The Vision Quest

"You must leave everything behind... you must go to a place apart and sacred to nature... here you must be tried. You must face the dragon... you must wait for wisdom, your guide... then your eyes will be opened. You will see what you have to give, what you have to do... you must return to your people and give away to them." (Steven Foster & Meredith Little)    

When someone goes on a vision quest they are taking a major life step of asking the divine to show them their purpose in life and to help (and often deeply change) them in order to be able to fulfil that purpose. A vision quest is an intentional time of solitude, awareness and ceremony in nature. This time with Great Spirit was, and still is, considered very important by Native Americans in order to know the role of each member of the tribe. Rather than using the approach of another culture our vision quests have developed in their own organic way over the last ten years or so. We have held them for several hundred people in that time, and still do for individuals, couples and small groups by request.

A vision quest is also often called 'a rite of passage'. This means it is an intentionally structured threshold experience, a kind of challenging soul crossing, with three specific stages. Each stage has its own key tasks and requirements for the quester. The three progressive stages are known to be the naturally patterned way that transformation actually takes place within the human soul (psyche). By marking these stages deliberately through ritual or ceremony in a vision quest we build a stronger structure where insight and change might more effectively take place.  

It is considered that if one properly commits to a vision quest then undertakes it in a sacred manner, then this basic goodness toward life will, in turn, be honoured. The gift of being shown your purpose and the power to fulfil it comes into your direct experience before, during and / or following your quest. Having your quest 'responded to' by the divine may be a subtle, powerful, beautiful, challenging, direct, mysterious  and / or nourishing experience or even a real ordeal. An experienced facilitator (wise elder or shaman) and, ideally, a welcoming community of friends upon return, can help you to begin to see, honour and accept what you have actually experienced and been 'given'.  

Being in solitude in nature during your quest you will experience your own interactions with nature and spirit. The power of the weather and other elements, animals, plants, earth and sky all become part of your unique retreat teaching, messages or 'myth'. It also often involves a real confrontation with the challenges of your own character, limitations or fears. These become transformational opportunities for the Self through vision questing because we are more a part of nature as the heart of life, and better able to recognise from her the surrender or changes we need to make.  

With us the preparation for your quest, and the return phase after it, each involve two Self-awareness sessions, some pre-reading, activities before and after the quest, and an openness to potentially major change. Our vision quests are at least 3 days, with at least a full day in solitude with nature. These are held at (and near) our retreat or in other suitable natural locations in Australia. The cost begins at $1200. Extra costs depend on location and any additional guidance and support required. 

"Our demons are our own limitations, which shut us off from the realisation of the spirit... each of these demons is conquered in a vision quest." Joseph Campbell