The Quest Experience

Lisa making her quest prayer ties: Praying with Mind, Heart and Hands.

In our culture we do not often take the time or make the space for deep awareness and relatedness with life itself. Each questing experience is precious, unique, powerful, and life changing!

The mind stops as we experience Life as deeply inter-connected. We experience ourselves as immeshed in a wholenss that is Love.

Questers are encouraged to arrive the day prior to quest to participate in Sacred Pipe awakening, become present to the Engery and Intention of the Land and for the women there is a Special Womens circle at a Feminie Power Spot on the Land, in the morning prior to quest.

We begin the first afternoon sitting together in circle. Teachings and guidance is shared regarding the nature, purpose and opportunity for quest at this time ont the earth. What is our part and contribution to the Family of Life in this experience? Together we explore this important question. What is the intention of the Land where we are? What is the intention of the Earth Mother at this time?

This year the theme seems to be conscious nourishment of soul, body, and spirit. So questers will be encouraged to attend with care to how they nourish their body, their mind, their soul and their spirit during quest.

Each quester is encouraged to connect with their own guidance regarding their intentions for quest. We clarify and express our intentions to ourselves, each other, the land, the nature intelligences and The Love that is Source of Life.

Heidi and Keith in the prep circle.

Then we walk the land together and it speaks of each of quester calling each one to the particular secluded spot where they will quest in your their own sacred circle on the land.

Each time I marvel at how sweetly this happens. When we come to a questing spot, it is easy to see the body of the person being called to the spot responding almost immediately. It is beautiful to watch as is already known in the heart, is recognized and expressed by the quester.

When a quester is chosen by their spot, they spend some time there, coming into relationship with the neighborhood of spirits, nature intelligences that have chosen them.

The first evening we share a final communal meal together and camp in the 'living room' area on the ridge. The next morning each quester moves whatever they will need to their questing spot, prepares their sacred circle and perhaps their prayer ties.

In late morning or early afternoon we come together, build the fire to heat the grandfather stones for the sacred sweat lodge ceremony. We prepare the lodge and watch the grandfathers slowly turn red hot; we make our prayer ties( or not); chant our spirit songs, going deeper into our hearts.

Preparing the pre-quest Sweat Lodge Ceremony

Grandfather Stones heating


Brad making prayer ties for the sweat lodge.	Tara chanting while the Grandfathers heat.

A Community of Heart

When the grandfather stones are red hot, we enter into the lodge, the womb of Grandmother Earth. There we are 'reborn' through the power of our prayers.

When the Lodge Ceremony is complete, each quester goes directly to their questing site where they will spend three full days. While they are out in their individual questing site, a fire is kept going all day and all night in the 'living room.' This fire is demonstrates are constant prayers for and with them. Morning and evening chants are song in support of the quester's. We usually make a brief visit with each quester each day, to pray together, honor and give thanks for their experience, unless they have guidance to not be visited..

Jeremy and Tania singing while the questers are out.

On the fourth day we go out to each quester and greet them and invite them to come out. Each year it is deeply moving to witness the amazing glow of transformation on each of their faces. Each one has had a powerful experience of connection with Spirit, their own true Self and the radiant Life around them.


Katie's coming out glow .	Kim in The Glow .

Brad's glow coming out of his fifth quest.	Ginny didn't believe it was day four. She was expecting to stay another day.

Cyndy beaming after keeping the fire going all night for three nights.	Jamie in Grateful Bliss.

Tara's Wonder	Lisa's Amazement

After all have returned to the circle we give thanks with a sacred prayer pipe ceremony. Then we return to the well -kitchen area and share a celebration meal together.

Quest Celebration Feast

After we return to the ridge top, the sharing circle follows. At this time, often others in our family or community come to hear the gifts that have been received during quest by each quester, not only for themselves, but also for their family, their larger community and the world. It is powerful to witness as each expresses what they received during their time on quest.

Jeremy and I Calling in Spirit to hear the Questers Sharing Circle, while I receive the smoke blessing of the Fire.

That evening is spent in community, often sleeping around the fire together. The following morning we give a final thank you to spirit before each begins the process and journey or re-entry into their community.

Questers some times know each other from other connections or previous years questing. Often they don't, as they have come from California, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts as well as Maine. But the experience creates an a connection inside of us - an immediate bond with those around us.