vision quest
Wilderness initiation rite
A vision quest is a rite of passage in some Native American traditions where a person—typically a young man—spends time alone in the wilderness, fasting and praying, seeking spiritual guidance or a vision that will shape their identity or purpose.
The term now applies more loosely to any solitary retreat undertaken for self-discovery: He went on a vision quest in the desert to figure out what to do with his life.
Formal event marking occasions
- shamanIndigenous spiritual healer
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- spirit guideSupernatural personal protector
- medicine manTraditional indigenous healer
fasting · sweat lodge · totem · power animal · ancestors · elders · tribe · sacred
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- isolationComplete separation from others
- meditationFocused attention practice
- silenceTotal lack of sound
desert · mountain · forest · nature · seclusion · alone · retreat · contemplation
Surpassing usual limits
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- illuminationProvision of light
- sacredWorthy of reverence
communion · divine · mystical · otherworldly · supernatural · spirits · ancestors · guidance
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- shamanIndigenous spiritual healer
- rite of passageTransition-marking ceremony
- spirit guideSupernatural personal protector
medicine man · fasting · sweat lodge · totem · power animal · ancestors · elders · tribe · sacred · drumming
wilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- isolationComplete separation from others
- meditationFocused attention practice
silence · desert · mountain · forest · nature · seclusion · alone · retreat · contemplation · vigil
transcendence
Surpassing usual limits
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- illuminationProvision of light
sacred · communion · divine · mystical · otherworldly · supernatural · spirits · ancestors · guidance · blessing
transformation
Thorough change in form
breakthrough · epiphany · insight · growth · realization · calling · destiny · meaning · clarity · truth-seeking
- mystical questholy grail, magic sword, enchanted forest, dragon slaying, treasure hunt
- mythsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
- ceremonieswedding ceremony, wedding, weddings, graduation, graduations
- meditationbreathing meditation, breath, breath meditation, mantra, breathing
- questsseeking, searching, epic journey, pursuing, journeying
- finding oneselfsoul searching, introspection, meditation, self-awareness, reflection
vision questmaterialism
Prioritizing goods over spirit
daily grind · hedonism · rat race · careerism · consumerism
vision questparty
Gathering for celebration
group activity · distraction · entertainment · escapism · busy work
vision questexpedition
Organized exploratory journey
treasure hunt · commute · business trip · sightseeing tour · pilgrimage
vision, quest, visual, visionary, visualize, visions, visualization, visionaries, visioning