Vision Quest 2000
June 7 – June 10
Information about the Quest
This flyer is for the men
who will be participating as questors and support persons for the Vision Quest
that will take place in the mountains near Santa Fe, New Mexico from Wednesday,
June 7 thru Saturday, June 10 2000.
About the Sponsor: Marcelius Bear Heart
Williams is a full-blooded Muskogee Creek Elder born in Oklahoma. He is one of few remaining traditionally
trained Medicine Men and carries the Sacred Pipe in the Lakota and Cheyenne
traditions. His fields of study include
Psychology, Cultural Anthropology, Sociology and Theology, majoring in Biblical
Greek and Comparative Religion. He
received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from St. John’s University. Bear Heart conducts Vision Quests, Sweat
Lodges, Teepee Meetings and has a counseling and traditional healing practice. More on BearHeart
Cost: For questors the suggested
cost per person is $300. You may
contribute more or less. Each of you
should listen to your own heart and consider your own financial circumstance as
well as the work that Bear Heart performs for you while you are “on the
hill.” Men supporting the Quest but not actually fasting will participate
in prayer and ceremony with BearHeart and help maintain the vigil for the questors. There is no set fee for these supporters.
The following is adapted from Bear Heart’s notes on
Vision Questing
Why you might consider a Vision Quest:
If you feel that you are at
a crossroads in your life or if you have questions about the intent and purpose
for your life then you may benefit from a Vision Quest. What is my life purpose? What is my gift? How can I manifest my special talents? What are my special talents? What am I supposed to be bringing to
the world to make it better? These are
some questions that a Vision Quest can help answer.
How to prepare:
Your Vision Quest begins
once you have made a commitment to Quest.
It is suggested that you take some time each day to reflect on your
purpose for questing. You may keep a
journal during this time to record any insights you may have. Think about what you want in life: How can
you best serve? What is the path? What role will you play? What are you here to fulfill? Have you felt it? Have you sensed it? If
not, these are things to strive for.
This is the best preparation to make.
How to prepare physically:
1 Continue with your regular exercise program.
2
Set
aside regular periods for meditation and reflecting on the purpose of your
Quest.
3
Learn
to eat light. Eat until you are almost
full and then leave the table.
4
The
month before your quest attempt to eliminate meat, dairy and all animal
products from your diet.
5
Gradually
over the month eliminate caffeine and tobacco.
This will decrease cravings and the side effects of caffeine and
nicotine withdrawal.
6
The
week before the quest attempt to eliminate sugar and sweets from your diet.
7
Attempt
to drink at least eight glasses of water daily as this will help remove toxins
from your body.
What to bring:
1
A
prayer stick or power stick. (You may make this from a one or two-foot long
stick with objects that have meaning to you.)
2
A
tobacco offering for Bear Heart.
3
A
tarp for inclement weather
4
Comfortable
clothes for the Quest itself. I suggest
layered clothing with cold and rain protection because we will be in the
mountains and the weather can be warm and mild or snowing raining and freezing
even in June.
5
A
sleeping bag and ground pad.
6
A
blanket or pad to sit on.
7
A
note-pad and pen to record your visions and reflections.
8
Two
sets of sweat lodge clothing (gym shorts, bathing suit, towels, etc) for two
Sweat Lodges, one at the beginning and end of the quest.
9
For
the nights you aren’t actually “on the hill” fasting, you should bring camping
gear with food and water. (Rick Wallace
from Lubbock can outfit us with camping gear and has volunteered to bring food
and drink for us. Over the next month
we can finalize these plans together.)
10
A
Give-away item (This is an object, keepsake or possession of yours that may or
may not have some intrinsic value that has some special meaning for you. The idea is to give this item away in
ceremony and associate any attachments you may have with it. This is done as a way to let go of the past
and release any attachments you may need to let go of.
11
A
food item to share in a light feast following the Quest.
Plan to arrive by noon on
Wednesday, June 7. We will try to finish
by 7:00pm on Saturday, June 10.
Any questions or concerns
about the Vision Quest can be addressed to myself at the address below or Cliff
Buchanan. You can reach Cliff
at: phone 915-550-3302
email: Cliff@gatheringofcircles.com
Please send your
contribution for BearHeart to:
Larry Walker 1208 Beechwood Dr Email LWLCMH@aol.com
Friendswood TX 77546 Phone 281 648
9282
A Map and directions will be
sent to you once your contribution is received. Blessings to you.
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