WILD MEDICINE | The Cavewoman Way

Wild Medicine &

Eco-Therapy

"In our bones, we need the natural curves of hills. the whisper of pines. the possibility of wildness."

-Richard Louv

Different from traditional counseling, eco-therapy and wilderness-based immersions invite us to drop the mental processing and surrender to a heartfelt, deeper experience with the natural world.

Wild Medicine is a phrase I use to describe the healing offered to us by mountains, rivers, trees, animal beings, plants and mushrooms. It can take time and practice to learn how to communicate with these wild others and a Guide can help you learn this "language" and feel more comfortable in nature.

If words like feral, wild, and primal stir something within you that you can't quite name, you're in the right place. Our bones carry the memories of our sacred relationship with the natural world, and it is up to us to reawaken to these ancient connections.

Click each tab below to learn more about different options for working together in this way. Customized packages are also available.

Nature-Based Counseling

Just being in nature provides an abundance of benefits, even more so if you are barefoot! This is the first level of Wild Medicine: simply taking our sessions outside!

COST: $125 first hour + $50 each additional hour

Eco-Therapy

There is no single definition of eco-therapy, but here is mine:

Eco-therapy returns us to our wild and natural home, even if only for a few minutes. In Nature, we can experience peace, safety, a sense of calm, comfort, and rest. Connecting with nature is free and easy, but sometimes we become so distracted or disconnected that even something as simple as a walk feels overwhelming or too inconvenient. Our fast-paced society and productivity-driven culture can hold us hostage. We want to get away, we yearn for the wild, and we sense nature calling us... but we can't muster up the energy, time, or determination to step off the pavement onto the dirt path. An Eco-Therapy Guide is someone who opens the door, "packs the picnic basket", and drives the getaway truck down the backroad. Nature is the true Therapist, but a Guide can inspire, co-navigate, and accompany us until we feel back at home in nature.

Click on the Walks and Wanders tab to learn about common eco-therapy practices.

COST: $125 first hour + $50 each additional hour

Soulcentric Eco-Therapy

Nature offers a portal to engaging with Mystery and Soul. I work with Nature and all wild ones (from the mountains and rivers to the trees and mushrooms) as sacred beings. While there are many mental, physical, and emotional benefits to eco-therapy and nature immersion, there are even deeper journeys awaiting those who feel the call.

COST: Same as above

Wonder Walks & Wild Wanders

Wander. Saunter. Meander. A Wonder Walk is not about how far you can hike or how many Instagram-worthy photos you can capture. Instead, this immersive experience is the opportunity to intimately reconnect with yourself and nature, tune into your senses, and experience deep relaxation. A blend of gentle activities, mindfulness practices, and reflection create a wonder-filled journey. Walks and wanders can take place in city or state parks, hiking areas, or even in your backyard. Part of our time together will be spent preparing for the walk and reflecting on the walk.

COST: $150 for 1.5 hours

Medicine Walks

A Medicine Walk is an intentional journey into nature with the soulful guidance and support of a Guide or Ceremonialist before and after. You may be drawn to a Medicine Walk for self-discovery, as preparation for a vigil or quest, to seek clarity during a challenging situation, or as a way to commune with Spirit. Before the walk, we explore your intention and prepare mind/body/spirt. After the walk, we sit together to honor your experience and story, reflect on how to continue the wild conversation that has started, and embrace any realizations or insights you received. A follow-up counseling session is included in the cost, as it is important to remember that a Medicine Walk is only the beginning of the journey.

“During the medicine walk, the spirits and powers of nature reveal themselves to you. Together, they and you weave an allegorical or symbolic story which answers a question; indicates your inherent gifts or future life direction; or shows the rituals or ceremonies to perform to become whole." -Steven Foster & Meredith Little

COST:

Half-day ($300)

Full-day ($500)

Includes a follow-up counseling session

Vigils & Quests

Something mysterious and magical happens when we surrender to the wisdom of Nature and open ourselves up to the Wild. Both vigils and quests are an invitation to return to our primal home, the sacred darkness, and the wilder self. While different people define these practices in different ways, the way I differentiate these offerings is by the intention and duration of the immersion.

Vigil means devotional watching. These immersions invite us to be a witness to the sacred cycles of the day and night as well as honor our own. They are a portal into the realm of earth-spirit medicine and wilderness-based soul encounters. Vigils are typically 1 or 2 night camping experiences and involve at least 18 hours of solitude in nature. I provide preparation guidance and a ceremonial opening before your walk as well as a closing ritual and integration counseling after your walk.

Quests involve 3-4 nights of solo camping plus preparation and integration days before and after. For those called to this multi-cultural ancient rite of passage, it is important to have the support of someone who can help you navigate the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of this practice as well as someone who can hold space for the multitude of possible experiences you may have. My role is not to enforce a protocol, provide answers, or direct your experience. Instead, I walk along side of you as a soul friend, mirror, and mentor so that you feel empowered to answer this intense calling and navigate the Return.

Both vigils and quests can be life-altering and the first few weeks or months afterward can be challenging. A minimum of 3 counseling sessions are recommended following vigils and quests as a way to stay connected to your journey and keep the wild conversation alive.

Vigils and quests range in cost, depending on duration, location and other factors. Please email me to schedule a no-obligation, complimentary consultation call to learn more.

Nature Ceremonies

Nature-based ceremonies and wilderness rites of passage can span hours or days. They give us the opportunity to ritualize important milestones, losses, or transformations as well as truly embody deep experiences in our lives. They are also a way to ask Nature, or Spirit, for a sign, wisdom, or healing in times of crisis or uncertainty. These practices have ancient roots and we will weave traditional components of nature-based ceremony with your intentions for a meaningful experience.

Plant & Mushroom Medicine

Working with plants and mushrooms for healing, recovery, and spiritual questing is an ancient practice that spans the entire world. If you feel curious, intrigued, or called to sacred plant medicine or mushrooms, you have found a safe and welcoming space to ask questions and receive support.

Plants and mushrooms that we work with for spiritual purposes are called Entheogens. Some entheogens are restorative or have deeply calming effect. Others significantly alter our state of consciousness and open the doorway to mystical experiences. While most of this work happens one-on-one, I occasionally offer group ceremonies with sacred medicines such as Cacao, Reishi, and Rose. Trip Sitting (a legal harm reduction service) and Psychedelic Education are available to individuals and couples working with psychoactive and psychedelic plants and mushrooms.

An entire section of my website is dedicated to Sacred Medicine called The Mushroom Cave. I encourage you to check it out HERE. There you can learn more about the following services:

Sacred Plants & Mushrooms
Services & Ceremonies
Psychedelic Trip Sitting
Integration Coaching
Microdosing Mentorship

"For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple."

-Mary Oliver

The Cavewoman Way

Chattanooga, TN

Michelle Rigling, PhD, M.Sc.