Our Questers (center)
with Misa and Ariann

SpiritQuest — June 2012
June 17th – 23rd, 2011

Discover What Quest Is About!

Check out the links above for more about Quest.

SpiritQuest is a retreat unlike any other.

SpiritQuest is a week-long spiritual retreat of living in harmony with Mother Earth and each other, experiencing ceremonies based in Native traditions of the Sacred Feminine and matriarchal tribal customs. If you are familiar with ceremonies from the patriarchal tribes, you will find this to be quite different.

Experience the Sacred Feminine and the transformative power of ceremonies, including: healing journeys into the Sacred Feminine, initiations in the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine, rites of passage, naming ceremonies, supporting people on vision and song quests, women's water ceremonies, and your own personal mini-quest. Everyone who comes to SpiritQuest goes home changed in unexpected ways that inspire their lives forever. Truly––a place to awaken and belong.

On the first night our SpiritQuest community comes together for our first talking circle, including children, adults, and elders. Questers who have been preparing for an entire year arrive with their right-hand supporters. Elders join us to hold sacred space for the week. Apprentices of the Women's Water Ceremonies come for their initiation at ceremony as Keepers of special ceremonies. Adults & children come with their life necklaces, anticipating the name they will receive during our final ceremonies of the week. SpiritQuest Council members settle in to meet everyone that has joined us for this sacred gathering.

Most of us come just for the sake of being together in sacred community, in support of others through their growth, and to let our ancient memories resurface, remembering how to live in harmony again with all of life.

SpiritQuest is a place for everyone, those with experience and those new to quest. We all come together as family.

Our ceremonies and other activities:

Morning Ceremony
Mornings we welcome in with songs to greet the sun. Through the Cherokee Dance of Enlightenment we align our physical bodies with the energies of Great Spirit and the four directions.

Talking Circle
Evenings we sit around the fire and wrap up the day with a talking circle. As the talking stick is passed around everyone, from young to old, all have an opportunity to speak our deep truth and share our experiences of the day.

Connecting With Nature
From tending the sacred fire, or walking in the woods, to or quite moments listening to the wind, we have bountiful opportunities to commune with Mother Earth and life upon it.

Crafts and Story Telling
Kids (young and old) are involved in craft projects and told stories that help them understand the traditions and ceremonies they are involved in.

Sweat Lodge Ceremonies
Sweat lodge ceremonies are offered whenever we can (depending on location). This ancient ceremony of purification provides an opportunity to release old energies and invite in the new. Through proper apprenticeing, Reverend Misa has learned how to pour lodges safely, and has been doing so for many years.

Special Ceremonies
Our SpiritQuest community includes many ceremonialists and apprentices on Native paths. Those who are invited offer ceremony for the group, when appropriate with the overall flow and schedule.

Women's Water Ceremony & Initiations
After a year of apprenticeship it is time to welcome the new Keepers of the Women's Water Ceremonies. These women are honored by a ceremony and blessing with the original "Mother Bowl", in the presence of all the other women. It is a beautiful ceremony at the sacred fire and under the moon.

Naming Ceremony, Honor Ceremonies, and Divine Reunion
Our final day of ceremony is held when all the questers have safely returned to camp. We honor them and the new keepers of the water ceremonies in a special way. This is also the time when those who have asked for their "power" or "medicine names" are given their new names. The ceremonies are concluded with a Divine Reunion, honoring the sacred masculine and the sacred feminine, in balance.

Giveaway
One of the most fun parts of Quest is at the end, at our Giveaway Ceremony. This is a time when the questers and new initiates give back to those who supported them in their Quest and Apprenticeship. Watching as the gifts choose their recipients ... as questing items like sleeping bags are passed on to next year's questers ... it's more fun than Christmas!

Join us at SpiritQuest 2012
Sun, June 17 — Sat, July 23

Arrive early for our New Dream Foundation Planning Meeting
Friday, June 15, 2012 *
Open to all who are interested in attending and helping
to shape the future of New Dream Foundation.

* Special Note: If you plan to attend the NDF Planning meeting on Friday, you will need to find lodging in the Denver area for the night of the 15th. The meeting will be held at the home of Misa Hopkins. We will not be checking in at Cal Woods for Quest until the 17th. If you have questions, contact us at the email below.

For more information, email us at our Contact page about:
SpiritQuest Spiritual Retreat and Rites of Passage Ceremonies

SpiritQuest is a registered trademark of SpiritQuest Sedona Retreats and is being used with their permission.