We are honored to invite you to an experience above the ordinary in the beautiful mountain region of Vålådalen, Sweden. Our distinguished guest of honor is John P Milton. A coach to ”management gurus” like Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski, Otto Scharmer, Brian Arthur, and others. Peter Senge says: “Leaders, particularly in business, are finding that Milton’s capacity to guide them into an encounter with nature both allows them to find a deeper purpose and unleashes the creativity needed to live that purpose”.

The challenge
We live in a time with many changes, challenges and opportunities. A time when being in touch with your own inner compass, is perhaps more important than ever. A time when change-making, at all levels, both as a professional and in our personal life, is about mobilizing your own and other people´s energy and your commitment to create and live through values of deeper meaning. It is our experience that when this kind of collective commitment is mobilized, true change is possible both within yourself as well as in our society.

The outcome
Your Nature Quest and wilderness experience can result in a dramatic reduction of daily stress, an increase in creativity, and a more clear, centered and harmonious awareness, all of which leave you well equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities that life may have to offer. If you choose to trust: the natural world will bring you profound peace, self-respect and revelation – your authentic self.

The program – Nature Quest
Nature Quest is a powerful awareness training and meditation retreat, combined with a guided, contemporary vision quest Solo in nature. Experiencing a Nature Quest can have a deeply transforming effect on your life.

John P. Milton created The Nature Quest to incorporate his 12 Principles, which distil the core teachings of the world’s liberating wisdom traditions. His work has been visualized as a red-thread through the book “Presence” (authors: Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski, Otto Scharmer and Betty Sue Flowers) especially within the chapter “Seeing with the heart”. Some of the practices covered are: meditation, Qigong, Tai Chi, GaiaFlow, cultivating and refining the perceptions and senses, wilderness skills, techniques for transforming blocked emotions and the 11 Direction Ceremony. The Nature Quest includes a 4 day Solo, time you spend completely alone with yourself and nature. The practices mentioned above as well as sufficient time for Sharing before and after the Solo with the leaders and the group, will help you to prepare and integrate the experience in yourself and your daily life.

The Nature Quest is part of a World Nature Quest, where dozens of groups around the world gather for a special awareness training and to honour and share appreciation to nature and spirit. See http://worldnaturequest.org/.

Your safety and well-being during the Nature Quest is of our outmost concern; in fact, participating in a Passage is as safe as going on a hike. A uniquely designed ”buddy system” with daily checkpoints allow you, your fellow Passagers and your guides to verify the safety of everyone involved, while still honoring your solitude. In addition, a base camp is located nearby, and a call brings an adjoining solo partner or guide into your site within shortly. During the 4 day Solo no reading, writing or campfires are recommended. You may fast or eat simple foods of your preference and enjoy the comforts of your own tent. When you remove the demands, habits and trappings of everyday life, the essence of yourself can be revealed.

John P. Milton

John P Milton på Ottfjället

John P. Milton has pioneered for western civilization a unique, vital way of spiritual cultivation in nature. His vision quest and shamanic work began in the mid-1940s, at the age of seven. As a former Woodrow Wilson Scholar and professor of environmental studies at the University of Illinois, Springfield, John has conducted numerous lectures and seminars on the environment and earth-honoring spirituality within the United States, including at Harvard and Princeton Universities, and more recently, at MIT and Naropa University. He is a founding board member of The Academy for Systemic Change, recently initiated by Peter Senge and a group of close associates. John was the first ecologist on staff at the White House in the 1970s, working with the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. He is the founder of Threshold, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of sacred lands and The Way of Nature Fellowship. He also created the Sacred Passage process of awareness training, where his 12 Principles are widely taught. He is the author of “Sky Above Earth Below: Spiritual Practice in Nature” and numerous other books, articles, audio and video presentations on ecology and spiritual practices (www.sacredpassage.com) and (www.wayofnature.com).

Göran Gennvi

Göran Gennvi

Göran Gennvi has during the last two decades worked as a strategic management consultant, mainly focused on the inner condition of the leaders and how to cultivate deep and lasting change in organizations through executive teams. The source of Görans inspiration for bringing about new perspective and awareness comes from ancient wisdom and new science. Nature is his partner and companion, and he finds that natures beauty, ability to adapt, create and renew is extra ordinary useful. He believes that nature helps us to reconnect to our senses and thereby deepen our relationship to our inner and outer nature. Göran Gennvi is the founder and CEO of Nature Academy Learning Lab (www.naturakademin.se) and developed the program WILD (Wisdom, Innovation, Leadership and Dialog). It is a program designed to create positive and earth connected change for business and communies.

