{The hermit] takes the purple heavens to be his hut, the encircling sea to be his pond, roaring with laughter in his nakedness, walking along singing with his hair hanging down.
- Zhiang Yan
Supporting Life Transitions In Nature
ABOUT OUR VISION QUESTS
Vision quests are an ancient rite of passage and have been practiced in traditional cultures throughout time. They have an important role to play for us now in the 21st century as we collectively navigate the rip tide of current global shifts.
There was a time when life transitions were marked and interwoven with nature. Natur nicht als Kulisse, Nature not as a pretty backdrop but as forces alive to themselves. These Übergangsriten/ Rites of Passage were once woven into the weave of our communities. Our ancestors collectively and ritually marked important transitions in nature and these collective ‘markings’ would have been as much a part of life as weddings and funerals.
When we think of rites of passage - the transition from adolescence to adulthood - might be the one we are most familiar with. Other examples of life transitions include the ending and beginning of a new chapter of life, a career change, the loss of a loved one and so on. Or perhaps you long to change the way you see and experience yourself, you wish to let go of limiting mindsets and beliefs, to connect with true self-worth and a deep sense of belonging. These more nuanced passages are no less important; times when it might seem like the hardest thing in the world is to be ourselves. When we find ourselves asking, Who am I? Really? Aside from what family and society and conventions tell me.
Whatever it is that we long for, we must be willing to turn towards the deadwood in our lives and see it, as just that. With the understanding that we must leave it behind if we are to grow and evolve. These dying-to and rebirthing phases are as natural as life itself. To undertake a rite of initiation is to work very deeply, to lean into the nature of death and rebirth cycles- when the old is no longer sustainable and the new might not yet be in sight.
This often this involves dying to your familiar way of belonging to the world, reconnecting to the wisdom and passion of your soul, and rediscovering your medicine. This ‘tracking’ of your medicine - what might be called your true nature and soul purpose - is both your deepest inheritance and the greatest contribution you can offer your family and communities.
There is only one life you can call your own and a thousand others you can call by any name you want.- David WhyteThe village, the collective element of this work has always been implicitly woven into each rite of passage as a renewing for the entire community. Francis Weller recently interviewed, said that traditionally initiations were a kind of binding of yourselves with the life forces. They were never meant for ‘me, myself and I’ or for the purposes of self-improvement. But for the health of the community in widest sense of that word.
These rituals are no longer a part of mainstream culture and barely a part of niche culture. What a loss. If you are seeking greater depth and clarity about life purpose and meaning please come, join us this September.
Do not try to serve the whole world or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life
and wait there patiently, until the song that is yours alone to sing falls into your open cupped hands and you recognise and greet it.
Only then will you know how to give yourself
to the world so worthy of rescue.Clearing by Martha Postlethwaite 
WHAT TO EXPECT ON A VISION QUESTS
Throughout time and across cultures people have gone into the natural world to mark and celebrate significant life transitions. Our vision quests is a modern day rites of passage designed to help navigate the complexity of these times; time away from the everyday, making space and to connect with deeper purpose and wisdom to carry through life.
You may already be familiar with the Celtic wheel of the year interwoven with the solstices, equinoxes and seasonal fire festivals. The ancient medicine wheel teachings we are most familiar with are The Four Shields of Human Nature (SOLB) and the Nature Based Map of Psyche (AVI).
These seasonal maps, deeply woven with land and our own nature cycles, sit at the heart of these intentional and traditional initiations. Having been used pan culturally by peoples to navigate what it means to be humans deeply connected to the wild, they map nature within us, and around us. Containing soulful paths and ceremonies which were once the life-blood of our ancestors and communities.
At the heart of our time together lies a four day wilderness vigil. This is characterised by stepping across a threshold, into the ‘unknown’ - into a symbolic poetic reality, where we open to something greater than ‘little me’. Practically we step into the wilderness (with the support of guides at base camp) to enter a period of fasting and ceremony for four days and four nights. As our bodies empty of food and our minds are no longer distracted by daily pursuits, we may step into the subtlety of our own inner nature and the truth of our being. Into a space from which something else may emerge, awakened forgotten senses and ways of perceiving, perhaps our deepest longing and innate potential, perhaps, even our wild, authentic and natural selves.
