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So you can live with purpose, sovereignty, and a deep connection to nature.
Most of us remain unaware of our deeper calling. We live in a modern world with an endless list of tasks to complete, keeping us distracted from accessing the state of stillness, where our truth lies.
Until we begin to feel a stirring… a yearning to go deep within to seek the answers to life’s greatest question, “Why am I here?”
Do you feel the call? It urges you to disconnect from the familiar and let go of that which is holding you back.
To surrender into the presence of each moment and embrace the power of your feminine essence through ancient earth-based practice.
To manifest the Vision for your life.
There is a Vision for your life’s purpose deep within you… and you have the power to access it.
And if you FEEL THE CALL
– you’re ready.
This is exactly what you’ll receive when you embark upon a Women’s Vision Quest – a nine-day journey with four days in a solo wilderness ceremony.
To shake up your life and routine – spiritually and physically – as you remove yourself from the modern world and deeply drop into your spiritual truth and the earth.
A transformational connection between your inner landscape and the world around you.
Clarity on your spiritual purpose (and what might be holding you back from living it).
To be fundamentally released from long-held emotional blocks and mental patterns.
A profound healing journey guided by your internal sense of rightness.
To explore your inner landscape free from distractions, in a completely new way and in a wild environment.
Do you desire?
your truth lies Within
These rites of passage allowed Questors to break free from the familiar and surrender themselves to the moment.
And in this state of total presence – in the silence, power, and protection of the natural world – clarity of their purpose is revealed.
In our modern culture, women’s rites of passage like this are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to access.
This Vision Quest Ceremony solves this challenge.
It has been passed down by an American First Nations shaman called Stalking Wolf.
Stalking Wolf’s vision was to strip bare this ceremony of any specific cultural overlays, instead passing down a ceremony that can be used respectfully on any country and for any human who is genuinely called.
It’s a safe space for women in our community to gather, step beyond the constraints of modern life, and embark upon this important rite of passage.
The simplicity and universal nature of this Vision Quest ceremony means it also works for women of all belief systems and ancestral connections.
It’s not easy. But it will be one of the most profound catalysts to completely transform your life.
You’ll break free from all things familiar in your everyday life – including food – as you fast with water during the time spent in the Vision Quest circle.
You can communicate your needs to our trained Quest Protectors without direct contact, which means you will essentially be in supported solitude in the wilderness.
Your return to base camp will mark the end of your Vision Quest where our cooks will prepare a nourishing meal from locally sourced whole food ingredients.
You will then spend two days integrating your experience through guided group and solo integration processes.
In the weeks after your Quest, you’ll be supported with group calls so you can continue to integrate the insights from your experience.
During this time, you’ll have complete freedom to respond to each moment – held by the Earth and guided by your inner wisdom.
When you arrive, you’ll join the other participants for two days of Vision Quest teachings, preparation, and an initiation ceremony to prepare you for your Vision Quest.
You’ll be guided by Quest Protectors with over 20 years of experience as you embark on your own four-day solo wilderness Vision Quest.
You will use your intuition to choose your Quest space – a small circle deep in the bush where you’ll stay for four days.
How it works
Your Vision Quest Ceremony includes:
Safe and supportive counsel from a highly-trained team of Quest Protectors, including one or both Nature Philosophy Founders Katie and Sam.
Quest Protector support throughout your solo experience. We've developed a way for you to communicate your needs to our trained Quest Protectors without direct contact so that you can remain safe and supported whilst following your own innate wisdom.
An initiation ceremony (often a sweat lodge ceremony) to focus our group and prepare spiritually for the Quest.
Two days of thorough preparation for your quest, where we’ll go through everything you need to know to dive deeply and safely into the experience.
A four-day and night solo wilderness ceremony where you’ll fast on water.
Two or three days of further solo and processes.
Support before & after your Quest:
- 1 X call two to three weeks prior to your program.
- 3 X fortnightly calls after your Quest.
Embark upon a sacred healing journey – an ancient rite of passage to reveal your soul’s true purpose, why you’re here, and what you have come here to do.
- Rachael Donovan
The Vision Quest was the most powerful transformational process I've experienced in all my decades of personal growth work. Something about being alone in nature, without the normal distractions and comforts of everyday life, enabled me to meet myself and all my parts in profound ways. Parts that I had hidden, been afraid of or run from historically, I was able to bring home safely into my being.
Since Quest I feel profoundly changed; more whole, more clear on my life and my gifts, more powerful, more sovereign. It's been nothing short of life-changing and I am so grateful for the loving container provided by the Quest Protectors, Yaegle country and the Elders of the lands. If there is any small murmur within you that wants to be heard, seen or held, I highly recommend you listen and follow the call. Vision Quest is the perfect process to hear your deepest inner being.
- Kate McConnell
My Vision Quest was one of the most potent and powerful processes and experiences I've had. I still feel this unravelling today; two and a half years later. Questing completely changed the trajectory of my life, to shift me to living my Soul Purpose. I felt incredibly safe and held by the quest protectors of Nature Philosophy. My soul hums at the teachings I received. Immense gratitude for the deep knowing that runs through me in every decision I make today.
- Emma Cole
It was one of those decisions in my life that was a game-changer. I went into it and I'm not even sure why, to be honest. It was just a thing that I felt I needed to do and it had the result of healing so much for me personally, internally, but also my relationships externally. I cannot express the gratitude I feel for all the women as well that were on that group. Such love and compassion and connectedness and humanity that was felt with that group. It will be something that I will hold so dearly for the rest of my life.
