Nate Nesbit
Myths & Rituals: The Purposes of Rituals
Topic 2
The primary purpose of the Lakota Vision Quest is for the person going on the quest to
be alone with Wakantanka, in order that Wakantanka will impart upon them a gift. The ritual
begins with the cleansing ceremony in the Yuwipi as the tobacco offerings, flags and pipe are
blessed. Then Plenty Wolf leads Wayne up the hill and sets up the sacred area that Wayne will
be restricted to, after which he smokes the pipe with Wayne. Then Wayne is left alone on the hill
for two days (a day and a night), during which time he isn’t allowed food or water. It is during
this time that he receives a vision from Wakantanka that comes in all shapes and sizes. After his
vision Plenty Wolf returns to lead him down from the sacred hill.
In the beginning of Yuwipi Wayne’s father becomes ill and he decides that he needs to go
on a vision quest to help his father to be healed. This is Wayne’s personal reason for going on the
vision quest, he is looking to go on the quest so that he may converse with Wakantanka about his
father. That is the main purpose of the Vision Quest, to seek a personal audience with
Wakantanka. In many Lakota rituals those involved will speak to Wakantanka through prayer,
singing, and even dancing but it is always done in a communal fashion. This communal theme is
transparent throughout the values of the Lakota, in their daily lives and in their myths. Sending a
single individual out to do anything is out of the ordinary and is most cases is something that is
looked down upon. The case of the vision quest is unique for just that reason, it is a break from
the norm where the individual going out becomes honored rather than questioned for their solo
action.
1
