CA Summer Vision Fast

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes 

it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

– Maya Angelou

Life changes us again and again- through puberty, illness, love, success, loss, commitment, trauma, labor……  We are intrinsically tied to the natural cycles of transformation- from birth, through death, both individually and collectively. How do we stay oriented to who we are, or fully let go into the disorientation and discomfort of the unknown, and trust who we are becoming? 

Across time and cultures, people around the world have gone into wildlands, following an ancestral knowing that, for our species to thrive, and perhaps for life on Earth to survive, we must surrender to our own nature’s need to shed what no longer serves, to wait in our decomposition, our metamorphosis, for the fertile soil (and soul) that will grow the clarity we need for our new becoming. Through nature’s guidance, these Rites of Passages supported people, individuals and communities, to relate authentically, to adapt to changing times, to evolve their ethics, and to reaffirm their innate belonging and responsibility to the natural world. 

This modern society- after generations of falling for the Great Lie that humans are separate from nature- offers little opportunity for people to immerse in the brilliant knowledge of survival, guidance and belonging that nature offers us. All too often, peoples’ instinctive need for initiation and acceptance is lost within their unconscious, left alone to impulsively express through self-destructive behaviors, violence, and ecological destruction. It does not have to be like this. Authentic, community-supported, meaningful ceremony with the mysteries and natural world offers new possibilities. 

The vision fast ceremony, a modern day rites of passage, is both a border crossing practice and an act of deep connection. Following ancient pathways of our species, we step away from the day-to-day distractions, into the wild and and at the edge of our living, we remember truths of our nature.

Some feel the call to a vision fast in order to mark a major life transition and reorient to who they have become. Others are pursuing a longing for a more authentic knowing of themselves and relating with the natural world. All who respond to this call are contributing to their communities as they return with renewed clarity and purpose. 

And so, we ask: Do you feel a call, into the deeper knowing of The Wild? Are you being summoned to the Land of Lost Borders?

 

Who is this program for: 

We welcome all people; BIPOC, white folks, women and men, queer folx, transgender, gender fluid or non-conforming, and folks who diverge from the “norm” to this ceremony. We will likely form an intergenerational group of people over the age of 19. We see our diversity as a gift to the whole. Lost Borders works to keep our offerings accessible to all those who are called, especially those from systematically marginalized communities. We do not turn anyone away due to lack of resources. Scholarships are available. 

Program Overview 

This is a 12 day ceremony, with four days of preparation and guidance, four days and nights of solitude on the land, and four days of storytelling and incorporation. 

We will be within the Inyo Mountains, a high desert ecosystem, in the ancestral and current homelands of the Nüümü (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone) peoples for the duration of our time together. Though we will have two different basecamp locations: one for our preparation and incorporation days, and the other will be just for our days of solo. 

 

Preparation: The preparation phase begins the moment you say Yes and enroll, and perhaps it has been stirring in you long before that. Upon enrollment, you will receive a Welcome Letter from your guides, that is rich with preparation information and suggestions to support you, both logistically and intentionally. Upon gathering in person, we will spend 4 days helping you to prepare for your time of solitude on the land. Preparation is a very important phase of this experience, thus, if possible, we recommend that you enroll several months ahead of time. 

Letter of Intent: As part of the preparation process, we ask that you write a Letter of Intent that speaks to: What is calling you to this ceremony? We request that you send this letter to your guides at least a month prior to gathering in person. 

Threshold: For four days and four nights you will be “across the threshold” in your personal ceremony and time of solitude on the land, a rare and precious opportunity in these modern times. Fasting from food is an option if it is safe and aligned with your ceremony. Safety is our top priority during this time. So your guides will maintain a safe perimeter around the area while you are alone and help you to implement other safety measures. 

Incorporation: Upon crossing back over “your threshold” we will offer a break-fast feast, and spend the day slowly integrating back together. The next two days will be dedicated to story council, offering each person space to honor their experience, as guides offer Mirrors. Lastly, we will turn to our final day, tending to celebration and supporting you to step into the incredibly important and challenging phase of incorporation and giving your ceremonial experience practical feet as you return to your life and communities.

Your Guides

Grae & Scott bring decades of experience guiding and practicing Vision Fasts and Rites of Passages. They are both deeply in love with the natural world, and wholeheartedly committed to creating safe and ceremonial opportunities for others to experience the pure magic of immersion in The Wild. They are an intergenerational guide team, and you can learn more about them below. 

 

Program Questions Contact: Gretchen (Grae) at [email protected]