The Thespian at the Oasis: Plotkin, Adolescence, and the Course of Druidic Study

A few months ago, my partner Alison was reading a book by Bill Plotkin called Nature and the Human Soul. In it, Plotkin, a depth psychologist and wilderness guide, describes his theory of the cycles of a human life, from birth to death. He takes his cues from human evolution and the patterns of nature, and outlines eight life stages:

• The Innocent in the Nest (early childhood)


• The Explorer in the Garden (middle childhood)


• The Thespian at the Oasis (early adolescence)


• The Wanderer in the Cocoon (late adolescence)


• The Soul Apprentice at the Wellspring (early adulthood)


• The Artisan in the Wild Orchard (late adulthood)


• The Master in the Grove of Elders (early elderhood)


• The Sage in the Mountain Cave (late elderhood)

One of Plotkin's theories is that most adults in western culture are, to a great extent, "stuck" in early adolescence. The natural world, so essential to human growth, is so minimized and marginalized in western culture that, when it comes time for people to mature out of early adolescence, they find they cannot. To develop out of early adolescence, one must learn how to subsume egocentric life, to give oneself over to the immanence and presence of the natural world. Each human has soul work to accomplish, but that work cannot begin while the ego still rules the body. The ego need not be cast out; instead, its proper place is once voice among many. But in order for the ego to be dethroned, the wilderness within each of us must be acknowledged and elevated. Only nature can do that in a healthy way. Only nature can initiate a human soul out of childhood.

This idea -- that our culture is dominated by adolescent ideas, goals, desires, and worldview -- immediately appealed to Alison and I. We wondered about our place in that, and how we could help our children past the cultural sticking point.

What we decided to do was to (a) make sure that the kids had as much exposure to nature as we could manage, and (b) organize a course of initiation for them when they were old enough. So we've begun the work of outlining and planning a course of druidic study, designed for 12-year-olds, which will introduce them to the basics of druidry and prepare them for a ritual of initiation on the 13th birthday.

Obviously it's one thing to design such a course, and another thing to actually give it to a child! So far we've been working with our oldest daughter, who turned 12 in October. It's been going pretty well, we think. Ultimately it will be up to her: we can't force her down the road, or carry her along it; she has to walk it herself. She has a lot of enthusiasm and energy -- a lot of positive ego power. It will take her a long way.

But eventually she will have to allow her soul to rule that energy, rather than the other way around.