Vision Quests and Women – Past and Present

When we talked about the Vision Quests in class, related to Native American Religions, it was something that sounded interesting to me. Our textbook for class defines Vision Quest as simply, “Exercises undertaken by Native Americans seeking contact with the spirit world.” (Hopfe, 2012) Vision Quests are usually ventured into by younger individuals, and more specifically young men, when they are approaching puberty. From the time Native American children are young and can understand, they are told that someday they will be sent away to live by themselves, away from family, in a state of prayer and humility until they receive a vision. Usually the youth on the vision quest will have to fast and have no clothes or possessions as to be looked upon by the spirits and frail and humble. For some this vision may come quickly (within a few days) and for others it may take a significant amount of time. If the vision does not happen fairly quickly, the youth may become more extreme and cut themselves as to let the spirit know that they are genuine about their quest. Quite often when the vision comes, it comes in the form of some type of animal. The animal in the vision may also be performing an action or have some other object of significance. When the youth return to their family and community, they explain what they see in their vision. The vision is interpreted and the animal and the action or object that appears in the vision is then made a part of the youth’s name. For example, if the youth receives their vision and in that vision they see a bull running through a field, then Running Bull would become part of their name. Once the vision is received, and interpreted the youth are considered to have successfully moved through this rite of passage.
The vision quest is often sought at other times in life as well. Although visions quests can be undertaken by young men or women, the ones of women are rarely mentioned ore even documented throughout history. When researching the subject I was able to find a sample of

information regarding how the vision quest of young women differed from that of young men.
The young women are not sent out alone like the young men but are sequestered close by in gardens or small cabins. According to the article I found, the girls prayed and fasted until a spirit manifested itself in the dreamscape and took the girl far away into a magical landscape. (Tedlock, 2004) Barbara Tedlock also discusses one of the few visions quests I was able to find related to a woman. This woman is named Tela Star Hawk Lake and her vision quest story is as follows: “One night a strange thing occurred. I was singing and praying with my eyes closed and I heard the scream of my Hawk. Then I heard a ringing noise in my ears. As I looked up into the sky searching for the Hawk, I found it, and suddenly saw my favorite Star. I cried from the power and humility. The Hawk flew higher and higher out of sight, straight toward the Star as darkness began to take over the day. It was evening and I felt the Hawk was carrying my prayers with it, but a strange feeling came over me. I could feel it pulling my soul out of my body and my whole body began to tremble violently. My soul was now in the Hawk. It was merged with the spirit and power of Hawk. I was now Hawk. It flew directly into the night sky, out of sight, as the stars became brighter. Then suddenly, as the ringing noise got louder in my ears, and my body continued to tremble with power surging through it, I could see the Star shoot straight out of the sky, directly into me, and a large flash of light surrounded my entire body. I was knocked unconscious by the experience and was in a coma for several days.” (Tedlock, 2004)
Tela Star Hawk Lake has had many spiritual experiences since her initial vision and is a powerful shaman today. She is said to be the last female shaman. She also has a book out entitled Hawk Woman Dancing with the Moon: Sacred Medicine for Today's Woman which documents her life story as well as Native healing secrets and ceremonies.

Another woman that I found a bit of documentation on was Teemiartissaq. In summary, she is approaching puberty and is encouraged by her father that she might want to train and learn to become a shaman. She describes her vision during this time as going into the mountains where she saw a beautiful butterfly. However, he beautiful butterfly was covered in blood and on the ground. Teemiartissaq felt as if the butterfly wanted her to whistle something so she did. At that point, she became clothed to look like that of the butterfly. When she whistled again, the butterfly left her and flew away. She then heard someone say that because she whistled and was dressed like a butterfly maybe she is training to become someone who can descend into the sea. At the end of the vision she sees the butterfly lick away all of the blood and then she awakens. This vision took place in Greenland which is not common to butterflies as it is colder there and glaciers are known to be present. However in the specific region of Ammassalik in Greenland, there are no glaciers and there are whales, salmon, plenty of edible herbs and several species of butterflies.
When Teemiartissaq describes her vision of the butterfly being on the ground, this is actually very common of butterflies in that area. Through evolution they receive warmth through veins on their hind wings and this travels through to the front wings and this is how they soak up the sun. The fact that the butterfly was bloody indicates that it has recently emerged from the cocoon and the butterfly is translucent and the veins are clearly visible.
The meaning of the vision is absolutely clear that this symbolizes Teemiartissaq’s own coming of age, her first menstruation. Soon her spirit will break out of its shell, transform, and fly for the first time. (Tedlock, 2004)

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