Ancient Healing Ways
with Pip Bondy
Vision Quest
Rites of Passage Initiation into Life Transitions:
An eleven-day Ceremony in the mountains of North Wales
What is a Vision Quest
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The Vision Quest is an ancient ceremony to mark and move on from one life transition to another. The ancients knew that by crossing these thresholds in wild places we face our fears, see our life pass through and gather our medicine in order to move into the next phase of life.
“Nature mirrors all that we are; it shows us the many faces of dark and light”
Our indigenous tribal ancestors also knew that their roots were connected in the Earth. They knew that the sun and the stars, the wind, stones, trees and every creature, season and cycle of nature is integrally connected to our very essence of being. The primal seeds are held in the cells of our bodies, in the birth of our images and the fire of our emotions.
Our personal journey
We all have a story. The story of our lives is held in our bones and blood, our childhood and history, the patterns we create and relationships we make from birth to death; the first and final initiations.
Our soul and spirit are not somewhere else, but right here and now, waiting to grow and expand; each breath an initiation, an expansion into life and death.
“Nature embraces and beats us, blows right through us until the dawn of our being stands true, naked and free…free to just be!”
The next stage of our life...
Rites of Passage in our modern culture
In modern times many of these old traditions and rites have been forgotten or lost. We live in challenging sometimes turbulent times with periods of confusion, alienation and lack of focus. We struggle to identify what is important and what has true meaning. Often feeling separated and alone.
This is for those of us who aspire to wake up and rediscover the natural world as guide and teacher; where the inner and outer cycles of self, seasons and nature reflect each other and are full of meaning and spirit. We are not separate. The world is an eternal mirror and our true nature is to know and own our inner truths and values beyond what keeps us confined and small. To ask the questions “Who am I?” and “What do I have to offer the world?"
The challenge and commitment of this eleven-day ceremony offers an opportunity to mark, celebrate, expand and move forward in life.
In my solitude I have seen things very clearly that were not true
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Antonio Machado, translated by Robert Bly
Preparation & Form
Before participating in the Vision Quest, we ask you to write a short account of yourself and your life, including the issues you carry right now, your intention and what you want to mark. You will be supported and guided to refine and clarify your intent in the first few days of our time together.
You will be sent a handbook - The Trail to the Sacred Mountain - to help and guide you, and details of equipment and provisions needed for your safety.
At least one month before the date of your Quest you will need to take a medicine walk from dawn to dusk, with no food, shelter, or human company. Then email me an account of your walk.
Severance
Starts with your first intent and commitment to make this crossing, the time of physical, emotional and spiritual preparation; a time of separating from your family, friends, community and the past, both physically and psychologically.
“The symbolic cutting of the umbilical cord”
Threshold
Stepping across the threshold of your former life and its limitations into the sacred world, you take your place and are tested in wild nature. In your alone time you will create your own ceremonies and rites from the tools and the teachings of your own lives. Nature will be your teacher with the voice of the stars and sky, the rocks and rivers. Your vision is in the surrender to the emptiness, to the memories in your soul and the landscapes within. You may face deep truths, extreme weakness and strength that you never knew you had in order to stand in your naked truth and surrender into your uniqueness.
“Nature’s great soul holds the mirror for you to recognise yourself in your own life”
Incorporation
‘Taking on the body’. Still in sacred time and according to ancient tradition you are united with those you left. Stories of your sacred time in the wilderness are shared and witnessed. With deep listening and mirroring you will be supported and helped to understand the vision and possibilities of the new life you have just stepped into. You are loved and blessed just as you are. We celebrate together and then you return to your home and community with fresh knowledge and understanding.
The Vision Quest will be held in the mountains of North Wales, U.K and will consist of four days preparation, four days alone with no food and three days of incorporation.
To Enrol and Participate
About the venue
We provide this as a base and home. Our group will live as a small community where everyone is responsible for themselves. You will therefore provide your own food and do your own cooking. Penrhyndeudraeth (4 miles) has a range of small shops including a post office and a garage. Porthmadog (8 miles) has a wider range of shops including camping shops and a large supermarket with some organic food.
To Enrol
You are welcome to contact me with questions or queries concerning this ceremony. To secure a place you need to send a non-refundable deposit along with a letter saying something about yourself and your past, including issues you carry right now and why you wish to participate in this Quest. You will then be sent details of the necessary equipment, medical forms, travel suggestions and a map to the venue. Our group size is always small to enhance the quality, experience and depth of our work together. Be mindful that places are limited.
The only way to live is like a rose; without a Why
Meister Eckhart
Testimonials
"From the moment I committed to doing the Vision Quest, I felt Pippa's unwavering support and honouring of the journey I had begun. In a very clear and intuitive way, she created the space within our group for me to make a deep transition from one stage of my life to the next. She embodies the essential qualities of a midwife: compassionate, honest, and able to listen and see deeply, a fearless guide between worlds. In the magical mountains of Snowdonia, this ancient ceremony comes alive and brings much-needed healing and understanding to life changes in our modern culture."
Sophie Style. Spain
“I arrived at a place of knowing within myself which was both new and extremely old at the same time.”
Joanna Shipley. Oxford, UK
"I would like to take a moment to say thanks for all of the wonderful support that you gave in the lead up to, during and after my Vision Quest. Your facilitation and preparation for the quest made a very safe container for me to explore something completely new within the context of my inner journey. There have been many rich insights that I've taken from my time with you and on the mountain and every day since more has been unfolding. I will recommend the practice of Vision Quest to my friends on this path and have the utmost confidence in recommending that they do this through you."
Greg Segal, London, UK
"The Teachings, Healings & Wisdoms I received from participating in a Vision Quest guided by Pippa have been to vast to put into words. I've been given the opportunity to take Possession of my Life & walk closer to my Soul."
Michael Blake, Wales, UK