Youth Rites of Passage :

Our Work to co - create the village yes....the world we want to live in

The last months have been full on with the focus on youth at SOLB, which continues to be at the core of our work. When training people to carry rites of passage into their communities we always ask, "Please help us find and offer the ways to make it possible for all young ones to be initiated into adulthood by a circle of guides and elders." And if we can offer such ceremonies closely connected to nature, we all know they will return not only more ready to be in healthy relations with their people, but as well, to see the earth as true community. We see these young people as stewards of our planet and as such we need to support them, in every way we know, to care deeply, listen well, inside and out, to what is truly needed in our times.

For these reasons and many more, I have spent some hours each month the last three years supporting the birth of a new organization now named Youth Passageways. We will soon have a virtual center, yes a website, and much more, for the large and growing network of people and organizations, communities and programs offering youth rites of passage all across the country, in any and every tradition, in cities and in the wild, in year-long courses and three-day ceremonies. It will not be ours to judge which is right and what is best; it's our commitment to get the information out and let more and more young ones, parents, and anyone who is interested, find out what is available and make their choices for initiation in a way they are deeply called.

Thanks to SOLB for nudging me to represent us in this work; thanks to Frederick Marx who continues to seek making the film of our times on ROP; thanks to Joshua Gorman, Generation Waking Up, and of course Darcy Ottey, whom many of us already know and love, along with many others who have helped this organization come to life. Darcy has stepped up and in and has been confirmed by an amazing circle of 13 stewards to be the coordinator. We are excited that the School has been involved and will continue to be. I encourage you all to learn more. Your work and that of many others will become more visible once the website is up and running this coming year. For more information or to be put on the mailing list, email Darcy at youthritesofpassage@gmail.com.

Simultaneously, we have been focusing on YEP, our in-house code name for youth and elders at the School, working together to grow our youth program. We are in the running for a grant with Kalliopeia and will hear from them by mid February.

Our work in other countries continues and the import of rites of passage for young people is something growing everywhere. Through the Nature of Council trainings and also our work within the  European Council Network we are able to weave together how passage ceremonies and living council are part of creating healthy regenerative communities . In our experience, the whole idea/context of rites of passage is becoming more known. I am even helping to frame, in just such a context, a 300-person September 2014 gathering at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland titled the "New Story Summit". We are working very consciously on the organizing committee to weave together elders and youth in a good way throughout. We expect the best of indigenous wisdom and modern activism to show up. Amongst many storytellers and experiential events, we will learn and share in council, as well as through time alone on the land.

And to note one international highlight amongst many, we have connected and introduced council and an ROP context to a beautiful team of people working to create a six-month young peoples program entitled SOAR, School of All Relations. It will be hosted by Christina Chorafas and her partner, Olivier, running the Oika Karapanou Center the Greek Island of Aegina.What could sound more connected to the focus of the School of Lost Borders? It seems a sister organization in the making. I see us all as "field stations" around the globe where research and practice for how to live into these times is unfolding. I feel we are grown by these relations. We are able to serve as allies and elders at times, listening for how in each situation, country, or culture, the way of initiation and council can be remembered, reawakened, and birthed anew. Much of what we offer and have learned through the School will be appropriate to share there and I am looking forward to catalyzing future teachings and exchanges for those feeling called. If you are interested to know more contact me.

The global connections lead us to our ancestral relations and help us to deepen our own roots and ways. "Glocal" is a word from the young ones that captures this, the import of focusing on both local - where we live .....and global -what effects us all . And so we will continue in the Owens Valley this year offering trainings through the School and our place at Three Creeks, where many come and spend time as part of their incorporation. If you have not visited the Heron Hut we hope you will. And please know that this sanctuary is available to you and even at times to your groups when in the valley.

A special thanks for the young ones who inspire us to continue to serve in any and all ways we can. And for any whoever get discouraged that rites of passage just will not make it into the main stream culture, I suggest you take a look at American Idol. Many of the elements are there ....life stories, severance, guides and mentors, a threshold to cross for sure, peers on the journey that end up being comrades not just competitors and a circle of millions watching as young people find their voice ....Of course, they need perhaps an ROP coach more than a new wardrobe each week ...so there is work to be done.

May we continue to awaken the routes/roots of ROP wherever they might be found !

Blessings to all as we find our way alone and together ...Gigi