talking to your heart
Hello. I'm Kim, the founder of Ellasfield, and I would like to talk to the hearts of the individuals who resonate with what Ellasfield offers. I wish to share why you would attend and what unique experience awaits you when you reserve a private or group 'Shamanic Healing Wisdom Retreat' at Ellasfield. All the practices and principles, from sacred yoga, ceremonies, and mindfulness teachings, have been gathered from over 30 years of training and daily and direct experience. All these practices have worked for me, and I'm guided in sharing these offerings as a helping hand for folks returning to personal power and spiritual connection. All practices and insights offered are the ones that helped me out of my slumber and through some pretty dark and challenging times.
Firstly, why would you want to spend time at Ellasfield?
For some, there comes a time when it all becomes too much; for others, a particular life event floors us, and the rug can metaphorically be ripped from underneath us, leaving feelings of grief, anger, and mistrust.
Many of us didn't grow up in a culture that offered much to cultivate inner wisdom or to value our gut instinct; more of the head-over-heart approach is the norm. When it came to any spiritual connection, this often came with a dollop of guilt and shame. If we sit still for a moment, we realise we have become disconnected from our inner wise woman and nature's presence. Grief, fear, and anger can feature in our lives if we lack a loving connection with ourselves. For many, our caregivers could not model self-love due to hardships or traumas; the knock-on effect is that we felt our emotions weren't welcome or that we couldn't express ourselves fully. It felt more like you had to grin and bear it or be a nice girl or boy. The outcome of this is decades of self-self-soothing in the form of eating, internet scrolling, shopping, gambling, drugs and alcohol or meaningless relationships and more (they have all been my allies at times) instead of cultivating an honest and reliable presence for our emotions and feelings.Then, when a substantial life-altering event comes knocking, it can feel like the end of life as we know it, and the usual distractions just don't cut the mustard!
Through pretty devastating times, I have learnt that we can't simply 'get over' or 'ignore' painful and persistent truths that need our loving attention; we need to honour and form a relationship with them. Through this lens, we can soften and release our emotional charge. Often, what we fear is a diversion, preventing us from delving deeper and listening to the innate wisdom within us.Enquiries to ask yourself ~
-Have my intense feelings and emotions kept me stuck long enough?
-Am I ready to do things differently and become the creator of my life?
-Is it time to release my burden and enjoy being alive?
Our journey commences with a personal conversation. I will listen attentively to your unique life story and grasp your aspirations for your time at Ellasfield. I begin to attune to the energy at that moment and craft a retreat uniquely tailored to you.
During the days leading up to your retreat, I devise a personalised itinerary that offers an individual flow to your stay. With your 'Highest Good' at heart, I spend time connecting with the rhythms of nature to receive information and guidance that will infuse the unique 1:1 yoga, ceremonies, equine sessions, healing, and meditations you will experience.
Once you arrive and settle with tea, you start the experience with a personalised one-to-one yoga session, comprising of meditation and gently paced restorative yoga to meet you where you are in the moment, offering time to arrive, settle in, and provide the body time to feel safe enough to rest deeply. With this clear beginning, we embark on a transformative journey inwards, where you rediscover your in-built wisdom and guidance through subtle yet powerful prompts, emphasising a return to a kinder and more compassionate way of tending to yourself, where you make a loving commitment to tend to your needs. This journey leads you back to the heart, teaching you that being truthful and vulnerable guides you back to living a joyous and prosperous life where you can let go of the internal thought patterns that keep you stuck and fearful.
Dinner is served as the sun sets. At the same time, you settle into your comfortable and cosy accommodation for a peaceful night's sleep.
On the second day, you begin with a morning yoga session to release old behaviour patterns and unwanted energy that gets stuck over time. Through movement, breathwork, and hand gestures called Mudras and meditation, you will access ancient wisdom that sets the stage for a more focused approach to pursuing your desired life. You begin to gain distance from and observe the self-sabotaging and negative thought patterns that may have held you back or frozen with fear; these are messages we have gathered along the way and have no basis of truth today. These emotionally charged messages gather momentum over time but are rooted in our ancestors' fears and taboos. Through practices promoting self-awareness and building inner vibrancy, we recognise that these thoughts lack substance or truth today, diminishing their emotional hold. After breakfast, we will gather at the stables for a one-on-one or group Equine Assisted Therapy Session. During this session, you will experience the profoundly magical and energetic interaction with the horse, facilitated by Kim's gentle enquiry techniques. This unique experience will help you address personal or professional challenges that may hinder you from living a life of ease, joy, and fulfilment. Interacting with horses provides a non-judgmental environment for self-expression. Research has shown that spending time with horses can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, decrease stress, improve interpersonal skills, enhance self-esteem and confidence, and increase mindfulness and presence.
There is plenty of time in the afternoon for relaxation and rejuvenation. You can also enjoy a sauna or a refreshing swim in the pond. You can access various plant-based snacks, fruits, and teas throughout your stay.
As the sun sets, we reunite in the yurt temple for a Cacao ceremony. Our ceremonies are a unique and unforgettable time with Mama Cacao. The plant medicine of Cacao offers support, gently leading us to our vulnerable places and revealing the truth of who we are beyond the stories others have told us, which can keep us feeling insignificant and afraid to reveal our power and creativity.
We combine rituals, meditation, restorative yoga, and heartfelt sharing during our ceremonies. You will have the opportunity to breathe in power and exhale poise. To conclude our time together, you will create a prayer and set an intention for this moment. Whether you want to release a burden or nurture your true self, we work with the element of fire to help facilitate this. As you place your written intentions into the fire, the flames will receive your words. Afterwards, we express gratitude and make offerings for the support we receive from the guiding elements.
The morning of day three begins with a home-cooked breakfast, followed by one-on-one Shamanic Wisdom sessions. During these sessions, your guide will lead you through a rite of passage, enabling a transformative experience. The past two days have been about gaining clarity and inner strength; now is the time to let go of your burdens and savour life.
To book your private retreat in the West Sussex countryside or a phone chat to discuss your requirements email ellasfield@icloud.com or call/text 07990 511250 today.
