I have nothing but respect and admiration for the Animas Valley Institute, the organization that guides people into the wilderness to discover their deeper selves. They were the group responsible for the lost woman several days ago near Norwood. Their guided trips offer a rich assortment of experiences: identifying our place in life, arousing our wild imaginations, encountering our souls, integrating our voice into our lives, experiencing our membership in the community of the Earth, and joining others in a more soulful life.
Several years ago, I took the same Vision Quest with a solo four-day outing in Utah. There were extreme safety precautions built into the each step of the process: preparation, directions, buddy-systems and expertly trained guides. This was a profound experience for me, and others on the Quest, as we were away from all distractions so we could better discover our authentic selves. The four-day solo fast enabled us to be present with non-ordinary perceptions and ways of knowing.
Tribes all over the earth have fasted for thousands of years. Fasting in the Bible allowed people to empty themselves out so as to welcome in the new. It’s also a springtime ritual in many cultures.
Sheriff Masters’ harsh criticism and condescension of the Institute hurts many of us. AVI has been doing these Quests since the 1980s, all over the earth, and for thousands of people. One woman getting lost, and found thankfully, and there’s all this hoopla around it. People get lost in the mountains regularly, without nearly all the press. Thank you, Search and Rescue!
Pilgrimages and quests are as old as time, and help us to become more fully human and as useful as we can be at this momentous time.
Martha McClellan
Durango
