Soul Centered Homeschooling


 

My husband just finished a power-filled retreat with Bill Plotkin, and one of the insights he brought home with him is this chart of soulcentric development. It perfectly captures why and how I homeschool (or at least towards what ends I aspire). I see my toddler as an Innocent in the Nest, and my school age child as an Explorer in the Garden. Homeschool as a way for them to explore the garden in the context of family, community, and nature. It sets up ideal conditions for them to do necessary work as teens, when they need to create a secure and authentic social self, something that is very hard to do in most of today's high schools. With this ground work they will grow up to be authentic, strong adults able to do their work in the world in a meaningful way. And by work I don't mean being successful economic units, although that can be a part of it, too. I mean soul work. Inner work that translates into a calling that makes the world a better place.

Plotkin bases his wheel on the four directions of Native American tradition:



Which of course relates to the Wheel of the Year in Pagan and Celtic spirituality (this lovely one includes some other spiritual holidays as well):

For original, see http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/aeonic/hd/holydays.html



And evokes Susun Weed's Medicine Wheel of the Wise Woman Tradition (on page 81 of HealingWise - can't find an image of it online). Weed's wheel also draws on the four directions, but in a context of becoming a power-filled wise woman. If we apply it to child development, early childhood (SE)  is about Surrender: trust, flexibility and chaos. Middle childhood (what is often call "school age") is about Abundance: ecstasy, optimum, nourishment, and self-love. Teens focus on Commonness: simplicity, persistence, and protection.

Another frame that mirrors Plotkin's wheel comes from a totally different tradition, Leadership Education. The phases of learning (and development) that DeMille describes fit right into the soulcentric wheel. The phases according to age are:
  • 0-12 Play/Family Work
  • 12-16 Scholar Phase
  • 16-20 Superb Education
  • 20-24 Depth Phase (Liberal Arts College)
  • 24-50 Build Two Towers (a Family and an Organization)
  • 50+ Impact the World (Statesmanship)
These frameworks as guides for human growth and development, and therefore schooling, bring the focus off of economic and political power (as our current school system is focused) and onto soul development. We are here on earth to grow as souls. Plotkin writes, "When a sufficient number of contemporary people have reentered nature's soulstream and become conscious contributors to the unfolding story of the world, industrialized nations might mature into sustainable, ecocentric, and soulcentric communities, inhabited by people who are wildly creative, imaginative, adventurous, tolerant, generous, joyous, and cooperative members of the more-than-human world." (Soulcraft, 332) Amen brother.

So what does this "look" like? It looks like balance. Lots of time outdoors, but also (for our family) time watching tv or playing (non-violent) computer games. Time together. Time alone. Writing, reading, dancing, playing, arguing, making up, napping, dreaming, going to gymnastics, playing the piano, making smoothies, crafting herbal remedies, playing board games, and so much more. For some it will include a curriculum, like the lovely Oak Meadows on Enki guides. Others might be a part of a school community, but one that fosters and supports soul growth. Like a flexible Waldorf school or an alternative school. Some families will have found a faith community that supports soul growth. Whatever it looks like, the ideas named by Plotkin underlie all the family does. Having language for our intentions, such as Plotkin's wheel, can help us identify what sits right for our family and what we choose to move beyond.

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