the solo fast
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How we do Solo Fast Vigils at Journeys
Solitude-fasting-challenge
Spending time in solitude out in Nature (the Solo aspect) is a time honored tradition around the world. Being alone in nature allows us to really be with ourselves, and gives us the chance to see who we are when we encounter the endless visitations of nature–from bugs, to birds, to the weather, the sun and moon, to fire and earth and stones. Solitude also gives us the opportunity to contemplate the big questions of “Who am I? Who do I want to be? Who are my people? Where will I make my contribution?”
Fasting, spending the night alone with little to no gear, and vigiling (staying awake all night) also provide truly difficult challenges for youth today, requiring them to overcome their self-limiting stories of “I can’t do that.” Accomplishment of these challenges gives them powerful, tangible proof that they are no longer “a child.”
age appropriate structure
The optimal length and extent of the Solo Fast varies with age and maturity. For our younger participants (ages 8-12), the Solo Fast experience is not an overnight experience, and varies with the particular group from a Breakfast-to-dinner Solo Fast, to as short as a 30 minutes solo sit. Our Coming of Age participants Solo Fast last from 24 hours (morning to morning) to 36 hours (evening thru a full day, another night, and ending at dawn), and our teens fast for as long as 48 hours (morning to morning). For our adult quests, the Solo Fast lasts for up to 72 hours.
physical Structure
Basic Structure for any group Solo:
Site selection: We almost always solo on the beach, and so our Solo Sites are strung out in a long line above the high tide line, in either the driftwood debris or further back in the forest. Guides establish each person’s site, allowing more input from the youth the older/more mature they are (for teens they will often “choose their own site”), which needs to be ultimately confirmed/approved by guides, with the following guidelines in mind:
Spacing: youth need to be far enough apart to avoid impinging on each other’s solitude. For younger groups, it can be reassuring to be able to see someone else. For older (Coming of Age and up) it’s best to go for solitude of not seeing each other’s core / fire / tarp spot. Sometimes it is necessary to include the public in spacing considerations.
Safety, Communication, and Hydration: Guides need to be able to communicate with and resupply soloists, so marking access points with small glow sticks, drift wood, and cairns is essential. For longer Solos water resupply and safety checks “I’m ok” messages are done at a Mailbox location that is set up just out of site of the core Solo / Fire / Sit spot, so water bottles can be refilled, the OK signal can be left, and written messages (no verbal unless absolutely necessary) can be delivered both ways if necessary (letters from Family are dropped off for older youth on last night of Solo).
Intention Guidance and Structure
The main structure we provide our youth for contemplation for their Solo time is the cultivation of a personal Intent Statement. Helping the youth come up with the draft of this statement that they will take with them out on their Solo is the primary way that direct individual (one-on-one) mentoring takes place in a structured way at Journeys. Guides will facilitate a council session that gives the youth a chance to explore the question of “what is my Intent Statement” as a group, and also meet one-on-one for a significant conversation during the preparation day. On return from Solo, an important piece of the integration ceremony is to have each youth speak their current Intent Statement (it likely changed a bit during the Solo) to the rest of the group. This happens again when the youth return to their families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I ready/old enough to do a Solo Fast?
In our experience, most everyone can do a solo fast, or a modified solo fast, unless they have certain medical considerations that make it inadvisable. We have also discovered that the optimal length and extent of the Solo Fast varies with age. For our younger participants (ages 8-12), the Solo Fast experience is not an overnight experience, and varies with the particular group from a Breakfast-to-dinner Solo Fast, to as short as a 30 minutes solo sit. Our Coming of Age participants Solo Fast last from 24 to 36 hours, and our teens fast for as long as 48 hours (two nights!). For our adult quests, the Solo Fast lasts for up to 72 hours.
What if I just can’t do the length of Solo that my group wants to do?
Every individual’s situation is different, including the level of anxiety that contemplating a solo fast evokes. Our Guides are careful to evaluate each participant, and if it truly appears that attempting a full Solo Fast is more than that individual can take on, there are several options to modify the Solo experience to fit where that individual is in their life at that moment, to allow them the challenge they need without creating a threatening situation. There are a few conditions that may require a participant to eat, or at least have access to food, during their solo vigil, and these are always accommodated.
Is it Safe?
Yes. To insure safety during the Solo Fasts, we establish effective systems to check in and communicate with participants, while preserving the experience of solitude. The timing of these check-ins varies based on age and capacity of the individuals, but allows us to make sure everyone is drinking enough water and doing ok. Ultimately, the Solo Fast is like every other part of our rite of passage journeys – a challenge by choice. Our Guides are skilled at supporting all our participants in making the best choice for themselves (which is rarely the easy choice!)
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EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS
Our summer youth programs, for ages 8 – 18, help young people navigate the journey from childhood to adulthood in a supported, mentored way.
Our adult programs, for ages 18 and older, grew out of the strong need we saw to guide adults through their own rites of passage — for transition does not end at age 18.
These programs foster the presence necessary for authentic connections, which are essential in our relationships with all beings.
In the spirit of creating community & increasing the availability of rite of passage experiences, we offer memorable presentations, unique workshops, and impactful events.
