the medicine in letting go

Here at our family home, we are starting to let go of material things collected over 18 years at our family home. Now, we embark on a new chapter, which includes downsizing and releasing the old to make way for a fresh new life for our family home. Our family is embarking on a downsizing mission to create a beautiful haven of tranquillity in the Sussex countryside so travellers, holidaymakers and retreat attendees can rest easy as we assist them in creating the perfect stay. 

I am sorting through all the objects I have collected over the past 18 years living in this house, from furniture and nicknacks to clothes and children's old toys. I dig deep, gently hold my hand, and remind myself of the practice of non-attachment. I don't know how you feel, but it can feel painful to let go of material objects with an emotional charge and a memory attached.    

Non-attachment is letting go of our attachment to impermanent and ultimately unsatisfying things, including material possessions, relationships, thoughts, and emotions. Non-attachment does not mean that we shouldn't appreciate beautiful objects or avoid these things altogether; non-attachment brings us into contact with a new truth as we begin to feel our desire and drive for these things diminish over time, which leaves more space for genuine and sustaining connections with the people in our lives rather than chasing that 'thing' outside of us that we are convinced will bring internal happiness! 

I learnt this view whilst spending many weeks at Plum Village Buddhist monastery in France. Some examples of how I welcomed this practice into my daily life included letting go of the belief that material possessions brought me happiness. This notion kept me locked in the thinking that I needed certain things to make me feel complete and satisfied with my life. The programming that we must have these objects has been happening over decades through our TV and media, plus the way we now live outside of villages and communities, and for many of us, time less spent in nature and her rhythm. With this insight, I gently began to focus intensely on gratitude for what is available to me in the present moment; I gently and slowly cultivated a new mindset with a focus on the little things, such as being grateful for my little tea flask to have a cuppa wherever I am; and for the heating and water that runs through my home. If we start small, it feels manageable; this is the key to significant shifts in how we perceive our lives, from a lack mindset to remembering the abundance we have now. 

A few suggestions to cultivate non-attachment ~

-Let go of your 'shoulds' and 'musts', as these have a certain quality that can leave us feeling guilty or inadequate. 

-Practice allowing life to be just as it is. Allow thoughts. Allow emotions. Allow things not to go the way you expected. In the words of Abraham Hicks, 'The Art of Allowing is the art of finding my alignment no matter what's happening around me'. By allowing life to happen, we stop resisting, and suffering ceases. 

Practising non-attachment, we start to understand that everything is temporary – I realised that I tended to associate material goods with feeling fulfilled - to satisfy an emptiness inside. I was always searching for happiness outside myself, either clinging to positive emotions or resisting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings by numbing out on shopping, alcohol and drugs at times in life. There can also be a tendency to cling to relationships or seek validation and approval from others; by tending to ourselves, we foster self-love and acceptance, which leaves much more room for balanced and healthy relationships in our lives without the need to seek anything in the other. With small and diligent steps and a newfound tenderness for myself, I discovered a new place I had access to: the middle way. This middle way calmly holds my nervous system; after years of unnatural highs and incredible self-loathing lows, it certainly is a welcome relief! 

With this in mind, I embrace the change in creating a fresh new space where folks gather and find a haven at a slower and more natural pace, feeling inner calm, renewed clarity, and rejuvenation. 

Read on further for a little peek at what’s to come in the Spring and Summer of 2025!

PRIVATE RETREAT SPACE HIRE

We are now taking bookings for your Spring and Summer 2025 Events.

Whether you are a yoga teacher or event organiser searching for a stunning location for your retreat or an individual looking for a unique stay to gather with your friends and loved ones, you have just found it!

Enjoy the fresh air and open space just an hour from London and 30 minutes from Brighton. You can take rambling walks, say hello to the friendly pigs and watch the ponies grazing happily. Go for the plunge in the cold water swimming pond (open all year round), soak in a wood-fired hot tub and reap the benefits of a sauna in the delightful Shepherds Hut.

Inside the main house, we have room for 16 people in 6 charming bedrooms, plus another two or three in our Robin Shepherds Hut. For relaxation inside the house, why not raid the bookcase, binge on a box set by the fireside, or listen to your favourite Asana Flow playlist on the Sonos sound system? 

