MULTIPLE DATES IN 2025

Song of the Soul Retreat

Charlotte is thrilled to invite you to her ground-breaking series of signature retreats. Blending research, ancient indigenous practises, and her personal experiences with sound to help you uncover your unique voice in the world.

From Charlotte…

Details

Curated and delivered by Charlotte herself and inspired by her own decades-long journey through voice and sound, she wants her life experience and work to empower you to discover your authentic self and what makes your soul sing.

Song of the Soul above all things, will help you remember that you are wild. By harnessing the resonance and healing power of your voice, we will lead you through a journey to discover the story of you, past, present, & future.

2024 DATES

1ST NOVEMBER - 5TH NOVEMBER


2025 DATES

FEBRUARY 12TH - FEBRUARY 17TH
APRIL 22ND - APRIL 27TH
SEPTEMBER 2ND - SEPTEMBER 7TH
NOVEMBER 18TH - NOVEMBER 23RD

PRICING

Prices start from £800 for the entire retreat, head to our bookings page for info.


Your Facilitators

  • Charlotte Church is an award-winning singer and composer, the founder of The Dreaming and its lead facilitator, and one of the most innovative and exciting sound- healers working in the world today.

    Inspired by her own journey as ‘The Voice of An Angel’, and later as a voice for political change where she held press and media to account on issues like phone hacking and invasion of privacy, emerging as a prominent anti-austerity activist who also used her voice to campaign against misogyny and sexism, Charlotte now wants her life experience and work to empower others in discovering their authentic selves, and to understand and harness the power of their own voice in the world.

    Although it took courage for Charlotte to speak out on many things, for a long time and for many reasons, she felt like she’d been hiding, to the point where her ability to re-write her soul and story felt out of reach.

    But through exploratory vocal practises, breath work and finding a deep connection to joy, she’s found her voice again and wants want to share these practises and knowledge with you, so you can start to explore what might be holding you back and gently guide those parts of you into the light, eventually discovering what makes your soul sing and what you want to give to the world.

    From her teenage years, Charlotte has understood the significant power of voice. Following the remarkable success of her debut album ‘Voice of an Angel’ at the age of 12, which garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, she found herself performing for Popes, Presidents, and Royalty across the globe. By 2007 she had sold 10 million albums worldwide and as she toured the world, collaborating with vocal giants like Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Josh Groban, and Usher, she realised the profound spiritual impact her music could have on people, deepening their connection to nature and inspiring a return to child-like curiosity and play. She now feels that she wants to return to this by harnessing all that she has learned to help others.

    “I have a very deep love for humanity, and it pains me to see what this tumultuous world is doing to people’s mental health and wellbeing. Whether through experiences like The Dreaming or song of the soul my goal is to equip people with tools they can take home, also empowering them to be healers in their own communities.

    This isn’t about singing and voice in a performance sense, and you don’t need to be a singer to take part. Singing and using your voice is a birth right and we use this to ask, ‘Who are we and what is our place and role in the world?’. Although it took courage for me to speak out on many things, for a long time I’d been hiding.

    Because I was being so observed, I felt I had to be contained so I could protect a lot of people, including myself, and so my ability to be vulnerable and to really re-write my soul and story felt totally out of reach. But through exploratory vocal practises, breath work and finding a deep connection to joy I’ve found my voice again. I want to share this knowledge and practises with other people, so we can start to explore what might be holding you back and gently guide those parts of you into the light, eventually discovering what makes your soul sing and what you want to give to the world.”

  • Deborah is an artist, writer, innovator who is trained in Gestalt.

    She founded the critically acclaimed punk feminist choir Gaggle, writing and directing their album on Transgressive Records, as well as commissions from the Southbank Centre, ICA, National Portrait Gallery, Almeida Theatre and Channel 4.

    She was director and vocal arranger for artist Zoe Papadopoulou’s Welcome Trust commission Grief, working with bereaved performers in exploring their experiences of grief, performed at the Southbank.

    A major theme in Deborah’s work has been supporting unheard voices, from her time presenting and producing on Radio 4, to her book about women’s speeches called Outspoken.

    Deborah was also director for another Southbank commission from artist Tamsyn Challenger, Twitter Chorus, which featured hundreds of singers and non-singers, and was a site specific piece created in one day.

    “From sighing to singing I have seen the transformation collective noise making can have, from regulating heart beats and breathing, to galvanising whole communities. I passionately believe that everyone has a voice, and I know that many of us are holding back our voices through fear and lack of support, on Song of the Soul I want to give that support.”

Post Retreat Words from Guests & Charlotte

The Dreaming is set in a magical Welsh landscape. To be nurtured by my friend Charlotte Church’s powerful and entrancing voice in such a special place is mesmerising and nurturing.

- Luke Evans

Welsh Actor, Singer & Performer

Overview

The programme isn’t about singing and voice in a performance sense, and you don’t need to be a singer to take part. Singing and using your voice is a birth right and we use this tool to ask ‘Who are you and what is your place and role in the world?’.

By harnessing the resonance and healing power of your voice, we will lead you through a journey to discover the story of you, past, present, & future, empowering you to discover your own unique voice in the world. 

During your time at the ‘Song of The Soul’ retreat, nature will be a constant companion and source of inspiration with practices like 'Singing to the Land’ and crafting with natural materials, drawing from the ancient practices of our ancestors so we re-connect with who we are and where we are from.

But it’s not all deep diving into your soul and navigating emotional seas! Charlotte being Charlotte, you can also expect a ton of fun by joining her for silent discos at dawn, even creating your own music. 

It’s important to stress again that this retreat is for EVERYONE, singers, and non-singers alike. You do not have to be a musician to unlock the power of your voice.

This unique offering is a significant addition to The Dreaming and is inspired by research that shows the profound impact breath work and sound healing can have on emotional and physical health, along with powerful and ancient indigenous practices that reconnect with the land, nature, community, roots, and song.  

‘Song of the Soul' is a culmination of Charlotte’s life’s work, and we look forward to sharing this transformative programme with you which is open to anyone who wants to feel empowered, loved and rooted in themselves.

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. Charlotte is a world class facilitator who delivers meaningful healing with humour, grace and compassion. Her empathy shines through and I felt honoured to watch people take leaps forward in their personal journeys that would take years elsewhere. You leave The Dreaming wondering, "Was I dreaming?" but thankfully, it's all real.

- Kiri Pritchard McLean

Comedian, Writer & Former Artist in Residence

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.


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

Sing to the Land

Here, you become the melody, a gentle resonance that harmonizes with the spirit of the earth. It's not about hitting the perfect notes; it's about letting your voice merge with the unseen energies of the woods. Close your eyes and let the music of your soul dance with the rustling leaves and murmurs of the wind. Sing to the land, and in that mystical moment, become one with the sacred symphony of nature.