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Anna SwisherCrann Og Eco Farm

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Anna Swisher is a community activist, ecopsychologist, youth mentor, movement teacher and Work That Reconnects facilitator from California. She currently lives on a permaculture eco-farm in western Ireland teaching about regenerative culture.

Why I am called to facilitate the Work

Because it is the most heartening and inspiring work I have experienced. Because it prepares me to participate in the challenges facing us. Because it unites me with fellow humans and brings me hope.

How I see the Work serving the Great Turning

I see the WTR guiding people in strengthening their capacity to FEEL. I believe that this is the most essential task, in order to restore our ability to act on behalf of life; to remember what's important, to be guided by care and love of life. I think the WTR helps orient us in a time that is very dis-orienting. I see the Work bringing people together in communities small and large, and unearthing/identifying all the resources that we DO have. It provides a non-hierarchical structure or format for people to come together and work through things that are specific and relevant to them; and empowers us to act within our communities.

Audiences I work with

community-based, artists/dancers, XR activists, youth and young adults

Background & Training

Background & training in the Work That Reconnects

  • FDP Spiral Journey 2019 (2005, 343 days)
    Location: Online
    Facilitated by: Mutima, Constance, and Molly
  • Personal Tools for Planetary Crisis (2020, 1 days)
    Location: Sausalito
    Facilitated by: Lydia Hartoonian
  • Work That Reconnects (2012, 14 days)
    Location: California Institute of Integral Studies
    Facilitated by: Joanna Macy
    This was a semester-long course that Joanna taught at CIIS
  • Work That Reconnects (2015, 25 days)
    Location: Bay Area
    Facilitated by: Joanna Macy and others
    Over the years I have attended many talks & workshops with Joanna, which I can no longer recall all the dates and names of!

Other relevant training

  • M.A. in East-West Psychology (2013, 900 days)
    Location: CIIS, San Francisco
    Facilitated by: Various
    Graduate Program focusing on non-dual spiritual traditions, ecopsychology and transformative approaches to healing
  • Yoga Teacher Training (2012, 50 days)
    Location: Bay Area
    Facilitated by: Katchi Ananda, Chrissy Graham, others
    200-hr teaching training certification
  • Journey Dance Facilitator Training (2014, 15 days)
    Location: Masachusettes, New York
    Facilitated by: Toni Bergins
    Training to facilitate conscious/transformative dance
  • Somatic Ecotherapy & Wilderness Quest Apprenticeship (2016, 30 days)
    Location: Marin, CA
    Facilitated by: Dave Talamo & Amy Biesemeyer
    Year-long program learning to facilitate nature-based learning

Other relevant skills & experiences

Gardener, Trained permaculture designer and teacher; years spent in women's circles as participant and facilitator leading meditations, rituals, etc; Time spent studying indigenous traditions and community, particularly with the Dagara; Ritualist/facilitator and ever-student of traditional and contemporary earth-based traditions; member of Vision Councils and Diversity councils for non-profit org; amateur singer/songwriter but more importantly have led singing circles; Youth mentor and specifically love teenagers and young adults; natural organiser who loves bringing people together and hosting/facilitating events, retreats, etc. World travels including ancestral pilgrimages. Community event organizer.

Experience facilitating WTR events & workshops

Work That Reconnects workshops I have facilitated

  • Work That Reconnects 2020 (2020, 6 days)
    Location: Online
    This is an ongoing group working through the spiral over three months
  • Work That Reconnects (2019, 1 days)
    Location: Dublin, Ireland
    Workshop to support activists in Extinction Rebellion
  • Dance as Activism (2019, 1 days)
    Location: Gort, Ireland
    Facilitated by: Amaya James
    Day-long exploring conscious movement and WTR spiral
  • Intro to Regenerative Culture (2019, 4 days)
    Location: Galway, Ireland
    Facilitated by: Martina Finn
    Month-long course weaving Permaculture and WTR
  • Work That Reconnects (2020, 1 days)
    Location: Kinvara, Ireland
    day-long exploring GT & spiral to support local artists/activists

Experience facilitating other events & workshops

I incorporate the WTR into everything I can! I have used it in wilderness/mentoring work with youth, in conscious dance/movement workshops, in vision quest work with adults, and soon will be collaborating on a narrative/story-telling and WTR event! Recently we incorporated the WTR into a community film screening event of the documentary film "Tomorrow"