>>1230316I don't know if this counts as a "vision quest" per se, but I went out into the backcountry with 5 very close friends I've known for 15+ years last summer.
Portage trip, 4 days of intense canoeing/portaging covering more ground than we've ever done before in a park we've seen a lot of. Minimal bugs, nice weather, food, etc.
At the end of the 4th day, found a nice mainland campsite with high cliffs and some cool features, nice and isolated. Made tea with shrooms and 4 of us drank while one stayed sober.
I like the different stages of mushrooms; I've done it maybe 5 times. The giddy/energetic stage of pure fun, getting camp cleaned up for the upcoming night, putting up the food in the tree, chopping up wood for a fire, laughing, etc.
Second stage of exploration and wonder, feeling connected to the planet and all that inhabit it.
The third stage where everything slows down and you feel supreme calm and peace, walls completely broken down. We all sat around the fire and had the most real talks. Talks of our life, our strengths and weaknesses, trading wisdom. It was like a group therapy session and each had something to give and to take.
Rode the high well into the night lying on the cliffside, watching the stars. Rolled a joint as we relaxed to pass around, as I had before around the end of the 3rd stage.
As the visuals waned, we all eventually said our goodnights and retreated to our tents. I sat in the silence, eyes closed, reflecting on everything and listening to the subtle sounds of nature and life.
Woke up, took down camp, made some breakfast and traded some stories, got our gear and went hard that day to get home. We planned to take 2 more days but covered ground so fast we ended up just pushing on and drove home late at night.
Honestly one of the best experiences I've had in my life. I learned a lot about myself that trip, and I continue to work towards the challenges I set out to overcome.