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What is a Vision-Seed?

In our transdisciplinary applied doctoral program, the PhD in Visionary Practice & Regenerative Leadership, each student begins their journey with the spark of an idea or a desire, a calling. We call this initial spark the vision-seed. Prospective students submit an initial description of their vision-seed as part of their application for the program.

Throughout their doctoral-studies, students explore and develop their vision-seeds. It can and will grow and change as they move through intensive residencies, doctoral classes, field work, research, and the writing of the dissertation.

Ultimately, students seek to transform themselves as part of the process of bringing their purpose-filled vision-seeds to fruition so they can implement them in the world.

Some examples of current student vision-seeds:

1. Establishing a business or non-profit that brings mindfulness practices to active-duty military and veterans as well as other ‘warriors’ (police, security personnel, etc.) to help restore balance and wellness.

2. Developing healing practices for mothers to enable them to support their children without passing on their own inner wounds.

3. Integrating cultural strengths into the community college curriculum.

4. Researching and sharing Indigenous practices for emotional health and emotional fitness.

5. Developing a therapeutic somatic training program for women to restore embodied health and wellness.

6. Creating a new pedagogy based in nature and visual expression for tribal college students.

7. Integrating Indigenous wellness practices, including ceremonial and relational frameworks, into healing intergenerational and cultural trauma.

8. Founding an organization that supports BIPOC creatives to have time and space in nature/natural settings to reflect, connect, and develop their creative work.

9. Developing a program to train ‘consciousness coaches’ to help those seeking to expand their lives beyond limiting beliefs.

10. Creating a mentor-based empowerment program for African American girls.

11. Developing a therapeutic curriculum for women in residential treatment that addresses healthy sexuality as part of recovery.

Additional ideas for the vision-seed:

· Creating original artistic work (for example in painting, poetry, choreography, music, fiction, etc.) in response to climate crisis (or another concern) and writing a 40-50 page contextual essay to support the art expression.

· Working with a school to design and create an organic garden to help feed students locally grown organic food.

· Designing a watershed restoration project with a local community.

· Using art to assist and support the life transition of refugees.

There is no limit to what you may pursue, as we are asking you to follow your calling, engage with your passion and hope for the world and for yourself.