It's Vision Quest Season--How to Do Your Own!

By Laureen Rama
Published in The Journey Magazine
Spring, 1997

Here are some general guidelines, for those without a cultural tradition, for doing your own vision quest retreat. These guidelines incorporate approaches from around the world. You can go on a solitary retreat to receive clarity about your future, heal your past, or develop a stronger connection with nature. You will come away knowing yourself better and feeling more powerful and alive.

It is easiest to achieve deep results in nature, but you can also do a solitary retreat in the backyard or living room. These steps apply whether you're doing a multi-day, or just a few hour, quest.

Preparation

Clean your body from the inside out. Avoid drugs, alcohol, and caffeine and eat fresh, pure foods for at least three days before your quest. The night before, or the morning you start your quest, take a sweat bath or soak for 20 minutes in a salt water bath (3 cups of epsom or sea salts).

Ask someone to hold the vision for you, to be thinking of you and your well-being while you are questing. This person should also know where you are, so they can find you in case you don't return on time.

To prepare yourself mentally and spiritually, start focusing on your intention for the quest as far ahead of time as you can.

Learn a spiritual practice to use during the quest time e.g., shamanic practice, meditation, sacred dance. This will enhance your ability to be receptive to the inner and spiritual messages you will receive during your retreat.

Plan out and prepare all the physical details in advance so you will have minimal distracting "fuss time" during the quest.

Decide the site and the time--for women it is often best to do it during your menstrual period when you are most internal and receptive, for men or women you may wish to take advantage of Full or New moon energy. Use your intuition to sense the best time too. Factor in the weather and natural hazards (e.g., early September is prime bear time in the Rockies).

The Quest

For men it is helpful to fast. For women, eating lightly ( e.g., rye crackers, rice cakes) is usually best. Sorry guys, but sometimes you need a little physical deprivation to be really receptive!

Do a personal ritual to mark the beginning of the quest. This may involve resolving past issues so they won't get in your way during the quest, e.g., resolve to let go of old feelings about someone, put them into a little bundle of herbs wrapped in cloth, and bury the bundle.

During your quest repeat the intention of your quest in your mind or out loud--pray for guidance and/or healing continually. Find a spot and stay close to it. Stay awake! Pay Attention !!! Messages may be coming to you from anywhere--a voice in your head, the shapes of passing clouds, animals that come to visit you.

In closing, ask how to incorporate your new insights into your life. Do a ritual of gratitude.

Afterwards, tell the story of your quest to one trusted person primed to listen, preferably the person who was holding the vision for you. Decide if and how you will share this with others.

Live your vision!