The Modern Day Vision Quest
By: Michael Grimes
Tags: Nature, Spirituality, Awareness, Journey, Self Improvement

The Modern Day Vision Quest begins by eating a good meal at home, before getting in the car, and driving to nature.

You park near a trailhead, grab your pack (loaded with gear), and head out the trail looking for a place to set up camp.

Part of the Modern Day Vision Quest is the journey into the unknown as to where you will sleep. It requires surrender and faith.

When you find the right spot, it will speak to you. You will know. If it doesn’t speak to you, keep going. You will find it.

When you find it, set up camp, and settle in. No food until you get home.

The exception for me might come in the form of a mushroom or two and maybe some African root bark.

In the Native American Vision Quest, they would generally spend 2–3 days alone in nature, with only a pouch of tobacco (which was for the great spirits). I bring a little pouch of tobacco and a few buds of homegrown herb.

The hike in burns some calories and you’ll get hungry. It gets cold. It can be challenging. Difficult.

You and yourself alone together. With the clouds rolling in and the wind whipping, you endure.

You read some. You write some. You do yoga and meditate but time moves slow.

Look at the stars. Stay warm. Be alone with your thoughts.

At some point, you go to sleep.

Wake up and repeat.

Allow it all to slow way down. Connect with nature. Appreciate the life surrounding you.

Explore your surroundings. Sit in ceremony.

Settle into your body.

Embrace the hunger. Feel your body. Alive.

Allow your energy to flow.

Step into it. Move with it. Cycle the energy, upward.

Get quiet. Still. Calm.

Quieter still. More present. More aware.

Be.

Time slows down further as you become aware of your thoughts. All day long. Watching your thoughts come and go. Keeping record. Acknowledging them. Seeing them, and letting them go.

As you sink further into your body allow gratitude to wash over you.

Take inventory of all you are grateful for.

Bask in the love.

When you’re ready to do more work, reflect, and get crystal clear on your intentions. What life are you creating? How are you living? What traits have you developed, both positive and negative? How do you spend your time? What habits have you formed? What is the life you want to live? What are your dreams? Goals? Deepest desires?

You can then take it a step farther and examine the edges of your psyche. What beliefs do you hold? Why do you hold them? Question your beliefs. Why do you believe what you believe?

I’m not talking about your belief that Biden is the better option, I’m talking about the foundational beliefs that structure your life. Your beliefs around relationships, work, money, the universe.

Dig deep.

Explore your depths.

As we sink into the darkest, deepest, most unexplored aspects of ourselves, we expand. We grow. We deepen our relationships with ourselves. We learn more about who we are.

With this new insight as to who you are, new paths of exploration begin to open. New thoughts. Perspectives. Allow them to evolve and grow.

Stretch. Dance. Sing. Hum.

Create an altar.

Sit in gratitude. Set intentions. Give thanks.

Slowly pack.

Revisit each spot in your temporary home. Honor them.

Prepare to leave it better than you found it.

The sun slowly crosses the sky but eventually reaches the horizon.

Give yourself enough time to get back to the car before sunset.

With no food in 30 hours the pack is extra heavy.

Thank the camp and this part of the experience.

But it’s not over yet.

Hike back taking your time. Stop. Stretch. Smile at the beauty.

Maybe another stop or two before throwing the pack in the vehicle, giving the land one last bow of respect, and setting the intention for a safe, smooth, drive home.

Leave a snack in the car if you need some substance to drive safely, but you’ll probably be feeling fully alive. Stoked. Empowered. Calm and clear.

Enjoy the drive. Without music. Reflect. Complete any hanging thoughts. Try to find closure and completion. Process.

What did you learn? What were your takeaways?

This is a critical step. Integration. What can you apply? How can you apply it?

You should return better than you left, further evolved, through a new experience that pushed you and stretched your boundaries. This is where we grow.