Mark J. Platten is a life-long educator from his days as an Air Force Officer to teaching at the Collegiate level. But it is his love of nature, spirit, and his deep relationship with the sacred that his passions in teaching come alive and his purpose is fulfilled.

I grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa where I developed a great love, respect, and connection with nature. As many young men do, I became more interested in sports, girls, and creating my dynasty as I moved into high school, college, and eventually became an Air Force Officer in 1989. As I continued the career progression and educational advancement with an MBA, I fully stepped into the American dream of power, money, a home, and everything that goes along with that dream.

But there was something else happening during this period. The relationship I had with nature as a young boy was beckoning me, yet my ties to the material world were very strong. It would take losing $380 thousand in the stock market, my home, and eventually my marriage to create an opening for something different…the call of the wild and of nature. I was free to heed the calling and I began reading everything I could from the ancient spiritual practices and studied with several indigenous teachers.

I began having deep, spiritual experiences doing sweat lodges, shamanic journeys, my take on vision quests, meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi. It was during this time of building my inner world that I called in the love of my life, Ahriana, and we built our family together with our four boys.

Eventually, there came a time when my spiritual guides told me that all the information and experiences I had gained were for naught if I didn’t share them. So, I re-entered the world and began teaching natural resources at the collegiate level, but it was not quite the right fit and something else was calling.

The courses, programs, ceremonies, books, and trainings I share come from this deeper pull, from the core of my sacred being. It is my honor to share what has been given to me so that you may experience the deep connection with nature and the divine that I have found. At the end of the day, it’s about showing up in my fully embodied self and becoming the integral being that was in me all along. I hope you join me on this journey.

Mark…aka Windancer

Services

Nature Photography The Art of Haiku Courses
In Person Speaking and Teaching Programs Online Courses Sacred Site Tours and Ceremonies Spiritual Certification Programs