Location
In the nature reserve – Vålådalen, which also is the area of the Sámi village ”Handöls Sameby”. This is a fantastic landscape where your 4 night Solo is above the timberline. The area is safe and clean. One of our local guides is the Same and reindeer owner Reidar Nordfjäll. Reidar will share with us the insight and experience of a sustainable life style, the Sámi way.

The broad outline is;
Saturday 2th June 2012 10.23 Train from Stocksholm Central to Undersåker (in the county of Jämtland). The train stops at Arlanda airport at 10.42. Arrival at Undersåker (in the county of Jämtland) 17.27. Transfer to Östravålådalen Mountain Lodge.The programme will start at 19.00 i Östra Vålådalen.

Sunday June 3rd Östravålådalen Mountain Lodge Program at Site, preparation for Solo.

Monday June 4th to Friday June 8th At noon, a walk to Solo sites at Ottfjället. 4 nights on the mountain Ottfjället

Friday June 8th Return to the traditional Sami Site, Nulltjärn Mountain Lodge. Sharing and ceremonies.Saturday June 9th

Saturday June 9th Sharing, ceremony and preparing to ”re-entry” back home.

Sunday June 10th Final sharing and ceremony. Return to Undersåker and train departure at 10.32. Arrival at Arlanda airport at 17.17 and Stockholm Central 17.45. Return is also possible by plane from Östersund to Stockholm on Sunday afternoon, for connecting flights on Sunday evening. Booking tickets in Sweden: traintickets: + 46 771 75 75 75, www.sj.se flights:+ 46 8 797 4000, www.sas.se

Leaders: John P Milton and Göran Gennvi
Language: English
Place: Vålådalen and the mountain Ottfjället
Dates: 12.06.02 – 12.06.10 (8 days – 4 nights solo)
Program: by mail, info@naturakademin.se
Price for tuition and camping fee: For the 8 day course: 1370 € (12 000SEK) VAT included.

What Price Includes: The meals are during the time spend at Östra Vålådalen Mountain Logde (2-4/6) and Nulltjärn Moutain Logde (8-10/6). The transportation included in the price is from the trainstation at Undersåker at 17.25 Saturday 2/6 and to Undersåker on Sunday morning. If you have difficulties paying the full fee it is possible to apply for a scholarship at info@naturakademin.se. For the Solo you bring your own food or fast. We recommend you to bring your own tent, that you also can will use at the Mountain Lodge. An equipment list and recommendation on food/fasting will be sent to you in your confirmation letter. At Östra Vålådalen, it is possible to sleep indoors in cottage. At Nulltjärn as well, although the number is limited. The cost for this is not included in the price. Extra fee will be added for accommondations indoor. Registration Directly to info@naturakademin.se.

Please submit your payment using our SECURE PayPal button below:

Naturakademin Learning Lab AB. Please bring the receipt of the payment and show it at the registration the first day, since the senders name is not always transparent at the statement of account. We gratefully receive your application as soon as possible – although not later than 10th of May 2012.

For questions or further information info@naturakademin.se, Göran Gennvi, +46 70 512 81 98 or Anneli Örtqvist, + 46 70 241 75 07 at Naturakademin Learning Lab

This is what Jonas Roupé, then Director of Strategy, Ericsson Global Services says after a simular program with John Milton in 2006: “In my work I have relied largely on my intellect and applied ”the Harvard way” to the tough challenges that need to be dealt with. The simple techniques that John Milton taught us, during a retreat for business leaders, provided a turning point for me. It is as simple as: Slowing down the mind and letting the answers come without effort, and from a deeper source. I think all people – but especially those that lead others – should have access to these techniques. And the earlier you get them – the better!”

Sincerely yours, Göran Gennvi

THE TRAINING The training consists of a 3-day solo in nature creating a setting for you to establish a deeper sense of interconnectedness and a deeper connection to the natural world. Before and after the solo you will be engaged in group processes with your co-participants, camp-fire dialogs and meditation practices to highten your experience. Solo retreats into wild nature have been used by indigenous peoples around the world during times of transition.They involve being alone in nature, reconnecting to one’s spiritual core and developing clarity about one’s life purpose. Get WiLD, which is led by experienced guides, is a contemporary version of this ancient native tradition. Your safety is of utmost importance. The program will ensure that the solo experience takes place in a safe environment. The hosts and guides will help you prepare for, and return from your solo in ways that helps you integrate your inner and outer experiences. The depth of this experience is up to you. The program will enhance your ability to handle the challenges that life may offer. As Einstein said: “Problems cannot be solved from the same level of thinking that created them”. The new acquired clarity and connection from this experience is an invaluable gift for life.

