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Over the last couple months I’ve been living in a medicine community in Pisac, Peru. During this time I participated in about 10 ceremonies, including ceremonies of Ayahuasca, Wachuma, and Mushrooms.
The most significant part of this experience involved my vision quest, and my first step towards becoming a medicine man by developing a deeper connection with these ancestral medicines, and – myself.
This isn’t my first time working with shamanic medicines such as ayahuasca or Wachuma. I’ve had quite a lot of experience in the past, having sat in 25+ ayahuasca ceremonies, and working in various medicine communities around Latin America.
So you may be wondering, what the heck is a vision quest? How is this relevant to working in the plant medicine space?ย Let me explain. In this article, I’ll tell you a little about my vision quest, and what I experienced, as well as provide a little information about vision quests in general.
Vision quest meaning
A vision quest is a native American right of passage that has existed for thousands of years. It’s part of the Red Road tradition (or Camino Rojo) which is a shamanic path in the Americas.
Traditionally, someone studying to be a medicine man or woman must complete a series of vision quests, followed by a sun dance. The student may then get a blessing from an elder of the community to share the sacred medicine of Ayahuasca or Wachuma, depending on the student’s calling.
The tradition of following a series of vision quests has existed for thousands of years which is designed to help the student find a deeper meaning and direction in their life. It’s a deeply spiritual process that allows an individual to further explore their consciousness through fasting and prayer.
People generally do vision quests for the following reasons:
- They’re seeking a deeper meaning or purpose in their lives
- They are at a transition point in their life, and seeking direction
- They are looking to connect more deeply with their spirit, spirit guides, and ancestral spirits
- They are a student of sacred plant medicines and want to share medicine in the future
As a vision quest is part of the Red Road tradition, to complete the Red Road, the student must commit to returning to the mountain once a year for 4 years, to complete a series of vision quests. Each consecutive vision quest is longer and more arduous, and the student cannot progress until they have completed the previous vision quest.
Different curanderos and communities that host vision quests may oversee the vision quest differently, however, they generally are practiced as follows:
- Year 1: 4 days and nights with no food or water
- Year 2: 7 days and nights, with a small amount of water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma
- Year 3: 9 days and nights, with a small amount of water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma
- Year 4: 13 days and nights, with some water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma
- Year 5: Sundance | Usually 3 or 4 days of continuous dancing led by a shaman, with Wachuma, no food or water, + blood sacrifice
The vision quest I did wasn’t part of the Red Road, however it incorporated the traditions of the Red Road. My vision quest was a vision of the Wachumero I was working with, in which there were some differences.
My first vision quest was only 3 days and nights rather than 4 days and nights. It was conducted in a Tipi in the mountains, and I was left with plenty of wood where I could create a fire during the nights. Furthermore, I was given a shot of the master plant Bobinsana each night to help facilitate the process and open my channels.
With that said, the vision quest I did is considered to be easier than the traditional 4-day vision quest for these reasons, however, it was still a beautiful and deeply spiritual experience where I learned a lot about myself, and my connection to source.
Generally, a financial contribution is required to participate in a vision quest. The financial contribution for a vision quest is generally around USD$200 – USD$350, depending on where you’re doing it, and who is facilitating it.
If you’re volunteering in a medicine community, often you will be able to do it at a discounted price. I paid around $USD80 for my vision quest as I was a volunteer in the shamanic community.
What happens during a vision quest?
During a vision quest, traditionally the student isolates him or herself on a remote mountain away from civilization for peace and solitude. The community in which the student lives supports the process and ‘plants’ the student – which is to bring them to their location and collect them when their vision quest is complete.
Generally, the student participates in a temazcal directly before the vision quest and after the vision quest. The temazcal is a cleansing process that removes any toxins or unwanted energies before the student embarks on their vision quest. Wachuma may or may not be consumed during these ceremonies, and they’re typically facilitated by a shaman who oversees the process.
The student remains on the mountain for several days in silence, in the absence of food, water, technology, or entertainment. He or she is exposed to the elements, and confined in a small enclosure made of tobacco prayers that the visioner prepares before the vision quest.
