Wilderness Rite of Passage

The vision quest is a timeless rite of passage – an ancient endeavor once practiced throughout the world. It is a spiritual journey into one’s inner personal world and a time of profound bonding with the natural world: the earth, the sky, the moon and stars, the season, the cycle of day and night, as well as the flora and fauna. Alone, with few material provisions, each participant enters into the wilderness to face the unknown. Through Michael’s preparation the participants enter the natural world open and vulnerable and are thus able to receive the teachings and experiences that are directly related to their life journey.

Transformation

A vision quest provides a setting for transformation. While fasting on water in undisturbed solitude, each participant enters into deepening levels of sacred space. Within this sacred space, the seeds of personal illumination and transformation begin to grow.

Intention

A vision quest is not for most people. It takes courage and perseverance to undergo such an experience. Vision quests are for heroes and heroines: folks journeying into the unknown of both the outer and inner worlds. Should you decide to attend this wilderness rite of passage, keep a journal of your inner process of thoughts and feelings because your quest begins the instant that you commit yourself to do it.

Preparation and Orientation

After registering, you are encouraged to alter your diet about six weeks before you arrive at the vision quest site. Once there, days 1-3 are spent in ceremony, community building and shamanic spiritual practices. There will be times each day for you to look for your solo site. Individual mentoring is provided during this important phase.

The Solo Rite of Passage

After selecting a solo site where you will reside during the four days of solitude and a safety “check-in” point so that we can indirectly monitor your well being, a sweatlodge will be given to spiritually align each person. Then the solo part of the quest begins.

Reflection

This is a time of being, of journaling, of communing with nature and the planet.

All participants return to base camp for the final two days. This is a time of great lightness of being. It is a time for you to reflect upon and share your wilderness experience with the group and to celebrate your return from the unknown. This is a time also used to discern what the vision quest experience may mean for your life. A final group ritual is shared in preparation for returning to the non-magical world of the mainstream culture.

Transformation

All real transformation is a work-in-process. After returning to your daily life, the seeds of transformation that were planted in your awareness during the vision quest experience begin to grow and take form, first in your consciousness and then in your external life.

Nurturing your Spiritual Journey

People who are attracted to doing a wilderness rite of passage are people who have a continually growing awareness of themselves as creative souls on a spiritual journey. If you have a deep longing to consciously reconnect with Mother Earth as a living being and a desire to delve more deeply into your own inner spiritual self, then please feel welcome to join us.

Registration

We accept a limited number of applicants each year in order to provide the best support possible and minimize the impact on the earth. If you wish to join us, please email us with your contact information so that we may get back in touch with you.

Once we have your contact information, we will mail you an application form for you to fill out and return to us with a non-refundable deposit of $100.00 US dollars. We will let you know if we have a spot for you within two weeks. If we have no openings, we will notify you and also put your name on our waiting list, in the event that someone cancels. If we do have a place for you, we will mail you a pre-quest preparation packet. It contains suggestions to help prepare and acclimate your body and spirit for the time that you spend with us, a statement of your account, directions to the quest site and a list of items to bring with you.

All participants make their own travel arrangements. All accounts must be paid prior to your arrival at the site. If you are flying into Asheville-Hendersonville Regional Airport and need transport to the site, we will coordinate that for you.

Prices

$1,000.00 US dollars for the ten day wilderness rite of passage

Balance should be paid four weeks prior to the beginning of your vision quest. Balances paid after that time will be assessed a $100 penalty fee.

To make an appointment, call Michael at 828-254-7747 or email him at myoung88@bellsouth.net or use the contact form.