tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post8936603234630311431..comments2023-11-06T13:07:23.645-05:00Comments on The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment: Vision QuestsMatthew MacNishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-24047554999832907932010-12-21T02:26:00.007-05:002010-12-21T02:26:00.007-05:00Wow, thanks for sharing what you went through, Mat...Wow, thanks for sharing what you went through, Matt. I have a son who is very attuned to nature and something like this would be a dream come true for him. I hope one day he can have an experience like this. <br /><br />Happy holidays!<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-31988940633781475682010-12-21T00:32:48.966-05:002010-12-21T00:32:48.966-05:00That was beautiful and moving, Matt. I can't b...That was beautiful and moving, Matt. I can't be away from some form of nature too long. It feeds my spirit. I've never done a vision quest but lived in wilderness areas and fasted for days. It teaches you something deeper than day to day living.<br />I used to keep journals of dreams, and I had a lot with bears who often conversed with me. I don't know what that means but I keep bear fetishes around out of respect.<br />I can't wait to read your novel some day. The query alone hooked me.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-84450310375582765642010-12-20T23:58:19.646-05:002010-12-20T23:58:19.646-05:00Good post Matthew. Growing up in the SW US, many ...Good post Matthew. Growing up in the SW US, many of my friends were Kiowa, Arapaho, or other tribe members. I learned a lot about them balancing modern societies with their ancient traditions.Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-89469877944227289342010-12-20T23:50:04.086-05:002010-12-20T23:50:04.086-05:00Matt, what a wonderful story. You have fascinating...Matt, what a wonderful story. You have fascinating background. <br /><br />Last year I began to meditate on the deck in my backyard. It was the first time I had meditated in a long, long time. A baby robin walked through the fence, tottered up to my feet, and chirped at me...H. Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-46993567786000446382010-12-20T23:11:00.046-05:002010-12-20T23:11:00.046-05:00I had no idea that you'd modeled parts of Warr...I had no idea that you'd modeled parts of Warrior Monks after your own experiences. <br /><br />I loved this post. I think too many people discount their dreams. Sure, some are nonsensical (hello? Niedermaier?), but I'd like to believe in your Spirit Guide!Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-27936469625857602672010-12-20T20:56:12.032-05:002010-12-20T20:56:12.032-05:00Though I'm not much with the camping and whole...Though I'm not much with the camping and whole outdoors thing, this sounds amazing!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this story Matt, I loved this post!Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08190361875174742351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-62155803704270916412010-12-20T20:55:22.042-05:002010-12-20T20:55:22.042-05:00Thanks for sharing this.Thanks for sharing this.Chris Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02638226375639228988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-55739587145892081722010-12-20T18:49:05.007-05:002010-12-20T18:49:05.007-05:00This is an amazing post, Matt. Thank you so much f...This is an amazing post, Matt. Thank you so much for sharing it. Honestly, it makes me even more interested in Warrior Monks. ;)<br /><br />I can't wait to read more tomorrow.<br /><br />Hugs and stuff,<br /><br />ShanShannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11640509596922335617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-29870401993015336432010-12-20T18:09:44.259-05:002010-12-20T18:09:44.259-05:00Thanks for sharing such an intimate part of yourse...Thanks for sharing such an intimate part of yourself with us here...and I'm really liking this series!Carolyn Abiadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567399129586443513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-78273819504743865692010-12-20T17:33:48.912-05:002010-12-20T17:33:48.912-05:00An incredible experience and a very interesting po...An incredible experience and a very interesting post.Just Wendy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05268645629027109282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-45491744352307442012010-12-20T16:57:59.491-05:002010-12-20T16:57:59.491-05:00Your reform-school camps looks almost like being i...Your reform-school camps looks almost like being in the army, except you didn't have an automatic rifle, I presume. To me that makes it more attractive than the army<br /><br /><a href="http://cold-as-heaven.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Cold As Heaven </a>CA Heavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07558100567878233142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-48677262795969648212010-12-20T16:00:33.999-05:002010-12-20T16:00:33.999-05:00Fascinating, Matt! I have always wanted to spend ...Fascinating, Matt! I have always wanted to spend a couple days completely alone in the woods or desert, with the specific intention of meditating and tapping into my deeper spiritual side. <br /><br />I missed Friday's post, but I think if I had a Patronus, it would be some sort of bird.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01899768909313326172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-29563823618971464992010-12-20T15:30:49.269-05:002010-12-20T15:30:49.269-05:00after reading Kristy Sweetland's blog, nothing...after reading Kristy Sweetland's blog, nothing surprises me anymore regarding spirit guides and animal totems anymore.