We are truly our ancestors' wildest dreams!
SOL Gratitude Village was founded with this sole purpose - to serve humanity in a multi-generational and regenerative community and to inspire all to deepen their connection with themselves and their relations through the physical experience to the mysterious natural world. We are a community of life-long learners which embrace a holistic and integrative approach to experience the flow of life through the natural world and foster compassion, gratitude, connection, awareness, generosity, kindness, acceptance, interdependence, global engagement, and to embrace the responsibility of personal and social stewardship of this planet. Here, we offer a safe, yet courageous space, for all to grow, learn and create through your exploration and expression of your gifts and passion in which we celebrate each villagers for their co-creative and co-existence power. In a autopoietic village, everyone needs each other and everyone has a gift to contribute to the greater community.
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SOL Guides
to the place where we call Soul
Sol Guides play a crucial role in supporting individuals and community in their social, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual evolution. They offer indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and dedication to supporting individuals to walk the life journey with purposeful initiations, intentions, informed decisions through authenticity, trust, and integrity. The role of a Sol guide involves facilitation, empowerment, and inspiration, assisting individuals in exploring their passion through purpose and play, and sharing their gifts to serve the community.
Amy Ma, M.Ed.
Gratitude has transformed my life and has taken me to deep trust with the flow of this river of life. With a deep knowing that the spirits of our well-healed ancestors' spirits always love us unconditionally and have our back. I am my ancestors' wildest dream! Visit here to learn more about Amy Ma.
Founder, SOL Gratitude Village
Head of Wilderness Education Center
Founder & Head of School 2006-2022, Brilliant Kids Montessori School
Naturalist, Wilderness Rites of Passage, Montessori Guide ages 3-18, Global Teacher's Trainer & Educational Leadership Mentor through Wilderness Skills & Immersion
Shamanic Breathwork & Sound Journey Facilitator, Classical Ballet and Piano Teacher, Grief Tending Facilitator
Cristan Normal
Hailing from a 1000-acre cattle ranch in Shingletown/Shasta County, it has long been Cristan’s dream to create a farm school. After graduating from the University of Puget Sound with a B.S. in Biology & Environmental Studies, Cristan worked as a field biologist & environmental educator as an Americorps Watershed Stewards fellow, a botanist, & fisheries biologist.
After being introduced to Montessori education, she decided to shift gears & go back to school to become a teacher. She received her Masters in Education as well as two AMS Montessori teaching credentials (primary & elementary) from St. Mary’s College of CA. She then went on to obtain her CA state Multiple Subjects teaching credential from CAL State Teach so that she could teach in public Montessori schools. Cristan also completed Tier 1 of her Administrative Credential when she was hired as the director/principal/mentor teacher of a small, rural public school that was on the brink of closure due to dwindling enrollment & transformed it to Montessori, increasing enrollment by 700%.
Stephan van Halsema
Naturalist, Wilderness Skills Guide, Shamanic Breathwork & Sound Journey Facilitator, Creative Expressions Mentor, Musician, DJ, Fishing Guide, Wilderness Rites of Passage Guide & Scout Mentor
Loved by many for his charisma, Stephan brings indigenous wisdom, esoteric knowledge, wild play, and creative expressions to SOL Gratitude Village through rituals and ceremonies.
Sol Council
The Sol Council are expert guides in their specialized fields who offer counsel and mentorship in our community with their extensive skills and experience. We are grateful for their guidance.
Richie Rivera-Booth, Yelm, WA
Richie was born and raised in Yelm, WA. Spending his summers camping in Weyerhauser with family and friends he developed a deep love for the forest. Working with youth at Camp Cispus during high school and college he realized his passion for working with kids. He has since dedicated his life to reconnecting with nature, community and self. He is deeply committed to helping both youth and adults to find their passions by sharing his with them. Since being an immersion instructor at the Wilderness Awareness School in 2007, he has completed The Immersion, Nature Instructor Training, Tracking Intensive, and a number of other adult programs. He is now excited to bring his gifts and passions to the development of Sol Gratitude Village. Things that keep Richie active are going out trailing animals, practicing archery, learning about bird language, making his own sour dough bread, deer bone broth, kombucha, yogurt, kefir, and other kitchen projects, making moccasins, spending time with friends, family, and his beautiful wife, Natalie, and their daughter, Ruby.
Raleigh David Wilson, Kirkland WA
Raleigh David Wilson is a passionate lifelong alternative school educator in the Montessori and multi-age community. He has founded three schools both profit and nonprofit. He is currently; director and head teacher at Tolt Montessori in Carnation, a father, a musician, community organizer, volunteer, and visual artist. “I’m excited to help a new school be born!”
Mariko, Vista CA
Mariko is the founder of Moringa for Life, is a family operated business which has been one of the original pioneers in the Moringa industry for the past 20 years. As a founder of Nourishing Community, one of her goals is to create food abundance to support community in need and support local growers. Mariko is an elder actively sharing her passion, wisdom and connections with community.
The Art of Mentoring - 8 Shields
"8 Shields mentoring" is a nature-based mentoring approach that draws its inspiration from indigenous wisdom and traditional cultures, particularly the practices of the "8 Shields" model. This model is rooted in the understanding of natural patterns and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Central to 8 Shields mentoring is the deep connection to nature. Mentors and learners engage with the natural world through sensory experiences, observation, tracking, and learning from natural cycles and patterns. 8 Shields mentoring incorporates elements of cultural mentoring, where traditional ecological knowledge, stories, rituals, and practices are shared and passed down. This includes teachings about plants, animals, seasons, and the land's history. The mentoring relationship in 8 Shields is based on a model of mutual learning and respect. Mentors guide learners in developing skills, awareness, and a sense of belonging within a supportive community. The approach focuses on holistic development, nurturing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of individuals. This includes activities that promote resilience, creativity, problem-solving, and self-reflection. Similar to coyote mentoring, 8 Shields mentoring emphasizes awareness and tracking skills. Learners are encouraged to cultivate keen observation, intuition, and an understanding of patterns in nature and human behavior.
The mentoring approach incorporates various nature-based practices such as storytelling, wilderness survival skills, nature awareness games, crafting with natural materials, and nature-inspired arts. Ceremonies and rituals play a significant role in 8 Shields mentoring. These may include rites of passage ceremonies, gratitude practices, storytelling circles, and ceremonies to honor the land and its inhabitants. Through the 8 Shields mentoring, we foster a regenerative culture that restores balance and harmony between humans and nature. This involves ecological stewardship, community resilience, and a deep sense of interconnectedness with all life.
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Overall, 8 Shields mentoring aims to reconnect individuals with the natural world, promote sustainable living practices, and cultivate a sense of reverence and responsibility towards the Earth and its ecosystems. It recognizes the wisdom of indigenous cultures and seeks to integrate these teachings into contemporary mentoring and education frameworks.