WHEN: 15 – 22 July, 2012
WHERE: Vålådalen Nature Reserve Vålådalen is a beautiful valley near Åre, Sweden and has been the home of Sami peoples for generations. We will meet the local caretakers who still preserve the ancient Sami traditions, camp by a pristine lake and gather around a fire in a traditional Sami Kota. For the solo’s we will climb the mountain Ottfjället. A mountain ripe with sacred sites and amazing vistas.

THE FEE   700 Euros. Contact us to hear about our scholarships for students and people in special circumstances. The price includes tuition, local logistics and use of campground. The price does not include meals or transportation.

HOW TO REGISTER There will only be room for a limited amount of participants which will be assigned on a “first come – first served” basis. Register directly to Göran Gennvi at gennvi@naturakademin.se

Är du intresserad att få inspiration till våra vårprogram.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135

Att se och att bli medveten om den döda vinkeln. Orsaken till vårt kollektiva misslyckande är att vi är blinda för de djupare dimensionerna av ledarskapet och förutsättningarna för transformerande förändring. Den ”döda vinkeln” finns inte bara i vårt kollektiva ledarskap utan också i våra vardagliga sociala interaktioner. Vi är blinda för ”källan” ur vilken effektivt ledarskap kommer till stånd.

Teori U – en process i fem steg

”När ledarna utvecklat förmågan att komma nära denna källa, upplever de den framtid, som ”vill födas fram.  ”Presencing” ger idéer för att möta utmaningarna i en annars omöjlig framtid.

Teori U visar hur kapaciteten för Presencing kan utvecklas.

Presencing är en resa i tre steg och fem faser:
Steg 1 Utmana verkligheten – gör oss medvetna om den omvärld som ligger utanför vår institutionella bubbla
Steg 2 Vidga tankerummet – i botten av U som gör oss medvetna om den värld som framträder inifrån
Steg 3 Exploatera handlingsrummet – att föra fram och implementera det nya i världen.

Längst ner i U:t ligger en inre port som kräver att vi släpper allt som inte är nödvändigt. Processen syftar till att få oss att släppa taget om av våra gamla föreställningar och frigör det som nu vill födas fram, d v s vår högsta, framtida potential. Vi får kontakt med en djupare, inre källa av visdom. När en grupp korsat denna gräns, blir ingenting mer detsamma. De enskilda medlemmarna och gruppen som helhet börjar fungera med en förhöjd energinivå och med en känsla av en framväxande framtid.

Resan genom U-processen utvecklar sju viktiga ledarskapsförmågor:

Lyssna
Förmågan att lyssna på andra. Lyssna på sig själv. Och lyssna till kollektivet. Effektivt lyssnande kräver att öppen plats där andra kan bidra till helheten.

Observera.
Förmågan att se bortom ”den dömande rösten” är nyckeln till att gå från projektion till verklig observation.

Avstämning
Förmågan till avstämning -  d v s att öppna sinnet, öppna hjärtat och öppna viljan. Denna öppnings process är inte passiv utan en aktiv ”avstämning”. Med ett öppet hjärta kan vi börja se situationen som en helhet och börja agera utifrån denna framväxande helhet.

Presencing
Förmågan att ansluta oss till den djupaste källan för inspiration och kreativitet

Crystalizing
När en grupp nyckelpersoner förbinder sig att nå syftet, skapar kraften i en tydlig avsikt ett energifält som lockar människor, möjligheter och resurser för att få saker att hända. Denna kärngrupp fungerar som ett fordon för att få det nya att manifesteras.

Prototyping
Att flytta ner på vänster sida i U processen kräver att gruppen öppnarupp och tar itu med motståndet av tankar, känslor och viljor. Att flytta upp på höger sida i U-processen kräver en integration av tankar, känslor, viljor och utvecklas till praktisk tillämpning och lärande genom att man konkret börja göra saker.

Utföra
Medvetet Ledarskap, baserar sig på U-processen, innehåller en social teknik som innebär att olika intressenter samlas och övergår ifrån att debattera det gamla till att föra en utforskande dialog och därefter, tillsammans skapa det nya.

U-processen uppmuntrar oss att kliva in i den framväxande framtiden och vår inspiratör och partner, Presencing Institut är dedikerade till att utveckla nya sociala teknologier genom att integrera vetenskap, medvetande och djupgående sociala metoder för förändring.

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