Spirit Quest..... Vision Quest..... aligning one's spirit with Great Spirit for guidence and direction, to receive a vision for one's life or answers to a dilema. Term commonly heard in native cultures. Of course it has its counterparts in all religions. Prayer and fasting while waiting upon God. It is common practise among many Christians to retreat for a period of time into a prayer closet where undistracted they commune with God and wait upon God to answer their prayers. Judaism and Islam have their counterparts as does every other religion of the world. Same concept, different language, different culturally based religious reference.

Like anything involving the spirit world it can be done 'religiously' in the sense that there are specific steps and protocols involved. In my community, a traditional vision quest usually involves a number of days spent in the wilderness alone with just water to sustain you as you wait upon Great Spirit to enlighten you. Free of all worldly distractions and phsyical comforts -- usually sent during inclement weather with no blanket to intensify the experience -- to facilitate the transition into full spirit consciousness -- the person enters into a deep and intense spiritual communion with the spirit world -- kingdom of God. Its a right of passage into adulthood, and later a place people go when wrestling with major dilemas or seeking direction, preparing to make major changes in their lives.

It can be very ceremonial and involve the whole community keeping a fire for the time they are gone and saying prayers in support of those out on a quest in the wilderness. There will be ceremonies before, during an after to ensure the person on the quest is protected and helped by other spirits/angels/guides. I've not myself taken a vision quest though I have served as helper to prepare, support and transition back those who have taken the quest.

I'm a little too pampered to suffer that much physcial discomfort to endure a quest. Perhaps had I been exposed as a youth I might have been more adventurous and willing. For me any intense time of communion with God is a quest. A search of answers outside my physical consciousness. A transition into a spirit consciousness where I can see, feel, hear in the spirit which is kept from me in the physical. It's serious prayer time. Sometimes in involves fasting from food, sleep, human interactions -- striped of anything that may distract from the journey to being with Creator for a time of special enlightenment.