What is Soul Sauntering?
Soul Sauntering provides transformative experiences through week-long walking and sea kayaking pilgrimages, silent retreats, weekend backpacking and camping trips, individual and group spiritual direction, and facilitated dream groups. The programs are for clergy and seekers longing to have more embodied experiences of the Holy. The mission is to create spaces where individuals can tap into their intuition, find deeper meaning and purpose in their life, connect with nature, and find inner peace through intentional and guided experiences.
Soul Sauntering Founder and Leader
Karla Woggon
I chose the name of Soul Sauntering because I wanted the focus to be on moving slowly
through the holy land of the wilderness and the holy ground of our souls. In 2014 as part of a
sabbatical I backpacked for 25 days and hiked 250 miles along the John Muir Trail and in the
process stumbled upon Muir’s famous quote about sauntering:
“I don't like either the word [hike] or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not 'hike!' Do you know the origin of that word saunter? It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going they would reply, 'A la sainte terre', 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike'
through them.”
In 2021 I completed an eight-week mindfulness self-compassion camp; kindness course of study with Krista Neff and Christopher Germer. In June of 2024 I completed a two-year training course in Individual Spiritual Direction through the Haden Institute. In the fall of 2024, I planned to begin a two-year study program in dream interpretation through the Handen Institute. In the early 2000’s I completed a two-year training course in Group Spiritual Direction through the Shalem Institute. I also have a master’s degree in history and a Master of Divinity. The intensive training in Spiritual Direction as well as 30 years of experience as an ordained Episcopal Priest gave me the experience and training, I needed to lead this ministry. I also have experience in outdoor wilderness exploration. Prior to beginning Soul Sauntering I lead pilgrimages in Israel &France. I spent 25 days backpacking for 250 miles along the John Muir Trail, sauntering from Yosemite National Park to Mt. Whitney on an individual wilderness pilgrimage. I’ve also been
on several weeklong sea kayaking/remote camping pilgrimages.