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Answer the Call! “Fellow Veterans, it is time to reclaim our Whole Selves. The Warrior, The Veteran, and the member of community.” - OEF Army Veteran and Co-Founder Mark Oravsky Veteran Rites has put out the call for service-members, veterans, Gold Star, and dependent survivors of veteran suicide to claim their Rite of Return in the wilderness of Eastern Washington in 2021. It is the Welcome Home for the Whole Warrior like no other. Please share this announcement widely through your networks and communities. Welcome Home The Rite of Return is a rite of passage for prior service-members seeking to answer the soul’s call for deep healing in the wilderness in order to lay down what longer serves and step into who you are truly called to be after military service. Separated from society, in solidarity and solitude, cross the threshold as a Whole Warrior to answer Who Am I? What’s My Purpose? Where do I Belong? This ancient, cross-cultural ceremony has proven to drastically reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and suicidal ideation by embracing the wholeness of our human experience and true nature, with continued evaluation in partnership with Mark Van Ryzin of the University of Oregon Research Institute. It is a bare-bones, universal container that deeply honors any warrior’s unique abilities, values, belief system, culture, and identity. A full length documentary, “Veterans Journey Home: Leaving it on the Land” tells the story of 12 veterans and their journey into healing on DNR open land in the Coulees of Eastern Washington. The Ceremony The 11-day ceremony will be held in the wilderness of Eastern Washington with trained veteran and non-veteran guides. Participants experience time in community with other vets, four days of solo time, fasting in the wilderness, and a marked return where their stories are shared and witnessed in a“council of elders”. This return marks the beginning of a veteran’s process of incorporating that which they have gained and learned during their time in service and explored in the context of time alone in the wilderness, so they may bring their gifts home, able to participate more fully in service of their families and their community. Initiates will be supported throughout their incorporation year by Veteran Rites and the circle of whole warriors they claim their truth with. Eligibility The Rite of Return is available to Current and Prior Military Service Members, Spouses, Partners, Gold Star (18+), and Dependent Survivors of Veteran Suicide. Veteran Rites will work with every warrior called to the land to fully prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for their Rite of Return journey and address unique barriers and conditions that may prevent participation. Claim Your Seat Seats are limited to 8 participants for all Rite of Return Ceremonies and can be claimed on our events page. Empowering stories of warrior's claiming their Rite of Return can be found on our blog and YouTube testimony page. More Information? What is this wild soul healing adventure in the wilderness? We got you, just email Executive Director and Seabee Veteran (OIF) Ryan Mielcarek at council@veteranrites.org or call (206) 228-5466 to learn more. We would be honored to gather in circle with your Unit, VSO, Veteran's Club, Organization, Housing Community, or Support Group to share our empowering stories of warriors healing in the wilderness. Love and Honor, Veteran Rites
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