<br />That sounds like such a cool experience. Thanks for sharing itSarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-24270791322578994522010-12-20T15:24:29.589-05:002010-12-20T15:24:29.589-05:00Wow. Wow. That is just amazing! I'm sorry abou...Wow. Wow. That is just amazing! I'm sorry about your loss though. I couldn't imagine living out of a tent! That is some serious nature loving nards for that!Colene Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086195075690893194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-34002089180238975472010-12-20T15:24:20.795-05:002010-12-20T15:24:20.795-05:00I know some of the posters here are joking with th...I know some of the posters here are joking with the comments about doing a spirit quest in a hotel or saying they'd whine throughout, but still...<br /><br />The whole point is to get out of yourself. You strip off all the things that you hang on yourself as your public face, and what you're left with is the "real" you. You get rid of the outside stimuli and see what comes out of you from the inside.<br /><br />It takes time and quiet and concentration.<br /><br />If you go the "long" route and fast, you won't feel hungry after about 3 days - so long as you drink water. Lots of water.<br /><br />It's a seriously personal thing. You don't "shortcut" this sort of thing and you don't do it with a room full of creature comforts. If you distract yourself, you've cut yourself off from your own internal voice, which is what you need to hear. <br /><br />(And I know I probably sound irritated, but I'm not, really.)Josin L. McQueinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751043333147850336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-67467962541347691822010-12-20T14:54:20.707-05:002010-12-20T14:54:20.707-05:00That is really amazing. When you break through th...That is really amazing. When you break through the layers of a person and see what makes them who they are, you start to understand how they become themselves.<br /><br />It must have been an eye opening experience.M.A. Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345656231366226417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-56202409970794714342010-12-20T14:25:53.597-05:002010-12-20T14:25:53.597-05:00I'm sorry that this amazing experience had to ...I'm sorry that this amazing experience had to follow the loss of your family, but clearly it had a very positive impact on you as a person. <br /><br />I always feel so soft and weak when I hear about people who survive such tremendous challenges. But I know that your trials have only made you stronger. <br /><br />And a cougar is such a cool animal.Melissa Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02700191547004665402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-20096963730612387612010-12-20T14:19:33.793-05:002010-12-20T14:19:33.793-05:00Up until this point, the only knowledge I had of v...Up until this point, the only knowledge I had of vision quests were from The Simpsons and Family Guy, so thanks for enlightening me :) It sounds like an amazing experience though. Did your vision quest help you toward your life's direction too?Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-7909761537550417202010-12-20T11:24:47.048-05:002010-12-20T11:24:47.048-05:00Oh this is so sad! :-( But I'm glad your mum v...Oh this is so sad! :-( But I'm glad your mum visited you - and as an almighty and mystical cougar. I hope the visits continue! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-57750120015936711552010-12-20T10:51:24.940-05:002010-12-20T10:51:24.940-05:00Sounds like a unique experience.Sounds like a unique experience.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-40836006028452676662010-12-20T10:35:27.910-05:002010-12-20T10:35:27.910-05:00That must have been such a cool dream to wake up f...That must have been such a cool dream to wake up from. It'd be hard not to see significance in it, even if it was influenced by your strongest desires.<br /><br />As for my patronus, I believe it looks like Lady Gaga.Carolina M. Valdez Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589934533051907801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-80718580406311157292010-12-20T10:30:52.316-05:002010-12-20T10:30:52.316-05:00Can my vision quest/alone time be spent in a 5 sta...Can my vision quest/alone time be spent in a 5 star hotel? I like a nice mattress and a hot bath.<br /><br />Seriously, I love this post. <br />My childhood was horrific and abusive but there was no camp. There was only survival and eventually escape.<br />Thank you for sharing your story with us.<br /><br />Happy holidays, Matt.<br />Love,<br />LolaLola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-49722896813057621862010-12-20T10:04:57.555-05:002010-12-20T10:04:57.555-05:00I think I've seen a few movies that did this o...I think I've seen a few movies that did this or something close. I see you threw lots of this into your first book!Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-7719646267790151602010-12-20T10:03:05.579-05:002010-12-20T10:03:05.579-05:00hi mr matthew! i like this post and i gotta say i ...hi mr matthew! i like this post and i gotta say i believe in a spirit guide. one time a indian came at our house with one of my brothers and he did a lot of stuff that helped us find our spirit animal. mine is raccoon. i didnt choose a raccoon. the raccoon chose me. wow how cool is that. all of my brothers and sister got different ones. <br />...spirit animal hugs from lennyLenny Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12822588007434789481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-44385737611547852682010-12-20T09:49:18.860-05:002010-12-20T09:49:18.860-05:00wow! that's very interesting! and i think coug...wow! that's very interesting! and i think cougars are majestic and powerful and beautiful and altogether awesome! it doesn't matter where the dream came from... what matters is what you took from it... and it sounds like you took a whole lotta comfort and strength and inspiration from it, and that, sir, is a beautiful and admirable thing! :)<br />thanks for the interesting post! i didn't know a thing about vision quests! :)vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.com