Blossoming Beltane: Women's Spring Retreat to Mythic Scotland

I am She that is the natural mother of all things, mistress and governess of all the elements, the initial progeny of worlds, chief of the powers divine, Queen of all that are in the otherworld, the principal of them that dwell above, manifested alone and under one form of all the Gods and Goddesses. ~ Lucius Apuleius

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Join Molly Chinner and Ellis O'Connor in the breathatking Highlands of Scotland for a woman's retreat immersion into the blossoming world of Beltane and the traditional Celtic Goddess of Springtime, Brigid.

Beltane is the traditional celebration and fire festival of May Day. In the wheel of the year this moment marked the beginning of the fertile season and was celebrated to honour the abundance of the blossoming Earth. Traditional rites and rituals across England and the Celtic lands of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall were broad but connected in their intention to pay homage to the fertile land, offer ceremony to bless the incoming crop and honour the abundant sexual and feminine energies that were swelling across the natural world. Beltane is thought to be overseen by the mythic Goddess Brigid (Bridé) who is a keeper of women's wisdom, fertility, love, sex, healing, abundance and transformation. 

Brigid is the patroness of fertility, abundance, creativity and healing as well as being the archetypal representation of women's wisdom and feminine sexuality. As a solar deity, Her attributes are light, inspiration and all skills associated with fire keeping. She is a benefactress of inner healing and vital energy as well as a potent guide for sexual abundance. We will gather in mythic Scotland as a circle of women to honour the Beltane season and commune with the archetypal energies of Brigid to open ourselves to receive healing in the blossoming light of Spring. This is a land that bears many ancient myths and legends of the old ways, and this retreat will offer an opportunity to uncover your own heart connections, ancesteral stories and wild Self as a guardian of the land. 

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This moment in time offers us the opportunity to be enchanted and delve deeply beneath the surface -rooting into the realms of sacred feminine wisdom. This retreat summons a supportive circle of women to find presence, courage and empowerment whilst nestled in the arms of one of beautiful Scotland. Our practices will go deep but the pace of our weekend will be gentle and supportive, exploring the wilderness within through the mediums of movement, breath, meditation, connection, sharing circle, plant medicine, ritual, sound healing and sacred song.

This is an opportunity to flow with the energy of budding spring - initiating deep change and attunement to the lost stories rooted within the landscapes all around you, to re-connect with yourself and with a community of other, amazing women. Taking the time to appreciate the fresh Spring mornings over steaming mugs of herbal tea, gentle walks through the first buds shooting through the frost in the magical forests of The Dell, cosy evenings curling up and sharing circles by the fire pit.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Throughout the weekend you will be invited to experience a number of practices, rituals and initiations for you to connect and go deeper into to the untapped power of your blossoming Self. Together we'll weave a tightly connected sisterhood where we each feel supported to unlock and let go; a place to feel seen, heard and accepted in all that we are.

• Movement, Dance, Yoga and Embodiment Practices
• Artwork, creative exploration + land connection
• Voice Work, Activation and Breathwork
• Gong Bath + Sound Healing
• Sacred Song, Drumming + Singing Circles
• Visioning, Shamanic Journeying, Meditation
• Ceremony, Ritual + Plant Medicines
• Nature Connection, Mindfulness

THE VENUE

Nestled within the Cairngorms wilderness and with easy access to Aviemore, our self-catering lodge and cottages offer the perfect home for the week. Unwind, stoke your fire, re-connect and breathe deep. Go barefoot on the lawn, pick a hammock, toast your toes and slow right down. Allow your ears to ring with silence amongst the trees. Make yourself at home. 

The Dell was originally built to house the head forester of Seafield Estate, who kindly planted many of the different species towering head and shoulders above the house today. Beech and Horse Chestnut, Oak, and the fragrant Lime, which has been known to ‘calm ones nerves by simply walking beneath’.

We are so lucky to be surrounded by ancient forests, 10 minutes from a beautiful loch and nestled in the heart of the mythical highland landscapes. A wild place, deeply rooted in fairytales this is the perfect setting to relax, restore and begin to find connection once again to your inner wild.

We will be practicing Yoga, art, breathwork, sound bathing etc in a gorgeous Tipi in the forest of The Dell. Please bear in mind May in the highlands is still cold and to bring appropriate clothing to be immersed in the great outdoors. 

FOOD

All meals are included in the cost of retreat and please know that we take food very seriously – you will be well fed!

We can of course cater to any dietary requirements, please let us know of any as soon as you book. We will be bringing you a plant-based and locally sourced menu packed full of seasonal and delicious veggies, grains, and pulses. Expect abundant and nourishing feasts for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners made from scratch using sustainable and local ingredients.

The food provided will be mainly vegan and gluten free with some local dairy and egg options depending on seasonal availability. Herbal tea will be provided but coffee and wine will not. Please let us know as soon as you can if you have any food intolerances/allergies.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Beltane Blessing

We are so lucky to have private access to the forest at all times. We will be gathering in the fertile belly of the forest in ritual to bless, bathe and liberate ourselves in the enchanted woods.* Please prepare something white to wear for this blessing.

Cacao Ceremony

Mama Cacao is a sacred plant medicine from South America. The Cacao medicine represents the way of the heart and reflects humanity's sacred connection and relationship with the land and the (un)seen worlds. 

