I was intrigued by Quest, the new book from Denise Linn  and her daughter, Meadow.  I thought that the book might be too focused on the mystical, but I was wrong.  Quest is a practical guide to creating a new vision for your life.

Quest is filled with everything from the sensible aspects of conducting your journey (“how much water should I take?”) to Native American traditions like casting a medicine wheel.  I was most touched by the compelling personal stories from former participants.  Page after page, people detail the emotional breakthroughs they encountered, even among the most mundane tasks.  You wouldn’t think a simple request like asking for water could trigger a turnaround, but it does.  Students identify life-long patterns in some of the most humble moments.  Those realizations provide the fuel to make permanent changes.

I was a little concerned about what I might take away from the book; I’m probably the last person to brave the outdoors for days on end (unless there’s a Hilton nearby).  I loved the flexible options suggested.  For example, Denise encourages readers to create a garden quest, taking time in a local garden or park if they cannot attend a traditional wilderness quest.  You can even treat a day or weekend of silence as a quest.

I especially appreciated the “Life Evaluation Questions” in Chapter 4.  Although the concept of spending time alone to reimagine your world may be appealing, she demonstrates the benefit of having structure and also working with a leader.  You may not want to process all the questions at once due to their depth, but even reviewing subsets is a provocative tool.  You can return to this chapter again and again as your life issues change over time.

Denise puts appropriate emphasis on the results of a quest.  Throughout the book, she mentions how to integrate your experiences once you return home.  Some teachers focus solely on the time you spend with them, and somehow a disconnect quickly occurs between your spiritual moments and real life.  Denise invites her daughter, Meadow, to write candidly about her own quest taken at age 17 and its results.  Meadow brings a fresh and charming voice to the book.  You may see a bit of your own spiritual walk in her story.  She discusses everything from her hopes for her future to struggling through every teenager’s mantra – “I’m bored!” 

I encourage you to read Quest and incorporate its themes.  As Denise reminds us, “You have taken a sacred inner journey, and now you’re returning to your everyday life to give something of what you gained from your experience to each individual you meet and to the world at large.  This is the power of the Quest.”

FTC disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hay House for review purposes.