Vision Quest Traditions And Beliefs

The vision quest is a coming-of-age ceremony common to most Aboriginal religions. The seeker of the vision quest, who is usually an adolescent male, is first purified, which involves a confession, or at least a desire to atone. This usually occurs at a sweat lodge (Figure 1), which is usually an igloo-shaped structure about five feet high, built in about one and half hours from bent willow branches tied together with twine. The structure is then encased in blankets to preclude all light, and a maximum of eight participants gather in the dark. In the centre, there is a holy, consecrated virginal section of ground that is has been untrampled by feet and untouched by waste material, blessed by an Elder with tobacco and sweetgrass. There, red hot
Factors such as the time and materials that go into building the sweat lodges may differ, to accommodate the differing resources in the area. Visions may also be interpreted in slightly different ways among cultures and individual shamans. The interpretation affects the views and beliefs of the differing people throughout all of North America, and will likely comply more closely with what they already know. If the group does not use fishing as a primary source of food, it is unlikely that the shaman would prophesize the seeker as a fisherman, for example. While shamans are believed to have access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, they are still humans at the end of the day. It is very difficult for humans to accurately depict acts and objects that they have never seen, or do not fully understand. The mental processes that would be used in these visions likely rely on modifying existing
Robinson had a troubled childhood, riddled with familial and personal issues, and frequently struggled with suicidal and generally negative thoughts. He claims the vision quest changed his outlook, saying, “That first night, I yelled, I screamed, I cried and I sang. I prayed to the Creator and asked what my purpose was. I reflected on my mistakes and realized my childhood had wired me to believe that I was worthless, that I could never accomplish anything ... I stood in front of the flames and told the spirits my story. I prayed and I suffered. It was an intense, cathartic experience. That vision quest saved my life. When I returned from it, I found a new sense of belonging in the Indigenous culture I had discovered” (Robinson). Experiences such as these allow for the rite to be studied throughout the social sciences of anthropology, psychology, and sociology. A rounded perspective can directly be examined from this passage, with Robinson’s depiction of the vision quest being life-changing speaking to its powerful effects. Many seekers find that the vision quest rite helps them connect to their culture more strongly, and allows them to share their feelings with the group more openly during the ritual. This can lead to greater general satisfaction, as the seeker feels that they truly belong. In the larger view of society, the seekers contribute more to the wider