http://jewswithedge.tribe.net/thread/183181b5-8762-428d-a739-29b6f6a57c2a?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://jewswithedge.tribe.net/thread/183181b5-8762-428d-a739-29b6f6a57c2a#4aca7019-2634-48a0-ba81-42d10317e718 Hi everybody, I've never posted here before but wanted to let you all know that my dear friend Zelig is creating an amazing program next month, the Jewish vision quest. More information is below, including his contact info. I participated in a vision quest last summer and it was *crucial*! Much love, Caitlin Vision quests in the desert are at the core of Judaism. The fore-fathers and foremothers received much of their inspiration while alone in the desert, directly connected to the Source. All who are called to deepen their personal journey are invited to join us in the desert this summer. To help individuals connect to spirit, nature and to themselves, and to mark life transitions, Rites of Passage has been leading individuals on vision quests for over 30 years. In this spiritual quest, participants will gather as a community with Rites of Passage guides in the high California desert to celebrate Shabbat Hazon - the “Shabbat of Vision.” We will create sacred space through song, prayer and learning focused on preparing for the solo experience. Framed with the universal message of the medicine wheel and informed by Jewish tales and perspectives on bringing vision, you will enter the desert alone as our ancestors did to encounter the Source and yourself. This special program will be co-led by Rites of Passage Executive Director Mike Bodkin, a vision quest guide for over 25 years, and Zelig Golden, a vision quest guide and Maggid. The Program During three pre-trip meetings, and two days at a wilderness base camp before the solo, the guides will work with you to clarify your intention: What are you questing for? What life changes are you marking? What do you hope to receive? Throughout this process, we will explore Jewish perspectives on seeking vision and connecting directly to the Source in the natural world. After preparing during the Shabbat of Vision, you will enter the desert alone for three days and nights of solitude (fasting is encouraged). This is the time to claim the truth of your purpose on earth. It is a period of journeying inward, held in the sacred silence of wilderness. Sing, pray, dance, meditate, connect with the Divine, and witness your own growth, transition, and ultimate rebirth. On the fourth morning, you will return to the community to begin the process of sharing and incorporating your vision. Your guides will help you understand the meaning of your quest, acknowledge the many gifts it revealed, and develop personal ceremony to mark this moment in your life. As a community, we will help each other to integrate our lessons as we prepare to take our visions back home. The Details Preparatory Meetings: In order to fully prepare for the wilderness quest, we will have preparatory meetings in Berkeley, CA, on three Tuesday evenings – July 22nd, July 29th, and August 5th from 7-10pm. These meetings will prepare you to enter the wilderness safely, introduce the sacred teachings of the medicine wheel, Jewish prayer and song, and Jewish perspectives on seeking vision. Dates, times, location: The Jewish Vision Quest will take place at approximately 10,000 feet in the White Mountains of California, a beautiful high desert wilderness on the Nevada border. The program will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, August 8 near Bishop, CA, and will end by noon on Friday, August 15. Shabbat will be observed as a community. Registration and tuition: This program is limited to 10 participants. Registration requires a $250 non-refundable deposit. The full program fee is $1,095, which includes a vision quest manual, healthy vegetarian meals (except 1-2 restaurant meals), and campground fees. Chevra Hazon (“Friends of Vision”): Upon return from the Vision Quest experience, we are all faced with the challenge of bringing our vision back to the people. To help facilitate this integration process, Zelig will offer optional, post-quest gatherings in Berkeley, CA for those who wish to join in council and share the process of bringing vision into the world. For more information and to register - www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org If you have questions or want to inquire further: Contact Michael Bodkin at (707) 537-1927; info@ritesofpassagevisionquest.org Contact Zelig Golden at (510) 590-1479; zeliggolden@gmail.com Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:46:20 GMT http://jewswithedge.tribe.net/thread/183181b5-8762-428d-a739-29b6f6a57c2a#4aca7019-2634-48a0-ba81-42d10317e718 Caitlin 2008-07-08T23:46:20Z