The following is a walk down two very separate roads. One most often leads to tragedy.

Alice stands up and says “Good morning family” in a kind, loving voice. Everyone replies in unison “Good morning Alice.” She asks what we should discuss today. A new Phoenix named Ray raises his hand and when called on asks if he could adopt a dog today. The next thirty minutes are spent in a group discussion about the responsibilities of adopting a dog. At the end of the discussion, Robert asks Ray if he is ready to accept this responsibility. Ray smiles and nods. He is ready. “Let’s go then.” Robert says. He and Ray leave for the animal shelter. Every day starts this way… every day has a 30 minute pow wow after breakfast where it is a safe place to bring up any topic. There is no judgment allowed here. There is no criticism or put downs. No, this is a family gathering where the family of Phoenixes share with one another. Sometimes the topic is around fear or shame or guilt. Everyone shares these feelings. There is crying, there is hugging, there is love and support and kindness. It is a safe space.

After group the rising Phoenixes head out onto the ranch. You and Greggor go to the schoolhouse for academic education in a Montessori format. Some choose to receive their education in a hands-on fashion. Bobby goes to the barn to take the tractor apart with Raymond, a master mechanic and Phoenix graduate. It has a broken transmission seal. Daniel heads over to the kennel with Sam, Andy and Kyle to feed their dogs and clean their kennels before bringing them to the service animal training facility, which is run by Gunther, a former Army Ranger. These Phoenixes are training their dogs to become service animals for military veterans. They all love animals and are themselves training for a life of service animal training, a lucrative and rewarding career.

Orvil and Stevie head to the garden for a class on the benefits of organic fertilization and crop rotation. They both want to have ranches of their own one day. A dream of homesteading and providing for themselves. Dusty, the head gardener and Phoenix ranch is a Phoenix graduate himself. He is in his mid-60s, is missing one of his front teeth and has nappy hair. He’s always dirty and kind of looks like a homeless person, but is far from it. He was raised in a privileged family and attended Hotchkiss boarding school before being arrested for selling weed to his classmates. Rather than being sent to a child prison for violent offenders, he was offered the opportunity to enroll at a Phoenix Ranch. After graduation he left for a year and then decided to return and dedicate his life to helping fallen Phoenixes rise again. Three quarters of all staff on Phoenix Ranches are formerly fallen Phoenixes themselves. They are not ashamed of their pasts. They are proud of themselves for turning the corner and rising again. They are proud to call themselves Risen Phoenixes. Like so many other Risen Phoenixes, he chose to wear the mark of the Risen Phoenix…proudly…for everyone to see as a tattoo on his left deltoid. The days of being ashamed for having tripped up are gone. The day for proud, Risen Phoenixes is finally a reality.

In addition to classroom academics and vocational training, Phoenix Ranches have a large mental health campus staffed with licensed practitioners serving the Phoenix community. Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, somatic energy workers, yoga and breathwork practitioners, meditation centers, saunas, cold plunges and more. Martial arts is taught at the center as a form of exercise and mental discipline. It is just one of the many options for healthy living offered at the mental health campus.There is a state-of-the-art fitness center on site, as well as a modern emergency room facility. There are tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court, and intramural leagues for all sorts of sports and activities. There is horseback riding, camping, fishing and a variety of other healthy outdoor activities. For bad weather days there is a chess club, and game room complete with pool, ping pong and foosball table, as well as a variety of classes, seminars and other activities, such as art and music. While each Phoenix house is all male or all female, the campus is co-ed. There are rules to follow. This is an environment with only non-violent offenders. There is a system for handling grievances and incidents. There is counselling, there are programs and classes on topics ranging from job interviews to food health to emotional intelligence and the like. Phoenix ranches are about set and setting for programs, education and skills training supported by a foundation of abundance and trust and love and physical and mental health. They provide a way to learn the skills necessary to lead a successful, happy life. This is the way to heal and grow and recover and soar again.