The River has endless lessons for us. Spending time with a river and following its course is a deep meditation, which has the potential to reveal to us a great many things: light and shadow, levity and depth, restraint and liberation; even our soul’s path. Rivers can show us how to be in relationship, as they are with the Land.
Oak View is going to dedicate two retreats to the River. These will be 3 day initiations, inviting a deeper connection with the element of Water. We will spend time beside the River Walkham (and inside if you choose), and at our retreat centre to allow its energies to settle in and its messages to reveal themselves to us.
Each person will receive their own unique gifts from the river. The beauty of this path is its mystery.
The Way of Water Journey
April 2024: Friday 19th - Sunday 21st
non-residential retreat
Price per person: £222
What to expect:
Deep listening - to the energy of the river
Cold water immersion
Introduction to working with the Medicine Wheel
Movement- connecting to the Water within us
Yoga nidra
Shamanic journey with the drum
Cacao ceremony
One nourishing lunch time meal per day
Email us at oakviewretreats@gmail.com, or use the contact form below to book or to find out more. Places will be limited. Reserve yours with a £75 deposit
Dances with Wolves ~ Residential Retreat
30th June - 2nd July 2023
Dance ~ Art making ~ Soma Yoga ~ Nidra
Tuell Farm, Devon
Dances with Wolves speaks to the journeys we all go on individually and collectively. A wolf pack is no stranger to journeying - through wilderness and hardship to moments of joy and tenderness. Their strength is in the pack, and it’s bonds of kinship carry and nurture all its members.
We are excited to invite you to journey with us, through movement and stillness, at our Dances with Wolves retreat this summer.
Through the combination of creative practices with time for quiet reflection in nature, we will uncover hidden tracks within and nurture the possibility of reconnecting with ourselves in new ways. Weaving together art, yoga and dance, we invite space for dreaming in quiet and stillness as well as in music and movement.
Alongside our group practices there will also be free time to relax, to explore the tranquil nature and wander amongst the wildlife.
What to expect?
Dances with Wolves residential retreat offers you an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the myriad ways of connecting with your creative spirit. Even if you have never danced, picked up a paintbrush, or sat on a yoga mat before, you are most welcome to join us.
Dropping out of our heads and into our creative bodies through meditation, in nature or by making artworks are all useful tools that this retreat will help you rediscover. All of the activities will be facilitated by Esme and Benji, mostly taking place inside a cosy, wood floored converted barn. You will have opportunities to discuss the activities both before the retreat, during, and afterwards, as part of the integration process.
All our activities are optional. You know yourself better than anyone, and we will hold space for you to participate in whatever way feels appropriate and comfortable for you. While we adopt a fluid approach to the structure of the retreat, there will be a natural arc to our days, with a morning movement practice (dance or yoga), art making in the afternoons, and yoga or another meditative movement practice in the evening.
Simple, hearty vegan meals will be provided and we can cater for various dietary requirements. All our food is free from refined sugar, and mostly gluten free.
Through dance and stillness, time alone and in connection with the group, we will journey into the liminal spaces between this world and the world beyond.
What is my connection to nature?
What happens when my mind surrenders to the wisdom of my body?
We hope that through our simple daily practices, in the held space we share together, and through giving ourselves the time we need, some signposts and footprints emerge to guide us.
Allowing music, the elements and the wisdom of our bodies to guide us, we’ll venture on a voyage of self-discovery and perhaps, along the way, find new ways of being with ourselves.
What’s included:
2 nights accommodation in a beautiful cottage
All meals and refreshments
Organic Ceremonial Cacao
Relaxing and nurturing Soma Yoga, Pranayama and deeply restorative Yoga Nidra classes
Creative practices and adventures in nature
Morning and evening dance or other meditative practice
All art materials
Sharing circles to help you synthesize your experiences
Why do we dance?
The Dance is many things. An offering, an invitation, a message. We have danced for thousands of years together around the fire, to appease the gods, to invoke them; for guidance, for healing.
By allowing our bodies - our feet and hips and hands - to guide us, we slip beyond the conscious mind into a trance or “theta” state. Allowing the sounds to flow through us, we are able to perceive, and gain information, in different ways.
Our practice is simple and accessible for anyone, whether they’ve danced once or a hundred thousand times. Dancing is one of our doors into the temple.
