Wilderness Rites of Passage

“The work we have to do can be seen as a kind of coming alive...an awakening into our true nature, 

a releasing of our gifts.”

- Joanna Macy

July 25th-28th 2025

Women's Sunrise to Sunrise Vision Quest, Burnlaw, Northumberland

This women's wilderness rite of passage ceremony is a powerful way to mark significant life events and transitions, to gain insight and inspiration for your life. You are invited to step away from the distractions of everyday life and connect with the deeper parts of yourself through direct communion with Nature.  

To prepare, we take time to reflect on our life as it has been, before setting a  clear intention for the quest. Then we sever from our old life and community and step into liminal space to fast in solitude in the wild.  On returning, there is an opportunity to tell your story and have it mirrored before you return home to integrate the medicine of the quest into your life and community.

The fee scale is £350-£500 - please pay what it is comfortable for you. 

This includes camping and a break-fast meal on the morning of your return.  All other meals are to be self-catered

To secure your place please send a non-refundable deposit of £80 - places are limited so please book early. The final date for booking is 30th June 2025.

Payment by bank transfer (Reference: Your Name)

Account name - Ms GK Thirlwell / account number – 12471698 / Sort Code - 089300

Once you have paid, please email  gilly@avaniyoga.co.uk so that we can reserve your place.

September 5th-9th 2025 

24-hour Wildernes Rites of Passage Vision Quest, Gilderdale, Cumbria

July 2026

4-day Vision Quest, Gilderdale, Cumbria - contact us for more details

Wilderness rites of passage enable us to mark significant events and transitions in our lives and gain inspiration, insight and clarity for ourselves and our communities.  

A vision quest is a period of between 24 hours and 4 days and nights in a wild place in nature, usually without food, company and shelter.   To prepare, you take time to reflect on your life as it has been, before setting a clear intention for the fast. Then you sever from your old life and community and step into the liminal space, the ceremony of the fast.  On returning, there is a phase of incorporation with an opportunity to tell your story and have it mirrored before you return home to integrate the medicine of the fast into your life and community.

Questers' experiences of Wilderness Rites of Passage

Having experienced a turbulent summer my mental health began to unravel with stress triggered by grief of losing 2 close friends one to Cancer & another to Suicide. I can’t thank Gilly & Ian (who co facilitated with her) enough for threading a part of me back together in a new way, through being so lovingly held in their sacred ceremony. The preparation was so thorough and the medicine walks were incredibly healing. Gilly like a tree herself with strong roots shared her deep experiences of nature in a primordial somatic way. Her attuned guidance of the vision quest opened up a deep way of seeing & feeling the connections of space. She nurtured a trusting in the universe and my experiences as a human being in the natural world; remembering connection, belonging and not feeling separate . She allowed me to surrender into the stillness and awe of nature by honouring the elements, I felt transformed, deeply grounded by the earth and uplifted into the late summer air, warmed and brightened by the fire and profound flow,  by the water element. Thank you for sharing your wisdom & spectacular landscape & highly recommend your work to everyone restoring balance in their life & soul.  CK

I had already felt that something had shifted from the preparation Gilly had asked us to do before we even met up for the mini vision quest. I felt well held and guided by the heartfelt way Gilly had shared her knowledge and wisdom of ceremony, the four directions and the land. I’m left feeling grounded,  nourished and grateful for this soulful experience. RF