Doug Van Houten
The singular dream that has been a perennial guide for Doug van Houten’s own guiding practice is one where humans thrive in a mutually enhancing relationship with Earth, know our cosmic origins, and see ourselves as integral and yet necessarily unique participants in the ongoingness of the universe. His lineage of teachers and inspirators includes: Bill Plotkin and the Animas Valley Institute, Joanna Macy, Matthew Fox, David Whyte, Mary Oliver and Brian Swimme to name a few. In co-creating wild, ceremonial and soulcentric spaces for human development, Doug draws upon the wisdom of deep imagery and dreams, somatic and embodied knowing, poetry and art-making, and many pan-cultural, soul furthering, nature-responsive practices. Doug’s true calling manifests in a devotion to supporting others to transform themselves toward wholeness and maturation as they descend into the mystic wellspring of their imaginations, drink deeply from soul’s source, drench in their own unique grief and gifts and return to outpour their particular powers in service to what Thomas Berry called, ”The Great Work” of our time. In addition to guiding and mentoring Doug expresses his own soul’s longing as a visual artist, a wily wanderer, an intuitive dream tracker, an occasional beekeeper, a heart-centered activist, an emerging yogi and cosmic dancer.
> Bringing words to life — thank you, Dr. Hilary Leighton, Animas Board Member.
Events with Doug Van Houten
An Animas Quest in the Sonoran Desert – October, 2026October 15 - 26, 2026
This Program is FULL. Please sign up for the waitlist. THE ANIMAS QUEST This contemporary Western embodiment of the ancient, pan-cultural vision fast is a dynamic wilderness rite for all who are seeking greater depth and clarity about life purpose and meaning. As a rite of initiation, the quest is a ceremonial descent to the underworld, in which you die to your familiar way of belonging to the world, uncover the passion and wisdom of your soul, and retrieve the gift that is yours alone to bring to the world, enhancing personal fulfillment and genuine service. The Animas Quest catalyzes…
The Way of Council and the Art of Mirroring - March, 2027March 15 - 19, 2027
THE ART OF MIRRORING: There is an art to hearing a story as well as telling one. Mirroring is a collection of skills employed in receiving, embracing, and honoring each others’ stories. In mirroring, we neither project nor interpret but rather celebrate the magic of the story and the gifts of the One Who Bears the Tale. We help the storyteller glean-harvest-reap the jewels, the dark ones as well as those that sparkle. The Way of Council and the Art of Mirroring are invaluable practices on the descent to soul. Although much of the descent is solitary, gathering with others…
Queer Wild Mind Intensive - June, 2027June 3 - 7, 2027
Being Queer is a dance with the world that is not “divergent” from the norm, rather, it is one way Earth Community loves, a way that the cosmos affirms diversity and communion. Understanding ourselves in the rainbow of diversity that is LGBTQIA+ is a dance with our unique and wild animal selves, all our sacred emotions, our inspiration and vision, our gifts of seeing and imagining, dreaming and creating. Being Queer is not a problem to be solved or a wound to drown in, or an identity to be held like a shield; rather, it is a portal to be entered,…
A Queer Ceremonial Quest in the Sonoran Desert – November, 2027November 3 - 14, 2027
WE ARE HONORED to answer the call from Mystery to offer this Queer Ceremonial Fast — an eleven-day ceremony designed specifically for people who identify as LGBTQ+ and who are seeking greater connection, depth, and clarity regarding purpose and meaning. This contemporary Western embodiment of the ancient, pan-cultural vision fast is a dynamic wilderness rite of initiation into a life centered in Soul and deeper levels of authentic adulthood. This is an invitation to release your attachment to a life that has become too small for you, to descend to Soul, and to discover your greater place of belonging in…