Chapter 39 Vision Questing - part 2 - from my book “Changes”

Chapter 39

Vision Questing - part 2

During the second full day at the vision quest class, Malcolm talked to us more about what to expect and how the quest “schedule” would go so we would not have to talk about anything the next morning before heading to our quest circles.  That evening just before we retired to our tents, Malcolm did a pipe ceremony for our quest and would leave the pipe joined for the duration of our quest.  Then Malcolm and Kate each promised us that they would protect us with their lives if necessary.  Then, without speaking, we each went to our tents to sleep until morning.  You could say, in a way, that the quest had started because we were instructed to do no more talking with anyone until after the quest.

The third day, at early pre-dawn, before the sun was up and while the air was misty, we heard Malcolm play a flute softly to wake us up.  We each got up and with our sleeping bags in our arms, individually we walked to the fire where Malcolm and Kate were sitting.  We each approached and made eye contact with our protectors. They nodded it acknowledgement to each of us, and one by one we left for our quest site.

When we got to our quest site, after putting our sleeping bags away in the big black plastic bag under the tarp just outside the quest circle, we each walked to the trail and set out one stick in our quest box to mark the first day, then returned to our quest circle.

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A lot of people, and even traditionally, when people quest they deprive themselves of modern comforts.  Anciently, some would go out naked, with only a bear skin to keep themselves warm and to sleep on.  When I packed for my quest, I wanted to be comfortable when laying down so I brought a chaise lounge pad along with my sleeping bag.

When Malcolm picked me up with his old pick up truck from the drop off spot, he saw my chaise lounge pad and asked me if I was going to use it in my quest site.  I said, “Yes,” and he laughed.  I laughed too. I was not embarrassed. I knew what I needed.

After we each set up our quest sites and quest boxes, some of us mentioned things we saw during that process that were unique.  I thought it was cool that a coyote trotted by, between me and my quest site, while I was setting up my quest box along the trail.  It looked backwards over its left shoulder as it trotted by, so I could see its face.  It’s tongue was wagging out and it looked like it was laughing. It did not seem to notice me.

I smiled and whispered, “Hi teacher.”

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The morning we went to our quest sites, I set up my chaise lounge pad and sleeping bag and settled in for a comfortable quest.

Sometimes I got up and did the “quest dance” which is like a rhythmic stomping that helps to move energy.  Sometimes I walked around the circle of the quest site, like I had heard some people do, wearing a circular path inside their quest circle.  I did not spend much time doing either of those things.  Mostly I sat or laid in, or on, my sleeping bag which was on the chaise pad.  I never put it away, and it never rained, so that worked well.

I loved being on the vision quest even though the days seemed to last forever as I watched the sun slowly inch its way across the sky.  I felt like I was at a spa where everything was about me. Having four days in nature without any responsibilities was heavenly considering I have 9 children and typically very little time purely for myself.

I did cry up to the Creator for a vision (in a whisper so as to not disturb the other questers), like we were instructed to do, but that only took moments.

Mostly, I let my thoughts run away about many things, and had arguments in my head with my mother-in-law. 

I laughed every time I noticed the little brown paper bag behind my quest site, where my toilet paper was hidden, and thought it was a McDonalds bag.  I craved lemon meringue pie and spice cake, and looked forward to being able to eat them after my quest was over.  Once I had eaten regular food though, the craving surprisingly went away.

The biggest thing that happened was slipping into a dream where I was made a teacher.  When I opened my eyes afterwards, the first thing I saw in the twilight was the silhouette of a coyote head in the trees.  When morning came, I saw that the silhouette was actually an abnormal grouping of pine cones. Still, everything is a quest means something.

After my quest, I started teaching small groups of people Philosophy 1 and part of Philosophy 2, as well as some of the physical skills I learned, like making fire with friction.

On the morning of the fifth day, I had to come out of the quest.  By then I was no longer hungry and was feeling very “in the moment” and floaty.  However, we were expected to end our quest so I walked down to our base camp … no … I floated down.  I walked slowly, wanting to expand the experience of feeling so acutely aware and seeing the landscape a somewhat altered state.

Malcolm walked up to me as I hesitated to enter camp where everyone was.  He asked, “Did you have a good quest?”

I said, “Yes,” and gave him a hug.  When I hugged him I felt a whoosh of beautiful energy rush out of me and into the surrounding area.

We ate some crackers and clear liquid soup made with liquid aminos to gently start our digestive systems working again.

The whole rest of the day we journaled every little detail of our quest.  We were told that everything had meaning whether we knew it or not.  We were told that even the animals and insects could be telling us something based on how they behaved. 

That evening, Malcolm spoke more to us about questing, protecting quests, and the seven levels of quest class he teaches.

Malcolm said that questing is one of the ways to poke through the veil that separates the physical from the spiritual.  Each time we can poke through, we widen the ability to see the spiritual side more clearly.