Welcome To Summer!
Hello everyone. North of the equator we are approaching the warmest time of the year, which for many of us, means that workshops and ceremonies in the tradition of Grandfather Stalking Wolf are being offered in far greater numbers than at any other time. When you factor in covid and all of the restrictions which resulted from it, there’s more happening in the next few months than has happened for a long time!
In May, I spent some time in the woods a few hours north of Toronto. I was on the land there undertaking a Vision Quest — the sacred ceremony that strips you of all distractions and places you by yourself, in nature (traditionally for 4 days and nights) and allows you the opportunity to dive deeply within. This wasn’t my first Quest, but each one is different and has its own set of experiences and challenges, and this one was no different.
I had a great experience and learned a lot, and at times found it very hard. One of the things I had the privilege to experience was watching as buds on tree branches grew into full, lush and vibrant green leaves – in real time! As the canopy filled in, the landscape changed. Wildflowers broke free from the ground through the leaf litter and stretched toward the sky, opening to the light.
In the same way, summer approaches for those of us in the northern hemisphere. For anyone who seeks to participate in programs and sacred ceremonies in this tradition, you will find many offerings popping up throughout the next few months. If you look at the Hearts of Fire Vision Quest listing alone, https://heartsoffire.net/vision-quests-in-your-area/ you will see opportunities to Quest in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia.
For the first time in several years there’s also a Vision Quest offered by Malcolm Ringwalt – who has literally guided thousands of people through the Quest experience! It is happening in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (ostensibly the Mecca for students of Grandfather Stalking Wolf and Tom Brown Jr.) from August 28th to September 4th. Elizabeth Moes is also running an all-women’s Vision Quest in the Pine Barrens, July 30th to August 6th!
