The purpose of suffering

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

I am looking forward to continuing the story of my first vision fast, as I think sharing my experience might be helpful for people who are struggling with difficulties they have experienced on their own first fasts. Sometimes it is good to hear others' stories. First, though, I'd like to share ...

Next steps on Decision Road

Sunday, June 19th, 2011

Today I'd like to pick up the story of my journey to my first vision fast. When I left you last time, I had set out on the road trip to Boulder, Colorado, for a week-long intensive at Naropa University, prior to going with my classmates to our vision fast ...

Severance phase: setting out on Decision Road

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

John Boyer, one of our guides for the upcoming vision fast in Wyoming, taught us some aspects of the Lakota people's vision quest ceremony. The first stage of the vision fast is called "Decision Road." This is part of the severance or preparation phase, in which we make the decision ...

Fasting for a vision: naming my intentions

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

As I mentioned last time, writing a letter of intention was one of the preparation tasks in the severance phase of the vision fast. I wrote a 6-page letter and sent it to the two guides. Here I include the part where I focused on my hopes for the vision ...

Vision Fast Retreats at BC Wilderness Visions

Friday, January 1st, 2010

2011 Dates Possible fast in October 2011. This will be a 5- or 6-day trip with a 3-day fast, preparations, and post-fast storytelling and incorporation. $800 - $1,200 sliding scale 2012 Dates TBD July and August (week-long trips include 3-day fasts, with preparations and post-fast storytelling and incorporation) $800 - $1,200 sliding scale If you are ...

Back from the desert

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

The School of Lost Borders California Fall Vision Fast was amazing! I was an assistant for the 11 fasters and the two incredible guides, Ruth and Larry. Some people marked their passage into adulthood, and others into elderhood. It was such an honour to witness the courage and vulnerability these fasters ...

Singing in the sweat lodge

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

As I mentioned earlier, there were four rounds in the sweat lodge: The first round was for calling in the ancestors and spirits. The second round was for praying. The third round was for healing. And the final round was the “going home” round. At the beginning of each round, ...

The gift of fire

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

 Meeting in Circle with the Wilderness Guides Council Fire is the element of the east, the direction of springtime. When I first sat in circle at the Wilderness Guides Council, on Monday, April 13, I deliberately sat in the east. This is a part of the wheel that I am least ...

Learning and transformation — ouch!

Monday, May 4th, 2009

I wasn't always a happy camper at the 4th International Wilderness Guides Gathering, held in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains this April. Previous gatherings have been held in Germany, South Africa, and the UK. People from these countries attended, and many more besides. The gathering was hosted by the Wilderness Guides Council, ...

One last glimpse of winter

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

I seem to be a little reluctant to make the turn into spring. So here's one last look at the winter of '08. This is my sister Katherine, shoveling snow off the roof of her shed in Horsefly, BC. This picture was taken in March! That's a lot of snow. ...