Autumn Equinox Temple Retreat
Sep 26 |
Fri 26th Sep 2025
11am – Sun 28th Sep 2025, 3pm BST (UTC +01:00) |
Coed Hills Rural art Space, Cowbridge, UK | |
https://dandelion.events/e/a7omu |
Hosted by |
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Facilitators | |
Attending |
10+ people
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Enquiries to | shantitemplenights@gmail.com |
Add to calendar | Google · ICS |
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You DO need to have PRIOR EXPERIENCE of sacred Temple space.
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU, PLEASE CONTACT US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AUTUMN EQUINOX TEMPLE RETREAT
A 3-day emersion into temple community, in the sacred landscape of Wales (near Cardiff).
We invite you to drop deeply into a retreat space of Tantric teachings and temple time. The retreat happens at autumn Equinox, the balance point of light and dark; the turning of the tides. A time of transition, celebrating as the seasons switch over from the sensual summer sun, to the soothing embrace of autumn’s arms.
All held in the bosom of nature, on the beautiful land of Coed Hills (Coed means ‘trees’ in Welsh). This land is very sacred, lovingly lived upon by community members, in prayer and ceremony for over 20 years. The trees, waters and soil have been blessed by hundreds of hearts. In return, the land offers rebalance, nourishment and connection in community.

This will be a time of:
Deep ritual, dance and dreaming together
Stone circle ceremony
Woodland water, swimming in the lake
Soaking in the heat of the sauna
Basking by the flames of the fire
Morning meditations, movement & Yoga
Candle lit Temple with Cello and Concert violin
An inner polarity/cross dressing Temple
Community connection care, vulnerability, love and laughter
Sharing hearty healthy yummy food
Cakes & chai cafe

A RETREAT - MEDITATING ON POLARITY, THE ALCHEMICAL UNION
Harnessing the energy of Equinox, we will explore the tantric teachings on polarity – the opposites of light and the dark, masculine and feminine, conscious and unconscious awareness, and the transformation into union, Oneness.
Tantra does not shy away from polarity - it embraces it fully, only to lead you into its source.
Polarity is creative, sexual, sensual, and transcendent. Polarity awakens bio-energetic life force (plus and minus), it is a dynamic interplay - a flowing dance of archetypal forces like:
- Stillness & movement
- Penetration & receptivity
- Solar & lunar
- Order & chaos
Tantric meditations on polarity explore the dynamic interplay between opposing, but complementary forces - most commonly described as Shiva (consciousness, stillness, masculine principle) and Shakti (energy, movement, feminine principle). These are not oppositional categories like “male vs. female” or “masculine vs. feminine; they are complementarity. The union of Shiva and Shakti, within a single body, or being, is a living form of the Divine Hermaphrodite (this could be one expression of non-binary). The Divine Hermaphrodite is symbolic of wholeness, cosmic integration, and the reconciliation of opposites, uniting male and female energies into one transcendent form.
Exploring the union of opposites does not negate gender. The necessary part is the charge, the bio-magnetic charge - electrical energy. On this retreat we will explore creating this charge, within ourselves, or with another/others, no matter who takes what role. Recognizing the polarity between two beings, allows the dance of opposites to create deeper intimacy. These practices aim to awaken awareness of these energies, within the self and in relation to others - often leading to expanded states of presence, union, and transcendence.
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STRUCTURE OF THE RETREAT
Friday - We are aware that some people will not be arriving until evening Temple. We encourage you to take Friday off your life and embrace the full journey.
You can arrive from 11am to settle in.
Lunch
First phase - Polarity play: Introducing and playing within the energies of polarity, inner and outer.
Afternoon, opening circle & Tantric practices
Dinner
Evening - Welcoming everyone & Temple - Inner polarity/non polarity
Sauna, fire & cafe
Saturday
Early morning meditation
Breakfast
Morning: Explorations in Polarity.
Lunch
Second phase - Integration: The integration of aspects of the self - light/dark, reason/intuition, spirit/body.
Afternoon - Meditations
Dinner
Evening Temple - Candle lit Concert
“Brought together in Summer 2024 Katie and Hugh offer immersive experiences exploring the edges of embodying the musical expression of Eros…
Where the breath leaves the body and transforms into sound…
Come and soak up the aliveness of sensuality expressed through graceful tones of the violin (Hugh), intertwining with soaring vocal melodies delicately floating over deep delicious grooves from the earthy resonance of the cello (Katie). Sensitively responding in real time whilst held by the expansive container of live electronic looping.”

Sauna, Cafe, Chill and cuddle by the fire, with live music and singing
Sunday
Sunday snoozing, followed by breakfast.
Third phase - Sacred union: The inner “marriage” (called Hieros Gamos or sacred marriage) that brings about spiritual awakening and realization of the Self as One.
Sunday morning, Union meditations
Lunch
Closing ritual & circle
3pm Say our goodbyes & homeward bound
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TICKET PRICES
MEALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE
ACCOMMODATION IS TO BE PAID SEPARATLY
CANCELLATION
We have a no refund policy for the Temple.
However, you are welcome to sell your ticket on to a friend.
If you do so, please do let us know and send us their email so we can give the info about the temple.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You DO need to have PRIOR EXPERIENCE of sacred Temple space.
- IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU, PLEASE CONTACT US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
A certain level of awareness, openness and willingness to explore is essential for your own self care and synergy of the group. If you’re not sure if your eligible, please get in touch with us to have a conversation.
We invite you to come, just as you are and feel. We know that being in these environments can bring up a lot of emotions. This is a safe space to welcome them and work with them in an embodied, held and ritual temple space. The retreat will be held throughout however, although this space can be theraputic, It is not a therapy workshop.
FOR COUPLES: Please make your agreements together before you arrive at Temple. It is totally fine if you wish to stay purely with each other during the night.
All genders are welcome and celebrated, however, we will be working with the energies of polarity – male female and the union (the Sacred hermaphrodite/world soul). You are welcome to relate with this, as you find works for you.
We aim for a Male/Female balance.
THINGS TO BRING
An offering/flower for the shrine
A yoga/camping/roll matt if you have one
A cushion to sit upon
Water bottle
Shower and sauna towels
TORCH
Camping gear (if camping)
Sheets, pillows and dovay (if sleeping in dorm)
Cash to buy cakes and chai
Musical instrument/Songs/Stories for round the fire
Comfy relaxed clothes for sessions
Something you feel sensual and beautiful to wear in for Temple
Slippers or indoor wooly socks
Alarm clock

