ABIGAIL NELSON
Dramatherapist
Creative Souls Retreat
8th - 10th November 2024
Boat of Garten, Scotland
Book by 1st October
"The Celtic year follows the natural cycle of growth but does not begin in Spring when life returns. Neither does it begin in January when our calendars start afresh. The Celtic year begins in November when everything around is dying, because this is when the trees drop their seeds and the cycle of growth begins."
Welcome, creative soul, to your retreat. Guided by principles of Environmental Arts Therapy and led by a qualified dramatherapist, this retreat is designed to allow you to enter into your inner world, held and inspired by nature, to (re)connect with your unique gifts, your true aliveness and your innate creativity.
Mirroring the trees around us, we will explore what it is like to drop our leaves, releasing any burdens of the year that has passed, and with them sow the seeds of what is to come, putting trust in an unknown future. We will explore our relationship with stillness, particularly in relation to our creativity - for "nothing just bursts out of nowhere and takes off and away like a hare. All things begin gently with a seed, an idea, a dream, and this must lay dormant and await its proper time and season before it can grow". This will be a process that is contained by nature, transformed by ritual and guided by creativity.
"The turning of the year invites us to descend again and again into the bare bones of our being to meet the child, raw and vulnerable, within. Only by peeling away the layers of our lives and revealing the soft core beneath can we begin to learn about our essential self, the free and powerful spirit that we were when we were born and still are beneath the tangle of the years and their struggles. When the trees drop their leaves they surrender to this process, giving up their dead and releasing themselves from the past. When they drop their seeds they trust to the new."
Quotes from Ian Siddons Heginworth's Environmental Arts Therapy and the Tree of Life
What to expect
Rich landscapes. Delicious vegan food. Forest bathing. Guided meditations. Movement and stretching. Storytelling. Story-making. Games.. Log burning fires. Connecting with like-minded people. Endless cups of tea. That great night sleep you get after spending a day outside. Creative group activities. Individual rituals. Journeys into the unknown. Reflective time. Opportunities to share. Fun and laughter. And as always,
the unexpected.
Your guide
Your home from home
Boat of Garten, Scotland
Train station: Aviemore
Sleeping spaces
Double room (queen bed)
Pair up and split the cost or treat yourself to the whole space
£330 total (£165 if split)
Single bed
Shared room with three
Shared bathroom
£260
Double room (king bed) with en suite
Pair up and split the cost or treat yourself to the whole space
£360 total *TAKEN*
Single bed
Shared room with three
Shared bathroom
£260 *TAKEN*
Double room (queen bed)
Pair up and split the cost or treat yourself to the whole space
£330 total *TAKEN*
Queen bed
Shared room with three
Shared bathroom
£260 *TAKEN*
Cost includes accommodation, food and retreat offerings.
Travel not included.
Spaces subject to availability.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Are you ready to immerse yourself in nature, ignite your inner flame and allow your story to be transformed? Join us for a journey through rich outer landscapes and powerful inner ones. Come and be renewed, and ready to step into the full life available to you.
Places for this retreat are extremely limited and must be booked by 1st October.
This is a fully catered, residential retreat. The retreat takes place in Boat of Garten, a small village 10 minutes outside of Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. You will be welcomed in the evening of Friday 8th November (dinner included) to the afternoon of Sunday 9th November (lunch included). The house is accessible by car (free parking) or you can get the train to Aviemore.
If you have any questions, or you would like to book, please use the form below.
You can also check out feedback from previous retreats.
Please bring:
Warm layers and waterproofs
Sketchbook and/or Journal
Warm drink flask (optional)
An object from home that symbolises safety and comfort
Go inwards.
Release.
Rest.
Transform.
Begin anew.
Whether you're ready to step in, or have more questions, please fill in the form provided with your details.
I can't wait to hear from you.
Immerse yourself in nature, ignite your inner flame and allow your story to be transformed. Join us for a journey through rich outer landscapes and powerful inner ones. Come and be renewed, and ready to step into the full life available to you.
Places for this retreat are limited.
This is a fully catered, residential retreat. The retreat takes place at Pleasant Hill, a privately rented house in Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, from the evening of Friday 3rd May to the morning of Monday 6th May (Early May bank holiday). The house is easily accessible by car or train, walking distance from Milngavie train station, with connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The cost of the retreat is £395 incl. VAT. All meals and accommodation are including in this rate.
If you have any questions, or you would like to book, please use the form below.
Feedback from previous retreats
Your guides
Abigail Nelson
Following the success of the November 2022 retreat, I'm so excited to offer you another deep dive into nature, creativity and self-love with the Spring retreat 2023.
I'm a qualifed dramatherapist (MA) with experience working with adults with moderate to severe mental health issues, which has included working with a community mental health organisation and in a psychiatric hospital. I also run monthly wellness walks and other creative projects.
Madeline Lennox
I'm thrilled to be part of the upcoming Spring retreat and to be alongside the group as we move into the season of newness and transformation.
A bit about me... I'm a qualified dramatherapist (MA) and Mental Health Practitioner working with the CAMHS crisis team in Bristol and have experience working with children and young people who are adopted or looked after. I'm particularly interested in the practice of Therapeutic Theatre.
Spring 2023 retreat
Lochgoilhead, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
"I found the process to be really powerful and moving. It really helped me to cement my sense of self, and inner confidence."
"I thought it was a fantastic mix of creative offerings, reflective time and time to do your own thing. It was such a beautiful location that I appreciated the time to just soak it up and ‘be’ and also participate in the creative exercises."
"I have never experienced outdoor therapeutic work before, and was genuinely blown away by the power of it. I was really grateful and inspired by the powerful nature of working outside and along with others in nature. The experience has definitely inspired me to get outside more and be among nature."
"I left the retreat feeling a real sense of calm and inner peace, something I hadn’t felt properly in a long time, it really helped me to slow down and appreciate what’s around me, rather than being caught up in the bustle of life."
November 2022 retreat
Boat of Garten, the Highlands
"Exploring the natural world was a big part of the experience with lots of time being spent being creative outdoors. We explored themes of stillness and the celtic calendar to inspire personal reflection, particularly thinking about our past selves and how we wish to move forward. I felt that there was no huge pressure to share personal reflections with everyone yet the space felt compassionate enough that personal reflections could be shared and discussed in a non-judgmental way"
"The group activities gave me a sense of unity. I think it’s quite easy to feel loneliness in the modern world, but the group activities were a reminder that we are never truly alone"
"I was hoping to find some peace and relaxation but what I found went beyond that, as I was not only able to take a break from things, but I was aided in reflecting on my current circumstances. In a way, the retreat kickstarted some really positive changes for me"
"I really enjoyed meeting everyone and believe that I have made some really genuine connections with new people. I also felt a new sense of self-understanding that was brought about by the reflection time during the retreat. I was surprised at how sociable and fun the experience was"