The Vision Quest
The tearm "vision quest" deprives from the Native American Lakota Hanblecheya (he cried for a vision) The Native American vision quest is a ceremony that normally last for three to four days but can continue for up to nine. During this time, the seeker gose without food and water while praying on a hill. While the seeker is on a hill, he or she receives the teachings of the land and the spirits.
The Medicine Walk
A less extreme way of entering into dialogue with the land is to take a medicine walk. This means going out ceremonially on a walk in the country or the town, to experience al that you can and to learn from it. Try to find time to sit for an hour or so in a quiet , secluded place------- to enter, in a very small way, the empty dreamlike place of the full vision quest. Let the world of the spirits give you all you need to learn at this time.
TAKING A MEDICINE WALK
(1) Set out with a secred intent.
(2) Abstain from food and drink throughout the walk.
(3) Start and end the walk with a specific ritual, such as passing through a gate or sepping over a wooden bar. Once you cross the threshold, you are in a sacred time, and the world will teach you.
(4) Avoid contact with people, and any talk.
(5) Gently dispel busy distractions.
(6) During the walk, sit silently for about an hour in a secluded place.
(7) Be aware of your footsteps, and of everything that you experience, and let the world of the spirits lighten and enlighten you.
BY Nicholas Wood The Shaman
love and blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
hi lightwinds
do you have plans for a medicine walk over the holidays.
love tigress
RE: Finding Vision
Hello Tigress, yes after being poorly for a while Im off to the coast today and hopefully have a Medicine Walk to bring myself back into balance and recieve healing from nature and the freshness of the sea.
Happy Easter
love and blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
that sounds lovely..bet the wind blowsaway a few cobwebs
I would liketo go for a WALK under the full moon
enjoyyour easter too
love
tigress
RE: Finding Vision
Had a great day and found a few mins to myself and the cobweds and spider gave me a good teaching.
blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
This I find is very good medicine for those that are seeking some spiritual guidence.
love and blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
hi wendy went for a medicine walk today i went thru the back gates of a very large park near my home which leads straight into a wood was thinking about the medicine wheel as i entered so decided to look for things to make a wheel found some lovely feathers, got two birch branches was thinking about thread to tie everything together when i looked up there was a load of horse hair caught on a tree {is this ok to use} walked thru the wood to a place we call the secret pond i sat down to watch a family of swans out in the middle when they turned and came towards me they stopped a couple of feet from me then one of the adults started preening a single white feather dropped into the water i watched them for a while longer then retrieved the feather and said thank you to the swan before going on my way a bit further on i saw some crows and some magpies what can only be called bickering a crow would chase magpie then another magpie would arrive and they would have a go at the crow this carried on until there were 6 crows and 5 magpies it was quite an amazing experience
thank you wendy
RE: Finding Vision
Hello Katotik, sounds like a lovely Medicine Walk. I will write a few bits tomorrow about your journey, see what you think.
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x
RE: Finding Vision
Hi Kaotik, I will write out a few meaning of the animal medicine you recieved on yor Medicine walk.
The horses hair represent Horse.(horses hair is ok)
Power
In understanding the power of horse, you may see how to strive for a balance medicine shield. True power is wisdom found in remembering your total journey. Wisdom comes from remembering pathways you have walk in another person's moccasins. Compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing your gifts, talents, and abilities are the gateway to power.
Swan
Grace
It is a time of altered states of awareness and of devlopment of your intuitive abilities. Swan medicine people have the ability to see the future, to surrender tothe power of Great Spirit, and to accept the healing and transformation of their lives. Accept your abilities to know what lies ahead. If you are resisting your self-transformation, relax; it will be easier if you go with the flow(stillness of the pond). Pay attention to your hunches and your gut knowledge, and honor your intuitive female side.
A white feather to me represent guidence from the universe, white also represents a highly spiritual color which indicates the hand of the Creator guiding you in many unseen ways. White is the color of Self-Mastery and Wholeness.
Crow represent Law. Crow is keeper of the sacred law, Crow can bend the laws of the physical universe and "shape shift." This ability is rare and unique. Crow also ask you to stand in your truth. The Crow people say to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life's mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.
Magpie likes shiney things and are attracted to them, Crow likes to bury things and retrieve them later.
