Circles of Stone
Wilderness rites of passage
“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves….Do not now look for the answers…..At present you need to live the questions….”
Rainer Maria Rilke
The Vision Quest
We offer an 11 day pan-cultural ceremony which has been sensitively adapted from ancient and varied rites of passage of a similar kind. At the core is a 4 day and night solo fast in the wilderness. The first 4 days are spent preparing for the solo time and the final three days are spent sharing the experience of the solo time with your fellow questers and preparing for incorporating your experience into your life beyond our time together.
There are many reasons for doing a Vision Quest. Often people feel called to do a Vision Quest because there is a change that is happening or needs to happen in their lives. The conscious choice to go on a Vision Quest is a step in supporting that change positively.
Many people embark on a Vision Quest to mark life transitions – from youth to adulthood, from adulthood to elderhood, or for the marking of a life crisis – a death, a divorce, a marriage, a birth, a new career, a deepening of commitment to something such as a spiritual practice or a relationship. Any other event or experience that may happen along life’s road where you find yourself feel that you are on a threshold of some sort – these too are reasons to quest.
Logistics
We spend 11 days together, away from home, family and work. We invite participants to disconnect from the daily obligations and demands of their lives. To give themselves time to retreat from their usual activities and responsibilities.
We will start and end at a beautiful beachside location on the West Coast of South Africa, approximately 2 hours drive from Cape Town. Here we will gather and live in community in comfortable shared accommodation on the edge of the Atlantic ocean. We are privileged to have access to pristine land in the Cederberg not far from Clanwilliam for the solo time in the wilderness. This is a malaria-free area.
We work with a small group of up to 8 people only.
Please note that for you own safety and the safety of other participants, recreational drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the Vision Quest.
Preparation
We request and strongly recommend that the decision to do a Vision Quest be taken as far in advance of the quest as possible – a year is ideal. However, at least 6 months is good. We will not accept participants later than a month before the commencement of the Vision Quest. This is not something to be undertaken lightly or at the last minute.
Once you have submitted the application form, we will arrange for you to have a conversation with both Theresa and Kevin to explore any questions you (and we) may have. When you have decided to go ahead, we ask for a deposit to secure your place (which is non-refundable). About 6-8 months before we gather we send out a comprehensive Guide for the Preparation for Vision Quest which details all that we suggest you do to prepare for the solo fast.
Preparation includes writing a letter of intention, doing a day long Earth Walk a month before the Vision Quest, developing awareness of yourself and your body and your reason for embarking on this ceremony, all of which is detailed in the Guide.
In the Guide, you will find a kit list and some guidance on what you will need for the 11 days.
Join our next Vision Quest in October 2025
FAQs
What is the weather like?
Currently, the weather is somewhat unpredictable. However, at the time of the quest we expect it will be warm to hot in the day time and cool in the evenings. While we don’t expect much rain – it is always a possibility. Daily average temperatures range between 10deg C on a cool night and 30deg C on a hot day. It is late spring in South Africa at that time.
Are there wild animals?
Yes. There is an abundance of birdlife, small antelope, and the usual small mammals and reptiles. If you are lucky you might get a scent or a glance of one of the very shy solitary cape leopards. We do spend time talking about this in preparation. An encounter with any of these is a significant part of the quest and would be a great gift.
Will I be safe?
Safety is a priority for us. We have a range of protocols and procedures in place to ensure safety. We discuss this in detail when we gather together. We do require that all participants have travel insurance in place that includes medical evacuation.
I am worried about fasting, what if I get hungry?
For many people, fasting is a key concern. However, in a healthy state our bodies can go without food for prolonged periods – as long as we continue to drink water. If you have any serious health concerns we recommend that you consult with your doctor before coming on the Quest. You are also not REQUIRED to fast – this too is a choice which you must make.
This sounds like a religious event – what if it goes against my religion?
Vision Quests are non-sectarian in nature. All religions are welcomed and we do not follow any religious processes. We believe that the call to go “into the wilderness” is one that has been heeded by many ordinary and extraordinary people over time. We believe that this experience is potentially a spiritual experience, not necessarily a religious one.