2 Week Training with wild mountain and School of Lost Borders

This training gives the student an immersion in the vision fast ceremony, including the skills involved in leading the vision fast and an understanding of how the principles of the vision fast can be applied to a profession, community, or client. Trainees are encouraged to learn the form, the process, and then to give it their own unique expression within life and work. Throughout the two weeks, the trainee will be challenged to wear two hats: one is the hat of the person training in the ways of the vision fast guide and the other is the hat of the person learning experientially what it is like to actually go out on the land as a participant. 

The first five days are given over to preparation (severance). Morning and afternoon meetings are the norm. Instruction includes: the mirroring dynamics of story councils; screening and preparation of candidates in four areas: physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual; the four shields of human-nature; the sacred and the profane; the dynamics of fasting; self-generated ceremony; the power of taboos, death lodge; purpose circle; the mirror of nature; and the shaping and confirmation of intent.

 Trainees go out into the wild mountains, find a place for their solo and set up communication stone piles with their buddies. For 4 days and nights, the trainee lives alone with an option to fast (Threshold). Sometimes, trainees will choose to remain in basecamp as support for others instead of doing their own ceremony.

The final days of the training are focused on incorporation where each story is told and trainees practice mirroring for empowerment. On the final day, we look at the process that has just unfolded from a training perspective and prepare ourselves to reenter our lives.

Prerequisite: at least one facilitated solo experience 

Preparing ahead of time: Every trainee must ask:What am I going out to mark, celebrate, or confirm? What is my intent? Who will benefit from my training (Who are my people)?

Practical preparation: The School of Lost Borders makes no provisions for meals or equipment. We ask everyone to come prepared to live self-sufficiently. You will need to bring shelter and clothing suitable for a full range of inclement weather. We request all participants to purchase the vision fast handbook, “The Trail to the Sacred Mountain” and highly recommend “The Roaring of the Sacred River” both available from  Lost Borders Press.