Quest for Where to Go Next: A Wilderness-Based Path Through Change
Jim Marsden leads transformative group “quests” in the wilderness, helping individuals and organizations navigate crises by tapping into the potent experiences of the natural world they first encountered as children. Barry Boyce reports on how these 12-day expeditions grounded in the hero’s journey archetype provide space for old patterns to fall away and new possibilities to emerge.
The Power of Nature as Teacher
After a 19‑year career at Hewlett‑Packard, Jim Marsden founded Lean In in Boulder, Colorado, to create innovative leadership-training programs. He discovered that the most profound insights arise when participants are immersed in remote wilderness settings where the elements themselves become guides. By stepping outside comfort zones, people reconnect with early, powerful memories of wonder and resilience in nature.
3 Phases of the Quest U‑Journey
Marsden structures each quest in three distinct phases, visualized as a “U” shape:
-
Severance (Letting Go):
In the initial days, participants let go of outdated mindsets and behaviors, supported by guides and the unique demands of the wild. This phase includes group activities and a four‑day fast three days of which are spent in solo reflection. -
Threshold (Solitude & Insight):
At the bottom of the U, participants enter a liminal space. Alone in the wilderness, they open to new insights as they become fully grounded in the natural environment. This solitude cultivates clarity about where to go next when old rules no longer apply. -
Reincorporation (Returning with Purpose):
As participants ascend the U, they prepare to reintegrate into daily life. Guided debriefs help each person set intentions and concrete action steps, ensuring that revelations from the quest are embodied and lived back home.
Why Wilderness Quests Work
-
Embodied Learning: Nature’s challenges demand presence, fostering clearheaded attention.
-
Emotional Resilience: Confronting discomfort through fasting and solitude builds tolerance for uncertainty.
-
Compassionate Response: Shared hardship and reflective practices strengthen empathy toward self and others.
Bringing the Quest Home
For lasting transformation, insights gained on the mountain must translate into everyday routines. Marsden emphasizes establishing simple rituals—daily pauses in fresh air, short reflective walks, or nature‑based journaling to sustain the connection between inner discoveries and outer actions.
