Mikhel is devoted to finding her way and aiding others in finding theirs. Wayfinder Archery is her grassroots traditional archery company that teaches fundamental knowledge in instinctive shooting, aids the development of a relationship with the bow & arrow, and is a pathway to transform your relationship to yourself & nature.
She brings a special twist to the Archery Range via her tracking skills and insights of the human psyche, body language, and subconscious symbology. She’s known for shooting straight from the heart using her internal bow made of damn fine instinctive and intuitive abilities.
“Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience.
It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person"
- FRED BEAR
OUR Traditional Archery Education
All skill levels are welcome on the range, whether you are beginning your relationship with the bow & arrow, or want to expand and develop your skill set. Mikhel and her crew welcome you. The archery range is an incredibly empowering and neutral place to integrate all you are moving through in your life. It can aid you in grounding your body, recalibrating your energy and mind, revealing yourself to yourself, and increasing your connection to your center. Through mindful form, precision focus, a steady stance, and an open heart, Mikhel and the range provide a space for embodiment & authenticity to be explored via the art of shooting arrows.
One of Mikhel’s strong suits is to aid everyone in embodying their epic archery form. A clear delivery of archery principles combined with her absorbable teaching methods leads to solid instinctive shooting form. Alongside the principles and methods she guides her students with, she also brings a unique teaching element to the table, somatic awareness combined with an instinctive understanding of the human psyche and heart.
Mikhel’s uncanny ability to tap into people's “internal form” often strongly affects one’s external archery form. This internal archery guidance aids in transforming the way people physically shoot, right then and there. Her inner terrain guidance leads to overall transformation on and off the range via the power of internal awareness and perspective shifts. Awareness and perspective directly impact how we relate to ourselves and the world, therefore impacting how we hold a bow, connect with our body, manage beliefs, etc.
Whether you attend a workshop or retreat, host a private event, rock a private lesson, or find us at a skills gathering, we begin everyone off with a mandatory class. The class initiates group symbiosis, provides fundamental education, lays the groundwork for weapon wielding & responsibility, and stimulates self reflection and awareness
(For rare-unique events, we offer open range without requirement of the mandatory class, providing a simplified, less education rich experience.)
The mandatory class includes the fundamentals & basics of instinctive shooting, equipment knowledge and care, and proper form. Once class ends, we find the best bow and arrow fit for each person, go over range etiquette and safety, ground into proper form, and begin shooting on the range together. As range practice commences, Wayfinder’s team offers guidance and oversight to ingrain proper form, enabling dropping into oneself more fully. As we engage in lots shooting practice and experience, confidence is effortlessly gained.
Philosophy on Presence
Substances & Alcohol
Wayfinder Archery creates a drug & alcohol-free, and tobacco Aware environment for the entirety of our events. The Practice of presence and embodiment are highly valued and essential for the work we offer. In a time where disassociation is rampant within ourselves and our world, we encourage and invite everyone into the field of sobriety. Remaining available to feel whatever is arising. it is VERY important to us to keep our weapons range and general space safe, protected, and crystal clear energetically.
Pathways of Education
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Inner Terrain Sessions
Mikhel offers in-person and online sessions exploring the inner terrain via presence, discussion, and tea.
When we shift our perception, even in the smallest of ways, significant course corrections and/or openings are able to occur within ourselves and lives.
Inner Terrain sessions can be combined with Traditional Archery lessons and personal practice(s), giving a tangible form to experience shifts, awareness, and healthy habit building.
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Skills Gatherings
Skills Gatherings are held all over the planet, the ones in North America usually fall under the category of Co-ed or Women’s only. These gatherings are often a mix of hard and soft skills, depending on the gathering.
Hard skills= all the earth based skills our ancestors lived so they could thrive on our home planet. Soft skills- all the inner skills needed to live in harmony with our psyches, bodies, and one another. These gatherings can be incredibly powerful and fun, activating our remembrance to our indigenous hearts and lineages, our relationship with nature, larger community and relations, all while experiencing the fun and enjoyment of learning new skills.
Wayfinder Archery can be found holding down the range at various skills gatherings throughout the year. Check out our calendar to find out which ones we will be attending, and the Explore page to be in the know of the various ones that exist.
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Traditional Archery Pathways
Workshops offer ½ day to multi-day participation. Traditional Archery is the baseline of all the events along with variations such as archery only, skill share(s), women’s only, co-ed, youth, and immersion style.
Immersion style workshops are deeply focused on the inner terrain utilizing archery, council, journaling, awareness tracking, movement, tea and nature to return to our bodies and hearts.
Are you ready to experience Traditional Archery?
AS SOMEONE WHO’S GROWN UP AROUND HUNTING AND SHOOTING,
I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE CHANGED BY AN ARCHERY LESSON.
The day I took my first lesson from Mikhel it lit a fire within me I was not expecting! First her energy is unmatched; her heart, passion, and dedication to the art is cosmic. 95% of the class she was teaching had never held a weapon let alone a bow. To see her teach and mentor that many new archers at once was absolutely mesmerizing. By the end of the lesson EVERY ONE of them looked as though they had been doing it for years.
She transforms people and changes their trajectory.
She’s by far one of the most masterful guides I’ve ever come across. On top of all that she’s unapologetically herself and her soul is unlike anyone you’ll ever meet. Mikhel changed my life that day and I wil
forever be grateful for the skills and life lessons she shared.