In the past, all men past puberty participated in an individual quest for a vision which would guide them in their lives. Before any serious event, such as going off to war, a man would venture out in isolation, fasting and possibly torturing himself until he received a vision. The vision could be an animal or a person who blesses the man, gives him life advice, and teaches him a song. These songs that had initially been received in a vision quest can be performed and used either for certain ceremonies, at no special occasion in particular, or only at certain critical times, such as death and illness. If the sick person is cured or not depends in part on how well the vision-seeker remembered the song.