So you can live with purpose, sovereignty, and a deep connection to nature.
Women’s Vision Quest is an epic rite of passage that centres around a four-day solo wilderness ceremony which invites you to meet yourself even more fully.
There is a Vision for your life’s purpose, a knowing that already lives within you.
Not something outside of yourself. Not something you must search for.
But a truth that calls to you from the wilderness.
A truth that rises when you create the space to listen.
As deep healing you can feel stirring.
A calling to step into the forest and beyond the familiar.
Not because you are lost but because you are ready for more.
More truth.
More spaciousness.
More devotion to the path that is uniquely yours.
The Call to Remember
This is not about fixing. This is about listening.
This is about aligning with the power that has always been yours.
When you say yes to this journey, you give yourself permission to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with your own knowing.
To ROOT into your FEMININE ESSENCE through ancient EARTH-BASED practice.
To stand in the clarity of your Vision.
To lead your life from DEVOTION, PURPOSE, and SOVEREIGNTY.
Vision Quest?
Why choose
Her leadership, her love, her life… are most powerful when they are aligned with her soul’s truth.
Her deepest wisdom doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from honoring the space to listen.
She is here for more than the rhythm of routine.
The Women’s Vision Quest is for the woman who knows:
Is For
This
Who
The experience of devotion, not as something to achieve, but as your way of being.
Release of emotional patterns that no longer serve, not through force, but through surrender and spaciousness.
A deeper relationship with your feminine essence, rooted in reverence rather than expectation.
Clear alignment with your soul’s purpose, and the courage to honor it.
A profound connection between your inner knowing and the natural world.
When you say yes to the Vision Quest, you open the door to:
Becomes Possible
What
A return to the truth that lives beneath the roles, the responsibilities, and the rhythms of daily life. A return to the woman you've always been.
This is not an escape. This is a sacred return.
For centuries, wilderness quests have offered space for humans to pause, to mark transition, to listen for the wisdom that rises in stillness and to claim more power.
This ceremony, passed down from Southern Lipan Apache shaman, Stalking Wolf, honors this sacred tradition, intentionally stripped of cultural overlays, offering an open and respectful path for all who feel the call.
It is a space held with integrity. A space where the outside noise falls away.
Where your own knowing rises to meet you.
lies Within
your truth
your truth lies Within
In the weeks after your Quest, you’ll be supported with group calls so you can continue to integrate the insights from your experience.
You will then spend two days integrating your experience through guided group and solo integration processes.
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 can communicate your needs to our trained Quest Protectors without direct contact, which means you will essentially be in supported solitude in the wilderness.
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.
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.
Women’s Vision Quest programs take place over nine days at one of our private wilderness locations in Northern NSW, Australia. These locations have been chosen as they are strictly private access, have ample room for solo Quests, and are surrounded by significant forests teeming with energy.
How Vision Quest unfolds
your journey
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.
Safe and supportive counsel from a highly-trained team of Quest Protectors, including one or both Nature Philosophy Founders Katie and Sam.
All water and meals on non-fasting days – locally sourced and made with whole food ingredients – provided around a communal fire.
Two or three days of further solo and processes.
A four-day and night solo wilderness ceremony where you’ll fast on water.
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.
An initiation ceremony (often a sweat lodge ceremony) to focus our group and prepare spiritually for the Quest.
Access to a safe, tranquil and remote bushland camping space for your quest.
Your Vision Quest Ceremony includes:
- 1 X call two to three weeks prior to your program.
- 3 X fortnightly calls after your Vision 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.
Support before & after Vision Quest:
Throughout your solo time, your safety is held by our experienced Quest Protectors. You are supported in solitude, with systems in place to communicate your needs while remaining fully immersed in the experience.
After your return, integration continues with three online group calls designed to support your ongoing alignment and embodiment.
This is not just a ceremony.
This is the beginning of a new relationship with yourself.
Not Isolation. Devoted Presence.
Because one day is not a promise. One day is NOW.
Women are often conditioned to invest their time, energy, and resources everywhere but into themselves. But the life you are here to lead does not happen by waiting.
It happens when you decide.
It happens when you stop postponing your own becoming.
When you give yourself the same devotion you so freely offer others.
If you desire a radically different life, it begins with a radically different choice.
Choosing Yourself Fully
“
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.
The Vision Quest was the most powerful transformational process I've experienced in all my decades of personal growth work.
“
Rachel Donovan
"Women's Vision Quest was nothing less than life changing. It was a time of mystery, challenge, and growth; secrets revealed, and strengths unleashed. Katies' team, their sense of ceremony, wisdom and support, made a safe place for a beautiful group of women to have a mystical experience. The effects of the entire adventure have changed and strengthened me irrevocably."
Paula Hunt
"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."
emma cole
“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.”
Kate McConnell
Transformation stories
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.
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.
The lineage and culture of Stalking Wolf’s Vision Quest
I’m honoured to walk this journey with you and welcome you to be in touch.
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 in Australia and abroad in the Stalking Wolf Lineage.
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.
Katie Rydge
Meet your Lead Quest Protector
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.
Katie and her team acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, of the ancestors and elders – past and present, on which her programs take place. Katie would like to especially recognise the elders past and present who she regularly collaborates with in running her programs. This includes elders from the Gumbanyggirr and Yaegl people of the North Coast of NSW and her adopted Yolngu families of North-East Arnhem Land.
Katie and her team acknowledge that survival skills and nature connection practices are a global knowledge bank held by humans from all races and countries. Katie acknowledges her Scottish, Irish, European and Armenian ancestral lineages and their traditional earth-based living skills.
Survival skills and nature connection practices are the original ways of living that once allowed all humans to exist in harmony with the Earth. In today's world, these traditional earth-based skills remain essential — not only for personal resilience but also for fostering a deeper balance with the natural world. By keeping these practices alive, Katie’s programs help ensure a thriving future for the next generations — one that is in alignment with natural laws and supports a sustainable, interconnected way of life.
