Vision Quest

Native American traditions · spiritual journey · rite of passage

Sacred spiritual journey. A vision quest is a special ceremony in some Native American cultures where a person, often a young person becoming an adult, goes on a spiritual journey to gain wisdom and find their life purpose.

Time alone in nature. Vision quests usually involve spending time by yourself in a natural place like mountains, forests, or deserts to connect with the spiritual world and receive visions or messages.

Many different names. Different Native American nations have their own names and ways of doing vision quests, so "vision quest" is just an English word that describes many different sacred traditions.

Seeking guidance. During a vision quest, people seek visions or signs from spirits that help them understand themselves better and learn what their role should be in their community.

Important life milestone. For many Indigenous cultures, completing a vision quest marks an important moment when someone is recognized as an adult member of their nation.