Booking
£395 for a single bed in a double room (sharing with one other guest)
£245 for non residential guests
Prices are inclusive of 6 lovingly prepared, nourishing meals, all art materials and ceremonial cacao.
Testimonials
“The retreat was the actual highlight of my year…when I headed back out into the world I felt like a new man, like a kettle that had been descaled. Benji and Esme are amazing hosts, they create an environment where there is no judgement and you can explore what it is to be truly yourself - the art making is a great technology for this (anything goes, trust me). Beautiful space to be as well... we had a spontaneous dance on Dartmoor and it was the most alive and wild I’ve felt in many years! I definitely see the world a little bit different ever since...” ~ Al
“A beautiful sharing space, I loved every moment of it... All of it was a glorious time spent with love at the center...A beautiful experience I will carry with me” ~ Georgia
“You two went above and beyond with creating such a magical, magical weekend. Honestly eye opening and not wanting to sound dramatic but possibly life changing even if only in small ways. I am just really grateful for this amazing experience with the wolf pack.” ~ Caroline
“An incredible experience, memorable, profound, positive, full of incredible energy, movement and compassion. Enlightening, liberating, powerful, joyous and soul shaking. Everything felt perfect, planned and unplanned activities worked. The mixture of movement, nature, physical activity, relaxation, time for oneself....all very harmonious. Love you both and will forever be grateful” ~ Paola
“What you both orchestrated + achieved with a group of strangers was nothing short of magical. To find such a safe space amongst people I’ve never met, is something that will stay with my forever. I discovered that dance + movement is an incredibly powerful way to shift emotion through us + this is something that I’ve continued practising. The art + yoga were both amazing. I was able to drop into my body + away from my mind with each practice + activity we did. I absolutely loved the nature walks, they were enough to feel stretched but fully enjoyable with time to connect with others in a relaxed environment. The dance at Pew Tor was magical as was the visit from the Dartmoor ponies!! I would absolutely love to join you on another retreat. Thank you both for opening my eyes to the real depth and beauty in strangers. it's there if we open and allow it.” ~ Sara
“Thank you from the deepest of my heart for the powerful, wonderful and amazing retreat that you put on this weekend...it was a safe haven, where I can get back to when I need to recharge...a transformational journey, that I will remember for the rest of my life...the safest place I have ever been to. The most welcoming, supportive, loving, spiritually and physically connected tribe of people I have ever met. I discovered what it is to share a spiritual connection within a community. I loved all of it! I thought all the activities flowed really well from one to another and it was a real sensory exploration of the 5 senses: Sight: through the art work, the stunning walks, the grounds, the people. Taste: the chocolate treats, the cacao ceremony, the gorgeous snacks, drinks and foods that we were served at each meal. Smell: all the lovely incense, white sage and essential oils. Sound: the music that you played, the sound of silence, the sound of crying, the sound of nature, the sound of singing in a circle, the yoga Nidra. Touch: the swim, the dances, yoga, and Nidra, the art making (especially the clay work). I still feel blessed to have come across your retreat. thank you again both so much, and I am already looking forward to your next retreat” ~ Marion
“I discovered that dancing is one of the best forms of body healing and mind shifting...great music and energy, yoga was world class, nidra lovely and walks fun. I'm integrating learnings and my body feels much better.” ~ Robbie
“Thank you so very much for a wonderful life changing experience. I am so grateful for your retreat and yourselves for guiding us through in such a warm and friendly environment. I am continuing to dance and do yoga, and hope to stay in the present and remain in this more centred state.” ~ Jo
“I enjoyed the yoga especially the nidra. I felt relaxed and more accepting of my fears and faults. I also enjoyed the age range of the others that attended. The school and grounds were so pretty - although due to injury I was unable to take part in the walks due to the terrain and distance, it was wonderful to listen to the others who did.” ~ Jayne
“I was struck by the hospitality provided…they were warm and welcoming…they focused a great deal in creating a sense of community among the participants - and I felt I left with new friends.” ~ Chandrima
Past Retreats:
Dance of the Butterflies ~ Residential Retreat
7th - 9th October 2022
Dance ~ Art making ~ Soma Yoga ~ Nidra
Tuell Farm, Devon
River Notes: Dance of The Herons retreat
3rd - 6th October 2022
Brimpts farm, Dartmeet
Whale Song retreat
1st - 4th October 2021
Dance ~ Art making ~ Soma Yoga
Tremeer Farm, Cornwall
By the wild Cornish coast, we invite you to relax and journey inward, on a voyage of discovery.
