Who here has undertaken a Pilgrimage or Vision Quest?

I was fortunate to experience a Vision Quest facilitated by an Ojibwa elder and medicine woman in 1981. It was a very powerful, personal experience, but I can share the basics. First, I had to petition to do the Vision Quest. She accepted my offering. I found a site where I felt comfortable and constructed a small lodge of sorts. I was allowed to have a tarp, a blanket and some ceremonial items. There was a ceremony the first morning in which I was offered a dish of fruit or charcoal. If I had chosen the fruit that would have meant I changed my mind and wasn’t going to go through with it. I chose the charcoal and my face was smudged with the charcoal. I was sent off with a jug of specially prepared tea (the only thing I would be ingesting for the next four days). I had prepared 4 petition sticks which represented 4 things I was seeking to learn (my guardian spirit, my spiritual name, my spiritual purpose in life and one other that I cannot share).
Over the course of the four days my petitions were answered. As the sun was setting on the fourth night, I was called out of the lodge by the medicine woman and a few friends who were there to “support me.” I was led to a sweat lodge that was prepared for me. After the sweat lodge ceremony I took a plunge into Lake Michigan. Then I was led back to camp and given more tea and a little bit of something like cream of wheat and some crackers. Throughout the day I drank more tea and ate a little more. But, more importantly I spent the day with the Medicine Woman as she helped me sort out some of my questions about my experience. In the evening a feast was prepared and I was ceremonially introduced to the group with my name. Then we had the feast (which, unfortunately I was unable to fully enjoy) and drumming and singing. I have since assisted in about a dozen vision quests for others. The experience is a blessing!