Each center that we visited is committed to the work of social and ecological design. Many serve as regional hubs for convening seekers, students and teachers in the realms of health, spirituality, regenerative living practices – the building of societal structures based in peace, justice and shared human and earth rights. Beyond such centers, we listened for the ways we could be part of supporting and learning  with both local and global indigenous peoples, so many who have been living these principles despite centuries of repression and genocide. We were and are part of a prayer of repair and healing, relearning the old story so essential in the  walk towards a new one.

We were surprisingly gifted a Flow Fund for our year of travel with the opportunity and responsibility to pay it forward. Additionally, each team member visited a number of other projects and places during the independent study time based on their ancestry, specific areas of interest and inquiry.

We were and are a multi-talented team bringing a unique set of skills as well as curiosities to our intention, calling forth the voices of both youngers and elders in council, committed to bringing those voices home, back to our people. Council was one of our core practices throughout the ten months; it is the act of speaking from the heart, listening devoutly, expressing oneself in a lean manner, and being spontaneous. Though it sounds or seems to some simplistic, those of us that share this practice have felt the profound sense of connection and truth that this way can manifest. It was for sure a large part of what held us together and kept us walking ahead.

By journeying to these sites, our commitment was to give away the best of life practices and skills we know, as appropriate and as requested to do so, while learning from others, deepening into a practice of cross-cultural community living. As North Americans,as well as white Americans, we had and have a lot to shift in our world view and actions around being the greatest.

At each site, we not only visited and exchanged information, but also joined in events and participated in community undertakings. Further, we are increasingly aware of the need to use scarce resources wisely, and further called to limit our travel because of its true cost to the environment. We were deeply aware of the need to make this journey count on many levels, given its carbon footprint. Among other things, we, literally and metaphorically, planted trees all along the way.

• Who is co-creating effective models for peaceful, connected and regenerative ways of life?
• What can we learn from these people and what can we offer them?
• How can we integrate the different strands together, creating the best potential outcome for all?
• Given our increased awareness of the interdependence of the international community and the natural world, how can we live in right relations now and for generations to come?
• What does it mean to be a Global Citizen? What does it mean to “Go Glocal,” or to think and act locally and globally simultaneously?

In 1980, Gigi traveled to projects and communities in the U.S., researching what, by some, were considered, ‘alternative’ systems, meeting and learning with individuals and groups committed to sustainable living practices and the healing of self, others, and the planet. It, however, was her work and time with dolphins and whales, the oldest brains on this water planet, that most informed and inspired her. Each experience and project were seeds for a life work focused on international citizen diplomacy, council ways, community activism and service as a passage guide. All were seeds of inspiration for the BB 2009 journey.

It was in 2007, while fasting in the desert that she dreamed and developed – the 2009 Beyond Boundaries Pilgrimage. She was called again – to go on “ a “pilgrimage” of service, a different definition and use of that word than that referring to and enacted by many of our Western European ancestors. The word, she and others feel, needs remembering, re- defining and reliving into the best of its meaning as sacred passage… The journey was intended to connect many of the people and places, both those who had struggled to maintain as well as those pioneering alternative living systems. She contacted many named herein, based on years of accumulated relationships with individuals and organizations both local and global. She was joined by her partner Win Phelps and together, they invited a small intergenerational group to join them. Together, they made quite a time and are still travelling in deep connection with each other and all they learned today.

The Team

Will Scott, Siri Gunnarson, Shay Sloan, Emilia Dahlin, Aaron Frederick, Sam Deboskey, Gigi and Win

* With special mention of (Sierra) Sally Silverstone, who held our base camp throughout at 3 Creeks and now has passed over.

Will was an aspiring agent of change and a student learning all he could about how to rebalance human systems on the planet. Today he continues to learn, and also teaches much of the same.

Aaron joined the Beyond Boundaries journey in 2009 after 10 years developing an off-grid island-based leadership and ecology education school-driven to transform the human-nature relationship from extractive to regenerative. Today, Aaron works with institutions, investors and startups addressing social and environmental challenges using dialogue and a dialogic approach, a close-cousin to the Council practice of Beyond Boundaries.

Emilia was an adventurer, hopeful gardener, and touring songwriter who was tired and searching for more connection, which she found. She’s now a mother, change agent, and teaching artist who still writes/performs songs and tends the earth and relationships.

Sam was bright eyed and bushy tailed, aspiring farmer/cowboy, poet, and mentee…now farmer, guide, less bright eyed, poet and community organizer/organizee in Denver,CO.

In 2009 Win was grateful to be exploring intentional community, ancestry & roots, nature divine, and “what is my give-away?”… listening deeply to a wider circle. Now, he’s feeling angry, grieving, selfish, afraid, open, loving, and still grateful… feeling communion, song, and the divine in all things–still in service, learning life/death. Yearning to awaken from the script of the cultural trance, he wants to better listen to Mother’s voice.

Siri was the wildcard who joined last minute, jumped all-in, fell in love easily and kept the pilgrimage going for many years, returning to beloved watering holes many times. These days she is slowing down, dancing frequently, and bringing her inquiry and love towards justice, healing and regeneration with the places, networks, organizations and individuals she serves.

Shay was a student of the human-nature relationship timing out on a decade of being a younger working with younger youth for social and community development, empowerment and connection. She is now married, mother to a toddler, and living, loving and working for all ages with and for The Ojai Foundation, an essential watering hole on our pilgrimage.