Enjoy plant-based meals as a group in the light and airy kitchen diner. In warmer months, open up bi-fold doors and enjoy family group gatherings under a canopy, and if you're lucky, spot a duck on the pond! At sundown, you can retire to an evening of Nespresso and Netflix, grab a green tea, pop another log on the fire and soothe yourself in the peaceful surroundings.

Everything here is wonderfully stylish, from the lime-wash walls and carefully chosen natural colour palette to the vintage furniture and crisp cotton bed linen. 

If you are holding a yoga retreat or workshop, we have a 6.4m yurt and outdoor decked area for circles, ceremonies, and practice; we are here to support you in creating your unique bespoke retreat/gathering. Hire the whole retreat space for you and your guests and enjoy exclusive use of all the following facilities. 

Accommodation: 

Ellasfield House has six bedrooms (sleeps up to 16 people, some sharing)

Earth Suite - Lime wash walls, wooden furniture and a relaxing seating area make for a relaxing oasis of calm overlooking the swimming pond. Ensuite shower room. 

1 x Super King and 1 x single beds.

Celestial Bedroom: Whether you are travelling with children or connecting with the child within, all ages will enjoy this magical celestial space. This room has two sets of bunk beds.

Garden Suite: Soft sage and wood tones inspired by nature make a peaceful haven. 

1 x double or 3 x single beds. The Celestial Bedroom and Garden Suite share a large ensuite bath and shower room

Barn Suite: After ascending the spiral staircase, you'll discover a charming and cosy suite comprising two bedrooms and a separate living room for quiet relaxation.

Bedroom one has 1 x double bed or 2 x single beds.

Bedroom two in the Barn Suite continues the charm of rustic panelling and lime-wash walls.

1 x double or 2 x single beds. This suite has a private shower room.

Paddock Suite: This relaxing haven offers views over the pony paddocks. It has a double bed and a sweet little snug for reflection and rest. The bathroom is ensuite and has 1 x double or 2 x single beds

The Day Room: is a space for quiet relaxation. You can choose a book from our well-stocked bookshelves and sit by the fireside. 

Treatment Room: Bring your therapist to offer treatments in the calming, naturally decorated treatment room complete with a treatment bed and basin. 

Office: This quiet space is separate from the main house and overlooks the swimming pond, making it ideal for quick email responses and essential catch-up calls.

Kitchen and Dining Area: a light, airy, uplifting space is perfect for gathering with friends or your retreat guests. Your chef will use a large, fully equipped kitchen with two ovens, a large fridge freezer, a coffee machine, and a microwave. The space opens onto a large decked area leading to the swimming pond, perfect for early morning dips and sun salutations. Bring your chef, or let us create your perfect plant-based menu.

 Countryside Spa Facilities: 

-Sauna 

-Cold Water Swimming Pond 

-Wood Fired Hot Tubs 

-Outdoor Kitchen with Under covered seating  

-Large fire pit area

-Office Space 

-6.4m yurt (14 Yoga Spaces) 

(included in private hire) 

Hire the whole house and stay for two nights minimum, Fri-Sun price from £4,250k

*Wellness Extras: 

- Group Cacao Ceremonies 

- 1:1 Shamanic Healing Wisdom Sessions 

- Group Restorative Yoga

- 1:1 Equine Therapy

- Group Meet Your Animal Spirit Guide and Mindfulness Workshops 

Prices start at £150 for 5 people £25 thereafter 

*Retreat Extras:

Robin Shepherd's Hut (sleeps 2/3) - Cosy away in our little shepherd's hut, beautifully converted into a beautiful bijou living space with a double bed and a single drop-down bunk bed. Add this delightful hut to your stay for two nights minimum, Fri-Sun £340 (2/3 people) 

-Mat and cushion hire £15 per person or bring your own.

-Massage Therapist

*Catering:

Let us source a private chef for your event. We are happy to discuss your requirements and can quote individually and based on the number of guests. All meals are plant-based, with a gluten-free option available. 

*For wellness extras and catering, contact Kim to discuss your requirements