Awakening Retreat
A time to shift from darkness to light, for blossoming & blooming, a time to awaken the senses. A beautiful weekend where we shed the old skins, embracing the softness & femininity & the sweetness of Spring.
The Spring Equinox is a time when our ancestors gathered together to celebrate the return of Spring, of light and life, and in honour of the Goddess Ostara. This is where the name for Easter originated.
Ostara is the ancient Germanic Goddess of Spring fertility and dawn, who brings new life to all the land.
“She is the first warm spring winds, the birds that return, the trees that bud and curl forth leaves and flowers. She is the awakening earth, rabbits and hares, the eggs that appear after a winter of no light.”
Join us for the 15th, 16th & 17th March 2024 at Y Fferm, The Barn Temple.
This weekend we will dare to dream our deepest longings & desires as we awaken and connect with our innate wisdom and gather as women have done through the ages to access our feminine wild power. A celebration of womanhood and a place to let your raw wild self be seen and expressed through ritual practices.
During the event you will be invited to release the stress and burdens of daily life and fully relax into the space, giving yourself everything you need in the moment. A chance to forget the needs of others, completely and truly focusing on just you during this beautiful and magical time you have so lovingly carved out for yourself.
For this very special women's wellness weekend we’ve curated a unique collection of offerings, sharing ancient women’s wisdom, and centring around rituals & practices to honour our bodies and our souls
While the core of these events are about connecting with nature and forming ancient bonds with your community, they’re also as much about forming ancient bonds with yourself that you have lost from modern-day conditioning and domestication
So, you must be wondering... What can you expect?
Resting on the outskirts of the quaint village of Pontblyddyn North Wales, is the remarkable Y Fferm ~ a place full of beauty and charm, and where our very special Barn Temple rests.
We invite you to join us upon this sacred land, surrounded by trees, a flowing river & medicinal plants as far as the eye can see.
With the option to stay within the Y FFerm Elizabethan manor house or to book a non residential weekend ticket, we leave you much choice around your weekend. Whichever you choose, we have created something truly very special for you.
Women's circles ~ Weaving in ancient wisdom and practices, as well as opportunity to deepen our connections with one another and ourselves.
Sound baths from a number of practitioners. You will journey with the incredible sounds and vibrations from the crystal singing bowls, gongs and Himalayan singing bowls.
Breath work ceremony ~Using the power of your breath to create space in your inner world & shine light to those parts within that may need alchemising, unlocking or even discovery.
Womb Yoga & wisdom ~ To practice Womb Yoga Therapy is to honour and embrace the original blood wisdom of your womb, or womb space energies, as the source of feminine intuition, connection, creativity and nurture.
Foraging workshop in nature specifically tailored for women’s health. You will walk the sacred welsh land, leaning about native plants & the folklore surrounding them, as well as the various ways in which you can use them. Followed by a workshop curating your own herbal tea & oils.
Empowering movement allowing you to lean into the shadow parts of yourself so that you can welcome in the light.
Creative and imaginative art sessions led by a wonderful British contemporary artist.
Poetry reading delivered by a local, incredible author specialising in womb wisdom.
...and of course, plenty of time to explore the grounds of Y Fferm.
Meet Your Practitioners
Laurie is a wild woman by nature, weaving into all of her offerings the magic of the land. Through foraging and plant medicine, it is her mission to give space for people to remember these ancient teachings. With almost 6 years of experience in bringing women together in circle & ceremony, Laurie has a passion for building community, for offering space where people can come home to themselves through connection to the natural world. Laurie is an experienced sound healing practitioner, working mostly with crystal singing bowls. She is a womb healer, specialising in womb yoga, womb massage & womb reiki.
Katy is an experienced trauma informed breathwork facilitator. Offering bespoke 121 & group ceremonies, Katy strives to allow you to feel empowered through your healing. Katy offers a safe and relaxing space, showing support and demonstrating empathy and understanding throughout her breathwork ceremonies.
Pam from essential soul wellbeing has a background spanning over many years in Holistic Therapies and Energy Work however over the last few years she has slowly moved away from the Holistic Therapies to concentrate on being a qualified Sound Practitioner. For Pam this has been a journey of self discovery and empowering both personally and professionally.
At Essential Soul Wellbeing Pam offers a safe space helping to improve and promote the overall physical and mental wellbeing of an individual using gong baths, sound meditations, Tibetan singing bowl sessions and Reiki drum journeys in which to facilitate this. We all live busy stressful lives, that is why it is so important to stop and reconnect with self, de stressing with time out for yourself to rebalance your energy, start to feel the therapeutic benefits of sound on your mind, body and soul.
"Lucy Donovan is a British contemporary artist who creates intuitive, abstract work. Her art is inspired by nature, emotions, colors, seasons, and cycles, drawing from both her subconscious and conscious thoughts to manifest into vibrant colors and shapes on canvas. With a First-Class degree in Contemporary Art, Lucy's artistic journey led her to Berlin, Germany, where the city's colorful culture ignited her creativity. She later found her muse in the landscape of North Wales after relocating to Chester. However, the most profound and inspiring transformation in her life came with motherhood.
Lucy's artwork adorns homes worldwide, with collectors including interior designers. A collection of her fine art prints and original pieces can be purchased online, as well as through various national retailers and art galleries.
Lucy hosts creative events, workshops, and gatherings at her professional art studio in Hoole, Chester. These range from seasonal creative workshops inspired by the changing seasons to tailor-made events, such as birthday parties, mother blessings, and bridal blessings, all crafted to make your special moments even more magical."
Melody is a qualified and experienced in a variety of empowering movement modalities including pilates and Tai Chi. Melody offers movement sessions and meditations to balance your energy and revive your vitality.
