A small group retreat where you will ...
✔️ Visit one of the UK's most meaningful ancient sites
✔️ Witness the solstice sunrise and pagan celebrations
✔️ Take part in deep work to prepare you for 2027
✔️ Refresh yourself after a tumultuous year
✔️ Enjoy shared meals, shared laughter and meet new like-minded friends
This retreat is for you …
You’re seeking inner clarity and direction
You desperately need a period of calm and grounding where you can experience deep contemplation after a year of turmoil
You want to navigate the threshold of Winter (including the madness of festivities and the New Year) to emerge refreshed with a clearer understanding of your path for 2027
You’re looking for like-minded souls to share the journey with, in a supportive and safely-held group environment
You feel a great affinity with ancient wisdom, whether that's stone circles, pagan traditions, or nature connectedness - and you want to dedicate time to exploring this
You’re fascinated to experience the unique resonance and sacred energy of Stonehenge, and to have rare access to touch and connect directly with these magical stones
You’re ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of witnessing the Winter Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge with a group of wonderful people!
IT'S NOT FOR YOU IF ...
You want to spend a weekend lounging in saunas and hot tubs - this is a retreat out in the world, walking along rivers, touching stones, feeling into the earth … whatever the weather!
You want to have a luxury getaway for a couple of days before Christmas - we’ll be sleeping and eating simply but comfortably, in spaces focused on spiritual contemplation and meeting the inner world
You want to get ‘pumped’ so you ‘smash it’ in 2027 - we’ll be looking within, grounding ourselves, deliberately choosing the calm and connected path as we journey through the solstice threshold
You like things surface-level and ‘fluffy’ - we will be feeling and reflecting deeply, with periods of contained silence, heartfelt discussion, and interaction with natural wisdom
"Astra created space for all of me to simply be, and the deep trust & states of safety I felt guided me to a newfound depth of release in such an empowering way."
Desi
The Turning of the Year
Also known as Yule, Winter Solstice is both an astronomical event and one of the eight Pagan Sabbats placed in the Wheel of the Year. At the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere, which falls between 20-22 December, we experience the longest night of the year with the sun setting at around 4pm.
The celebration of Yule developed to mark the beginning of, and tide us through, the dark period of winter when food stores would be low, the risk of sickness and death would be high, and it was essential that we sustain ourselves both physically and spiritually. It would have been a crucial event for ancient peoples, and archaeological evidence suggests that great feasts and ceremonies were held near Stonehenge at the Winter Solstice thousands of years ago.
With the colonisation of northern Europe by Christianity, the celebration of Yule was amalgamated with the birth of Christ, with both festivals ushering in hope, new life, and salvation. It is these themes we will explore during the retreat.
Ancient Magic in the Stones
For 5,000 years Stonehenge has stood as a site of sacred significance, first to our ancestors and now to modern-day Druids and Pagans. The site and the stones hold a unique resonance that has to be felt to be believed, and there is no better time to do that when the site is fully open to the public and you can sit, stand, touch and connect with the Stones themselves. This happens only at Summer and Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice at the stones offers us an opportunity to 'make like stone' and become more grounded and secure as the year turns from darkness towards the light. It is notoriously difficult to comfortably get to Stonehenge at Solstice when travelling alone, but as a guided group all you need to do is relax and immerse yourself in this extraordinary experience.
Stonehenge is the perfect place to undergo a deep retreat after a tumultuous year, and to reconnect with our own wisdom which is easily forgotten in the hustle, bustle and influence of modern life.
Faith of The Ages
Salisbury is a medieval city near to Stonehenge and home to Salisbury Cathedral. This magnificent structure contains one of the four original Magna Carta manuscripts dating from 1215 CE, as well as vibrant stained glass windows and the tallest spire in the country.
The River Salisbury Avon runs through the city, providing beautiful views and walks as well as a source of food and water for ancient peoples who settled there. Salisbury is also home to Old Sarum, the original settlement of the city on a nearby hill, and now a historical Iron Age site, and lies close to the Skellmuir Hill Circle Ley Line.
During the retreat you'll have time to explore the spiritual knowledge and practices of our ancestors over the last 5,000 years, from the role of geographical landmarks like the River and Hill, to the ceremonies centring on the Stonehenge monoliths, to the building of contemporary worship spaces that attract international tourists.
"Astra is genuine, friendly and uses the perfect blend of practical solutions whilst helping you figure out the answer for yourself. Their focus is clearly on you and none of their advice feels prescriptive or rehearsed."
Carole
Retreat Activities
During the retreat you'll take part in classes combining teaching, meditative practice, movement, journaling and group discussion on themes of rebirth, hope, salvation and new life in connection to the winter solstice.
