Three Midwinter Retreats

Hello,

For a long time, I’ve been thinking how wonderful it would be to run a reatreat in the deepest midwinter, in those days between Christmas and New Year when everything feels free-floating and our thoughts turn to what comes next. Well, a gorgeous venue became available… and even though it’s a little last minute… I’ve taken the plunge!

I’m obsessed with this point in the year, its possibility for transformation, repair and for gestating the next phase in our lives. It’s full of stange magic, and I couldn’t shake the idea that I wanted to share it, to gather together to build fires, make rituals and even to sample the cold water. I also know how many of you have wanted to specifically work with me in Whitstable, where so much of Wintering is set.

So, here’s your chance - a very rare and precious moment, and possibly the only time I’ll be able to do this. I’m offering three day retreats that can be taken alone, or strung together to create a three-day retreat if you book local accommodation. The veune is a beautiful Victorian weatherboarded house that sits right on the beach, so the sea will be ever-present, even when we're indoors. There's also fantastic food from Whiststable's beloved Grain & Hearth, the chance to dip into the cold sea (if you want to!), and a bespoke Wintering candle by Winterfold to take home. 

These are the three retreats:

29th December - The Darkest Days

The focus here is burnout and exhaustion: 'Over the course of this day, we’ll work together to gently unravel the threads of our weariness and overwhelm. With the beach at our doorstep, we will spend some time exploring the shore, and our day will culminate in a fire at the water’s edge.'

30th December - The Return of the Light

This day is all about imagining the New Year: 'On this day, we’ll turn our attention to the future, exploring ways to work with desire and intention, rather than punishing new regimes and stultifying disciplines. Meanwhile, the focus will be on drinking in as much light as possible - weather permitting, we’ll practise meditative walking, and end the day with a simple ritual around the fire.'

31st December - A Vigil for the Old Year

'We’ll enter into a deeply reflective space, drawing on the folklore of the cyclical year, with its common symbolism of death and rebirth. As the day progresses, we’ll imagine that we’re accompanying the weary old year in its dying, and explore the positive and negative aspects of that process, and making way for a personal and collective rebirth.'

This is really just a heads-up - booking opens tomorrow (except for Patreons, who can start booking today) - I’ll send out another newsletter with full details then - including gift options. I know that this kind of thing is a big decision for many of you, and that it’s a leap of faith. But I urge you to trust your gut if this is calling to you - I think this is going to be incredible, and I absolutely cannot wait.

I hope to meet some of you wonderful people there!

Katherine x