2010
January Schedule
Sonoma Academy Youth Vision Quest
January 6 - 16
Reunion Council
January 31
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Do you have a story to share?
Rites of Passage is committed to publishing the voices of our questers. Stories of illumination, transformation, death and grief... All parts of the wheel are welcome. If you are inspired to be heard via our newsletter or website, we invite you to submit your essays, poems and other narratives. |
Special thanks to
Sam Horton for his photographs in this issue
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 2010 Brings New Support for Questers Returning Home
The new Incorporation Support Program, an internet-based
class and support group, answers the common call for more help during the
post-vision quest integration. Known as the phase with the most
challenges, the incorporation phase requires each person to navigate their new
Self into an old life that they had left behind.
It is said that the Quest goes on for a full year after returning,
but formal support in most programs ends on the last day of the program (if it
is offered at all!). Many people are fine with that, but others want
more ongoing support assimilating and adjusting their new aspects into their
daily lives. Since people come from different states (and countries) to quest
with Rites of Passage, an ongoing in-person group would not be practical. Therefore ROP is offering the Incorporation
Support Program online, allowing people in different localities to
"meet" to share their stories and find support, from each other and
from our staff.
The program has three components. Once the participant commits to the 6 month
timeline, monthly experiential assignments will be received online. Group members can undertake these on
their own and then post their essays on the pages of our website
devoted to the Incorporation Program. In addition, there will be an
opportunity to discuss other subjects on a Forum restricted to members of
the group.
Secondly, a montly conference call will offer members a chance
to talk live, check in, discuss their Incorporation, and share via a
phone-based Council process.
Lastly, the program also includes one individual phone
consultation with staff during the six month class period.
Anticipated to start this December, the Incorporation
Support Program is a great way to start off the New Year with a strong
commitment to community and self-growth. Learn more on our website by clicking here. |
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 Voice from Down Under: Opening to a New Vision
Rites of Passage honors the wisdom that each participant
shares. Participant Vicki Dean shares
her insights in her story below. (On
their last trip to Australia,
guides Mike and Renee led a training on the four shields followed by a
quest. We are excited to report they
will be returning Down Under this February to offer another ROP program!)
I awoke one morning knowing
I needed once more to sit on the land for my healing, renewal and deep
listening. I researched quests and was
most interested in the model of the ten days; the work seeded by Meredith
Little and Steven Foster. A time to
fully prepare, then go on a three day
solo, followed by a period of integration before re-entering life. Fantastic!
I found what I was looking for, however it was all on American
soil. Who wants to be eaten by a bear
whilst seeking a vision? It was a
tongue in cheek reaction, but also a metaphor for my craving to be on my own
land - the place of my heart. I had
quested previously in the centre of Australia, sitting on the red
earth, three days within the Medicine Wheel.
If you left the confines of the wheel the quest was finished for
you. It
was 46 degree heat (115°F), the winds blew the red dust into every known
crevice - such an ordeal I couldn't
open my ears to the voice of the land,
as survival captured all my attention.
I was very attracted to the
model offered through various places in America and was ready to book, yet
had reservations. It was my delight to
read Mike and Renee from Rites of passage were coming to Australia to do some training on Stradbroke Island and then the Quest would be at
the foothills of Mt Warning - a place that had been calling me for a number of
years.
Again I was attracted and
yet in question what could Americans offer in terms of our land. Could yanks
really offer me what I was seeking? What
was a delight for me was that Mike and Renee shared their extensive knowledge
of the questing process, and also
brought an openness and respect to the land here. The modification to their teachings included
the Medicine Wheel as informed by this land.
A pivotal part of my own
quest was to open to the expression of emotions. I feel this is poorly held or understood in
many spiritual and shamanic offerings and I experienced a gentle yet strong
holding and acceptance as I explored my emotional contours. This has been a milestone in terms of my own
ability to hold deep imaginal processes in myself and for others.
There was something in the
freedom of being able to walk the earth.
I was catapulted back to my childhood where I roamed the streets and the
bush always in adventure. I knew the
bush and she knew me - one of my earliest memories - being lost at 4 years old
pushing my pram with a friend, seeing a black snake glistening on the rock -
fear and intrigue in equal measures.
This freedom was re-evoked in my being - the birthing of my intent and
the mirroring back I received from the land.
My quest continues to unfold on many levels.
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 Open Youth Trip Returns
Another new addition in the coming year is a youth quest
open to all those ages 16 - 22 years old. In recent years Rites of
Passage has focused on serving youth from local high schools. In June 2010, youth from any part of the
globe may participate in our wilderness-based initiation ceremony to mark their
passage into adulthood. Held within the
format of the nine day Vision Quest, young men and women will have the
opportunity to identify what it is they are leaving behind, as well as what
they are stepping into as an adult. Created
in response to many inquiries from parents wanting their children to experience
a formal passage, ROP is anticipating a large turnout for the June Quest.
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