Death is the ultimate agent of transformation—be it a physical death or “the little deaths” encountered throughout life. Indigenous cultures developed rituals to aid and guide people through these stages of change and renewal, utilizing the power of death to enhance and intensify these experiences. For the Mayan people this ceremony was played out on…

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The modern day vision quest is a border crossing practice, an opportunity to reclaim our true place in the natural world. When one steps across the threshold and into the unknown wilderness, boundaries begin to dissolve and our vision begins to expand. The threshold place is a dreamscape, where we can hear, again, the voices…

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  You are our next generation of world leaders and stewards, our next generation of teachers and care-givers, of artists and scientists, of land tenders and culture curators. You will inherit a planet in immense and immediate need for your unique brilliance. 

How are you being supported, right now, to explore your authenticity, to discover your purpose, to cultivate your gifts, to realize your belonging, to be prepared to inherit your future and to be recognized as an adult?

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Death is the ultimate agent of transformation—be it a physical death or “the little deaths” encountered throughout life.  Indigenous cultures developed rituals to aid and guide people through these stages of change and renewal, utilizing the power of death to enhance and intensify these experiences.

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Physical death is the ultimate rite of passage that we are preparing for on some level throughout
our life. Sometimes this “preparing” looks like denial; sometimes sudden illness or life-threats
surprise us into looking squarely at the inevitable truth. The more consciously we can turn our
attention to our mortality, the more able we are to turn our life’s focus toward that which truly
matters to us during this one precious lifetime.

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*Pre-requisite for this program is having completed a guided 3 or 4-day/night vision fast within the last five years. This need not have been with the School of Lost Borders.  Please submit an application to Betsy before enrolling or paying a deposit. You should email Betsy at [email protected] with this Application Form Month-long Training for Rites of…

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Timotéo(Téo) Ikoshy Montoya II (he/him) is a writer, multimedia artist, and rite of passage guide in training with School of Lost Borders. He is a creative writing MFA candidate at The Institute of American Indian Arts, hosts The Indigenous Futures Podcast, and shares other creations and conversations at ARCHAIC_INTERFACE, a multimedia exploration of post-human, postcolonial, and Indigenous futurisms.

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Only a few last places remain… Hope is not a word in my vocabulary, I have to tell you. Faith is…There is beauty in erosion. And that has been evolving over time. So I think it takes us to our essence. It may take us to our knees; our consciousness is evolving. And I think…

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Direct and intimate contact with the natural world is an ancient and profound
doorway to being. Our ancestors knew this, and we are rediscovering it. Curiosity,
experiential inquiry, mindfulness, simple ceremony, and group council open this
door wider and deepen this contact. This retreat is a chance to step outside your
familiar life, be nourished by nature, find the support of deep listening, and
discover renewal, guidance, and inspiration. Here, wilderness provides a
welcoming, accessible, and powerful way home.

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