Soul and Spirit in Leadership 2025
A New Leadership Adventure in the Wilderness of Oregon
“Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.”
― Angela Duckworth
Join an exclusive group of intrepid leaders, innovators, and pioneers on a new kind of leadership adventure deep in the canyonlands of Eastern Oregon, with its expansive wilderness, winding rivers, abundant life, and diverse human community.
Soul and Spirit in Leadership will invite you to dig as deep as the canyon walls into who you are and the unique gifts you have to offer this world.
This 9-day retreat will be hosted in the wild Owyhee Canyonlands of Oregon.
We will spend the first four days of the retreat exploring the "shadow self" – a concept coined by psychoanalyst Carl Jung to describe the things people repress or refuse to acknowledge. As you peel back the layers, you'll unearth gifts, talents, and strengths that were just waiting to be discovered.
The final phase will invite you to connect with nature to reveal the untapped reservoirs of your leadership potential. As you shirk ego and self-preservation, you will engage in hands-on learning and leadership exercises, share communal meals, enjoy ample free time for personal rejuvenation, explore the enchanting Owyhee River and canyonlands, unwind in the local hot springs, and foster deep connections with your fellow participants.
The retreat will culminate in a 24-hour solo fast in nature. If fasting is new to you, don't worry. Your instructors will carefully prepare you for this challenge and be there to guide you every step of the way.
By the end of this retreat, you will gain:
- Clarity that cuts through the minutiae of everyday choices so you can embrace a clear sense of purpose and direction.
- Navigation skills to make purpose-driven decisions for yourself and those you lead that are aligned with your personal and professional goals.
- Grit to not just endure but flourish in the face of adversity and change.
- Momentum to fuel your leadership practice, encompassing mental, physical, and spiritual fitness.
- Confidence to fearlessly blaze your own trail in life and inspire others to join you.
Logistics:
October 16 - October 25 2025
(closest airport is Boise Idaho)
This 2025 program is by application only. Applications close October 1st 2025 and are based on a 45 minute conversation.
You will need to pay a deposit to apply, which will be returned if you are not attending the program.
There is a maximum of 10 participants on this program.
Camping included in cost, lodging available at extra cost.
Full kitchen, bathrooms and amenities included in cost.
All travel and accomodation details available on registration.
Course curriculum
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Welcome to Soul and Spirit of Leadership
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What you need to know to prepare
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Meet your guides and hear them talk about the trip
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Liability Waiver (Required for registration)
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Medical Questionnaire - please download and fill out and email to [email protected]
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Packing List
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Turning Conflict into Creativity workshop Notes
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Personal Mandorla Handout
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Mandorla Coaching handout
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Turning Conflict into Creativity Resource List
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The Four Shields of Human Wholeness handout
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Flowering Tree handout
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Map of Individual Change
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Map of Collective Change
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Mirroring
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Rite of Passage
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Rituals in Thresholds
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Podcasts
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The Way of Wilderness by Stephen Harper
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Optional additional reading
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About this course
- $3,500.00
- 2 x 1 hour personal coaching sessions with WOC senior coach (online)
- 9 day guided wilderness adventure
- 3 months of physical fitness training through our partner MTNTough.
What Do People Say About Soul and Spirit in Leadership?
“This sort of whole person learning is not theoretical. These land-based immersions have important transformative value for individuals of all ranges of development, particularly those feeling stuck or confused by the transition. In all this, the support of the land and surrounding resources provided a foundation for those who came to make the inner changes that were calling them.”
Ingrid Ammondson, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
“Going into this trip, I was hoping for a life-changing experience, but I didn't know the depths of that change and what would be required to elicit it. From the beginning of this program, I was faced with physical and mental challenges, but the guides "led without leading" and steered me up the mountain. I came out with a renewed belief in myself and my capabilities. This trip definitely changed my life, and I am now putting in the work to ensure others receive value from the work that was done up there.”
Antonio DeAscanis, Founder and CEO, BLKOPS Fitness
“This program's ability to transform was tremendous. It provided me with a closer and more authentic look into myself and how I approach groups, community, and society. This was far better personal growth for myself than the leadership training I received in the past, as it forced me out of my comfort zone, encouraging new growth and simultaneously solidifying my confidence in myself.”
John Egnatis, Co-Founder of Grenadier Homes
“I noticed as we sat together online after we got home that for each person, the experience led to them becoming unstuck and being able to clearly and easily move forward in their lives - finishing a book, moving forward with a choice in a career direction, letting go of what was no longer working.”
Tiffany Lopez, Entrepreneur, Author
Meet Your Guides
Miriam Jones
Open Circle Co-Founder and COO
Miriam is an experienced entrepreneur and thought leader in the area of transformational education, cultural change, and leadership. She has founded and led several successful organizations, from not-for-profits to corporations and co-operatives.
After developing an interest in business, culture and education, Miriam began designing and delivering leadership programs and cultural change efforts for organizations across the globe.
In search of new perspectives for her organizational work amid rapid global change, Miriam turned her focus to learning forms influenced by indigenous nature-based cultures and societies including circle listening and healing practices, circle governance, rite of passage, and nature-based rituals. Embracing these, she gained an ecological understanding of human systems.
Drawing inspiration from nature's systems, she now guides leaders and organizations beyond office walls, helping them discover answers within their organizational frameworks.
Adam Rumack
Open Circle Co-Founder and CEO
Adam brings a wealth of experience in driving organizational and individual transformation across diverse sectors, including corporations, large-scale non-profits, and the education and criminal justice systems.
His profound passion for the outdoors serves as a catalyst, offering insights into the interconnectedness of humanity and the wild, shaping his approach to human-driven systems.
In his pursuit of knowledge, Adam has delved into various disciplines, studying under spiritual and religious mentors and exploring the intricacies of economics, human behavior, and performance sciences.
A practitioner of holistic stewardship, Adam applies his insights on his land in Coastal Oregon, USA, where he also oversees a nature-based preschool.
His multifaceted background uniquely positions him to bridge the realms of organizational transformation, ecological mindfulness, and holistic education.
Included in Your Registration Fee
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Online training curriculum including a curated collection of recommended articles, books, and podcasts, coupled with thought-provoking personal reflection exercises
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Two 1-hour personal coaching sessions with an Open Circle senior coach, one conducted prior to the adventure to clarify goals and one post retreat to help you apply what you learned in life and work.
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9-day guided in-person training at Owyhee River Ranch which includes camping, a full kitchen, internet, bathroom, and shower. Does not include food. There are also 8 beds available onsite in a shared yurt for an additional $450.
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90 days of physical fitness training and prep through our partner MTNTough Fitness.
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A 6-month membership to the Circle Lab private community ($150 value).
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$50 off your next training when you enroll within 30 days of completing this course.