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Headwaters Outdoor School

Earth Caretaker School

November 27, 2015 By HWOS Office

Letting Go: A Rite of Passage

Time for quiet reflection can be good for the soul. That’s what happened when author Jean Sage spent a year in contemplation, living remotely in a mountain range, disturbed only by distant chainsaws or barking dogs, working remotely for her clients, thanks to technology. She reveals some of her discoveries in a new memoir released by Dog Ear Publishing.

“Letting Go: A Rite of Passage” shares personal details of the author’s life, from her adoption, a mother with narcissistic personality disorder, to her early marriage, motherhood and a second failed relationship that took nearly a decade to recover from thanks to his mental illness and her excessive drinking. Concentrating on her career – learning the television agent business – and her two children provided the anchors she needed. Vice president in a top sports management company in New York City brought valuable experience but highlighted the inequalities of the workplace in the 1980s, leading her to quit and move to California to start her own company.

That move proves life changing when a physical owl on several of her nightly dog walks confronts Sage. The physical owl experiences transform into ubiquitous images on magazines and books. She begins to recognize there may be a spiritual element as well when a magazine called “Shaman’s Drum” offers opportunities in the back of the magazine to explore shamanic practices with various people in the Los Angeles area. Years of exploration led Sage to Angles Arrien’s program in Sausalito where Arrien’s courses allowed attendees to find their individual way in walking “the spiritual path with practical feet.” The owl became a symbol for her life, and Arrien’s invitation to do a life review to step into conscious aging provided the impetus to reflect upon and write about her life and its meaning.

All proceeds from the purchase of this book go towards the Walker / Hupp Fund, a 501(c)3 that provides scholarships to boys and girls that do not have the financial resources to attend our school.

Filed Under: Books

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PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“With the Headwaters Outdoor School I’ve seen more and done more in the wilderness than I’d ever do on my own! From these many wonderful experiences I find my life richer, deeper and stronger for it.”

- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:27:50+00:00
- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
https://hwos.com/testimonials/with-the-headwaters-outdoor-school-ive-seen-more-and-done-more-in-the-wilderness-than-id-ever-do-on-my-own-from-these-many-wonderful-experiences-i-find-my-life-richer-deeper-and-stronger-for-i/

“My first winter class back in ’93 was a monumental event in my life, as my journal reveals. My connection to the Earth was so powerful (right then). I owe much of that to Tim and his presence with Nature.”

- Steve Bollock, River Guide
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:02+00:00
- Steve Bollock, River Guide
https://hwos.com/testimonials/my-first-winter-class-back-in-93-was-a-monumental-event-in-my-life-as-my-journal-reveals-my-connection-to-the-earth-was-so-powerful-right-then-i-owe-much-of-that-to-tim-and-his-presence-with/

“Between the strokes of the bow drill and reading tracks in the snow, I received gifts unexpected: family, community, inspiration, laughter and the relationship with nature beyond belief.”

- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:28+00:00
- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
https://hwos.com/testimonials/between-the-strokes-of-the-bow-drill-and-reading-tracks-in-the-snow-i-received-gifts-unexpected-family-community-inspiration-laughter-and-the-relationship-with-nature-beyond-belief/

“As a teacher and a counselor—and simply as a human being—my life is still enhanced daily by things I learned over 20 years ago with Tim and the Headwaters family. I happily carry nature awareness and earth philosophy in my bones, even decades later. Whether it’s a long hike, or a quick walk around the block, my experience is so much deeper because of this good medicine. I am forever grateful and wholeheartedly wish the same for you.”

-Rich Mertes
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:27:38+00:00
-Rich Mertes
https://hwos.com/testimonials/as-a-teacher-and-a-counselor-and-simply-as-a-human-being-my-life-is-still-enhanced-daily-by-things-i-learned-over-20-years-ago-with-tim-and-the-headwaters-family-i-happily-carry-na/

“I’ve been making a pilgrimage to Headwaters at least once a year for 15 years, and bringing people to this land for nearly as long. The space that Tim, Julie & the staff create is powerful & sacred, and no person is not better for having spent time here. Both of my children have been coming to this land their whole lives. There is nowhere I would rather they be, and there is no one I trust more with the lives & spirits of my children than Tim & Julie. If there is any way to get yourself and/or your children here, you should definitely do it – you won’t regret it!”

-Kendra Cunov
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:28:22+00:00
-Kendra Cunov
https://hwos.com/testimonials/ive-been-making-a-pilgrimage-to-headwaters-at-least-once-a-year-for-15-years-and-bringing-people-to-this-land-for-nearly-as-long-the-space-that-tim-julie-the-staff-create-is-powerful-sacre/
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Headwaters Outdoor School

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Headwaters Outdoor School
PO Box 1210
Mount Shasta, CA 96067
 
(530) 938-1304

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The Walker/Hupp Fund is a non-profit organization that helps young men and women whose families do not have the financial resources to attend Headwaters Outdoor School, either through the Boys Rites of Passage or the Apprenticeship Program.
 
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Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Walker/Hupp Fund today.
 

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