Mikhel is devoted to finding her way while aiding others in finding theirs. Wayfinder Archery, her grassroots traditional archery company offers fundamental knowledge and experience in instinctive shooting.
Wayfinder creates environments which inspire people to form a relationship with the bow & arrow, orchestrating self-reflection and transformation via the art of shooting.
Mikhel 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 aids self-cultivation on and off the range via the power of internal awareness, perspective shifts, and habit development. This self-cultivation directly impacts how we relate to ourselves & the world, therefore impacting how we move, hold a bow, connect with our breath & body, etc.
Whether you attend a workshop or an immersion, host an event, rock a private lesson, or find us at a skills gathering, we start 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. We then find the best bow and arrow fit per person, go over range etiquette & safety, ground into proper form, and begin slangin’ arrows 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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Traditional Archery Immersions
Women’s Only or Co-ed Archery Immersions are a minimum of 3-days. The spaciousness and presence of these events nourish our relationship to archery, our bodies, inner clarity, and community. We create space to witness ourselves and others more truly. Utilizing instinctive archery, tea & discourse, writing, council, movement and time with nature, we turn to our centers.
Immersions are held in collaboration with other guides, creating a solid container and field of depth & diversity.
Being on epic property that provides the essentials for our Immersions is deeply important to us. If you or someone you know has property which can comfortably host us and is reasonably priced or open to participatory trades, please reach out and let us know.
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Inner Terrain Immersions
Our Co-ed and Women’s Only Immersions are a minimum of 3-days, and do not incorporate Traditional Archery. They are absolute deep dives of our inner terrain utilizing various mediums such as; tea & discourse, writing, council, movement, sound, breath work, and nature.
The intention or theme of these events vary, yet ultimately they nourish our soul, inner clarity, and experience with other human beings.
Immersions are held in collaboration with other guides, creating a solid container and field of depth & diversity. The varying guides impact the varied themes that will be offered.
Being on epic property that provides the essentials for our Immersions is deeply important to us. If you or someone you know has property which can comfortably host us and is reasonably priced or open to participatory trades, please reach out and let us know.
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Traditional Archery & Skill Share Workshops
Where traditional archery and epic skill shares come together for multi-day participation. Skill shares might include: knot tying, shelter building, primitive camping, knife sharpening, fire making & tending, cooking over fire, canning, animal processing, hide tanning, butchering, backcountry first aid & herbalism, tracking and identification, felting, buckskin attire, moccasin or mukluk making, basket weaving, broom making, fiber arts, cattail weaving, martial arts, self defense, etc. If you are interested in collaborating or joining forces, don’t hesitate to reach out!
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 will
forever be grateful for the skills and life lessons she shared.