Frequently Asked Questions — Vision Quest
What is a Vision Quest?
A Vision Quest is an ancient ceremonial rite of passage. It invites you to step from one stage of life to another. Traditionally, it marks the transition from adolescence into adulthood. We have many stages and transitions throughout our lives. The vision quest is a time to enter into a deeper relationship with yourself and nature, to listen for what is asking to emerge at a time of change or transition.
Do I need to know what my “vision” is before I come?
You do not need to arrive with answers. Often, part of the purpose of the Quest is to make space for the questions that are already living within you.
Is a Vision Quest religious?
The Vision Quest is a spiritual and nature-based ceremony, but you do not need to belong to any particular religion or faith. People come from many different backgrounds.
Why do people go on a Vision Quest?
People may come at a threshold in their lives: a change, loss, ending, beginning or a feeling that something new is asking to be born. Others come because they are longing for a deeper connection with themselves, the natural world or their sense of purpose.
What does the preparation involve?
Preparation is an important part of the Vision Quest. Before stepping into the ceremony, participants are invited to write a letter sharing a little of their life history and story, including what is calling them to do the quest at this time. One month before the initiate takes a medicine walk from dawn to dusk, they write up the experience to send to me. This supports reflecting on your intention and helps with practical and emotional preparation.
Will I be alone in the wilderness?
There is a period of solitude (four days and nights), as part of the Vision Quest, but you are not simply left alone without support. The ceremony is carefully prepared and held within an agreed structure, with guidance and support throughout the wider process. While you are in your alone time on the land, we hold a base camp.
How physically demanding is a Vision Quest?
There is a certain physical ability required – we have a medical questionnaire that helps determine this. That said, some people come along for a vision quest at a very special time in their life, like a serious diagnosis; some people have special needs, or are on drugs for health conditions. This is all possible and can be incorporated into an individual’s quest. Before attending, you can discuss any questions or concerns about the practical and physical aspects of the Quest.
What if I have never camped or spent much time in the wilderness?
Previous wilderness experience is not necessarily required. The important thing is a willingness to prepare, learn and enter the experience with care and respect. Practical guidance is provided.
What happens if difficult emotions arise?
Vision Quest can bring us into contact with many parts of ourselves—grief, fear, joy, uncertainty, longing and love. These experiences are approached with care, preparation and respect. You do not have to face the wider process without guidance and support.
What happens when I return from the Quest?
The return is an important part of the ceremony. Time is given for reflection, listening, and storytelling, and for beginning the process of bringing what you have experienced back into your everyday life.
Is a Vision Quest about finding a single clear answer for my life?
Not necessarily. Sometimes we return with clarity; sometimes with a deeper question. The value of the Quest may be less about receiving a single answer and more about entering into a new relationship with yourself, the land and the life that is asking to be lived.
Do you offer your vision quests alone, with a team or with an assistant?
I do not offer my quests alone. I offer my vision quests with an assistant/apprentice as part of the team.
If I feel hungry, I’ll get weak while I’m fasting. What do I do?
We offer much preparation before you step into your solo time; we suggest drinking water. And if you feel really worried, you can come in for support at the base camp.
Frequently Asked Questions — The Way of Council
What is the Way of Council?
The Way of Council is a practice of listening deeply and speaking from the heart. It offers a space where each person can be heard without interruption, judgment or the need to fix one another. Through story, silence and attentive presence, Council can open new ways of understanding ourselves, each other and the world.
Do I need any previous experience of Council?
No. Some courses are designed especially for those who are completely new to Council, while others are for people wishing to deepen their practice or learn to tend and facilitate circles.
What happens in a Council circle?
We sit together in a circle and follow a simple set of intentions that support heartfelt speaking and compassionate listening. There may be silence, story, laughter, tears and reflection. No one is required to speak; as we become comfortable and the circle deepens, we use many different forms of council, such as fishbowl dyad and spiral.
What if I am shy or uncomfortable speaking in a group?
You are welcome exactly as you are. Council is not about performing, speaking beautifully or having the right words. Silence is also part of the practice, and you will never be forced to speak.
Is Council a form of therapy?
Council can be deeply healing, but it is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment. It is a practice of presence, listening and authentic human connection.
Will I be expected to share very personal things?
You are always free to choose what you share and what you keep private. Council invites honesty, but it does not demand disclosure.
What makes the Way of Council different from an ordinary discussion group?
In Council, we practise listening without preparing a response, interrupting, debating or trying to solve another person's experience. The emphasis is on presence, story, and the coexistence of many truths.
Can Council help me in my everyday life?
Many people find that the practice gradually changes the way they listen, speak and relate to others, in their families, friendships, communities and professional lives.
Who are the courses for?
The courses/trainings and retreats may appeal to people longing for deeper connection, community, and meaning, including therapists, health carers, teachers, activists, and those moving through important transitions in their lives.
What is the role of nature in your Council courses?
Nature is another important presence in the circle, as a teacher, a witness, and a source of reflection. Some Council ceremonies and retreats take the practice beyond the room and into direct relationship with the land.