Spirit guidance Spirit guidance is not a philosophical branch of shamanism so much as it is a technique used by those who practice ancestor worship and animism . The tauren in particular utilize spirit guidance , both in their everyday lives and in times of upheaval . Members of a shamanistic tribe can learn to call on the power of their ancestors and nature to grant them strength and knowledge . Several abilities known as Speaker of the Fang , Speaker of the Hoof , Speaker of the Seed , Speaker of the Sky and Speaker of the Earth Mother reflect this ability . Some powerful shaman learn to communicate directly with ancestral spirits , but most are born with the touch . These individuals channel tribal spirits frequently and sometimes unwillingly . They struggle to interpret the words of the ancients and serve as a bridge between the dead and the living . Shaman who communicate with ancestral spirits often become spirit walker s . Vision quests . The vision quest represents a tribe member ’ s passage from one stage to another , such as from youth to maturity or from maiden to mother . Shaman typically undergo several vision quests throughout their careers , each one unlocking hidden knowledge within their souls . To venture on a vision quest , the seeker leaves her tribe behind and finds a natural area that feels quiet and sacred to her . The seeker leaves all trappings of civilization behind , including weapons and clothes , taking only a waterskin with her . The tribe ’ s shaman provides the vision speaker with a bundle of herbs to eat in the sacred area . These herbs facilitate the vision quest . Only a trained shaman may set a seeker on her vision quest . A vision quest lasts two to four days . Traditionally , the quest begins with a powerful urge to leave the sacred area . The seeker must resist this temptation and remain in the place she chose . Most seekers remind themselves of the sacred task they perform and soothe themselves with knowledge that they can survive a few days alone . Once the urge to leave passes , the seeker feels a sense of buoyancy . She seems to float out of her body and see the land spread out beneath her . She examines her body and , in doing so , comes to understand her soul . Each physical feature reminds the vision seeker of past experiences , her ancestors or her race . She meditates on these things until she feels at peace with herself . At the apex of the vision quest , a spirit animal comes to the seeker . The animal represents the seeker ’ s spirit ; fierce warriors may see a bear , while timid herbalists may see a rabbit . The seeker feels an instant bond with the animal . In rare cases , the spirit animal may lead the seeker away from the sacred area to a place of great power . This sometimes happens to seekers who later become shaman . In the place of power , the seeker undergoes an additional test , such as a test of combat against a wild animal or a test of skill where she must heal a wounded creature or retrieve an object from a dangerous natural location . Upon completing her vision quest , a seeker usually takes some small item from the sacred area , such as a rock or a bit of animal fur , and keeps it as a reminder of her quest . A seeker who fails to complete her test may try again when she and her shaman feel ready .