Native American Tradition Of A Vision Quest – How To Enter The Spiritual World

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages. com - Native Americans believe that we were put on Earth for a special reason, but we often do not know why, and without this knowledge, we feel lost and confused. That’s why Native Americans practice a vision quest meant to open the door to the spiritual world and help us find our path in life.

A vision quest is a very important Native American tradition, and it usually consists of a series of ceremonies led by Elders.

Credit: Adobe Stock - Свет Лана

A vision quest attempts to achieve a vision of a future guardian spirit, often through fasting, isolation, and meditation. This process is strongly associated with the Native American Indian belief in animism, founded upon the belief that all creation has a soul or spirit, including animals and plants.

How Native Americans’ Perform A Vision Quest

When a boy is young, he must try to understand his purpose in life. Therefore, he must experience a vision quest.

The boy would not know what his role in the tribe; much less his life would be if he were to have an unsuccessful vision quest. Not everyone gets a vision quest the first time they go for a vision. Some people can take two to three times before they get their first vision. But once you have a successful quest, you have your strength for life.

A sacred site usually has a circle of rocks. Credit: Adobe Stock - Krzysztof Wiktor

Among Native Americans, a vision quest is a rite of passage, the most important event in one’s life. It means a person leaves one group to enter another and involves a significant change of status in society.

Before a vision quest can take place, the young boy must visit a medicine man and ask if he can enter the spiritual path and find the answers to his questions. If the medicine man agrees, they both go into the village sweat lodge so that the boy can purify his soul and meet his spirit animal.

"There are ancient secrets and lessons hidden in nature. If you seek for guidance, you will discover truth." —Bobby Lake-Thom.

The process includes a complete fast for four days and nights. Next, the boy must go alone to a sacred site in nature chosen by the Elders for this purpose. This sacred site usually has a circle of rocks about ten feet wide where he sits.

There, the young boy must spend the next two to four days becoming one with nature. After a while, the youngster will have a vision in which he will meet his spirit animal. This signals the end of the vision quest, and the boy is free to return to his tribe. A vision quest can also be performed when guidance is needed later in life.

First Attempt To Get A Vision Quest Is Not Always Successful And Must Be Repeated

Getting a vision quest for the first time is not always possible. Sometimes, the process must be repeated twice or three times before one can get a vision. What is important to Native Americans is that once you get a vision quest, you understand your purpose in life and can help the world. A vision quest is not about having fun and playing games. The ultimate goal is to get strength for life.

It should be noted that only boys can go on a vision quest.

Not everyone gets a vision quest the first time they go for a vision. Some people can take it two to three times before they get their first vision. But once you have a successful quest, you have your strength for life.

Updated on May 31, 2024

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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