Maybe Crow and magpie were working together that day to show you that you need to bring a balance into your life and carmness and then let the 6th magpie come to greet you when harmony is returned to heart.
You have the tools and power animal totem that were given to you from your walk, and I also see other tools have been offerd to you. Use them to begin your spiritual journay and your true chosen path.
hope this help you.
Some of the writing was taken from my Animal Medicine Card book by jamie sams & david Caron
Only take what feels right to you.
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x
RE: Finding Vision
hi wendy thanks very much for the info it was very enlightening now i think about the walk i realise there was i suppose a route for my walk even though at the time it seemed random there were things i found along the way but didnt pick up feathers and things they just didnt feel right i am going to go again in a couple of days
love gary
RE: Finding Vision
If you spots items(feathers,stone,etc..that you are attracted to them they can become helpful to you on your journey as you take something from Mother Earth remember to leave a small thankyou gift.
If Im out walking and say I spot a heartshaped stone(which I do have)I take it home and when meditating I ask the stone to share it's wisdom with me. I even took small peace of a tree bark that has fallen off a tree or a tiny bit of stick that has fallen off.
I had a very small tree that had died, but I thought I would keep it alive with life and so I tied it to a pipe at the side of my house and put bird feeder on it, and so now the small tree helps me to know that when somthing dies it dose not have to be forgotten and it can carry on giving knowlege and teachings to the world, as I look at my tree each morning full of little birds cherping away it also makes my heart sing.
Hope you injoy your next walk Gary.
love and blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
hi wendy not been out for a walk yet been looking forward to it but just cant seem to make the time at the moment im determined to get out for a bit tomorrow will let you know how it goes i actually picked up some birch bark and a small piece of slate that caught my eye
i have ordered some books off amazon hope they will give me more insight speak soon love gary
RE: Finding Vision
ok gary speak soon, hope you injoy your books. I also might beable to dig a book out for you.
love and blessings
lightwinds x
Wendy
RE: Finding Vision
hi lightwinds,
i was wondering, what can you make from the pieces that you collect, i love to collect bits and pieces when im walking and my children collect allsorts of things. i suppose i could make a dream catcher but any other ideas would be helpful.
also is there any prayers or verses that you can say when you make something,
i love all things native american and when you gave me a reading you mentioned i had a spirit guide that was an indian man with a bears headdress, i was thrilled to know this,
hope you have some ideas for me,lol
love and best wishes
sharon x
RE: Finding Vision
Hi Sharon, yes I have an idea for you;)
All the bit and pieces you collect with your children can be use in many diferent ways.
(1) You could design this, find a piece of thick square card about 14" by 14" ruffly( I think you can get it at WHsmiths) and draw a circle in the middle and leave about 2" of clear space to the edge of card.
(2) Write the letters N, E, S, W, at four point of the circle. You could use a ruler for this by finding the center of circle.
(3) You and your children could have a card each.
(4) Put a photograph of yourself in the center of the circle (children can do this with their card also) leave a small space for writing your prayer.
You will need some glue.
Use the outer part of the circle for things that remind you of the universe, the sky, (being creative with what you find) planets, stars, sky, birds, clouds, etc...
The inner circle you can place things that remind you of Mother Earth and what she represent to you as you are in the center of Mother Earth. Flower, Sea, Trees, rocks, animals, etc... being creative with what you find.
After you have made your design, you can write a prayer of thanks for all the things that you apprecate from what are Maker has given us here on Mother Earth.
You can take weeks making it as you can add from each walk you take.
When finished you could all talk about each card you have made and the prayes can be read by each person.
You would have creative something personal to each of you. "My Walk Within the Universe"
This is my own personal design;)and insperation:)
If you need any more help, then PM me.
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x
RE: Finding Vision
thanks for the idea, it sounds lovely. im going into town tomorrow to collect the girls school uniforms, so i will have plenty of time to go to the craft shop and get some card and bits n bobs.
thank-you for the idea
sharon x
RE: Finding Vision
You have to show me one when done:)[sm=hug.gif]
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x
RE: Finding Vision
hi wendy not been on for a few days got 2 of my books today ive started reading the way of the shaman very interesting up to now will let you know how i get on with it
gary x
RE: Finding Vision
Ok gary, let us no how it gose.
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x