At what threshold are you now standing? 

The threshold symbolizes the liminal space between what once was and the not yet known. Stepping into the threshold is a step toward the unknown--the great mystery--a timeless depth. It is a metaphorical doorway and a portal, a space for our intuition and gifts to be illuminated.    The crucible of the trail invites us to take the risk and open to the vulnerability, intimacy, challenges, fear, and excitement of our human experience and contact the awakened soul that lives underneath. Stepping beyond what is known, habitual, and comfortable and into the great mystery, ushers us to fully inhabit and awaken to our unrepeatable and exquisite life. 

Join Alchemy of Prana in the Fall 2024 for a ceremonial backpacking vision quest journey, with a pivotal solo vision quest, in the heart of the Raggeds Wilderness, Colorado. 

We will spend the first days of this program trekking into the depth of Earth--a  mountainous valley that will keep you and usher you into the initiation of your life. These first days we will explore the depths of what called you to the land, what you are severing from and letting go of, in order to make a clearing for your intent to find you. The middle part of this journey will include a 3 day solo fasting experience, where you will embark on a journey into your own threshold, in which the illumination of your vision becomes more distilled. In the last part of the journey, you will shoulder your pack to begin to work with the process of incorporation--taking on the body--the act of embodying. It is here, at the end of the journey, that there is a beginning--the beginning of embodying your vision and gifts and bring them back to your people, the Earth, and your communities. 

DATES: September 20, 2024–September 28, 2024 [9 days]

LOCATION: Gunnison National Forest | Raggeds Wilderness | Marble, Colorado 

INVESTMENT:Sliding Scale $1,000–$3,000 USD | Scholarships available upon application request

Inhabiting Your Life with The Vision Fast Rite of Passage Model

Just as nature moves according to its inborn death and rebirth pattern, so does the Rite of Passage ceremony. Deeply tuned in to these cycles of nature, ancient and indigenous societies around the world have created rituals of initiation to mark, celebrate, and make sense of the great mysteries of life, death, and rebirth. Initiatory rites are as old as human society, and although the primary rite of passage is marking a transition from childhood to adulthood, we go through various transitions through every stage of life; every year brings forward new transitions.  By enacting rites of passages, we continually imitate the death and rebirth patterns of nature. Anthropologists, having studied ancient cultures worldwide, have identified an archetypal form that permeates through most rites of passages. Although a rite of passage may take years to complete, this 9-day ceremony with backpacking and a solo vision fast offers a strong and meaningful way to support transitions. The vision fast candidate is guided through three phases of this pattern: severance (severing from the old), threshold (crossing into the liminal space/this is also the stage where the candidate fasts on the land for 3 days, incorporation (taking on the body, & returning back to the community with your gifts).

GENERAL ITINERARY--subject to change

Below is a description of what you can generally expect each day. This itinerary is subject to change depending on permits, weather, and the natural world).

Day 1

You and the group of fasters and guides will rendezvous at a remote trailhead location at 8:07 AM. The morning will be taken up with a good dose of backpacking. Once we reach our campsite for day 1, you will be guided through a teaching of the four shields of human nature, the importance of marking thresholds.  This first evening we will offer an optional somatic/yoga practice before settling in for rest for the night.

Days 2

This day will include waking up in the high alpine plus some optional breathwork, meditation, and backpacking to a campsite (in no particular order). This day will also include intent councils--which consist of being guided through a process of listening to what it is you are here to mark. We try to keep the mileage on the intent day minimal. 

Day 3

This day will include waking up at dawn and backpacking to the basecamp with the group. The afternoon & evening consists of the possibility of going out on the land and finding your fasting spot. Your fasting spot will hold you through the duration of your fast.  After finding your solo spot, we will conclude this day with a shared meal together and a circle of support. 

At basecamp time on days 1-3, you will be guided through backcountry eduction and a variety of somatic practices, breathwork, meditation, and council. 

Day 4

Early in the morning on day 4, with the guidance and presence of your guides and earth, you will step into the threshold of your 3 day fast on the land. This marks the liminal threshold phase of a rite of passage. 

Day 4, 5, 6

solo fast

Morning of day 7

At sunrise on the morning of Day 7, fasters will “shoulder their packs” and return to basecamp to be met by the people. On this day, we will hike a short distance (~ 2 miles). After coming into your body with food and movement, we will share our stories from our time on the land and the stories will be mirrored. We will take short breaks throughout for stretching and movement, and land-walking. We will conclude this evening with a teaching of the four shields of reincorporation.

Days 8-9

We will continue storytelling and the process of incorporation as we hike through to our ending trailhead. We will step through a threshold to begin our journey back home, carrying our awakened inner gifts. We will backpack out to the end of the trail on the last day. The journey back to the trailhead will be with significantly lighter packs. We will break for lunch and various councils and somatic practices along the way before crossing back through a threshold. Please note, this hike may be a thru hike, thus, the proposed ending time does not include the transportation time back to your vehicle. Shuttled transportation back to the original trailhead is included in this program.

Other things to consider:

TIMING 

*Please note: due to the nature of this program and the unexpected nature of backpacking, all parts of this itinerary are subject to change, including our intended closing time (5:33 PM).

FOOD + GEAR

*Participants will come prepared to live self-sufficiently and provide their own food and gear. We will provide options and suggestions for food preparation as well as optional

SMALL GROUP

Space limited--this program is intended to be an intimate and smaller group of no more than 7 individuals. A deposit is required to reserve your spot.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The average mileage per day for this program is 2–9 miles depending on weather, water sources, group energy, and other unknowns. We will not be hiking 9 miles per day per say; but, if we need to, we may need go that distance one of the days before or after the fast. We will be backpacking on a wilderness trail in the Gunnison National Forest/Raggeds Wilderness. The exact trail will be confirmed 1-2 weeks before the start of the program. (Please note, trail conditions vary and the exact trail may change depending on weather and trail conditions. All participants will be notified and the trail will be confirmed)

SUITABLE FOR

This program can be suitable for all backpacking levels and experiences. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced backpacking experiences are all welcome. As a group fo humans, we will work with the overall energy of the group as well as the environment to move across the terrain and into the heart of our solos and back home. Participants need to be able to carry a minimum 55-60 liter backpack for several days. 

Please call/text with any inquiries 970.704.5706  or 970.825.2289