Quest: A Guide for Creating Your Own Vision Quest

by Denise Linn

"Going on a Quest is a powerful way to reclaim a sense of wonder and connection to the earth. It can take the form of a journey into nature for introspection that encourages answers to personal questions that rise from within . . . [or] be as simple as a day of solitude indoors in a specially prepared room."

For centuries, ancient cultures embarked on rites of passage to gain entrance to the spiritual realms and attain self-knowledge. Now international lecturer and healer Denise Linn draws on her Native American roots, as well as the teachings of other cultures, to create a carefully crafted spiritual program for anyone wishing to venture on a retreat or create a uniquely personal Quest of his or her own. This practical, engaging book will show you how to

- Discover your life's purpose
- Find mystery at the core of your life
- Release limiting beliefs about yourself
- Call for a vision
- Harness the power of the Sacred Circle
- Confront and free yourself from fears
- Heal emotional wounds
- Develop peace of mind

This guidebook gives you the necessary tools to prepare for a Vision Quest  that will take you to the center of your soul.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Denise Linn’s personal journey began as a result of a near-death experience at age 17. Her life-changing experiences and remarkable recovery set her on a spiritual quest that led her to explore the healing traditions of many cultures, including those of her own Cherokee ancestors, the Aborigines in the Australian bush, and the Zulus in Bophuthatswana. She trained with a Hawaiian kahuna (shaman), and Reiki Master Hawayo Takata. She was also adopted into a New Zealand Maori tribe. In addition, Denise lived in a Zen Buddhist monastery for more than two years.
Denise is an internationally renowned teacher in the field of self-development. She’s the author of the bestseller Sacred Space and the award-winning Feng Shui for the Soul, and has written 16 books, which are available in 24 languages. Denise has appeared in numerous documentaries and television shows worldwide, gives seminars on six continents, and is the founder of the International Institute of Soul Coaching®, which offers professional certification programs in life coaching.

Reviews

[Reading Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know how fast things changed but I'm going to be honest, I spent my entire read of this book jaw-dropped that she was getting away with what is basically cultural appropriation, but also amalgamation.

See, she purports to be aligned with the Native American idea of the vision quest. Even a cursory search would tell one that not every Indigenous population practiced vision quests, and certainly not the one she describes.

Also, while she gives guidelines, in her attempt to be inclusive, she basically says repeatedly something along the lines of, 'or do whatevs,'. Oh, you don't have a place outside to do it? Just do it in your living room. Oh, you can't go without food (even though fasting has been shown to be helpful in altering mental states to the sacred)? Oh, just eat.

She suggests making a prayer stick, which is a sacred implement, which basically reduces it to arts and crafts, with no discussion of how to consecrate it or use it. Just basically get yarn and beads and a stick, I guess. It's not helpful for someone who might find that idea appealing, but it's also a good example of what I mean about the cultural attribution problem. She's creating a vague New Agey "Native" style which is not connected to any particular tribal teaching, half-bootying the approach, and in a way that really doesn't help the reader to know what or how to do anything.

Particularly grating was the chapter written by her daughter. I don't know if it's where I live, where we're still seeing Gabby Petito memorials everywhere, but I just don't think teenagers being alone in the wilderness is such a hot idea, and the vision quest is even more 'dumbed down' for them.

What was useful was the questions she asks you to examine but I don't think they're useful in a vision quest--my journal got a workout exploring many of the questions--but it wasn't in the context of a vision quest.

While I'm no purist--I think all religions have something to offer to humanity, especially as we become more diverse (more multiracial and multiethnic), it seems to me we should still consider giving good information that honors the original roots of the practice and then suggests modernizations/adaptations. Especially, I would argue, with Indigenous teachings (think of how it is done in Braiding Sweetgrass). Instead, she pulls a whole book (and it's very strained) off the idea that she makes thousands of dollars a year proctoring people while they go sit in the woods and be bored until they have a breakthrough for three days.

Nice work if you can get it, I guess?

If I seem disgruntled, my previous encounters with Denise Linn were solid--many years ago she offered good teachings, quality information. I should have suspected from the number of oracle decks bearing her name clogging the Barnes and Noble shelves that she has sold out, but it really took this book and its callow treatment of Indigenous culture to really make me see it.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book with a lot of useful info on going to a spiritual quest. It covers a lot of dimensions (such as practicality, safety, structure with specific meditation ideas etc.) and areas to cover.

[Isayda Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the various perspectives in this book.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a good book if your interested in doing a quest and not sure what it is all about.