The vision quest is a time-honored rite of passage common to cultures throughout the world.
In ancient Ireland, the vision quest was called the Tarbfheis. In Norse lands, it was referred to as the Utiseta. Japan’s aboriginal Ainu petition the Kamui to seek their life’s mission. Many Native American cultures had various names for their own types of Vision Quests. The Lakota referred to it as Hanbleceya. The Bwiti of Africa ingest the psychoactive drug iboga to aid their vision quests.
These vision quests were often accomplished through the aid of some sort of spirit animal. According to anthropologist Brandon Bledsoe,
“The bear’s position of prominence within the totemic dominance hierarchy, in each of these groups, is the result of a common ancestral belief-system of Asiatic origin dating back to the time of the Magdalenian period of 20,000 years ago. The Sami, the ancient Finns, the Tungus, the Gilyaks and various other tribes of Siberia, the Ainu of Japan, and Native North American groups, such as the Algonkins and Tlingit, all derived this belief (more or less intact) from the bear cult of prehistoric times.”
Throughout the world since ancient times dating back to at least the Magdalenian Period, the vision quest has been practiced, and still is in many cultures and traditions to this day.
The vision quest is used to determine life’s purpose. People who undertake a vision quest report increased connection to self, connection to others, spiritual connection, and self-empowerment (Riley & Hendee, 2000). The vision quest itself may take on many forms, but for this activity we will be using the form of the all-night vigil.
If you choose to do this activity, first find a place that calls out to you. It may be your own outdoor sacred space, or some other place that feels full of energy to you. Make sure it is a place that you will be undisturbed for the duration of the night. Dress in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You may wish to take a blanket with you to ward off the chill night air if you live in a temperate zone or if it is autumn or winter where you live.
When you have arrived at your sacred space, first ask permission to use the space, then make an offering and express gratitude as outlined in Activity 3: The Bell Branch. Next, sit or stand comfortably and ground and center yourself.
You may wish to perform a mindful meditation. It may help to build a campfire or to light a candle to give you a center of focus.
Once you feel you are ready, ask the Universe to reveal your life purpose to you, and wait for a reply. Sometimes this reply may come as a vision, or a dream, or just as a feeling in your spirit. Stay awake all night if possible, and greet the dawn with open acceptance.
Look for messages from the environment. Do the trees speak to you? Are you visited by any animals? A visit from your totem animal would be especially powerful at this time.
When your life’s mission is revealed, greet the dawn and offer thanks.
If your mission is not revealed, try again at another time, after preparing yourself through a period of meditation, fasting, and thanksgiving.
Bledsoe, Brandon. The Significance of the Bear Ritual Among the Sami and Other Northern Cultures, Sami Culture.
Going Tribal (2008). Babongo: African Vision Quest, BBC / Discovery Channel
Inikagapi & Hanblecheyapi, Indigenous Religious Traditions, Colorado College
Lloyd, Ellen (2019). Utiseta – Norse Vision Quest – Ancient Spiritual Tradition Of Northern Europe, AncientPages.com
Nakahara, Tetsuo (2008). ‘10,000-Year Fest’ Conjures Ainu Wisdom of Ages, Stripes Japan
Riley, Marilyn & Hendee, John. (2000). Wilderness Vision Quest Clients: Motivations and Reported Benefits from an Urban-Based Program 1988 to 1997.
Rituals and Charms (1998) The Sacred Fire
Robinson, Amanda (2018). Vision Quest, The Canadian Encyclopedia
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