Each summer for 14 years we have run the South Manitou Island Vision Quest, in Northern Lake Michigan, and now run it concurrent with the Wounded Healer Summer School. This year's dates are August 7-14, 2009. We meet at and spend two days preparing and building community at Crows Nest, before trekking North by car to reach Leland, a fishing port town along the Lake Michigan shoreline. We ferry to the Island, where we spend five days. These photos share some of the Crows Nest in summer, and number of pictures of the Island. Photos just do not do justice to the beauty and expanse of this wilderness paradise. At the bottom of this page is a brief discussions of how to prepare spiritually, followed by a list of what to bring. This  information is also in web article format for downloading--see the APPRENTICESHIP page for what to bring on a Vision Quest,. Be sure to contact Mikkal if you are interested, via email or tele. The ARTICLES page has a list of what to bring and pack for the Vision Quest. We keep costs as low and affordable as possible. This year's costs are $500.00 plus apprx $150.00 out of pock expenses est.

 

Spiritual Preparation for a Vision Quest

Making Tobacco Ties and Praying
Vision Quest, in Lakotah language is Hanblecha which means Crying Out, a crying out to the Great Spirit for help with your quest or request. It is a sacred rite traditionally associated with finding and experiencing your True Self with great clarity, in the presence of the Great Spirit , the Earth Mother, and all the helpers. It is associated with clarifying your calling or purpose in life-what you are here to be and do before you pass off this earth. Often you find clarity about how to transcend your limitations and self-defeating patterns as well. In preparing yourself mentally and spiritually for a Vision Quest it is important to cry out or pray to the Great Spirit continually for this Vision and clarity. Above all we want to know how we can fulfill our lives and be of service to all our relations (Mitokuye Oyasin). You can do this praying or crying out by preparing tobacco (spirit food) into little clumps of about half a golf ball size, and folding it up in a 4 inch square piece of cloth--making into a little bag by tying it with string or ribbon-the blowing your prayer into each one as you complete it. So, in the months and weeks preceding your vision quest, make enough for a circle of tobacco prayer ties held together with string or ribbon about 6 inches apart. Make this big enough for a  8-10 foot diameter circle which you will sit in. Traditionally 405 prayer ties…but the number isn't important, it could be 100…just make sure your sacred solo quest circle will be large enough. 

Making Your Medicine Bag
Also make or find a little bag made of leather or cloth. Place in this bag symbols of people and desired emotional qualities and /or memories of resources you want supporting you during the solo Quest. You can make a talisman and write a word on it to support you there. It will be with you during your Quest. Words that name or symbols which remind you of certain qualities, gifts, and resources you have

Make a prayer stick or Paho with sharp spear point carved at one end, so you can stick it in the ground, as your axis mundi. It should be no more than 12-14 inches high when stuck in the center of your circle, to symbolize the 7th Direction, which is You, your heart, your axis mundi, and the meeting place of all directions, Feather Heaven and Mother Earth.

On the day before your Solo Quest (Monday) you will go find your solo site on the island, set up your circle of prayer ties and place your prayer stick in the center. So it will be waiting for you to step into the next morning (Tuesday).

Practice Journeying without drumming, as you may wish to do one or more shamanic journeys out there. It can also be done with the light clicking of two sticks if you need sound and rhythm.

If you wish to read about the Vision Quest, there is Sun Bear's Vision Quest, Black Elk's The Sacred Pipe: Six Rites of the Olgalala Sioux, or Eagle Man (Ed McGaa) Mother Earth Spirituality. Any of these books can be found new or used on the Internet, and in various translations. Anyone of these books ought to be enough to answer any questions your mind has about this great sacred rite.

 

Individual Camping Checklist


    Hello everyone.  I hope you are all well.  I am very excited about this year’s quest to the Little Bear.  Mikkal asked me to put together a list of camping gear.  I am also including a brief commentary about packing for the Manitou Retreat.  The notes are intended for experienced campers and those who are new to the quest.

    Remember, camping on South Manitou Island is deemed “low impact.”  This means, everything you pack-in gets packed-out.  Reduce packaging as much as possible when you pack.  Burning of trash is not allowed on the island. 

    Those who are solo-questing, you will need less food and less clothing.  For all of us, the quest is a wonderful opportunity to strip away layers of baggage, social programming, and residual psychic gunk—this includes include things like your cell-phone, lap-top, even your watch.  As there is no electricity or wifi at the campground, prepare yourself to live without it.  Although there is some cellular service on the island, if you can get by without your phone, you are encouraged to leave it behind as well.

