About Us
Nearly two decades have passed since I went to the Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas to: find myself, face myself, and to be with myself without all the mundane distractions of life. No phones, books, journals, music, paradigms or dogmas. I went seeking a little face time with the Creator of all that’s known and unknown.
My Native American guide, outfitter and close friend, Strong Eagle, informed me that base camp was set up on sacred ground. A place where indigenous peoples used the surrounding natural pyramids as watchtowers to survey the movement of the animals they hunted and the enemies that hunted them.
Strong Eagle took me to the desert so I could seek shelter from the storms that raged within. I was told to search for an exposed, but isolated mesa where I could wrestle with the demons of my addictions and dance with the shadows of my fading dreams.
Once we set up camp I went off to find my “spot”, the place where I would spend the next four days fasting from all things familiar, like family, friends, food and furniture. The last thing Strong Eagle said before sending me off was that the way I found my Quest circle would mirror the way I was leading my life.
Two hours after leaving base camp I had a profound realization! I was lost! Every wash and arroyo looked the same; every mesa was identical to the one next to it, behind it and in front of it.
My goal in going to Texas was to venture alone into the wilderness and here I was, alone in the wilderness, desperately and tragically alone in the wilderness. In the mythology of the Apaches, after making the earth and placing the stars in the sky, the birds in the air and the fish in the rivers, the Creator had a large mound of unused stones that he flung to the earth forming the rocky landscape of the Chihuahuan Desert. During the initial moments of being lost, I felt as though I too were a mere pile of unused stones, discarded by a distant and indifferent god.
Since that time almost twenty years ago I have gone back into the wilderness time and again to fast and pray for guidance and direction. I feel extremely blessed that Judy is as passionate as I am about journeying to the Wilderness in search of sanctuary, solitude and shelter from the distractions of modern life.
As a means of helping people who are struggling to find themselves and/or in recovery from addictive processes, Judy and I have established Shared Vision, a 501C3 Non-Profit, as a vehicle to help others find sanctuary in isolated mesas, hidden meadows, sheltered groves and natural arenas where they can wrestle with the demons of addiction while dancing and singing their joy and gratitude for being apart of Life’s gifts.
Special blessings,
Michael and Judy Conway.
Michael Conway
Michael has been walking a path of spiritual growth, recovery and self-discovery for over 25 years. Michael’s Spiritual Path has taken him to Tom Brown Jr’s Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School, where he has studied Nature Awareness, Wilderness Survival and Native American Philosophy. Michael has also studied with Malcolm Ringwalt at Earth-Heart Institute of Vision and Healing, where he received his Vision Quest Protector training in the tradition of Stalking Wolf, a Lipan Apache elder and shaman.
Over the past 20 years Michael has co-facilitated Men’s Gatherings with Lance Crawford of Walk Our Talk and with Daniel Bejar of Native Spirit Institute.
The gatherings, workshops and retreats Michael facilitates are designed to enhance spiritual development. He specializes in helping men find their place among other men by creating rites of passage, by self-examination and by exploring the power of intimacy. As a trained Vision Quest protector, he helps men and women ask important questions, such as, “Who am I alone”.
An accomplished essayist, Michael blends meditative properties of nature with writing. He helps others discover a sense of spirituality using myths, storytelling and journaling.
A father, husband, teacher, student, mentor, Michael offers his experience, strength, faith and hope to help others discover their true spiritual nature. He lives in Ravenna, Ohio with his wife Judy.
Judy Conway
Judy has been on a Spiritual path since 1982 and is actively helping others find their own path. Her passion for Spiritual growth has led her to Tom Brown Jr’s Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School, where she has studied Nature Awareness, Wilderness Survival and Native American Philosophy.
Judy has also studied with Malcolm Ringwalt at Earth-Heart Institute of Vision and Healing, where she received her Vision Quest Protector training in the tradition of Stalking Wolf, a Lipan Apache elder and shaman.
Judy has co-facilitated Environmental workshops with Lance Crawford of Walk Our Talk and healing workshops with Daniel Bejar of Native Spirit Institute.
As an accomplished seamstress, Judy’s skill has covered everything from Prom Queens to Blushing Brides and has recovered everything from furniture to Yurts and Tipis. She’s also a talented drum maker specializing in traditional one-sided drums covered with Elk, Buffalo, Horse or Bear.
Judy is committed to following her bliss and has become an ordained minister with a desire to serve others through the facilitation of weddings.
She lives in Ravenna, Ohio with her husband Michael and their big black dogs, Buddy and Lilly.