What is a Vision Quest and Why Do One?
December 10, 2018Each of us comes
to this world with a destiny. Along the way, fate intervenes, and we find
ourselves at a crossroads. During these times, it’s common to feel an urgency to
re-examine priorities and how we want to live the rest of our lives. The Vision
Quest is a ceremony of confirmation, initiation, and integration that serves as
a guide to remembering our true and essential nature.
It’s a time of
solitude, supported by appropriate ceremonies, dedicated to seeking a vision
that will enhance the meaning and direction of the seeker’s life. During this
time, the quester gives up shelter, physical comforts, food, and the company of
other humans. By revealing itself as a mirror to life experiences, nature becomes
the teacher and serves as a catalyst for transformation. It’s as if the Earth
speaks, making visible the previously unseen. Bear becomes a symbol for inner
strength, Tree reminds of of our inner resources, and Sunrise is a new
beginning. These images act as guides that inform us of our desires and invite
us to act accordingly.
Given the dire
cultural, political, and environmental problems that currently threaten the
world, we are all at a crossroads. There’s no single political movement, belief
system, or think tank that can save us. What’s required is that each of us live
a life imbued with purpose and meaning, and that we share our unique gifts in a
meaningful way that serves the Earth and the greater community of all living
beings. How we emerge from this time of transition and what the future holds
depends on who we become. The Vision Quest helps us to know who we are and what
is meant to happen through us so that we can be the elders the next generation
needs.
Posted by Corinna Stevenson.