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Join us from 4th -15th September
Our twelve-day programme will be held within an enchanted and secluded valley we discovered two years ago.We will be located in a secluded and private spot on the edge of Dartmoor. The land we will be staying on is tucked off the moorland in a lush valley, surrounded by ancient oak forest and moorland we will also have access to cascading rivers (wild swimming), wild flower meadows and boulder strewn bluebell groves. The air that comes off the Atlantic here is so pure that rare mosses and lichens thrive and it is one of the few dark sky areas left in the UK. You will not be disappointed!
All of the photos here, bar one, are from the location where we will stay. -
Accommodation will be camping and we will have access the cosy and beautiful converted barn and a private yoga studio/meditation space which we may also use for group sharing in case of inclement weather. Did I mention there are plenty of places for wild swimming!
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We keep our groups deliberately small and our UK-based quests take place in a secluded privately owned piece of land in Dartmoor. To cover the costs of being able to use this land our prices for our UK quests are a little more than the ones we offer in Crete.
Cost: £1190
For those who can afford to support Bursary places: £1350
Do not hesitate to contact us for financial help if needed. We offer bursary places.
Fees include all guiding, facilitation, accommodation, hearty breakfasts and a welcome meal on the first evening.
Building a sense of Community
For several years we have been inviting participants to bring ingredients to prepare one meal during the retreat. We find this supports and deepens a sense of community. The nearest town, eight away, has food shops where you can buy the ingredients for this meal on the arrival day if need be. All food will be vegan/vegetarian. -
Testimonial (extract from a letter) from June 2023
Natasha and Werner create and hold a container for transformation, where deep work and synchronicities can unfold in the most potent of ways. They complement each other so well. Natasha brings a fiercely feminine perspective, filled with love, raw authenticity and connected somatic movement skills; Werner brings a strong, protective, calm male presence full of insight, intuition and courage. Together, they guide with such humility and grace, you're free to seek whatever medicine the land has to offer you. It's a real gift and real wonder to behold: the power, magic and story of wild nature speaks through them.
Thank you will never do it justice. As I said on the retreat, although everything on the surface seems the same, the ground beneath me has shifted - perhaps it's my core? Or the presence of my spirit? It feels stronger somehow, more secure, and connected to nature - in a way I've always wanted - like the mosses, bracken, wood sorrel and ivy are holding me to the earth.
I re-read my letter of intent, you opened the way for me to experience all I hoped for - and so much more - the full expression of love and life.
For more testimonials please visit our dedicated webpage.
BOOKING
If you know it’s a YES then please book an informal chat and we can secure you a place.
If you would like to know more do feel free to get in touch. Werner and I are both happy to have a conversation about the details of this deep nature immersion and our approach. You can send an email or book a no obligation informal chat here:
YOUR GUIDES AND OUR ETHOS
Whilst we remember and acknowledge our own lineage of teachers whose combined wisdom we aspire to pass on, Werner and I also weave contemporary practices and perspectives into our guiding of this ancient rite of passage. We are both trauma educated guides committed to sharing embodiment practices that not only support your solo time but also the incorporation aspect of this ceremony.
The quest itself marks the first step in an unfolding journey which is why we offer mentoring beyond our time together. The phase of Incorporation is as important as the quest itself which in many ways is just the beginning.
Natasha Lythgoe
I’m Natasha, also known by my Buddhist name Nagadipa which means light in the depths - this name was given to me as a mirror of my essence and as a life teaching.
I guide individuals and groups through transformative nature-based experiences. With over twenty years of experience leading programmes I have been moved and honoured to witness countless stories; listening and attending to what has purchase on folks’ hearts.
The way I work weaves together the main threads of my life; creativity, dharma (truth), mythic journeys, the intelligence of the body and nature.
Werner Pilz
Werner Pilz is an experienced Vision Quest guide and Wilderness Facilitator with more than fifteen years experience as a lead guide. He started his spiritual journey 30 years ago at the Buddhist Naropa Institute in Boulder/Colorado. He later trained with the School of Lost Borders in the US and Germany. He has been guiding Vision Quests, running programmes and facilitating Way of Council all over Europe. He is an active member of the German-Speaking Wilderness Guides Network. His current passions are guiding sacred soul-journeys for men and supporting and mentoring young adults. His work is informed through Rites of Passage, The Four Shields, Council, Focusing, Identity-orientated Trauma Psychotherapy, Music and recent investigations in the Art of the Trickster. He is a very proud father of two blossoming 26 year-old women.