Copyright 2003
Wilderness Drum, Inc.
All rights reserved

Frequently Asked Questions
Steve Beyer

NEW! Two grand spiritual adventures  at opposite ends of North America – vision fasts  in the Alaskan tundra by the Bering Sea and in the Mexican desert of Baja California. Go here for more information.

What is the wilderness? What’s so special about the wilderness? What is wilderness survival? How does all this relate to survivalism? What are primitive skills? Are wilderness survival and primitive skills the same? Why bother? What is wilderness spirituality? What is animism? What is pantheism? Is wilderness spirituality pagan? What does this have to do with shamanism? What is a vision fast?

What is a vision fast?

When you undertake a vision fast, you go out into the wilderness and fast in solitude for four days. Why would you do that? There are many reasons – to seek experiences of nonordinary reality; to mark a major life transition with wilderness ceremony; to find renewal through raw contact with the natural world; to heal unresolved wounds. The goal is to gain greater clarity regarding life's purpose and meaning; to seek, in the broadest possible sense, a vision -- a unique gift, which we can bring back for the benefit of our people.

• Rites of passage   Solitude in the wilderness can be a rite of passage or initiation into a new life status, a way to seek new goals and put the past behind – for passing into adulthood or elderhood, for example, or after a major life transition, such as divorce, illness, bereavement, trauma, or retirement.
   
• Renewal    Solitude in the wilderness can be a chance for personal renewal, refreshment of the spirit away from the noise and confusion of daily life – a way of getting closer to nature or to the spirit that animates nature, seeing the interconnectedness of things, balm for the soul.
   
• Personal growth    The wilderness can offer growth or healing, a way to communicate with lost or suppressed parts of ourselves, to expose and heal old wounds, to find and love a lost childhood, or to listen to those shadowy parts of the soul that have been put away because we were told those parts of ourselves were unacceptable.
   
• Experiences of nonordinary reality   And solitude in the wilderness can offer a vision – a way to touch spirit, or the Sacred Other, or our own souls, in a way that is not readily accessible in our daily lives; to enter a special sacred space and time in the wilderness, to use fasting and solitude, and the metaphorical speech of the wilderness, as a way to communicate with the sacred.

This kind of quest is for you if you are looking for clarity and direction in your life — for example, if you are

• negotiating an important life transition
• trying to put aside the past and heal old wounds
• seeking contact with the sacred in nature
• looking for experiences of spiritual power

There are at least four benefits that can come from a wilderness vision fast:

• an awareness of your unique gifts that you can bring back to your people
• a commitment to nurture the best in yourself
• an ability to put your old wounds and harmful relationships behind you
• a renewed level of commitment and intimacy with your loved ones

As a practical matter, a Wilderness Drum vision fast works like this. Before the vision fast, you send us a letter of intent, in which you outline your reasons for the quest, what you seek to leave behind, what you are seeking to find, your allies and monsters on the journey you are taking.

Then, during the first three days at base camp, you introduce yourself to the group, share your fears and goals, and gather strength from each other. We teach you  about the nature of the vision quest, models and metaphors for the undertaking, conceptual models for structuring their experiences, finding your spot in the wilderness, and some of the traditional practices and ceremonies you may find helpful in seeking your vision, such as the Death Lodge and the Purpose Circle, as well as – most importantly – how to create your own personally meaningful rituals and ceremonies.

We discuss ways of observing and getting closer to the natural world, how to sit quietly and observe, how to gain new perspectives and use your senses in new ways, and how to relate to the spiritual forces at work in the wilderness. We also teach you  basic wilderness techniques – how to put up a tarp in case of rain, dangerous plants and animals, the physiological and psychological effects of fasting, fire building and safety, basic wilderness first aid, and the use of the stonepile, which is the primary safety and emergency communication system.

Then, on the fourth day, we move to the area of the actual vision fast. You go off into the woods or the canyons to find your fasting place – the place that calls to you. You match up with a buddy and set up a stonepile to communicate with each other once each day. You return, sleep at the second base camp, and then, early on the morning on the fifth day, you go through a ceremony of departure, pick up your pack, and leave for your chosen place in the wilderness for four days of fasting and solitude.

After four days and nights, you come back to camp for a ceremony welcoming you  back into the human world – and some food! And for about two and half more days, you each tell the story of your quest, your journey and visions, and your new commitments for the future; and the group mirrors back each story, adding new reflections of the journey's meaning. Finally, we discuss the return to the world, various ways in which the visions and commitments can be maintained and nurtured back in daily life.

For More Information

Wilderness Drum vision fasts Other vision fast programs Vision fast leadership programs Books on adventure and therapy programs Books on wilderness ceremonies Getting closer to the earth The imaginal world Myths and symbols of the vision fast

< Previous       Next >

Back to the top
Back to Wilderness Drum FAQ