What does it mean to Discover your Medicine?

In shamanic traditions, your medicine is not something you possess; it is something you embody. It is the unique quality, gift or way of being that you bring into the world through your life experiences, your challenges and your connection with Spirit and the natural world. Your medicine may be expressed through compassion, courage, creativity, healing, wisdom or deep listening. It isn’t about becoming someone else or striving to be extraordinary; it is about remembering your authentic nature and allowing that truth to guide your actions.

As we come into relationship with ourselves, with the Earth and with Spirit, our medicine naturally reveals itself. When we live from this place, we contribute not only to our own wellbeing but also to the wellbeing of our families, our communities and the wider world. In this way, discovering your medicine is less about finding a destination and more about uncovering the gifts that have always been waiting within you.

Our retreat is curated to lead you through a series of practices and experiences created to help you uncover your embodied essence, that medicine which you uniquely bring to the world. We do this through a thoughtful combination of practices from shamanic traditions, Qigong, Yoga, Reiki, Wild Voice Writing, Mandala Making and nature-based practices.

These ancient traditions are brought together with the therapeutic practice of systemic constellations facilitated by Emma and the transpersonal coaching work of Joanne to provide you with a through-put from past to present to future. If you want to understand yourself, heal yourself and free yourself to come back to your everyday life with a new perspective on the gift that life is, then this is the experience for you.

Why retreat at the Autumn Equinox?

Twice each year, the Earth reaches a moment of perfect balance. At the Autumn Equinox, day and night are of equal length, a reminder that balance is not something we find once, but something we continually return to.

In nature, the Equinox marks the beginning of a quieting. Trees begin to release their leaves, animals prepare for winter, and the energy of the natural world turns inward. Rather than striving for growth, nature teaches us the wisdom of letting go. As human beings, we are part of that same rhythm. Many cultures have honoured the Equinox as a time of gratitude, harvest and transition. It reminds us that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning, and that periods of rest are just as valuable as periods of action.

During the retreat, we will use the energy of the equinox to pause and reflect. What has flourished in your life this year? What have you learned? What are you ready to release? Whether it’s old habits, limiting beliefs, exhaustion, or simply the pressure to keep doing more, this is a powerful time to create space for what truly matters. Together, we’ll celebrate what has been, honour where we are now, and step into the next season with greater clarity, balance and intention.

This isn’t about escaping your life; it’s about giving yourself the time and space to listen.

Throughout our four days together, you’ll experience:

• Energy practices drawn from yoga, qigong and Reiki, including movement, healing, and learning to cultivate and store energy within your body
• Deep relaxation and meditation practices, weaving together a fabric of deep internal listening within which the whole retreat is held
• Systemic constellations and equinox ceremony and ritual, connecting with the power of your ancestors to release, heal and energise your bloodlines
• Nature walks and time for reflection, we need solitude as well as togetherness, and on this retreat there will be equal time for both
• Opportunities for coaching, connection and meaningful conversation
• Delicious food, peaceful surroundings and uninterrupted rest
• A small, supportive group

Whether you’ve been carrying too much for too long, are standing at the threshold of change, or simply longing for time that belongs entirely to you, this retreat offers the opportunity to slow down, reconnect and restore your inner balance.

My retreats are never about striving for perfection. They’re about meeting yourself exactly where you are, with kindness, compassion and curiosity. You’ll leave feeling calmer, lighter and more connected to yourself, carrying practices that will continue to support you long after you’ve returned home.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s time to put yourself back on your own priority list… Perhaps this is it.

Join us in France from 18-22 September and honour the changing season with intention, nourishment and community.

We would be delighted to welcome you.

Joanne and Emma

Getting to the French Retreat: Travel Options from the UK

There are several ways to join us in the French countryside. The venue has recommended drivers and will help to coordinate airport transfers. Their recommended drivers offer better prices than the airport taxis.

If you need help working out the details, please contact us.

Here are the easiest options:

• Fly to Bordeaux (BOD), daily flights from London, Manchester and other UK cities. Approx. 1 hr 20 min flight, plus 1 hr transfer to the retreat.
• Fly to Bergerac (EGC), limited flights from select UK airports like Bournemouth. 1 hr 20 min from the retreat by car.
• Train via Paris, take the Eurostar to Paris, then a direct train to Chalais, 2 hrs from Paris. We offer free pick up from Chalais.
• Drive from the UK, for a scenic road trip, drive via Eurotunnel or ferry. Approx. 9-10 hrs from the South of England.