Alongside the classes and circles, the retreat will be seeded with discussion, insight, and exercises that engage with the landscape and history of our location. You can participate in as many or as few activities as you wish.
Pre-Retreat Preparation
There will be two pre-retreat calls to get to know the other participants and start the inner work that this retreat entails: Thursday 3 December and Thursday 10 December. Both of these will be recorded if you cannot attend.
You will also be given preparation materials to support your growth over the solstice retreat.
About Your Guide
Astra (they/them) is a speaker, writer and non-religious chaplain, an accredited trauma-informed coach and somatic facilitator, a former university lecturer, and published researcher on emotional intelligence and environmental crisis.
Over the last decade, Astra has spent over 10,000 hours studying purpose, meaning and the human condition, including exploring Hindu kirtan, Quaker silent worship, shamanic journeying, tropical astrology, divination with Tarot and the I Ching, Human Design, crystal healing, Christology and Bible studies, plant medicine, Law of Attraction, and ecstatic dance forms - plus their unending fascination with Celtic and Ancient British spirituality.
They are the creator of numerous in-depth, unconventional resources to help you find more meaning in life, including the self-paced course Everyday Faith and the book Finding Your Professional Purpose, published in 2022.
"Astra has been an amazing guide; they've been the Virgil to my Dante, helping me find a path through the fog that life felt it had become."
James
ITINERARY
Please note this is a suggested schedule and will adapt to the needs of the group
Saturday 19 December
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Arrive in Salisbury (excellent train, bus, and parking connections)
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Check in
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Opening circle 4pm
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Evensong in Salisbury Cathedral 5:30pm (optional)
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Early evening meal in the town
Sunday 20 December
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Morning meditation in grounds of Salisbury Cathedral
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Morning class
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Entry and exploring Salisbury Cathedral
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Lunch
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Circular walk along the Salisbury Avon and up to Old Sarum, the Iron Age Hill fort (optional)
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Free time
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Early evening meal in the town
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Evening class
Monday 21 December
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Group travel to Stonehenge at ~6:30am
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Ceremony
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Witnessing Solstice sunrise ~8am
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Return to Salisbury ~9am
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Brunch
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Closing circle
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Departure from ~1pm
pricing
What's included ...
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Small group size for plenty of interaction and support
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Entry to Old Sarum, Salisbury Cathedral, and Stonehenge
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Classes and ceremonies during the retreat
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All meals during the retreat
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Two pre-retreat group preparation classes via Zoom
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Pre-retreat activities
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Guidance and practices over course of retreat
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Time for peaceful exploration of the medieval city and its surroundings
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Group transport to and from Stonehenge for Winter Solstice celebrations
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Everything organised for you
What's not included ...
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Transport to/from Salisbury from your home
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Personal purchases such as drinks or snacks
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Accommodation
£299
faqs
Where can I stay?
There are lots of great places to stay in Salisbury, but they do book up quickly before Solstice. We can help you find somewhere to stay to make things easier for you.
Is this a women-only retreat?
Although my work tends to attract women and femme-presenting people, the retreat is open to all genders.
What about accessibility and health conditions?
If you are keen to attend but are uncertain whether it is the right fit for you when it comes to physical health or ability, please get in touch hello@higherlove.co and we can have a relaxed conversation about it.
As a trauma-informed practitioner my work prioritises safe holding, calming environments and, while the experience may present you with challenges, it will not ask you to go further than you are willing to go emotionally. All activities and exercises are optional and your consent to participation and interaction is held in the highest regard. While this is an intensive retreat in that we will be practising deep work, the pace of each individual activity is gentle and there is no rush. The expectation is that we will provide the safe holding, and that you will communicate your needs so we can work together to ensure you get the most from the experience in a way that feels psychologically supportive.
Can you tell me more about food and drink on the retreat?
This will be a sober retreat (no alcohol or drugs). Your dietary requirements will be gathered after confirming your payment, and our choice of eateries will ensure everyone has options including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.
If you are on a specific food protocol at the time of the retreat, please reach out hello@higherlove.co and we can have a relaxed conversation about it. Shared meals are an important component of the retreat experience and no matter the dietary requirements, no one will miss out on this time together.
Where can I find more information about sites, access, travel, etc.?
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Facilities and Access at Old Sarum
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Facilities and Access at Stonehenge - (please note English Heritage operate Managed Access at Solstice which means the site is fully open to the public)
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Planning your transport to Salisbury - click on the individual transport links under ‘Read More’
"Astra's work is outstanding. An exploration with a deepness beyond explanation and literally so complex that words can't put it. Like, not from this planet - almost like a psychedelic experience."
Irina
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