Salisbury, UK - River Salisbury Avon - Old Sarum - Salisbury Cathedral - Stonehenge
An intensive, residential, small group retreat (max 16 people)
✔️ Visiting sacred sites ✔️ Meditation ✔️ Classes and ceremonies ✔️ Nature activation ✔️ Solstice sunrise
This retreat is for you …
You’re seeking inner clarity and direction into your personal spiritual work with practices designed to help you look within for answers - rather than to the outside world or a dogmatic, prescription approach
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 in 2026
You’re looking for like-minded souls to share the spiritual journey with, in a supportive and safely-held group environment
You feel strongly that nature must be part of your spiritual practice - and that there is much to learn from rivers, hills and stones when you make the time to listen
You are looking for personal and spiritual rejuvenation, with fresh, innovative insights, as you're tired of hearing the same old thing repeated again and again
You feel a great affinity with ancient spirituality, 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 cacao circle, marking the symbolic return of light after the year's darkest night and your own personal rebirth
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 2026 - we’ll be looking within, grounding ourselves, deliberately choosing the calm and connected path as we journey through the solstice threshold
You don’t want to think too deeply about spirituality - we’ll be critically engaging with 5,000 years of spiritual practice and what that means to us as souls in the 21st century
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 Return to Light 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 we will have private transport so 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 spiritual heritage 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. Our accommodation is in Sarum College, situated right next to the Cathedral, a well-established centre for spiritual study that grew alongside the cathedral’s activity.
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 we will 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
Classes & Ceremonies
We will have classes on Saturday 20 December (evening), Sunday 21 December (midday and evening), and Monday 22 December (morning) plus three ceremonial circles: opening (Saturday), solstice (Sunday), closing (Monday). You will also have two pre-retreat preparation classes via Zoom on 20 November and 4 December.
These experiences will combine teaching, meditative practice, movement, journaling, reflection and group discussion on themes of rebirth, hope, salvation and new life in connection with our overarching retreat theme of Return to Light.
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.
The aim of the classes and circles is to provide insight and safe holding so you may look within yourself for answers, and therefore return to the world after the retreat refreshed and with a clearer understanding of your spiritual work as the days begin to lengthen and the new year begins.
These are not classes or circles to prescribe your path or ‘fix you’ in any way; instead they are potent infusions of new thought, new energy and new support that, along with the experience of the retreat itself, will carry you over the threshold of the Winter Solstice into your own personal rebirth.
About Your Guide
Astra (they/them) is a spiritual author and creator devoted to making spirituality accessible, understandable, and - above all - enjoyable. They are an accredited trauma-informed coach and somatic facilitator, a former university lecturer, and published researcher on emotional intelligence and environmental crisis.
In the last eight years of spiritual education, Astra has explored 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 continuing their unending fascination with Celtic and Ancient British spirituality.
They are the creator of numerous in-depth, unconventional resources to help you to form a closer relationship with God (whatever that means to you), including the self-paced course Everyday Faith: Your 28 Day Spiritual Bootcamp (coming soon) and the book Finding Your Professional Purpose, published in 2022.
Learn more about Astra here.
"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 20 December
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Arrive in Salisbury (excellent train, bus, and parking connections)
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Check in at Sarum College from 2pm
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Opening circle 4pm
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Evensong in Salisbury Cathedral 5:30pm
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Early evening meal in the town
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Evening class
Sunday 21 December
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Group travel to Stonehenge at ~6:30am from Sarum College
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Cacao circle and ceremony
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Witnessing the Solstice sunrise at ~8am
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Return to Salisbury at 9am
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Brunch
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Circular walk along the Salisbury Avon and up to Old Sarum, the Iron Age Hill fort
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Late lunch + class outdoors
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Free time
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Early evening meal in the town
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Evening class
Monday 22 December
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Early morning meditation in grounds of Salisbury Cathedral
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Breakfast
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Entry and exploring Salisbury Cathedral
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Final refreshments together + closing circle
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Departure
pricing
What's included ...
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2 nights accommodation at Sarum College
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Entry to Old Sarum, Salisbury Cathedral, and Stonehenge
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2 breakfasts and 1 lunch (dietary requirements catered for)
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Four in-depth classes & three ceremonies including cacao circle at Solstice sunrise
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Two pre-retreat group preparation classes via Zoom
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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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Private group transport to and from Stonehenge for Winter Solstice celebrations
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Everything organised for you - you only need to turn up
Option 1
Two people sharing twin ensuite
£440
SOLD OUT
Option 2
Single with shared bathroom
£475
Option 3
Single ensuite
£525
Not included:
2 evening meals - Transport to and from Salisbury from your home base - Personal purchases
If you are able, or would prefer, to provide your own accommodation, the total for the retreat is £340.
SOLD OUT
faqs
How many people will there be on the retreat?
There are a maximum of 15 places on the Return to Light retreat. This small group size allows you to connect more deeply with other participants and receive more focused, facilitated time.
Is this a women-only retreat?
Although my work tends to attract women and femme-presenting people, Return to Light is open to all genders. If you are sharing a room we will organise it so you are sharing with someone with whom you feel comfortable.
What about accessibility and health conditions?
Sarum College has one ground floor accessible room which can be booked for the same price as a single room with ensuite. Salisbury town itself is a medieval city with cobbled streets and narrow pavements. Our activities will include lots of time outdoors, including walks lasting multiple hours, and in all weathers. 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 deposit, and our choice of eateries will ensure everyone has options including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.
Breakfast on Sunday will be at Sarum College - a hot cooked breakfast with a variety of refreshments - and the College will also provide a picnic lunch for our trip on Sunday (unless the weather is very poor in which case we will retreat to somewhere warmer!).
Each room at Sarum College has tea and coffee making facilities and there are lots of cafes and small shops in Salisbury if you fancy a bite to eat, snacks, etc. There’s even a fudge shop right near the Cathedral for those with a sweet tooth!
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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Photographs and details of accommodation at the College
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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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