Just the way we were held by Katie and the quest protectors is something that you feel so much in your every cell, you know that you're safe and you're protected by these beautiful humans. The last thing I just guess I wanted to mention was being held by the earth. That place on Yagel country is so very, very special. Yeah, words actually don't quite cover it, but good luck to anyone who wants to do it. I think it's brilliant.
The lineage and culture of Stalking Wolf’s Vision Quest
He sought beliefs, spiritual practices and ceremonies that worked for all people regardless of race. As a result, the Vision Quest he passed down has been stripped bare of any Native American rituals and symbolism – leaving only the core elements and essential truths that lay at the heart of many Vision Quest ceremonies found globally.
This Vision Quest will be held on land with full permission and collaboration from local indigenous elders who are also invited to join and support the participants and Vision Quest process.
While the words “vision quest” are representative of this program’s distinctive North American heritage, it is worth remembering that solo wilderness retreats and wilderness vigils have been found across all cultures since time began.
Meet your Lead Quest Protector – Katie Rydge
If you’re anything like me, the call to Quest has become a powerful force within you. It urges you to seek, to go within, and find your Vision. I know exactly how that feels.
I believe that we are all encoded with a Vision for our life’s purpose – and that we can seek it out and embody it in the silence of the natural world.
That’s why I’ve been training in, facilitating and participating in Vision Quest Ceremonies for over 20 years. This includes extensive training with Malcolm Ring-Walt from The Oneness Quest (formerly known as Earth-Heart Institute in the USA) in Australia and abroad.
Over the years, I have been blessed to see countless Vision Quest participants powerfully transform their lives through the beauty and wisdom of this ancient ceremony.
I’m honoured to walk this journey with you and welcome you to be in touch.
About
FAQ
Vision Quests usually run twice a year.
We run Quests for all adults, for men/anyone who identifies as a man, and for women/anyone who identifies as a woman.
Our next Men’s Vision Quest, at Upper Shark Creek, Maclean, Northern NSW, is 26 Apr –4 May 2025. Book your spot here.
Our next Women’s Vision Quest, at Upper Shark Creek, Maclean, Northern NSW, is 23–31 August 2024. Book your early-bird spot here.
Nature Philosophy Vision Quests are offered across numerous private wilderness locations in Northern NSW. The upcoming program in November will be hosted on Yaegl Country also known as Upper Shark Creek, Maclean, NSW.
The property is surrounded by Yuraygir National Park and Crown Land and is only available via private access. It also offers the convenience of being 1.5 hours drive from both Coffs Harbour Airport. The natural landscape is pristine and the quest area is brimming with phenomenal old-growth forest. It also includes access to a Sweat Lodge, which (weather conditions permitting) allows us to perform a Sweat Lodge Ceremony prior to your Quest.
The Vision Quest program is an investment of $3,300 but you can save up to $1,100 if you book a super early bird spot and $600 for an early bird spot. These are limited and expire before the course begins or until all spots are taken.
Yes, you can pay for your place in monthly instalments. This option is available via the booking page for the program you want to attend. You can also email us if you need a bespoke plan arranged.
Yes, this Vision Quest program is available to any human in our community who is genuinely called. You do not need prior experience with camping, wilderness vigils or sweat lodges to apply.
Preparation is a key part of your Vision Quest and we prefer you to make your booking with us two months before your Quest dates.
However, we understand that sometimes you are called to Quest last minute and, as long as we have spots, we are willing to support you to make it to your Vision Quest.
Prior to arrival we offer lots of advice around practice fasting. This is a critical part of your preparation and we discuss this on your first group call also, prior to meeting in person at the program.
Whilst you’ll be solo in your space, our highly-trained quest protectors will remain nearby to support you if needed.
At any time before or after your Vision Quest you can book in to receive personal support. This includes either a one off or series of 60 min 1:1 support sessions with our trained support staff. You can access a one-off session at a discounted rate via the booking page.
Kate and Sam have trained extensively, as both Vision Quest Protectors and Trainers of Quest Protectors, with Malcolm Ring-walt from The Oneness Quest (formerly known as Earth-Heart Institute in the USA) in Australia and abroad.
Our team of Quest Protectors have also received extensive training in this lineage with Kate, Sam and Malcolm – as well as having significant experience in their own questing journeys.
Do you feel called to guide people on the powerful rite-of-passage that is Vision Quest? We offer Vision Quest Protector training. It is a comprehensive and intense 10 day initiation that begins your journey of becoming a Vision Quest Facilitator & Protector.
The program includes training in the skills of awareness, spiritual protection, the second level of quest, direct experience with holding protection for a real Vision Quest plus group and individual process. Included in your training is a thorough exploration of the personal, energetic and spiritual frameworks required to offer this powerful ceremony with awesome integrity.
This training will enable you to build a program based business as a Vision Quest facilitator in your local community. You will be equipped to offer rites of passage in the Stalking Wolf lineage to teens and adults at the completion of your training with more intensive mentoring also available to support your emergence as a Vision Quest facilitator.
It is a phenomenal pathway of service and personal transformation that calls to the true seeker of earth sourced spiritual wisdom. You are also welcome to apply if your calling is to focus on deepening your personal Vision Quest wisdom and learning the spiritual skills of protection rather than facilitation.
If you are ready to take your Vision Quest wisdom to the next level we would love to hear from you. Book a FREE 20 min discovery session.
Our 2024 Quest Protector training is fully booked. You can join the waitlist for the next training session here.