Traditional Vision Quest

Colorado Vision Quest Colorado

 

Are you yearning to connect to nature and look deeply at who and what you really are?

The Traditional Vision Quest is calling you…

Vision Quest Ceremony

Colorado Vision Quest

You come face to face with yourself and get to know more deeply who you are, and who you are not. With all the distractions and the noise of daily life removed, and the voices of those around you silenced, you are more able to hear the whisperings of your soul reminding you why you came here in this life. Four days and four nights – just you alone with the Creator.” ~ Malcolm Ringwalt

Many cultures have used the Vision Quest as a rite of passage into adulthood, but the transformational power of questing extends well beyond that purpose. Questors are often at a “fork in the road”, seeking clarity as to which path to take next. Questing brings our bodies and minds to a place of acceptance and stillness where we can feel and know the tuggings of our Hearts and the Light within us. We receive insights into our Purpose in Life, opening a more meaningful and rewarding contribution to Creation.

This ancient practice of Self-discovery has survived the millennia for one reason: it works!

July 5-12, 2025 (Saturday through the following Saturday); held near Dolores, Colorado; application deadline June 5, 2025; suggested donation $800 (ranging from $400-1200; deposit $150). Enrollment limited to 10.

For other dates and locations of Vision Quests in the tradition of Grandfather Stalking Wolf please see the Hearts of Fire website.

Our life’s journey is re-enlivened with the passions of the heart and we are better able to reflect the peace, perfection, and creativity of the Universe. The Mystics that inspired all of the world’s major religions used questing to connect with their Higher Selves and touch the wisdom of Silence. But this ancient practice is open to every Seeker and remains a powerful tool for bringing Light into your life and the world. 

The mechanism of Questing is to break away from the daily moment-to-moment distractions that diminish our Awareness and keep us from looking Within. It is a sacrifice of self, a denial of all the ways we avoid encountering our deepest Truths. It is a fast from all things familiar except water*. It is a commitment to know the Truth, refusing old patterns.

* Consult your physician before attempting the fast. Exceptions to fasting will be made when warranted by medical conditions.  Fasting is an important element for questing, one with multiple benefits, but it is not *the* most important element. We would much rather compromise around the fast than deny a quest. Participants will bring a sleeping bag, warm clothing, and rain gear.  Meals are provided before and after the 4-day Quest.

Each questor remains alone in their quest circle in the purity of nature. A traditional Vision Quest lasts four days and nights, an interval that allows for robust exploration of our human experience: body, emotion, mind, and spirit. Our most pressing questions are answered and we are invariably led to a settled place of expanded awareness and stillness. This awareness is a gateway for endless possibilities of the Heart.

Facilitated questing offers guidance, protection, and support before, during, and after the solo experience. We use a communication system each day that ensures each questor’s safety and privacy.  To maximize the benefits of questing, our programs include time before the Quest, for preparation, as well as afterwards for reflection and guidance on understanding the experience.

The ceremony we teach comes from Grandfather Stalking Wolf (Lipan), passed down to Tom Brown, Jr. The teaching was then passed to Malcolm Ringwalt, Bear Povisils, and Chuck Goewey, and in turn, onto us. Grandfather’s Vision, in part, was to find the common spiritual truths among the world’s religions and cultures. As such, this Quest is not necessarily Lipan but, rather, the pure simplicity of the quest experience without cultural additions that can make the quest unique to particular traditions.  Thus, this quest is suitable for everyone regardless of religious or cultural background.

The traditional vision quest helped me to shed the parts of my past that no longer serve me. Allowing me to step onto my soul’s path with ease and confidence. Matt and the protectors served my human needs with love and understanding. ~Joules Avellino, Traditional Quest 2020

The most incredible experience of my life and the most impacting has left me truly a different person. ~Douglas Caputo, Traditional Quest 1998, 2002

I gained a testimony, there in that circle, that outer does reflect inner, that we are at one with nature. I was centered in a part of myself that was prepared to accept my future as it unfolded before me one day at a time. The process can be difficult but I recommend it to anyone who would like to connect with their deeper self. ~Aaron Watt, Traditional Quest 1996

I quested in 2006 which planted the seeds in my soul and gave me the courage to step into the next phase of my life. It was so amazing and worth it! Now, 14 years later, I just completed a 2nd vision quest with ‘The Source Within.’ Here I have received my calling! . . . I absolutely LOVE that this happens without the use of any substances except water to drink, and fasting. It is literally just me, creation, and the Creator. . . . Thank you!!! ~Jennifer Hansen, Traditional Quest 2006, 2020

Check out this inspiring video from our friends at Nature Philosophy Australia!

The ultimate aim of the quest must be neither release nor ecstasy for oneself, but the wisdom and the power to serve others.” ~ Joseph Campbell

The remaining day [of my Vision Quest] was like a vivid dream, connected with self and all things around me. I felt as if I could sit in this place unafraid for the rest of my life. I realized that all fear was of my own making, all events were of my own choosing, and my path was a series of choices. I knew then that I had to choose to live a spiritual life close to nature and nature’s ruler, rather than the empty and dead-end existence of fleshly society. I needed to choose a pure reality filled with excitement, adventure, and intensity—a life of rapture rather than a life of comfort, security, and boredom like everyone else was choosing. ~Tom Brown, Jr. (excerpted from The Vision)