Weekend Retreat on Dartmoor
20th - 24th May 2021
Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6SG
Now SOLD OUT. Join the Waitlist.
Free Your Wild Self
The Call
This is a call to all women who feel the wildness of these times rattling in their bones. We invite you into an immersive weekend retreat in the heart of Dartmoor to awaken the wild self of boundless creative expression, and rest in the belonging of sisterhood.
This moment of uncertainty offers us the opportunity to root down into a security within ourselves, that cannot be tarnished, tainted or taken. The part of us that is courageous and soft. Untouchable. Untamable.
Developing a deep intimacy with ourselves and the living world around us, we unfurl into our animal bodies, tenderly and fiercely remembering the echo in our bones of how wildness might have tasted on our ancestors tongues.
If you have been yearning for the beating hearts of kindred souls, the smell of rivers and fires, dancing under an open sky, and the freedom to express all parts of your being, then this retreat is for you.
Expect lots of; nature, dancing, singing, laughter, tears, painting, drumming, releasing and playing.
Please Note: Spaces are extremely limited, so book well in advance
Unlocking the Wild Self
We call upon the abundant creativity living at the core of the savage Wild Woman archetype. Art, in all its forms, is the food and language of the soul. Embracing our creative life force is fundamental to our health and flourishing.
As you unblock your creative channel, you will come into contact with your true essence. When this true essence can express itself through intuitive voice and movement, the shackles of conditioning will fall away and you will feel your whole being begin to open.
When we are able to feel fully the fear and shame that keeps us from expressing our true self, it releases from our body, we step into our power, and this is what sets our wild woman free.
“Alana and Gaia are very skilled at bringing a group together in an intimate and authentic way. They created an incredibly safe space for boundaries to be dropped and support and trust to be created very quickly within the group - a true gift.”
What to Expect
Throughout the weekend we offer a number of practices and rituals for you to connect to the unbridled power of your Wild Self.
Together we'll create a tight sisterhood where we each feel supported to unlock and let go; A place to feel seen and accepted in all that we are.
As artists and magpies of inner work we offer: sharing circles, meditation, voice work, dance, embodied ritual, grief tending, nature connection, play, theatre and magic as methods to connect with our inner feral and wide-eyed one, who listens to the wisdom in her blood and the pulse of nature all around.
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Sharing circles - to build deep intimacy and a safe container
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Vocal warm ups and unblocking - Freeing the voice to be able to clearly express
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Movement meditation - Learning to connect with the sensations and desires of the body, moving for our own pleasure, listening deeply to the wisdom of the body, and unblocking stuck energy
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Play - Weaving together theatre games and tantric techniques to help us connect to our child-like playfulness, breaking down barriers and connecting deeply with each other
Weekend Highlights
Depending on which weekend you select, highlights may include some or all of the following:
Wild Water Swimming
We are lucky enough to have the River Dart flowing at the bottom of the land where we will take frequent cold water dips to revitalise our bodies, hearts and minds.
Fire Ceremony
A prayer space, communing with and seeking support from our grandfather, the fire. This will be a time to sing, dance, make prayers, and share.
Grief Tending
A sacred space to connect with and share our grief. Through feeling and expressing our grief, we connect more deeply to love and life. The depth of our grief is the depth of our love. The ceremony will culminate at the river.
Cacao Ecstatic Dance
Connecting with cycles, rhythms and archetypes, this dance will take you on a journey to explore the outer edges of your being, and open a dialogue between visual and physical art, weaving between movement and expressive painting.
Hot Tub and Sauna
Between connecting to each other and our wild selves, there will be plenty of time to relax and restore in the in house Hot Tub and Sauna! It's a real treat.
Important Things to Note
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While this work may have therapeutic benefits, this is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. If you are seeking therapy then we encourage you to seek 1-1 support from a qualified psychotherapist. If you are experiencing significant mental health challenges please contact us in advance so that we can have a conversation about whether this retreat is right for you at this time.
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The food will be mainly vegan and gluten free with some cheese and egg options. Tea and coffee will be available. You can bring your own deli meats if you really need it. Let us know as soon as you can about any dietary needs.
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There is no phone reception at the venue. We encourage you to take the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world, and to fully immerse yourself in nature. Please make sure you tell loved one's that you will be out of communication for the weekend. Wifi may be accessed upon request.
Your Facilitators
Gaia Harvey Jackson
Co-Facilitator
Alana Bloom
Co-Facilitator
Gaia Harvey Jackson
Gaia is a workshop facilitator and artist creating spaces for deep transformation and specialising in women's empowerment. She runs the courses, retreats and training programmes for women.
Gaia is passionate about the revival of ritual and works with communities to co-create ceremonies around the world, helping people to mark significant moments, move through challenges, and celebrate life. Her work combines elements of theatre games, voice work, meditation, dance and ritual, creating safe and playful environments where people can authentically connect and release.
“Gaia always holds a safe and loving space to explore the depths of our souls. It's one of the only places I have in my life to truly be myself - no expectations, limitations or judgement.”
Alana Bloom
Alana is an artist, facilitator, performer, ritualist and activist committed to expressing life to its fullest capacity through creativity and facilitation. More recently she has been exploring what it means to become a doula to systems change through the intersections of ritual, community, spirituality, learning and creativity. She weaves embodiment, cyclical wisdom, pleasure, grief and artistry into the spaces she holds, drawing on her lifelong curiosity in leading groups. Since 2016 she has run an array of creative retreats including The Warren where she creates experiences for people to explore their creative gifts through community, connection and many practices inspired by theatre & dance.
‘Alana’s facilitation is brave and instinctive, rounded and direct, and speaks to both a deep knowledge of her craft (and embodiment more generally) and a level of self-belief.’
‘Her mixture of skill, authentic expression, intuition and pure feminine power as a facilitator, ritualist and artist have empowered, inspired and catalysed my own authentic creative expression.’
