Vision Quest

The vision quest itself is where a person retreats deep into nature and spend several days without any human contact to become closer to themselves and to God. The vision quest as I understand is in a sense of the word, a right of passage, from teenage to adult, and takes several years to completely finish. It seems to be a great adventure, with all the criteria that the “participant” has to meet when on the actual vision quest. The only main thing that would be less appealing is the fact that the participant will be confronted by their own fears. But I suppose this would be another way to become more familiar with yourself. There are many benefits to going on a vision quest, other than maturity, like curing illness, realizing ones own personal wisdom, appreciation of life, and confidence in oneself. The person doing the vision quest must be able to fast, camp out for long periods, have knowledge of first aid, have some knowledge of spiritual practices and be comfortable with solitude.

Is this a wide spread practice or is it mainly just native American cultures?

Vision Quest

Vision quest what does that mean. Vision is the ability to see and quest is a trip or adventure. A vision quest to me is a quest to become closer to God. I feel that in a vision quest you will be able to feel and see the spirit of God. They where first taken by the Native Americans and the where rite of passages. These quest normally lasted two to four days. These would normally take place on a holy mountain. I feel that we close to the Native Americans because some people follow what God shows them what is wrong and right.

Vision Quest-Aravind Reddy

A vision quest is a person undertaking that one person takes to develop a closer relationship with God. This period of development could last from several months to even days and weeks. This person would only take water with him as a sort of fasting for God and then continue fasting for that duration of period, whether it be several months or just days. This period of solitude for that person will helps them gain the wisdom and intellect they need to develop the closer relationship with God.Sometime during that period, the person is said to have some kind of revelation, in any way possible that would help get a solid relationship, and take that revelation and interpret it to gain wisdom. In this way, the person will get nature's first elements and seek out a solitary confinement with only God.
My question to this to this is what exactly is a totem and is this vision quest really a quest for a deeper relationship with God, or to gain the wisdom and intellect to provide a foundation for a good relationship? I was also wondering if other religions have this kind of quest?

Vision Quest

A vision quest is a personal experience where we try to find meaning in life. It can be related to God, as Catholics and Native Americans believe but does not necessarily have to be. It is a time of solitude where one spends time away from society meditating and focusing on the purpose of their being. In Native American beliefs, it is spent in the widerness, usually a holy place like a mountain. The Subject is said to possibly have a vision, or a dream-like revelation, that is usually interpreted by the Holy Man, similar to a Priest. These quests are sometimes said to grant gifts, similar to the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
How many other world religions practice meditations like this? Are the pilgriamges to the western wall in Jerusalem by Jews and the voyage to Meccah by Muslims the same sort of spiritual finding as the vision quest?

A vision quest is a period of time that we set aside in order to seek a personal revelation from God about our lives or our relationship with him. It is usual a period of solitude that takes place in the wilderness or a special place where one can be silent and listen to what God has to say. It also usually involves fasting in that the person generally only drinks water. It lasts about two to four days. There are a series of things that you must be able to do for preparation in order to have a successful vision quest. It is a sacred time where the veils between this world and the next are pulled aside. When the quest is over, the person most often leaves with an answer to their problem or a specific message from God about what they are to do in their lives.
My question is do people today still take part in these vision quests? Are they common in any other religion besides Indian? Would it be difficult to participate in a vision quest in this day and age with all of the dangers the wilderness possesses?

Vision Quest

A vision quest is a personal experience a person undertakes to grow closer to God. A vision quest is a period of concentrated meditation that can last for several days to several months.The seeker takes only water with him and fasts for the duration of the quest. His purpose of the quest is to seek wisdom, discernment, or spiritual growth. In the Native American tradition, the quest begins in the teenage years and is continued periodically throughout his life. The seeker removes himself from society and retreats to the wilderness and waits for God to speak to him. This can come in the form of an actual vision, a symbolic action on the part of nature, or perhaps nothing will happen at all. By retreating to the wilderness, the seeker attempts to reconnect the elemental forces that created the universe and inspired the prophets of old.

What exactly is a Native American totem, and why is it imbued with the ability to speak? Why does God seem speak to us through the wilderness but not our everyday lives?

Vision Quest

To me a vision quest is something done not only to help you get closer to God, but something to help you free your mind of all the burdens that you have on your heart and mind. It is a way to get in touch with nature and an attempt to help better yourself as a human being. Although the method may seem strange it makes sense to cast all worldly things aside and focus on nature and the beauty of Gods earth to help seek guidance. My question is what do other cultures/ religions do that is similer to a vision quest? It seems like a very rewarding experence that could also potentially be achevied in different ways.

Vision Quest

A vision quest is a great way to connect ourselves with God and also our inner self. When you
take a vision quest, you have to separate yourself from all material things. By doing this you are
focusing only on yourself and opening your mind to the spiritual realm. During a vision quest, you ask questions like, "Who am I" and "What is my purpose". Some people who have gone on a vision quest say that they heard voices in the wind speaking to them. They also say that they saw a vision that may have the answer that they were seeking. Most of the time, they don't understand the vision until several months or years. I think that the vision quest is a great example of self-sacrifice and learning that there is more to our life than meets the eye.

One question that I have is, Can you truly find your inner self by taking a vision quest? Are we recieving a divine intervention from the Lord and finding our real purpose in life, or is our mind telling us that we have found oursef after living in the wilderness for 3-4 days with only water. There is a difference between what is real and what our mind wants us to believe is real.

Kayla

A vision quest is a great way to get to know God and create a one on one relationship with him. Black Elk described the vision quest by his own experience. It reminds me of the Bible story when Jacob rested upon a rock and saw a vision from God. A famous bible verse "Be still and know that I am God" goes right along with the idea of a vision quest. During the quest one goes out to listen to what God is telling them to do and how to live their life under God and for God. If we will just be still and listen to what God is telling us it would be much easier to get to know him. The Native Americans believed the same thing. They would go out in the wilderness to fast, pray, and meditate to find God. We should all practice in that way to leave for God!
Some questions I had about the vision quest was how do they know that God is speaking to them? Many times I hear people say well God spoke to me today. Is their really a voice that if more than one person was their would be able to hear or is it all internal?

Vision Quest

After reading the information given to you in the link, write a summary according to the instructions. In your post, ask any questions that you might have. You will be able to re-visit this BLOG to read my replies.

Original Post due September 30th.
Answers to you questions will be on or before October 5th