Through the combination of creative practices with time for quiet reflection in nature, we will nurture the possibility of reconnecting with ourselves in new ways. Weaving together art, yoga and dance, we invite space for dreaming in quiet and stillness as well as in music and movement.
Alongside our core practices, there will also be free time to relax, explore nature, and journey along the coastal paths. Allowing music, the elements, and the wisdom of our bodies to guide us, we’ll venture on unexplored paths and maybe, along the way, discover a new way of being with ourselves.
Our home for the weekend is the beautiful Tremeer Farm, which is situated in a secluded valley just a mile from the south Cornish coast.
The penduncle fin of a humpback whale, encrusted with years worth of barnacled riches, is both a compass and a map. So too are our own human bodies. They remind us where we’ve been, and if we listen carefully, they welcome us to be present wherever we are.
By the ocean, within touching distance of the great humpback’s migratory path, we invite you to join us and listen in to your inner whale song.
Shared accommodation in yurt or barn bedroom - £480
The spacious yurts have 3 beds, 2 of which are futon beds. They come with their own wood burning stove and outdoor fire pit. The bunk room has 4 single beds. You will be sharing with a maximum of 3 other guests.
Private accommodation in beautifully converted barn bedroom - £620
The barn has a shared but spacious open plan kitchen and living room with a large farmhouse table, sofas and beanbags. The south facing gabled windows look out over a patio area and the fields beyond.
What to expect?
Whale Song residential retreat offers you an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the myriad ways of connecting with your creative spirit. Even if you have never danced, picked up a paint brush or sat on a yoga mat before, you are most welcome to join us.
Dropping out of our heads and into our creative bodies through meditation, in nature or by making artworks are all useful tools that Whale Song will help you rediscover. All of the activities will be facilitated by Esme and Benji, and you will have opportunities to discuss the activities both before the retreat, during, and afterwards, as part of the integration process.
All our activities are optional. You know yourself better than anyone, and we will hold space for you to participate in whatever way feels appropriate and comfortable for you. While we adopt a fluid approach to the structure of the retreat, there will be a natural arc to our days, with a morning movement practice (dance/yoga), an adventure in nature and some art making in the afternoons, and a meditative practice or dance in the evening.
What am I when I leave my ego at the door?
What is my connection to nature?
What happens when my mind surrenders to the wisdom of my body?
We hope that through our simple daily practices, in the held space we share together, and through giving ourselves the time we need, some signposts and footprints emerge to guide us. Allowing music, the elements and the wisdom of our bodies to guide us, we’ll venture on unexplored paths and maybe, along the way, discover a new way of being with ourselves.
What’s included?
3 nights accommodation in a yurt or converted barn, at a beautiful small farm by the wild Cornish coast
All meals and refreshments
Organic Ceremonial Cacao
Relaxing and nurturing Soma Yoga, Pranayama and deeply restorative Yoga Nidra classes
Creative practices and adventures in nature
Morning and evening dance or other meditative practice
All art materials
Sharing circles to help you synthesize your experiences
Wooden hot tub and fire pits
Dances with Wolves Retreat
31st May - 3rd June 2021
Dartmoor, Devon
Relax and nurture your creative spirit surrounded by the wild beauty of Dartmoor.
We are delighted to be hosting our residential retreat in the inspiring surroundings of Dartmoor National Park. The beautiful grounds and historic buildings of Mount Kelly College, Tavistock, will be our home for the weekend.
Through the combination of creative practices with adventures in nature, we will nurture the possibility of reconnecting with ourselves in new ways. Weaving together art, yoga and dance, we invite space for dreaming in quiet and stillness as well as in music and movement.
Alongside our core practices there will also be free time to relax, to explore nature and journey over the moors on runs or walks (or both). Accommodation at the beautiful Kelly College will be in single rooms (or doubles if preferred) within one of the school's six boarding houses.
3 nights - private room - £495
3 nights - basic private room - £395
2 nights - basic private room - £325
All meals will be provided by Mount Kelly catering team, and we can cater for various dietary requirements.
If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with us at:
oakviewretreats@gmail.com
Artist’s Paths Retreat
October 23rd - 25th
Dartmoor, Devon UK
We invite you to join us for a weekend retreat surrounded by the wild beauty of Dartmoor. Amongst the autumn leaves, we will uncover tracks that lead back to our inner artists.