This process is designed to strip away all creature comforts, distractions, and sustenance, allowing the visioner to cultivate a deeper connection with oneself, their spirit, and the creator.
Think of a vision quest as stripping off all the layers of artificial self which opens one up to the sacredness of spirit, allowing the seeker to reach a state of spiritual amplitude and awareness. This is where this process gets the name ‘vision quest’, as the student may experience visions, downloads, and insights regarding their life journey.
The vision quest is a deeply cleansing process that allows the seeker to return to the purity of self. This process helps the seeker:
- Reach deeper states of humility and gratitude
- Develop deeper strength and endurance
- Gain clarity on oneself and one’s life journey
- Cultivate a deeper connection with spirit
Where can you do a vision quest?
If you’re thinking about doing a vision quest, I suggest doing it organically. What I mean is to volunteer or work in a medicine community in Latin America to gain some experience being in service to sacred plant medicines, and then paying attention to the opportunities that present themselves.
I suggest doing this organically because the vision quest should find you, rather than deliberately seeking it out. Sometimes people find websites and book in a vision quest as there are places that do so, however, this corporatization of the process can dilute the experience and strip it of its true teachings.
If you spend some time working in shamanic healing communities, I guarantee you the opportunity will arise. This also provides an opportunity to gain the blessing from the Curandero, and support of the community before embarking on this journey.
Before jumping on a plane to South America to attempt a vision quest, it’s important to note a few things.
- The vision quest calls the student: If the student is not ready, they will not hear the call, or find the right place
- Your intentions must be pure: You should be a student of the path to do a vision quest, otherwise you may not achieve what you are looking for
- It’s not easy: A vision quest is designed to veer you toward death’s door, where you can begin to perceive alternate dimensions of information. It shouldn’t be a light decision
- You must show commitment: If you truly want to do a vision quest, you need to have a deep commitment and respect for the process.
With that said, I’ll mention a few of the places I know that support students in a vision quest.
I did my vision quest in a medicine community called Michi Hampi. This is a great small medicine community in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Their vision quests do not follow the red road, meaning there are differences to a traditional vision quest. The first vision quest is 3 days in a tipi, with the medicine of Bobinsana each day.
- Location: Michi Hampi is located in Maska, about 20 minutes from Pisac, Peru.
- Contact: You can contact them on Instagram here and enquire about vision quests, ceremonies, and volunteering.
- Cost: $200 for a guest, $80 for a volunteer
The second place I know of is in Shuracpamba, Ecuador. This is facilitated by Taita Alejo, who accepts anyone who is feeling the call. Although I don’t have a direct contact, vision quests are offered here via the medicine community Gaia Sagrada, in Cuenca, Ecuador.
- Location:ย Shuracpamba, Ecuador, near Villcabamba.
- Contact: Vision quests are liaised via the medicine community Gaia Sagrada. I suggest doing a retreat or volunteering for a couple of months to get the blessing.
- Cost: USD$350
The 3rd place I recommend to do a vision quest is in the state of Las Piedras, Mexico.ย This is quite a famous path to follow the Red Road tradition. Many shamans and students from around the world travel to this place to participate in vision quests.
- Location: At Km 67 Tepic Puerto Vallarta Road, Las Piedras, Nayarit, Mexico
- Contact: Email tepankillitamoanchan@gmail.com in Spanish introducing yourself, your intent, and asking for info, and they may put you on the yearly announcement list to send you more information.
- Cost: Vision quest USD$530, Sun Dance USD$530, Moon Dance USD$265, Star Dance USD$530, Koatlikue Dance USD$265
Of course, there are many more places where you can do a vision quest, however, the places listed here are all reputable, and provide the authentic ritual if you are studying shamanism, want to share medicines of Ayahuasca or Wachuma in the future, or simply want to delve deeper into your consciousness to experience a deeper level of oneself.
It’s always necessary to be well-prepared to do a vision quest (don’t make this decision lightly), and do it with integrity and respect for the traditions that have been followed for thousands of years.
All the best on your journey!