Facing Your Fears Through The Vision Quest

If we transported ourselves back in time, to, say,
1700 A.D., we would likely find that the medicine mennand women in traditional cultures, were keen observersnof nature, able to interpret weather patterns, thenbehaviour of birds, animals and other things importantnto their survival. After all, they spent their entirenlives in close interaction with the natural landscape,nand were gifted with wisdom and a deep understandingnof the cycles of nature.

Those men and women were really tribal psychiatristsnand the caretakers of ancient medicine knowledge. Asnsuch, they were called upon to counsel, and their wordsnwere regarded carefully. In some instances, the shamannwould supervise the vision quests of young people whonwere on the cusp of adulthood, and were about to embarknupon adult lives as valuable members of society.

While on the vision quest, these young people werenseeking the guidance and aid of spirit allies. Thenshaman would interpret the results of the quest, andngive meaning to things that were otherwise difficultnto understand.

The vision quest was also a means of facing fear, realnor imagined, because it took great courage to go offnalone, to fast, and to endure various perils. In effect,nthe quest was a means of confronting fear; while thenshaman was there to advise and direct the participant,nand to help the person overcome fear of the unknownnand of the spirit world.

To face and to confront one's fears, or other obstaclesnin life, is to gain an increasing measure of freedom.
The result is that exte
al influences or internalnhabits have less ability to shape your life. You becomenincreasingly open to change, to a willingness to movenin directions which change your circumstances for thenbetter.

In other words, fear loses its grip on your behaviou
patterns and on the way you live your life.

Nicholas Roerich, in his book, Shambhala, (p.151),nwrote these words: "cast away...that ridiculous fea
which whispers, 'This is not for you.' One must be ridnof that gray fear, mediocrity.... all is for you if younmanifest the wish from a pure source."

Yes, face your fears, and visualize a beautiful lifenfor tomorrow and the years ahead.