We use Cacao in our ceremony because her spirit is a keeper of ancient, sacred wisdom. She holds the vibrations of kindness and unconditional love, opening a channel for deeper connections to form with ourselves and others. Cacao's energy is healing and very gentle—speaking directly to the heart. When we connect with the heart’s energy, our voice may speak from a place of deeper intelligence carrying vibrations of peace and harmony. 

Art + Creative Workshopping

To guide you deeper into exploring the wild fires of Beltane, Scottish artist Ellis O'Connor will be leading daily art and creative exploration workshops and land reclamation. Expect to use a wide range of mediums, techniques and formats to explore your own sacred sexuality, connection to ancesteral lands and blossoming wild spirit. 

Vocal Activation + Breathwork

Our voices are incredibly powerful tools for healing, empowering and uncovering our authentic selves. Activating and awakening our authentic voice is a process of unblocking and releasing the energetic, emotional and physical space of the voice. Throughout our lives, especially in early life, we can receive unconscious messing and/or trauma around the throat space causing us to hold tension, block ourselves and become fearful of our voices.

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Vocal activation is a process of re-wilding, reclaiming and empowering ourselves to be seen and heard in our most authentic and powerful state. The voice is a direct channel from the heart, when activated and free it allows us to speak our truth and live authentically. We will be using a range of practices to support the gentle opening and freeing of the voice.

Dance/Embodiment/Yoga

We will start our mornings by moving, breathing and connecting with cycles, rhythms - deeply embodying the vast within. These practices will guide you to explore the outer edges of your being, opening all the parts of you that feel tight or resistant and allowing the sacred waters to flow. Our practices will weave through traditional Yoga, ecstatic dance, sensual embodiment, free movement, restorative Yoga, self-massage and beyond. All abilities, body types, ages will be catered for.

Gong Bath + Sound Journeying

Fall through the stars and into vibrational harmony with daily journeys using the deeply therapeutic qualities of sound. Lose yourself, free your energy and feel your troubles melt away as you release into the bliss of intentional vibration. Sound healing can be beneficial for helping with energetic balance, emotional release, physical healing and nervous system regulation. Regular sound healing sessions can have profound and magical effects on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual self.

Nature Connection + Land Reclamation

The Dell is nestled within The Cairngorms - one of Scotlands most ancient and mystical places. A space of great power, peace and ancesteral lineage you will be surrounded by enchanted woodslands, forest trails, grand lochs and breathtaking mountains. You will stand where your ancestors stood before you and feel the pulsation of the land beneath your feet and connecting with the thousands of years of history, myth and mysticism in this place of great significance. 

Drumming  + Sacred Song Circle

Come journey with us into the world of sound and music. Drumming has long been used by shamans, priestesses and spiritual voyagers to connect with the Earth and ride the column of sound into the centre of the heart. We will take our place amongst the trees and sing to our ancestors - reclaiming the tradition of folk song to build relationship with  our own vibrational essence. Sharing Space Women’s circles are an ancient practice and place for women to be held, heard, seen and supported. We don't have enough spaces where we can speak honestly, authentically and without fear of judgement. When we share in held spaces such as this we often find release in speaking the words aloud, and comfort in hearing our stories reflected back to us in the experiences of others. We will spend time reflecting, sharing authentically and journalling each day to meditate upon our own, and the collective, healing.

THINGS TO NOTE:

1. While this work may have therapeutic benefits, this is not supposed to be offered instead of, or as a replacement to, 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.
2. There is very little 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 but we do have limited wifi access if necessary.

DRAFT SCHEDULE

07:30 - Pre-practice fruit + herbal teas

08:00 - Morning breathwork + movement practice with Molly

09:30 - Breakfast

11:00 - Art + Creative workshopping with Ellis

13:00 - Lunch 

14:00 - Creative workshopping/land connection/vocal rewilding

16:00 - Free time/journaling/reflection

18:30 - Dinner

20:00 - Cacao Ceremony/Gong Bath/Drumming + Singing Circles/Fire Ceremony/Myth + Legend Storytelling

*Full schedule to be finalised before the retreat in 2023. Currently subject to change. 

TRAVEL

Dell of Abernethy, 

Nethy Bridge,

PH25 3DL

Our nearest train station is Aviemore which is available directly from London and Inverness. 

If you plan to drive please let us know as we can set up lift-shares for anyone who is travelling from similar places.

The Dell is a peaceful retreat just on the edge of Nethy Bridge, ‘The Forest Village’ - a sleepy, friendly place reached by riverside walk or through the endless trails of the Abernethy Forest. The RSPB Osprey Centre at Loch Garten is just a 10 minute drive, to the north, the wild Moray Coast beaches and to the south, the heart of the Cairngorms. The Dell is an hour from Inverness airport, 20 mins from Aviemore train station and around 3 hours north of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

BOOKING

Private room with king-sized bed: £1650

Shared twin room: £1250 (per person)

All prices are inclusive of food, accomodation, art materials and all practices offered on the retreat. Not including travel. Prices include a 20% non-refundable deposit to secure your spot on the retreat. Please get in touch to enquire about payment plans, bursaries and scholariships. 

Get in touch with molly.chinner@gmail.com for more information.