Earth Yearning offers spiritual direction, individual and group soul companioning, contemplative nature walks, and multi-day wilderness rites of passage (sometimes called vision quests or vision fasts, but I prefer “soul-os” for reasons that will hopefully become clear) for anyone seeking a deeper connection to themselves, to Spirit, and to the living world. Through a rare combination of trained deep listening, cross-traditional wisdom, and genuine partnership with the natural world, I create intimate, sacred containers where people find clarity, purpose, and a felt sense of their own spirit. The work is a living, breathing relationship with soul, earth, and the mystery that connects them and everything.

This work is sacred to me, so I bring a quality of present and attuned listening that is a mirror for the soul. Clients consistently name this as one of the most powerful aspects of their experience. The listening is active, reflective, and connective, tying together threads the speaker has not yet seen, helping them discern what is sacred in their own story. The listening itself is a transformative act.

Earth Yearning operates at an intentionally small scale. Group companioning sessions hold four to six people. Wilderness rites of passage are guided with deep personal attention, with a maximum of up to five participants. Individual sessions are one-on-one. This intimacy is also part of the work, and it allows for the kind of vulnerability, safety, and depth that only a small container can hold.

I draw from multiple wisdom traditions including Judaism and Jewish mysticism, contemplative practice including Christian thinkers like Richard Rohr and Parker Palmer, earth-based spirituality, and the frameworks of thinkers like Bill Plotkin, all without being beholden to any single system. This flexibility allows me to meet people exactly where they are, whether they come from a faith tradition, have left one, or have never had one. The inclusivity is built into the practice itself.

No. I’ve work with people from many different backgrounds or traditions including those who don’t adhere to any particular tradition. A particular belief is not important. A yearning to connect is the foundation of the work.

In Earth Yearning’s work, the natural world is an active participant in the process. Forest bathing walks are deliberate, sensory-rich experiences designed to foster emotional connection with the more-than-human world. Wilderness soul-o ceremonies approach the land as a partner, Beloved, and teacher. The distinction matters: I work with the earth as a living ally, not an object to take from, and that relationship is woven into every offering.

Simple! Fill out the Contact form  or email me at Jon@jongottsegen.com. We’ll have an initial get-to-know-you chat (free) to discern your interests and whether we are a good fit to work together.

Pricing depends on the particular activity and how we work together from $18 to participate in walks to $700 plus land rental costs for the wilderness soul-o rite of passage. I’m happy to discuss pricing and how to make this work accessible to people if cost is an issue.

The specific structure of the services differ, and they are described in the appropriate pages on the web site. All of my work and practice bridge contemplative soul companioning and the deep, holy listening in that and earth-based, embodied practice. You will be engaged on multiple levels: intellectual, soul, spirit, emotional, and physical. Since I believe in the power of sacred spaciousness and silence, you may find yourself having to acclimate to that intimate quiet. Often this elicits words that surprise you. Clearly each type of work or service has its own character and parameters, but this work can be intimate, loving, challenging, joyful, tearful, prayerful, and enlightening, and I encourage all of that. While it’s not counseling or therapy, stuff can come up, and we hold that lightly and with the sacredness it deserves.