2 Week RITE OF PASSAGE Guide Training with wild mountain and School of Lost Borders

This training gives students an immersion in a rite of passage ceremony, including the skills involved in leading the vision fast and an understanding of how the principles of rites of passage 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 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). Topics include: council; screening and preparation; cultural appropriation; intention process; the four shields of human-nature; self-generated ceremony; and mirroring.

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. We also 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:  We ask everyone to come prepared to live self-sufficiently with your own food and equiptment. We can provide some equipment if needed with advanced notice. You will need shelter and clothing suitable for a full range of weather. We request all participants to purchase the following books, “The Trail to the Sacred Mountain” and highly recommend “The Roaring of the Sacred River” both available from  Lost Borders Press.

Guides: Pedro McMillan & Roo Wharton