28TH OCTOBER - 1ST NOVEMBER 2024
Samhain Retreat
Embark on a 5-day journey deep in the lands of the Welsh Cambrian Mountains, where we walk in the footsteps of our ancestors, guided by the ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain.
Celtic Wisdom
As the natural world turns inward, we gather for our Samhain Retreat, immersing ourselves in the rich traditions of Celtic and Welsh lore. This season marks a profound cycle of death and rebirth, inviting us to acknowledge what has ended and prepare for new beginnings.
At this sacred moment, when the veil between the seen and unseen worlds is thin, we invite you to join us in walking the path of our ancestors. Together, we will engage in mindful rituals rooted in ancient Celtic wisdom, embracing the darkness while celebrating the light within.
This retreat offers a deep journey into our connection with ourselves, the Earth, and our ancestors, honouring those who came before us to seek their guidance, and cultivate a profound sense of belonging within the greater cycle of existence.
Your Teachers
This retreat is curated by our guest teachers, Kerry Sanson, Briony Greenhill & Rachael Carter. Kerry, our lead facilitator, integrates ancient traditions into grounding practices that resonate with the essence of Samhain.
Rachael, our End of Life Soul Doula, offers a heartfelt ceremony that redefines our relationship with darkness and death. Briony, a celebrated singer and musician, leads a transformative music session exploring human depth and change. Together, they create a retreat experience that deepens your connection with Mother Earth and the spirit world.
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Kerry Sanson has 24 years’ experience as a holistic therapist, personal trainer, movement specialist, Qigong instructor and musician.
In 2022 she published her first book, ‘The Book of Health Hacks’, a new compendium of forty tried and tested health boosting regimes.
After experiencing a spontaneous healing whilst on a Gypsy Singing Retreat in Eastern Europe, Kerry has been on a constant learning journey, delving into many disciplines and studying with a diverse array of teachers and leaders in Spiritual disciplines.
She holds an MSc in Health Psychology and is an Instructor of Spring Forest and White Tiger Qigong. Kerry has been a student of ReWilding Mystery School, Yogic Inner Engineering with Sadhguru, Breath and Meditation with Dr Joe Dispenza, and the Ido Portal Movement Method, amongst other practices, all of which add to the broad wealth of knowledge and she brings to her facilitation and workshops.
Kerry runs a busy private studio, runs workshops and retreats helping clients on their health, nutrition, fitness, breathing and relaxation. She has been a key member of The Dreaming Team as a Retreat Coordinator, bringing with her, her own unique wealth of holistic health knowledge.
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Briony Greenhill is a multifaceted artist, known for her work as a singer, pianist, arranger, and producer with a deep focus on improvisation. Her music blends folk, soul, and jazz, creating acoustic, multi-instrumental pieces that explore themes of human depth and paradigm shifts. Her lyrics, often improvised, are woven into harmonies that invite audience participation, making each performance a unique, communal experience.
As a teacher, Briony empowers individuals to unlock their vocal potential, enhancing their musicianship and expressive abilities. She specializes in Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, guiding students to connect, heal, and explore creativity through sound. Her teaching is enriched by years of study with masters like Bobby McFerrin and Rhiannon, alongside her extensive experience as a performer and recording artist.
Briony's career includes founding the London Vocal Improv Collective, releasing innovative albums like "Listen" and "Remembering," and co-founding the UK Vocal Improvisation Festival. Her work is also deeply informed by community healing practices and earth-based spirituality, which she integrates into her holistic approach to music and teaching. Briony continues to inspire and lead others in vocal improvisation, fostering personal and collective transformation through music.
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Rachael Carter is an end of life Soul Doula® & accredited trainer, Yoga Teacher and a Wellbeing & Spiritual Life Coach with over 10 years of experience.
A Soul Doula provides holistic, emotional and spiritual support to the dying as they transition and leave this life. During her time as an end of life Soul Doula, she has had the privilege of supporting hundreds of people on their dying journey and has also worked with various organisations, such as Dying Matters & Public Health, to influence the way we approach death in the community.
Rachael is a TEDx speaker and has been featured in The Independent, BBC Radio Leeds, OM Yoga Magazine, Psychologies and Spirit & Destiny.
The Retreat
Our Samhain Retreat offerings are consciously curated to deepen your connection with Mother Earth and the spirit world. Kerry, our lead facilitator, draws on her deep knowledge of ancient traditions to guide you through grounding and mindful practices that resonate deeply with the essence of Samhain.
Throughout the retreat, you will explore your creativity in a variety of immersive sessions, from the ancient art of spirit mask making to crafting nature mandalas, dancing at dawn in an invigorating silent disco, and shaping earthenware with your hands.
These experiences are crafted to culminate in a powerful ceremony on the final night, inviting you to embody the energies of Samhain, find profound meaning, and deepen your connection those who have come before us.
Rachael, our End of Life Soul Doula, offers a lovingly held ceremony that delves into Samhain's themes of darkness and death, transforming how we approach and feel about these aspects of life through an uplifting circle and meditation. Briony Greenhill, a renowned singer and musician, will lead a music session that harnesses the transformative power of sound, exploring themes of human depth and paradigm shifts.
All of this takes place in the mystical healing lands of The Dreaming, where the natural beauty of plunge pools, deep forests, cleansing waterfalls, and expansive grasslands call you to remember your true self and the interconnectedness of all life.
