Secrets of Shamanism

206 SECRETS OF SHAMANISM

you wish. Place rocks also at the midpoints of the directions:

northeast, southwest, and so on.

You may wish to add additional rocks or objects around

the circle. Use the circle to journey in, or simply to be in for

a lift in your power. You will notice that it will tend to attract

birds and small animals, especially cats, who are very sensi-

tive to energy fields.

VISION QUEST

The vision quest is a timeless symbolic pilgrimage to a
personal power spot for inner guidance and clarity. Tradi-
tionally the vision quest tests and develops your personal
strength as you exercise patience and perseverance in your
wait for a vision. There are many forms of vision questing
from every continent of the world. Some are year-long iso-
lated walks in wild country that test survival skills as well as
spiritual fortitude. Some are treks to power locations, where
the questor remains for three days in hopes of a vision. Still
others are inner journeys spent in the darkness of a sweat
lodge or sealed room for days at a time. A vision quest can
be as simple as an afternoon of solitude on a hillside or the
beach.
Whatever the form of your vision quest, it can be life
transforming if you plan it and carry it out with purpose and
humility. In our experience, people from all walks of life,
both young and old, have received tremendous benefit from
this time-honored ritual. It helps to quiet yourself, focus,
tune in to the web of power, and retrieve the answers to
some of your most difficult problems. It can even help you
map out your life's path or the major tasks you want to ac-
complish before you die.
There are some traditionally common ingredients to set-
ting up and carrying out a vision quest, no matter how stren-
uously or simply you have designed it. Keep these in mind
when you design one.

CtfoosmoTTiE PLACE

Select an isolated spot, free of public traffic and prefera-
bly in the countryside. Choose a place that you have always
loved. Always let someone know where you have gone and
when you expect to return. Even better, go with someone
who will do a vision quest in the same general area over the
same time period.