Hello world! Welcome to our new blog!
![Nice to meet you!](/uploads/4/8/8/5/4885535/leah-and-jay.png?250)
Let's start off by doing a bit of an introduction. My name is Leah McNeir and I'll be the usual writer here, although my partner in crime, Jay Valente, will contribute as well. Together, we've formed this little thing called Vision Quest Arts. I'm an artist and graphic designer by trade and I'm passionate about my work, nature, adventure, learning, and holistic living. I also recently started college back up to study psychology and medical anthropology. Jay, aka "the lithic guy", is an archaeology and lithics (stone tool) consultant, flintknapper, and primitive craftsmen who loves all things prehistoric and shares my adoration of the outdoors, history, and travel. He has recently returned to college as well to pursue an advanced degree in archaeology and to further his knowledge of geology. We're both advocates for rewilding, sustainable and holistic living, nature-reconnection, practicing ancestral survival skills, and free spirited adventure.
Vision Quest Arts was named after the ancient tradition of "vision questing". Variations of this tradition can be found across cultures and epochs. A traditional vision quest usually consists of a person spending days and nights secluded in nature or is sought through various ecstatic state inducers. Fasting or diet restrictions, prayer and meditation are also commonly employed during such quests. These ritual ordeal ceremonies or rites of passage provide time and mental space for deep communion with the fundamental forces and spiritual energies of creation that surround us and that are within us. They often result in personally profound insights, lessons, revelations, or visions. Though active connection with Earth and Spirit, the individual on a traditional vision quest connects with their god(s), their ancestors, their inner wisdom, and their authentic self. The interests and art forms we'll focus on here at Vision Quest Arts are born from our personal vision quest's insights and from a belief that modern western culture is of desperate need of reevaluation. Though our offerings, we hope to encourage and inspire others to reconnect to nature, deep history, and their wild, free, and creative authentic selves.
Along with keeping you updated about our latest works and adventures, we hope this blog will become an inspirational and informative resource for you as we share our journey and our passions. We'll cover topics ranging from ancestral skills like flinknapping, primitive tool making, survival or bushcraft skills, horticulture, wildcrafting, herbalism and nutrition, to exploring the topics of outdoorsmanship, human rewilding, sustainability, holistic health, creativity expansion, budget travel, history, lore, and culture. In addition to sharing our crafts and services, we'll also work to connect you to other related resources, too. We look forward to sharing our adventures and our knowledge and experience with these topics to help empower you to live a more passionate, healthier, happier, wilder, connected and fulfilled life.
Through this blog and our social media outlets, we welcome you into our lives and our journey. Please feel free to introduce yourselves in the comments below!
Blessings and well wishes,
Leah & Jay
Vision Quest Arts was named after the ancient tradition of "vision questing". Variations of this tradition can be found across cultures and epochs. A traditional vision quest usually consists of a person spending days and nights secluded in nature or is sought through various ecstatic state inducers. Fasting or diet restrictions, prayer and meditation are also commonly employed during such quests. These ritual ordeal ceremonies or rites of passage provide time and mental space for deep communion with the fundamental forces and spiritual energies of creation that surround us and that are within us. They often result in personally profound insights, lessons, revelations, or visions. Though active connection with Earth and Spirit, the individual on a traditional vision quest connects with their god(s), their ancestors, their inner wisdom, and their authentic self. The interests and art forms we'll focus on here at Vision Quest Arts are born from our personal vision quest's insights and from a belief that modern western culture is of desperate need of reevaluation. Though our offerings, we hope to encourage and inspire others to reconnect to nature, deep history, and their wild, free, and creative authentic selves.
Along with keeping you updated about our latest works and adventures, we hope this blog will become an inspirational and informative resource for you as we share our journey and our passions. We'll cover topics ranging from ancestral skills like flinknapping, primitive tool making, survival or bushcraft skills, horticulture, wildcrafting, herbalism and nutrition, to exploring the topics of outdoorsmanship, human rewilding, sustainability, holistic health, creativity expansion, budget travel, history, lore, and culture. In addition to sharing our crafts and services, we'll also work to connect you to other related resources, too. We look forward to sharing our adventures and our knowledge and experience with these topics to help empower you to live a more passionate, healthier, happier, wilder, connected and fulfilled life.
Through this blog and our social media outlets, we welcome you into our lives and our journey. Please feel free to introduce yourselves in the comments below!
Blessings and well wishes,
Leah & Jay