Devon, UK - 12th - 16th September 2020
“This course has been fundamentally the most soul-nourishing thing I have ever done for myself. It led me on a journey of self-discovery, self-appreciation and courage. I long for being in the wilderness like never before, and notice the peace and feeling of being alive that it brings me. Natasha is patient, encouraging and very human in the way she facilitates and I will be forever grateful to her.”
- Previous participant
Introduction
Our second women’s retreat of the year is guided by Natasha Lythgoe – an exceptional guide that has dedicated her life to helping people draw lights from the shadows. Taking place in a nourishing and magical forest ‘garden’ in Devon, this is a carefully choreographed and powerful journey helping women to connect with the wisdom of the body, the rhythms of nature, the spaces in between, and the community of human experience.
An introduction in Natasha’s words
My own journey includes Buddhism, creative coaching and nature as a calling to soul. These last five years have offered me a deeper dive and an opportunity to learn how to embody, and integrate the challenges of stepping more fully into my own nature.
This women’s retreat is a coming together of principles and practices I’ve been introducing over the last five years, and draws on my own journey during this time. I’ve called it Light from the Depths, the Buddhist name given to me when I was ordained, because it mirrors the path I have followed and because it’s what I’ve dedicated my life to exploring. To help people find light from the depths; to come into relationship with their neglected selves, shadow selves or tender aspects in a way that liberates them, and reveals their gifts.
The Approach
Rumi’s poem expresses the heart of this approach;
“Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
At its core, my work is about deepening relationship - with ourselves, with each other and with nature (the more-than-human world). It’s about exploring both our inner nature and outer nature, and develop ways to accept, be with, and learn from each experience that life sends our way.
I provide people with the tools to develop the ability to make deep, authentic contact with themselves and others; and this retreat will provide a container that holds, blesses, guides and encourages positive transformation.
This Light in the Depths Retreat includes:
- A one-to-one call (pre-retreat) with me
- 5-Days Light in the Depths retreat workshop
- Two Group Zoom follow-up sessions within the first three months (led by me)
- 3-weeks of follow up sharings with another group member
The Structure of our Days:
- Each morning will include a mindful practice followed by experiential practices informed by Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing method and some of Stephen Gilligan’s Generative Trance work.
- The afternoons will be given to nature-based practices and an intimate sharing circle called Way of Council.
- The evenings will include fire gazing and star gazing, dancing and story-telling.
- Our days will be interspersed with collective periods of silence and down-time for digesting and resting.
Why come on Retreat in Nature?
So many of us long for community and a deeper sense of belonging to this world.
Suicide, anxiety, addiction and depression rates are alarmingly on the rise and are specifically correlated with using machines - smart phones, computers, social media.
Spending time in nature disconnected from fast-paced virtual life, and immersed in awe-inspiring landscapes re-humanises us. We open up to a bigger perspective and reconnect with what matters most.
The Before and the After
A process sometimes referred to as incorporation will be carefully tended to. Towards the end of the retreat I will share tried and tested integration practices and ways to ‘follow the thread’ when back home. In this way, enabling you to digest and integrate these experiences into your ‘everyday’ lives.
Location and logistics
Our base will be a nourishing and magical forest garden in Devon. This place has been a labour of love and is truly a wonder to behold.
Accommodation will be camping, but more like glamping given the idyllic venue, or sleeping in Mongolian Yurts (at an extra cost). We will have access to an indoor/outdoor eating and sharing space heated by a thermal mass rocket (the flue passes under the seating), a dedicated meditation space, a natural swimming pool, a fully equipped kitchen, warm outdoor showers and compost toilets. Plus the beautiful and abundant forest gardens.
A hearty breakfast will be included each day, and each participant will be asked to bring ingredients to prepare one meal during the retreat (either lunch or supper). The nearest town, four miles away, has food shops where you can buy the ingredients for this meal on the arrival day. All food will be vegetarian and we can only accommodate food restrictions for severe medical conditions.
There will be a maximum of 12 participants
Guides: Natasha Lythgoe
I guide individuals and groups through life transitions with nature. With over fifteen years experience leading programmes that connect people back to their true nature, The Art of ReWilding weaves together the main threads of my life; creativity, dharma (truth), mythic journeys, the intelligence of the body and nature.
My passion is for workshops that explore deepening relationships and authenticity with ourselves and each other, in response to the landscape. This work supports radical shifts in both our understanding of community, the places where we live and how we choose to walk through this world (whether that is to live and work quietly in small areas or very publicly on grand stages). I love to do this outdoors through engaging the deep imagination, therapeutic processes, mindfulness and embodiment practices.
Underpinning this diversity is a strong thread influenced by a care for deep ecology, community and a desire to live a meaningful and connected life
Cost
£450
If this price is beyond your financial means please do get in touch and we can explore the possibility of a lower cost in exchange for some support during the retreat.
Booking
To book your place on this programme please complete this registration form, following payment instructions at the end.
If you’d like to know more do feel free to get in touch. I’m very happy to have a conversation about the details of this programme and my approach.
Travel information
We will be based near Collimpton in Devon. Travelling by Train: Tiverton Parkway is 7 miles from our venue (Paddington line). Feniton is four miles away (Waterloo). By Bus: A falcon Bus stops hourly in Cullompton (4 miles away) - this links with Exeter and Bristol. We will send more travel information on registration to the programme.