A vision quest is one of the means by which various Indian cultures seek knowledge or answer questions. A person may choose to participate in a vision quest in order to discover what path his or her life should take, or perhaps to find an answer to a specific problem. The visions, or dreams, experienced in the quest can help shape a person's understanding of events, remove conflict, clear up a situation, provide a spirit helper, or possibly even reveal the future. Whatever the purpose of the quest, the desired goal is usually to bring peace and restore harmony.
A person usually undertakes a vision quest in an isolated area, generally without food or water. The person remains isolated as long as it takes to achieve the desired goal, and the quest may last up to three or four days. The design of the quest varies according to the tribe's culture and the purpose behind seeking a vision. A successful quest will produce contact with a spirit helper or guide, whose presence is often signaled by a visionary experience or contact with an animal or some other being.