Melody's true passion is unlocking beliefs in other people, through Pilates.
Melody is an encourager, she wants you to feel good in your own being, she believes in you and she wants you to believe in yourself too.
Augusta Jane Kaufmann is a female empowerment coach and poetess who runs Sisters Rising in Rhyme. She helps women to learn to love themselves by getting to know themselves. Through connecting with their primal brains and procedural memories she helps people understand their belief systems and behaviour patterns and teaches them to live cyclically in tune with their own intuition and the lunar cycle. She also runs group classes for men & women around taboo topics such as the menstrual cycle, sisterhood and female sexuality. Taking her inspiration from these areas she became a published poet, her debut collection, Womb Wisdom was shortlisted in the most self-empowering category by Soul & Spirit Magazine.
This book is for all women who have ever doubted their instincts. Who have looked outside themselves for reassurance. Who have wondered who they were and how they could ever be the woman they wanted to be.
This raw, open and vulnerable collection of poems leads you, un-apologetically, on a journey from girl to goddess as one woman began to believe in herself. Through meeting other women on yoga and meditation retreats and falling in love with herself this girl became a Goddess!
Food
We are absolutely delighted to have the wonderful Melody Dean offering truly divine food for this weekend...
"I am very passionate about healthy eating and see it as a significant and important part of our wellbeing. The food on our retreats are an integral part of your experience. We place great emphasis on warming and nourishing meals. Our food features interesting vegetarian options, treats made without sugar or dairy and low/no wheat and gluten where required. I’m a big lover of finding a healthy balance with food and our approach to this weekend is just the ticket." ~ Melody Dean
The Barn Temple
The Accommodation
.
- Over three floors
- Four bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x family room with king-size and single, 1 x child bunk, 1 x second-floor double
- Bathroom with freestanding roll-top bath, hand-held shower, basin and WC
- Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
- Kitchen/diner with woodburning stove
- Living/dining room with woodburning stove
- Second-floor sitting room
- Study
- Oil central heating with woodburning stoves
- Range style cooker with oven, hob, microwave and fridge/freezer
- Smart TV, Super-fast WiFi
- Bed linen and towels inc.
- Vast rear gardens with patio and furniture
The house is adorned with character, from extraordinary oak beams, original oak doors, stone fireplaces, butchers’ rails and woodburning stoves,
Follow the cobbled path up to the porch area, where you can discard any coats and boots after your journey.
Be welcomed into the large living/dining room, where you can look forward to relaxing on the plush sofas as you recount the days adventures in front of the crackling woodburning stove.
Make your way up to the first floor, where you can unwind with a soak in the gorgeous freestanding bath, or freshen up in the large walk-in shower, perfect after a day of exploring your surroundings.
On this floor, you will find three character-filled rooms, a king-size, a family room with king-size and single, and a quaint room with a bunk bed, all with traditional wooden flooring, feature fireplaces and exposed beams at every turn.
Continue up to the second floor, where you will find an additional sitting room in the eaves with a Smart TV and more character with exposed stone walls and scribings on the beams.
Also, on this floor, you will find the fourth and final bedroom, a spacious double, echoing the character features of the other bedrooms.
Cost and Rooms
Room 1 ~ King size bed in private room. Traditional wooden flooring, feature fireplace and exposed beams. Beautiful views from stunning windows allowing for magnificent natural light pouring in.
£649 to include:
Arrival between 3-4pm onFriday 15th March, evening meal served after welcome circle. Breakfast & lunch each morning & evening meal on Saturday 16th. Departure between 5pm & 5:30pm on Sunday 17th.
Access to the entire retreat weekend, ceremonies & workshops.
Room 2:
Offering a king size bed & single bed, this room echoes the history and magic of the other rooms around the house. With the traditional flooring & windows, as well as impressive fireplace.
King size bed: £549 ~ Would you like to share this room with a friend and split the cost? If so, you can get all of the above for £449 each
Single Bed: £529
To Include:
Arrival between 3-4pm on Friday 15th March, evening meal served after welcome circle. Breakfast & lunch each morning & evening meal on Saturday 16th. Departure between 5pm & 5:30pm on Sunday 17th.
Access to the entire retreat weekend, ceremonies & workshops.
Room 3:
Quaint room with stunning fireplace, traditional wooden floors, impressive views & plenty of light. This room offers a bunk bed for those who like to enjoy a rustic and charming vibe. This room offers the opportunity to really connect with your room mate or, perhaps you'd like to invite your friend along to share this room with you?
Bunk Bed per person : £449
To Include:
Arrival between 3-4pm onFriday 15th March, evening meal served after welcome circle. Breakfast & lunch each morning & evening meal on Saturday 16th. Departure between 5pm & 5:30pm on Sunday 17th.
Access to the entire retreat weekend, ceremonies & workshops.
Room 4:
Offering a private room with a spacious double. This room is full of charm, natural light and historical traditional features.
Private Double room : £599
To Include:
Arrival between 3-4pm onFriday 15th March, evening meal served after welcome circle. Breakfast & lunch each morning & evening meal on Saturday 16th. Departure between 5pm & 5:30pm on Sunday 17th.
Access to the entire retreat weekend, ceremonies & workshops.
ALSO OFFERING...
Also Offering
4x Non residential Tickets to include:
10am - 5pm full day on both Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th.
Access to all ceremonies & workshops.
Lunch included on both days
Time to explore the grounds & to deepen your connections with the other women.
£299 pp
Booking
To book your space with us:
A £150 non-refundable deposit is required upon booking.
Payment plans available through Clearpay or please message to pay monthly to pay via BACS
Full Payment must be received by February 29th 2024.
Invoices will be sent to confirm payments.
WOMEN'S EVENT.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming retreats for men and women.