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Rite of Passage Leadership Training

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Help me take an amazing training with Rite of Passage Journeys  - a well established organization in Washington state that has been offering rite of passage experiences to youth and adults for decades.  This Summer, they are offering a 2 week training aimed at people like me who are passionate about this work and want to gain more wisdom and experience in order to effectivley guide youth (or people of any age, really) through rite of passage journeys that usher them from one stage of life to another.  

The cost for this training is $1600 - a pretty good deal for two weeks of training - meals and lodging included!  But, alas, I find myself at a point in life in which money is verrrry tight - and as a small rite-of-passsage for myself, I'm reaching out for financial help.  I need to pay in full by April 20.  Any amount will help.  I consider this an investment in the future of our youth and evolution of our culture - thank you for any support you can offer - even if it's just a "way to go!" ;-)

The training is in June, which is perfect timing for me to directly apply what I learn to my role as assistant guide in the Curious Kaleidoscope gap-year program this coming fall and next spring.  This program is essentially a rite of passage for 17-22 year people who are exiting high school or in their first years of college and looking for an nature and community centric adventure experience to help them become more clear about who they are and create more focus for their coming years.  So-- perfect! (It's a great, rich program, so if you know of any young people looking for such a thing, tip-them to it!)

Additionally, once completing the training, I am eligible to be an apprentice guide in Rite of Passage Journey's summer programs - which I fully plan to take advantage of.

A rite of passage takes many forms for many people. In today's culture most people create it themselves, or use college, or military training, or a church mission etc. to serve this purpose -- but we generally don't see it as a rite of passage - as creating a new identity for ourselves, trying to understand the question that our deep self seems to be urging us towards: Who am I? How do I belong? What is the best use of this person I am in this world?  How do I feel fulfilled? How to I acheive a sense of belonging?  Few cultures in today's world have in-tact, intentional rites of passage for the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and therefore many people struggle with these important transitions their entire lives. I see this as a tragic gap in contemporary culture that contributes significantly to many imbalances in our modern world.  For myself, the rites of passage that I either created or was urged to be part of by wiser people have been the most pivotal experiences of my life that I can't image myself without. 

I have a deep desire to help people come through this transition in their lives in an intentional way, from a seat of wisdom that helps them become an empowered, self-knowing person who knows they belong and that their innate talents and passions are needed. 

The two rite of passage ceremonies I've assisted with in Port Townsend, WA and the ManKind Project 's New Warrior Training (a rite of passage for adult men) I participated in have inspired me to gain the skills to guide others on such experiences. This training feels like the obvious next step.

Here's a great article by Bill Plotkin ( founder of the Animas Valley Institute & author of two great books on the topic ) about the importance of intentional rites of passage in these times.

Thank you for being here! 

With deep gratitude and hopefulness...

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Donations 

  • Terrence McIver
    • $20 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Jesse Olson
Organizer
Grass Valley, CA

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