By Pedro McMillan and Ruth Wharton
Seven graduating seniors from John Burroughs School (JBS) in St. Louis, MO signed up for the first rite of passage program offered jointly by JBS and The School of Lost Borders. The students did a three day fast in the beautiful Ozark mountains about three hours southwest of St. Louis. Part of the program was held at Drey Land, a camp owned by JBS adjacent to 100 square miles of wilderness called Pioneer Forest where the fast itself was held. The land was amazing, dense oak-hickory forest covering large valleys filled with hollows between which ran creeks and rivers. It is truly a land of water!
Despite a cold front that moved through the area just before we arrived, the weather warmed and turned sunny for much of the fast. The students, six young men and one woman, braved much more than the elements.
Coming to terms with the transition they are heading into as they leave home for the first time in the fall, they dove into the process of claiming who they are at this critical juncture of their lives. With a solid 'I am' statement they each found their place on the land for the fast.
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The three days passed quickly and they all returned to a feast in the morning on day four, looking bright-eyed and excited. By 9:30 that morning we sat for the telling of stories. With the capable help of our assistants Jess Beaulieu and Scot Deily we were treated to beautiful stories that were mirrored back to these amazing young people.
The next day we closed our circle before the parents arrived at 11:30 am. We met with the parents for an hour or so to go over what their sons and daughter had been through. The parents dove in, very aware of the transition that they are in as well. We broke into two groups to save time and the students shared their stories again with their parents. After being mirrored again by the guides, the parents had a chance to mirror the stories of their sons or daughter. Many tears were shed throughout the day and everyone left with a clear sense of who they are and the full depth of the transition they are experiencing. It was a profound and beautiful time for everyone there.
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