During your stay in our luxurious retreat home, you will feel deeply rested and rejuvenated, nourished by delicious home-cooked meals crafted by our Head Chef, Zac, featuring ingredients grown in our own kitchen garden.
The Details
Dates : Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November 2024
Check In : 3pm
Check Out : 10am
Location : Rhydoldog House, Rhayader, Wales, LD6 5HB
For more info on how to get here, click here.
Pricing
Pricing is on a sliding scale based on your room choice, ranging from £720 - £1800 for the entire retreat. Head to our bookings page for more details.
What’s Included:
4 night’s luxury accommodation
All of your nourishing home cooked food & drinks
Beautifully curated retreat programme
Access to 47 acres of ancient, breathtaking lands
Access to our natural plunge pools
Enjoy our tranquil home and gardens
“Words can’t describe the energy that this place holds, from the minute you arrive you can feel the magic. We had the most beautiful weekend with the most amazing people, I will cherish the memories for a lifetime.”
- Claire Wright
The Nurturer Guest, 2024
“I knew my time at The Dreaming would be a wonderful break in stunning surroundings but I was not prepared for it to be life changing. You leave The Dreaming wondering, "Was I dreaming?" but thankfully, it's all real.”
- Kiri Pritchard McLean
Comedian, Writer & Former Artist in Residence
The Location
Nestled in the heart of the Elan Valley, Wales. Our retreat offers a serene and rejuvenating environment, away from busy work life, whatever the weather.
Set within forty seven glorious acres of ancient land, The Dreaming is a rural wonder which offers true serenity and blissful tranquility. Once a 15th century Cistercian monastery, this fabulous property passed through Georgian and Victorian aristrocratic families to the designer Laura Ashley and her family in the 20th century.
Laura Ashley directed her multinational interior design company from Rhydoldog House and then, in 2020, our founder Charlotte Church, with the help of talented collaborators, reimagined, refurbished and reconfigured it.
ACCOMMODATION
Luxurious rooms with modern amenities awaits you, each designed by award winning designers to provide comfort and tranquility.
Each rooms interior reflect our passion for other cultures. Natural materials and tactile draping create den-like spaces, whilst original floorboards and textured walls give coherence and a cosseting feel to the seven rooms, each with its own distinct name and character.
The essence of connection thrives through our shared rooms. Our distinctive approach assigns beds individually rather than by room, encouraging meaningful interactions with fellow guests.
Embracing shared living is ingrained in The Dreaming’s values, creating an environment where bonds flourish.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
Inspired by Luna herself, The Moon is designed to honour the lunar goddesses. Using handmade natural materials, it is a purifying and calming space, with soft flowing white fabrics. Luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens, a spacious seating area, and an ensuite with moon-shaped bath overlooking the Moon Garden.
It is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
South-facing with a balcony, to take in the breathtaking views of the Elemental garden and the Nant Caethon Valley, The Mystic’s furnishings have been hand-sewn using a collection of decadent Indian saris, drawing attention to the changing tones throughout the day in its spacious seating area, and luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens.
Perhaps the most magical of all, this warm room also has an ensuite with a golden tadelakt shower, surrounded by botanical plants.
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For 2 individuals sharing
The best place to experience the breaking of day, The Dawn is south facing with a balcony to enjoy the view of the Elemental garden and the Nant Caethon Valley.
The handmade soft furnishings were created using natural dyes to reflect the colours of sunrise, bringing a brightness to the room. With luxurious beds and fabric privacy screens, a seating area, rustic pine furniture, and an altar to honour the solar deities, a stay in The Dawn is an energy restoring experience. Its bathroom is across the hall, and has a Moroccan-inspired tangerine tadelakt shower.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
Inspired by the wonders of mycelium (the network of fungal threads that connects all the plants of the forest together) The Mushroom is designed and crafted using rustic natural materials to achieve an earthy, grounded feel, dark antique wooden furniture and warm neutral tones in its spacious seating area, and luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens.
It is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley, and includes an ensuite bathroom, with a walk-in shower, and a bath with a view, surrounded by a selection of botanical plants.
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For 3 Individuals Sharing
A stay at The Wanderer is an immersive experience, with natural materials and artefacts from Africa, Peru and Mexico. This is the room for explorers, and has a spacious seating area, and luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens.
The room is south facing, overlooking the Elemental garden, with a breathtaking view of the Nant Caethon Valley, and includes an ensuite bathroom, with a shower and bath, and a window seat to take in the view.
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For 1 Individual or Couples
Honouring the design and forest reverence in Japanese culture, Forest Spirits is north facing and overlooks the ancient woodland.
With traditional Japanese tatami flooring, a spacious seating area, and a luxurious king-size bed, the room also has an ensuite bathroom with a black tadelakt shower and a porcelain lotus sink. Immersive Japanese experience for all of the senses, including the scent of traditional Japanese Tatami Mats.
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For 2 Individuals Sharing
North-facing to the deep forests, The Womb is a celebration of womanhood. With soft flowing fabrics, all handmade and dyed using natural ingredients, it has the nourishing, secure feeling of being swaddled. Luxurious beds with fabric privacy screens, a seating area, and a playful ensuite with a pink tadelakt shower.