Vision Quests

During a time of deep crisis in my life, I was led to The Book of the Vision Quest by Steven Foster with Meredith Little. I felt the call to fast on sacred ground and, after making contact with Steven and Meredith, made my quest in Eureka Valley, California early in 1996, and was trained to lead vision quests at their School of Lost Borders. The vision quest has been life-changing for me and, since 1998, I've been offering the experience to others in the Arizona desert.

If you feel called to quest with Sacred Ground, contact me for more information about upcoming quests. I am a member of the Wilderness Guides Council. If the dates for my quests don't work for you, you may be able to find a suitable time with one of the other fine guides listed there.

So... What Is A Vision Quest? "A term made popular in the current revival of shamanism, referring to a long-established practice common to the American Indians, Siberian shamans, and Australian Aborigines, in which the seeker of self-knowledge and spiritual power…enters upon a deliberate ordeal of seclusion, fasting, and prayer, with the aim of self-purification and the hope of receiving a vision that will show him his true path in life. The supreme example occurs in the memoirs of Black Elk." - The Seeker's Handbook, John Lash

Why Go On A Vision Quest?
You will go because you must! If you do not understand this, the time may not be right for you.

Who Should Begin A Quest? Not you, unless you have reached a point in your life where you know you must die to something and come alive to something else! Do you need to make a transition to a new phase of your life? Do you need healing? Do you need answers? Do you feel drawn to books, articles and websites about vision questing? If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may be called to quest. When Should I Go? Only you will know when the time is right. Listen to your heart. Does it cry out for a transformative breakthrough? If so, maybe the time is now, and you can contact me about the dates of upcoming quests. If not, do not feel that you must quest because it is "cool", your friends are doing it, etc. There are many valuable spiritual experiences, and this is only one. Perhaps something else would be more appropriate for you at this time. The vision quest can be difficult, painful spirituality for many! Unless you hear the call, you may not be able to complete it.

Where Should I Quest? Guides take out questers to remote spots all over the world. Sacred Ground uses various locations in Arizona selected according to the season, weather, etc. The final decision isn't made until the week of the quest. We look for places where we can establish a good base camp, with plenty of room for questers to find solo sites with complete solitude. Left: Three questers return from their fast.

How Do I Do It?
First, find a guide. If you want to go on a Sacred Ground vision quest, I will send you the appropriate Handbook (Youth or Adult version) and other extensive information as soon as you register. You will begin accumulating equipment, defining the intent for your quest, and making other preparations. Finally, the time for your quest will arrive. Here's the typical sequence for the event that we follow at Sacred Ground:

Sunday:
Rendezvous at a predetermined location and drive to base camp. Set up base camp, share stories, sharpen intents, discuss possible ceremonies, and go over safety procedures.

Monday:
Continue discussion from Sunday, find solo spots, share a "last supper", and participate in a sweat lodge.

Tuesday:
Pack your gear and ceremonially leave the group for your four day and night solo fast.
(You'll be required to drink at least one gallon of water a day while on your fast.)

On Thursday or Friday you will keep an all-night vigil within a ritually constructed circle of stones.

Saturday: Return to base camp for ceremonial welcome. Light breakfast, packing, and erasure of all trace of our presence. Drive to a hot spring, stream or lake. Set up a new base camp, rest, clean up, review journal entries, and eat. Sunday: Elder's Council convenes to hear your vision quest story. The "elders" are a group of people who have gone through the quest and have a gift for interpreting stories. They will honor your story and mirror back the gifts you have received. This council will continue on Monday if we have more than four questers.

Questions? ... Please E-Mail me!

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