HEALTHY BALANCED VEGETARIAN FOOD
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included - Hearty healthy food by ‘Miss Daisy’ (Becky Koos)
https://www.instagram.com/miss_daisys_?igsh=dmwyMzZ2aGhwajFu&utm_source=qr
For Vegan/gluten free or other dietary requirements, please inform us before hand.
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There will be a second cooking space with two camping gas stoves availible if you have special dietary requirements and need to feed yourself. You would need to bring a cold box. Please email us to discuss.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Accommodation needs to be booked separately, alongside the ticket.
The price is for whole weekend.
Communal space
Mattresses provided in dorm - £20pp
Shared huts & shacks




Shared yurt


5 Single Beds in a circle - £22pp
Couples cabins




Main farm house


one another - £120 BOOKED


All Pods are identical stand in semi circle and have their own little benches outside
from where you can enjoy the sunrises over the labyrinth.
Shared single pods


Own single pods
On the other side of the labyrinth we have 3 pods, each with twin beds (making it 6
single beds.) The wall between is solid, but you might hear some movements from your neighbour.
These rooms are compact with a single bed and an electric heater.

blankets - 60pp

Living vans
Own camper van park-up (No electric hook-up. Compost toilets & water tap nearby) - £30
Camping
Free!

GETTING THERE
Coed Hills Rural Arts space, Unnamed Road, 7DR, Cowbridge, Wales
Google maps gets you right here if you use the following searches:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/J1mdH6F7KrQUDoqm9
There will be a parking field for your car. There is no option to park elsewhere. The lower car park will be kept free for disabled, loading/unloading and emergency vehicle access
If you don’t have google maps, then its still easy.
From the M4 east: follow to junction 33. take A4323 to culverhouse cross roundabout (1st main sliproad off. From culverhouse cross, take the A48, and follow A48 for about 6 miles, till you get to the St Hilary turning on your left hand side, (after you pass a tall radio mast on your right).
As you enter the village fork left, and then imediately left again at the red phone box (on your left). Follow this road out of the village which runs straight along out of the village. You will pass a private entrance to Coed on your right. Continue on as the road rises up a little and its the next turning on your Right with a big sign saying COED.
From the M4 West: The best turning to take is Junction 35 to Pencoed. Come off at 35. Take the A473 first exit, and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit to Felindre. Follow this road straight for about 5 minutes as it passes through a number of villages. At the end of this road it meets the A48. Take a left onto the A48. Follow A48 until you get to the St Hilary turning on the Right. (just after the road has gone over Cowbridge bypass, and then up the hill with the garage on your left). Take the road to St Hilary.
As you enter the village fork left, and then imediately left again at the red phone box (on your left). Follow this road out of the village which runs straight along out of the village. You will pass a private entrance to Coed on your right. Continue on as the road rises up a little and its the next turning on your Right with a big sign saying COED.
Parking: You will meet stewards at the gate who will check your name to our register and direct you to where to park.
Any questions please contact:
Shanti: 07875 151582
Hugs: Connectwithhugs@gmail.com
Welcoming you with open hearts,
Shanti & Hugs.
ABOUT US
Hugs:
Hugs brings heartfelt holding and teachings to the team. He is a certified Sexological Bodyworker and Sacred sexual practitioner. His passion is supporting others to deepen their pleasure capacity and widen their orgasmic expansion. Through body based learning, insight medibation and self love practices he guides you through deeper layers of your pleasure patterns, using discussion, demonstration and embodied exercises.
https://www.orgasmicexpansion.com/
Shanti:
Shanti has been practising Tantra for 25 years.
She is Mama, Healer, Mover, Somatic Educator, Artist and a Creative.
She is intuitive, playful, a tribal gatherer and a little bit witchy.
https://www.templenights.co.uk/
Musicians - Hugh & Katie
Hugh is a professional freelance violinist performing regularly in Bristol and across the South West. He trained classically in renowned conservatoires in London, Strasbourg and Manchester. He is particularly passionate about small string ensembles immersing in the unique vibrational quality of the string family. Across the years he has enjoyed exploring performances that invite collaboration and co-creation such as improvisation, unique compositions and interactive art installations. He featured in the 2024 Triple Album Selected Worlds launched by Daniel Inzani and the upcoming docufilm Our Land inspired by the Right 2 Roam movement.
Katie's melding of music, movement and energetic sensitivity began aged 5 when she learnt how to create sound with graceful movements on the cello, alongside learning ballet. She's since journeyed through worlds of folk, flamenco, jazz, neo-soul and sound healing, and has been aired on BBC 6 Music and Jazz FM, as well as being featured on a global compilation album sampling sounds from nature in a collaboration with Greenpeace to raise funds to help fight climate change.