Vision Quest -There is always a time for spirit - Institute for Contemporary Shamanic Studies

Vision Quest

There is always a time for spirit

A Weeklong Ceremonial Time: Time proven ceremonies, preserved over centuries, to guide the human spirit on its path of light.

The Canadian Shield in high summer, the Arizona desert at midnight, the deep woodlands and grand prairies of this Turtle Island we call home. These are the places and the spaces for vision. Vision Quest is a time to sit alone under the night sky, within the medicine wheel of life, calling to Spirit and making space for Spirit to call.

What others say about the program

“I have never felt more alive, more joyous, more in touch with my greatness, than the moment I walked out of my sacred circle and forward into my life.” – Early childhood educator

“It’s the best experience I could have chosen. I pushed the stop button on my busy life, and went out to nature and ‘heard’ what I really wanted from my life.” – Teacher

“I finally felt the abundance, the fullness of life. I felt renewed and complete.” – Parent and teacher

“By sitting under the deep dark night, alone with myself and Spirit, I touched and was touched by the sacred.” – Government worker

“The Vision Quest creates a foundation to live life in harmony. Surrounded by beauty and the aliveness of nature you can’t help but heal.” – Massage therapist

A Vision Quest is an ancient Rite of Passage for a young man or woman to declare their adulthood. They travel in ceremony into nature and dialogue with Spirit about past stories of hurt and pain. They fight the demons of judgements, expectations, self-pity, self-importance and the cries of the needy, wounded, abandoned child that lessens and wastes their potential in life. When this is done and the cup of the past is empty, then there is space for Spirit. Then there is time to sit with Spirit and cry for a vision. A vision to carry them forward into their life and into their heart’s desire. Upon their return they are feasted and celebrated. They tell their stories of the demons they conquered and of the life they have come home to live.

In the mixed blood world, many of us feel the loss of the Rites of Passage that guide us through the sensitive stages of growing up. We ‘fell’ into our lives, making choices based on fear or need of security, on what was culturally acceptable or even rebelling against all of the above. We also feel the absence of a time for Spirit. It surfaces in the few quiet moments of reflection our busy lives allow us as a real longing and a deep pain.

And so we invite you to take the time, to come to a Vision Quest ceremonial weeklong and allow us to guide you through time proven ceremonies to Spirit. It doesn’t matter what your age or physical ability, there is always a time and space for Spirit.