Wisdom Quest




To help you find meaning and purpose in a rapidly changing world.





Steven Charleston, Choctaw Elder and former Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska, wrote:

Would you believe me if I told you we were the forerunners of a great spiritual renewal? What if I said this renewal would change our global culture at the end of this century? That it will see the emergence of a new mysticism in contrast to technology and a strong social conscience of sustainability and justice. We are at the very beginning of this movement. We will not all live to see its first moments of birth, but we will have the joy of knowing that we were the shoulders on which others stood to make it a reality. History will show that what we did today to lift up an open-minded spirituality, welcoming to all people, made a difference. Our choice to stand together, to advocate for justice, and to heal this planet will be recognized as the breakthrough. Because we did not give up, they excelled. Would you believe me if I told you that?


Bishop Charleston's vision is imagination. Vision is "wisdom in real time." Imagination is the spark of motivation that moves us forward.



Wisdom Quest is an online, self-paced, self-directed vision quest. Its purpose is to help you find your wisdom, passion, and creativity to build a wiser, more resilient world. It is intended for seekers who think we should and can work to build a better world, including progressives of many faiths and the spiritual but not religious. 


This program is a life-long, life-wide, life-deep practice, not a "do it and done" course. We've designed Wisdom Quest so you can do it on your own. It will also work in small groups of individuals sharing their experiences, with or without a leader. However you do it, please do not rush. Learning to live with wisdom on Earth is not easy. We do ourselves an injustice if we aren't willing to work to understand and live it fully. 



Your wisdom quest should help you:


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The thoughts of Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) set the tone for this vision quest:


Setting Forth Together

Let's be clear about one thing, you are

your own best teacher. I can only tell

you what I know, but you'll need to

discover it for yourself, so don't expect

me to tell you what to think or how to live.


I'll share with you the truth I've found:

that life is full of a darkness that can

enlighten you in its own way, there's

a thread there to guide you, but to find

it you'll need to look within yourself.


When you do, seek the light that shines

out of the darkness, and be radiant for

those who long for hope to brighten

their journey, setting forth together on

what you'll discover is a wayless way. 


From Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness & Light by Jon M. Sweeney and Mark S. Burrows. 



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How this works:


This program begins with thoughts about practical wisdom and core values. The main part of the program is a vision quest consisting of four tasks, described below. Finally, an extensive resource section can be used while you do your vision quest and for your subsequent work to build a better world. 


The tasks of the vision quest were adapted with his permission and blessing from Bishop Steven Charleston's book The Four Vision Quests of Jesus.


Task 1 Prepare Yourself asks you to choose either to seek your work or to improve your capability to do the work you are called to. 


Task 2 Build Community helps you recognize the central importance of community as the context of living in wisdom and suggestions on how to build and strengthen communities. 


Task 3 Find Your Resilience considers how to build and strengthen both personal and community resilience, which is the basis of sustainability.


Task 4 Seek Your Vision is where you listen to Spirit in your personal ways and practice discernment to determine your actions. 


Throughout the program you will be prompted to reflect on the process and to record your thoughts, decisions, and actions in a journal. Your journal will be the tangible product of your vision quest and can become a continuing record of your experiences in helping build a better world. 


How to Navigate Your Vision Quest is an interactive roadmap to the process, as is the navigation bar on the left side of the screen.