Taft gardens where we had our wanders and council training are like paradise, located between two rivers and opening up to mountain vistas and trails. Like all my experiences with Animas this one was also magical and transformational. It deepened my love for the mysteries of Nature, opened up ancient receptors of knowing, sensing, communicating. I find the art of mirroring another being, human or non human ,priceless. I am very grateful for the tools and practices Animas offers to cultivate psychic wholeness , individually and collectively."

"i have been participating in offerings from AVI since june, 2021. it has been riveting, exhilarating, inspiring & profoundly inspiring. my relationship w earth, w nature, has been reignited in a deeply meaningful way, calling on & developing my innocence, my imagination & my creativity. my self development, my psychospiritual wholeness, has also been accelerated. Bill Plotkin’s work has been a real, life-changing surprise late in (my) game. all this being said, being eco-awakened in these desperate times requires a durable heart; understanding & accepting the terrible truth of these times as it relates to the planet’s pain- & future- is truly difficult in the extreme. AVI has introduced me to a new conversation around ‘soul,’ & invited me to deeply consider the creature i am w/o all the trappings of humankind, how i might best offer my unique gifts to the world. i am incredibly grateful i discovered AVI even as i feel the lateness of my years. the offerings/experiences AVI provides are uniquely western & not simply culturally appropriated practices reimagined. the guides do an incredible job of creating & holding these sacred containers & keeping all participants in the deepest, most sublime of conversations. i highly recommend AVI for the truly deep divers."

"My first Animas intensive, I just want to give humongous congratulations to everyone involved in the design and facilitation of the program. Everything was as good or better than what I would have imagined. Every single second, penny and kilometer was worth it! If you are looking to go deep, to have life changing pivotal moments and just be…you are in the right place. You guys really walk the talk, congratulations! You are an example of the depth that transformative experiences can achieve. Hope to be in many more!"

"Some of my most potent and ah-ha life moments have come during my participation with Animas Valley Institute. The guides are knowledgeable and capable of holding a lot, and the inclusion of the natural world as a participant makes all the difference. I never regret the time or money I spend here."

"I did the Advanced Sonoran Desert Quest, November 2023, which included the fasting solo. This was a great experience and provided a much needed break from the outside world to dive deep inside and explore my soul. At first I was concerned with camping in the desert, having lived my life in the Northeast. But as the time went on, I fell in love with the beauty and abundance found in the desert. The stillness and scenic beauty just grows on you. The experience was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Would recommend the program to anyone wanting a clean break from the past to start their new future."