The Front Yard Tree

A VISION

Meeting the Times with an Epic Imagination

The inspiration for The Front Yard Tree is rich and layered, but at its heart, it is a devotion to the human longing to grow — to reach toward a future still beyond our imagining, individually and collectively.

On my own path, I was deeply influenced in my youth by the spirit of the human potential movement — its recognition that we are designed to evolve through stages, each step expanding our capacity to bless the world and create beyond personal gain or loss.

One of the clearest lessons I’ve come away with is that, especially for young adults, there is a great need for quests — journeys sparked by a mixture of selfish and noble impulses. Older, mythic cultures understood that no one could be inspired to do “the hard thing” solely for noble reasons. Instead, what moves us is whatever we hold in our hearts with devotion — even if it is incomplete or misunderstood at first (and it inevitably is).

Today, we are in need of deep, transformative journeys — processes that guide us from a place of not-yet-knowing, through risk and vulnerability, toward wiser, more empowered versions of ourselves and the world. These journeys invite us to embrace our humanness, acknowledging the imperfect nature of our motivations. They challenge us to dare, to risk failure, and to be
shaped by the many wisdoms life offers.

Over time, through my own struggles, I came to see that the true spirit of the quest lives primarily in the imagination and the heart. While it was important for me to “go out into the world” and try things, I slowly realized that these outward efforts were only part of the journey. The deeper quest — the real work of growth — takes place within.

I discovered, over time, that I could engage proactively in these inner quests by drawing on the many developmental practices being explored, revived, and reimagined across different fields — psychological, mythological, somatic, energetic, imaginative, etc — but always with an inner sense of the epic as my guide.

It has been an insistence on our own hidden nobility, a trust in the vastness of our imaginations, and a refusal to settle for smaller stories than the ones our souls are longing to live.

Without this essential ingredient — the Soul’s demand for its own magnificence — our journeys often become repetitive, as if we’re walking in circles. Reintroducing it into the process transforms not only what we learn but also the way we learn it, and can propel us toward a deeper, more expansive understanding of ourselves.

The vision for The Front Yard Tree is to normalize and honor the deep human need for quests — and to offer skillful, soulful support for those who embark on them. And then see what can happen!

The Invisible Structure Beneath

Beneath these journeys lies an ancient, invisible-to-us structure — a way of growing, seeking, and becoming that we as modern people are only beginning to remember.

This structure cannot be fully understood through systems or theories alone. It lives and breathes within communities — human and natural.

The content we aim to offer and curate is deeply rooted in what I’ve learned about these underlying connective structures, drawing from the wisdom of other teachers as well as my own path.

At the heart of this understanding is the Earth herself — a recognition that growth emerges from the ground up, nurtured by the specific conditions each individual needs for true, meaningful growth — growth that becomes generative and a blessing to the world.

With this in mind, The Front Yard Tree is laying the groundwork by focusing on the issues and needs that arise from our basic human embodiment, creating a foundation that supports holistic growth, both individually and collectively.

The Evening Chill

This is why our first major offering is The Evening Chill — a class devoted to simple yet powerful ways of connecting with the ground of our being through our bodies, in soulful and informed ways.

This 45-minute guided journey requires no active participation, allowing participants to simply be present and receive. Held twice a week, the class is supplemented by a weekend discussion group, videos, a group feed, and other content designed to help individuals build a strong foundation of connection to their own bodies and nervous systems.

These practices can significantly expand your toolkit for healing and empowerment, while also laying the groundwork for other kinds of work — quests — that require the understanding and connection this class aims to share.

Community

Community grows when we share our experiences, our knowledge, and our honest efforts to learn and connect.

With new understanding and creative energy, we can begin to take part again in the old, essential work of growing community — something that is built slowly, through care and attention, from the ground of our own lives.

As The Front Yard Tree grows, so will our understanding of what it means to come together with real connection and purpose.
We are using technology thoughtfully to help support this process. Part of this includes our Communication Guidelines, which we expect to evolve as we learn together.

We’re also looking for ways to help members interact easily and meaningfully, and we welcome a spirit of creativity and playfulness along the way.

Please feel free to join the conversation on the VILLAGE VOICES feed and in other spaces where connection is encouraged. We’re glad you’re here.

Journeys I’ve Been On

Journeys I’ve Been On is a 30-minute podcast offering stories from the winding paths of growth and transformation.

Sometimes, it is the voice of one traveler sharing a tale of their own; other times, it is a conversation between kindred spirits, exploring the sometimes hidden terrain of becoming.

Told with humor, tenderness, and a deep reverence for the imperfect beauty of the human journey, these stories honor the fullness of the path — from not-knowing, to stumbling, to the hard-won clarity that only experience can bring.

It is a space where the ordinary and the epic meet!

Towards the Future

Though it begins simply, the larger vision is to let this work grow naturally — branching into many kinds of “quests”:

Self-Guided Journeys

Mentoring-Based Pathways

online classes and streams

workshops

special gatherings

and More

All shaped by what we continue to learn about the deeper patterns that support true growth.

Along the way, we may also weave in offerings from other teachers whose work resonates with the spirit of this place.

To support this larger vision, we have invested time, financial resources, and care into learning the technology and building the infrastructure needed to help this work take root — and eventually, to walk out into the wider world.

We warmly welcome all the intrepid and curious souls who wish to walk with us for these next few steps down the road, as we continue learning what it takes to offer this work in a good way.