The Vision Quest
Shamanic tool for self learning.
Classical style
The classical vision quest will be performed within a tribal setting and is normally a 'rite of passage' type event, where the young man must face himself, his fears and see what he is made of. This might have involved a sitting out alone in the wilderness in order to test the courage of the person.
Most people will be familiar with the concept of the native american style sitting out where the person will concentrate on discovering some valuable information that they need in order to pass into adulthood. What most do not know is that this is not restricted to that culture alone. In the Norse beliefs the same exists and often for the same reasons. The northman would go alone to the forest or other local place of mystery and sit out all night, to receive inspiration from the gods and spirits. This could be for the purpose of achieving a rite of passage initiation and could also be used to discover the answer to a query or problem.
Modern style
In the modern world we do not have such rites of passage, possibly a mistake nowadays as it does help to cement a person's identity and their place in the community. If we were to introduce a rite of passage for reaching adulthood people may feel they are respected more. Just a thought.
Nowadays we tend to find people that perform vision quests being very new age in that they are trying to recreate the old practice. This is cool, since these old patterns have a strong link with our unconscious mind and will help to imprint positive feelings in the person. We can also take part in a vision quest to discover the answer to problems. It is a form of meditation performed in isolation and solitude. Isolation from society and distractions, solitude from other people. This forces the mind to look inwards. This looking inwards to the issue focuses the mind to pay attention. Attention is then where the work is done. The unconscious mind will use your focus to make your attention drift to things that may have a symbolic meaning that it wishes to impart to you. A flock of birds passing overhead becomes a message with meaning only for you. That squirrel that drops its nut and runs around frantically might be telling you something about yourself. Get the idea?
If you are looking to experience this for yourself then you only need to recreate the above. Places in nature are preferred as they will give a greater variety of interactions with the world, though if you can tune out of your associations with the modern world you will find that a car engine rattling in the distance may give you as much information as that flock of birds.
Enjoy.