Vision Quest
It is hard to imagine making any important change in life without an inward journey. Think of Christ going into the desert for forty days. It is in our own internal deserts that we remember what really matters.
- Peter Block, The Answer to How is Yes
A vision quest is a life-affirming, and life-transforming experience. It is a deep spiritual and psychological process – designed to help you find meaning and growth in life’s major transitions. You may be engaged in a career change, a marriage or divorce, a professional or relationship challenge, or a question about what is next in your life.
The centerpiece of the vision quest is the “solo” - time spent alone and fasting in the wilderness. This gives you a rare opportunity to truly be with yourself, nature and Spirit in a way that most people never do in a lifetime. Expert coaching prepares you for and helps you integrate your solo experience.
“It was a stretch to fast for three days in the wilderness. But I really wanted to see what would happen, being alone with God, nature and my own thoughts. It was amazing. The clarity I got about my purpose has impacted every part of my life. Many years after the quest, I am still drawing on the experience to help me be more effective in every area of my life, from my marriage to my parenting, to my leadership role.”
- Sanford C. Wilder, President/CEO, Communico, Ltd.
Three Phases of the Vision Quest
Preparation – 4 coaching sessions (phone or in-person)
Your preparation takes the form of a series of conversations and reflective homework. We look at the life you’ve led up until now. We discover deep themes of values and purpose; and patterns of thought and behavior that have served you well, and some that may have held you back. We uncover your greatest strengths, most significant challenges, deepest desires and largest questions. The preparation reveals changes you are ready to make in lifestyle, work and/or relationships. It prepares you mentally and spiritually to take full advantage of the time spent alone in nature.
For most clients, a Symbols Way process is an integral part of the preparation, taking place just prior to the solo.
Wilderness Solo - one to five days
The solo is time alone in the silence and beauty of the wilderness. This is a time-honored, safe and challenging means for stretching your heart and mind wide open. The experience is beyond words. It takes you to places in yourself that no seminar, conference or self-help book can. You’re immersed in the raw elements of nature, altering your perceptions and giving you fresh perspectives.
You separate from the familiar - relationships, work, home, reading, activities and the many ways of filling up our lives and defining who we are. The solo takes us away from all the distractions of life, creating an opportunity to encounter what is most essential. Most people choose to fast during the solo with water only. Fasting is a powerful way to empty out and open up.
The solo can take a few different forms. You may be camping for three days in the wilderness; or retreating to a remote cabin; or wandering from dawn to dusk in a national forest or state park (see Formats, below). You don’t have to be an experienced outdoors person to do the solo. We’ll design a format that both stretches you and creates the optimal conditions for deep renewal and change.
The solo starts when I leave you at your site, after helping you orient physically and spiritually. Depending on the length of time, I may also check on you once during the solo.
Incorporation – Post-solo debrief and 2 coaching sessions (phone or in-person)
The incorporation phase begins with your return from the solo At the end of your solo, I meet you and we talk about your experience in detail, unearthing the obvious and not-so-obvious meanings. Further conversation over the next several weeks helps you move from insight to action. You start doing what it takes to align your day-to-day thoughts, words and actions with the wisdom gained from your solo. You begin practices to help ensure that your inner transformation shows up in your external life and that your growth is lasting.
FORMATS
Vision Quest I: Wilderness Fast
8 to 12 weeks total, including coaching and Symbols Way. Three days and nights camping and fasting alone in mountains of Colorado.
Vision Quest II: Cabin Solo
8-12 weeks total, including coaching and Symbols Way. 3-5 days solo at a mountain cabin in Colorado.
Vision Quest III: Day in Nature
8 weeks total, including coaching and Symbols Way. Dawn to dusk or 24-hour camping solo.
Proposals for any of the above formats will be prepared upon request. All formats can be modified to fit individual needs.
The First Step
If the vision quest intrigues you, the first step is to have a conversation to explore the possibilities. Call 303-440-7898 or email burke(at)spiritriverinstitute.com. We’re happy to provide you with a detailed outline and fee structure tailored to you.