    The list I have created is a guideline for individuals, not a definitive list for everyone.  There will be a separate pack for the “community kitchen.”  However, not everything will fit in this pack, and we will share the burden of carrying food among the entire group.   Please save a small amount of space in your pack for community food provisions (imagine the size of a football or about two boxes of poptarts).



Shelter and Accommodations:  If you have questions regarding these basic items, consult a local sporting goods store.  Important considerations include staying dry and staying warm.  A pack that balances well for your body frame is important.  Anticipate a 2.5 mile hike with the loaded pack.  Practicing is a good idea.  Thanks. Kevin Wojann

•    Backpack

•    Tent

•    Sleeping Bag

•    Chair



Miscellaneous/Camping Gear:   Again, everything you pack-in, get’s packed out.  Less really is more.  Eliminate as much packaging as possible.  Toys are fun, but they’re usually heavy. 

•    Hatchet or camp saw

•    2-3 small or medium “stuff” sacks

•    1 Flashlight (LED lights work well on the island)

•    Batteries for your own needs

•    Mosquito Repellant (Alternatives to Deet are encouraged)

•    Camera (optional)

•    A book

•    A journal

•    A good pen or two

•    Matches/Lighter

•    If you smoke, you are responsible for policing your own butts. 



 

Clothing/Hygiene:  Regarding Clothing—Prepare for layered dress conditions.  Often very cool in the morning, very hot in the afternoon, and cool again in the evening.  Regarding hygiene—Cleaning the body is important, making it smell or look pretty is up to you.  Remember, everything you pack in, gets packed out.  Any soaps you use must be completely biodegradable (Citronella soap is recommended).  Many toiletries also have scents that attract micro-bears, so all toiletries need to be hung in bags while on the island.  The more toiletries you bring, the more maintenance effort you incur.

•    Clothes for a variety of weather (40-90 degrees) Suggestions:

o    1 pair heavier long pants

o    1 pair lighter long pants

o    2 short sleeve t-shirts

o    1 long sleeve t-shirts

o    1 Sweatshirt

o    2 pair heavy socks

o    Socks and Underwear for four days

•    Hat

•    Emergency Rain Poncho or Rain Coat

•    Shoes for hiking/walking

•    Swimsuit

•    Towel

•    Handkerchief

•    Tooth Brush & Paste

•    Hair Brush/Comb



Kitchen Supplies:  Everyone is responsible for your own eating utensils.  We have a few extras, but it works best if everyone has their own.  The “Community Kitchen” supplies Breakfast, coffee, and snacks.  As a group, we will divvy up a list of needed supplies prior to the peri-departure shopping trip.  Each year, we dramatically over-pack food supplies.  A little extra food is prudent.  Too much is just plain heavy.  All food stuffs are hung all the time, because the micro-bears will get into the bags.  So let’s all lean down a little.  No one will go hungry.

    The “community kitchen” includes necessary equipment for cooking, making coffee, small tables, a couple of serving utensils, trash bags, and some incense for keeping flies/mosquitoes at bay.  Aside from these items, plan to have the following along with you:

•    1 Bottle of Citronella Soap (for Dishes, Hygiene, and clothes)

•    1 Bowl for food

•    1 Fork

•    1 Spoon

•    1 Camping knife (folding blade)

•    1 Cup for Coffee/Hot Drinks

•    1 Canteen/water bottle for personal drinking water

•    Food as outlined below

    Breakfasts:  Part of the “Community Kitchen”

    Lunches:  Are considered an “On-Your-Own snack during the day.”  Everyone pitches items into the snack bag.  Dried fruit, granola, trail mix, and dehydrated food stuffs are great.  M&M’s kinda make the trip.  Other forms of chocolate become an interesting mash, but really don’t survive the trip.  Solo Questers should plan 2-3 snack items.  Modified questers should plan for 4-5 snack items.

    Suppers:  are purchased by each individual, and you can put your initials on the bags.  We usually get freeze-dried meals from Lunker’s before departure.  You can bring other options if you like, but these meals are very convenient and designed for camping.  Solo Questers will need 2 packaged meals, modified questers will need 4 packaged meals.
 

See workshop page, Heart-Centered Shamanism I for details and application, air port info and shuttle to Crows Nest.

Costs for the vision Quest this year are $500.00, plus you will have an estimate $150.00 out of pocket expenses to cover transpo to island, ferryboat, Federal Park camp fees, meals, and incidentals. Time is running short for the Augu 7-14 event, so contact Mikkal a.s.a.p. if you would like to join this annual Vision Quest experience. ShamanicAR@aol.com