Bringing the Bones 2026-27
Bringing the Bones is a year-long programme in contemporary wilderness rites of passage work, that culminates in a 4 day vision fast ceremony to be held on Dartmoor in the UK. The programme is a personal and experiential journey of nature immersion (using practices such as medicine walks, threshold crossings, and vision fasts), and of letting that process guide us towards a clearer sense of attunement with ourselves and with the world around us.
The opportunity is also woven into the course to start learning and practicing some of the core skills required to hold others in this sort of ceremonial wilderness work. In order to offer the most comprehensive experience to those involved, this course is limited to 12 participants.
Who is the course aimed at?
The course is for anyone with an appreciation for the potency of spending time in the natural world, and who feel drawn to nurture that through a deeply personal journey of remembrance, rediscovery and reconnection.
This programme will be of particular benefit to those involved in leading nature-based courses, and offers a developmental pathway in the longer apprenticeship towards guiding others in initiatory wilderness experiences.
How is the course structured?
The programme consists of 4 residential camps over 5 days each, a final camp over 12 days, plus 5 online meetings to prepare for each module. The first 4 modules will be located in the wild and beautiful Dart Valley on Dartmoor, with the final camp - which contains the 4 day solo fast - held in a more remote setting a few miles away.
To support their ongoing learning throughout the course, participants will be given online access to specific texts and core media, as well as 2 individual support sessions from the course leaders.
What happens on each module?
The teaching themes within the course originate from the work of Meredith Little and Steven Foster of the School of Lost Borders and are enhanced by Bill Plotkin’s work on the 4 directions and his ’eco-centric wheel of human development’ (see pdf below), with the ceremonial containers of the vision fast based on an approach that comes to us through the School of Lost Borders.
The basic structure of the first 4 modules will include a 1day medicine walk based on each of the 4 directions. To prepare for this there will be focused council time for participants to set their intention for the threshold crossing, and then time to share their story on their return and have it mirrored back to them by the guides and the other participants. The final module, which includes the 4 day and night fast, is similar but with more time for each participant to prepare for, and integrate from, their threshold time.
Much of the programme will be spent sitting in circle, learning the simple and powerful arts of council, intention setting, and mirroring, with time as well to nurture those old-world skills of living together on the land and of becoming a village.
The dates for the 2026-27 programme are:
Zoom Meeting - Introduction and Preparation March 29th 7-9pm
Module 1 – South: Spring to Summer (childhood) April 16th-20th 2026
Zoom Meeting - Check-in and Preparation June 17th 7-9pm
Module 2 – West: Summer to Autumn (adolescence) July 22nd-26th 2026
Zoom Meeting - Check-in and Preparation October 7th 7-9pm
Module 3 – North: Autumn to Winter (adulthood) November 5th-9th 2026
Zoom Meeting - Check-in and Preparation February 7th 7-9pm
Module 4 – East: From Winter to Spring (elderhood) April 1st-5th 2027
Zoom Meeting - Check-in and Preparation April 25th 7-9pm
Module 5 – the Vision Fast Ceremony May 20th-31st 2027
The modules take place at various locations across Dartmoor and South Devon.
Standard fees are between £3150; limited discounted concessionary places at £2650 may be available (subject to application). A £250 non refundable deposit is required to book a place. Fina out more at https://wildwise.co.uk/bringing-the-bones/
Location
Newbridge, Dartmoor