Samhain Temple Retreat

You DO need to have PRIOR EXPERIENCE of sacred Temple space. You do need to have experience of being in at least two Sacred Temples before. A certain level of awareness, openness and willingness to explore is essential for your own self-care and synergy of the group. 

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU, PLEASE CONTACT US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

Welcome to our Samhain Temple Retreat - a 3 day emersion into temple community, we invite you to drop deeply into a retreat space of Tantric teachings and temple time. 

Samhain is the ancient pagan Celtic festival of this land. It is the Celtic New year, the end and beginning of the natural growing cycle – the most significant of the four quarterly festivals, falling midpoint between autumn equinox and mid-winter solstice. Samhain celebrates the harvest reaped and complete. This Celtic festival ushers in ‘the dark half of the year” - it is the beginning of winter, which is ruled by The Crone Goddess the Cailleach, who isn’t only a figure of death — she is also the one who guards life in winter, holding the seeds of spring until they are ready. Just as the grain must die to become bread, and the earth must rest to be fertile again, the Cailleach embodies the necessary descent before renewal. In some traditions, she begins to awaken at Lammas, preparing to reclaim the land by Samhain, when she fully takes over from the summer deities.

Samhain (“Halloween”, or “All Hallows Eve”) is where the old year dies, and a new one is conceived in the womb of darkness. The Celts also believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the dead and living became blurred. It was believed that fairies and ghosts of the dead could freely return to earth. And so, in this gap, the veil between the worlds, spirit otherworld and human physical world, grows thin. This time connects us to our ancestors.

When all is darkening outside, it is time to go inwards to tend and commune with the light that burns within.

In this temple retreat, we will dance in circles, to feast with the living and the dead (a deeply tantric practice), honouring the life, death, re-birth cycle of nature. There will be fire and sparks, spices and warming flavours, and also, space for grieving, letting go of what no longer serves us. We will ask the Crone goddess, the old warlock and the ancient ones to guide our Eros on this journey into the dark, womblike mystery, together and alone.

The retreat will be held on the land in the bosom of nature in the intimacy of Coed Hills Arts Space, near Cardiff, Wales. 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.

Come and join us as we walk into the darkness, for a deep sensual and soulful 3 days. The first day will be an invitation to open our bodies, let go of what we no longer need as we prepare for to close the year. There will be celebration with fire, sparks, spices and warming flavours as we give thanks for all this year’s harvest, another cycle of growth completing. The second day we will call in our ancestors, remembering them, bringing them gifts and dancing with them. This will be accompanied with live music with Piano, Cello and violin to take us deep into our Temple prayer. The third day will be the Celtic New year, and we will light an inner candle as we step into the darkness of Cailleach’s winter womb. We will lead you through Tantric meditations to connect to yourself, each other and the group through Tantric and Celtic pagan practices of Samhain. We will meet ourselves and each other in these 3 days through the embodied container of ritual, tantric meditative practices, and temple traditions. 

This retreat is a time of thanksgiving for the year passed and a celebration of the year just arriving in - the wheel of the seasons turns. There will be times of stillness and silence. There will time to take walks on the land as it prepares to sleep. sit round fires together cuddling, and the possibility to cleanse, relaxing our bones in sauna. 

This will be a time of:

Deep ritual, dance and dreaming together

Stone circle ceremony 

Woodland walks, 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 

Temple time to connect with the ancestors, fairies and spirits

Community connection care, vulnerability, love and laughter  

Sharing hearty healthy yummy food 

Cakes & chai cafe

Temples are sacred spaces, where consenting adults can experience, body, mind, and soul connections. Held in a space of beauty, acceptance, and safety, as we enter into practices of devotion, love, pleasure and sacred sexuality. Temple space can be very magical, healing, playful and full of mystery.

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 

Afternoon: Opening circle - followed by Tantric meditations and practices to help us land, open our bodies, let go of what we no longer need as we prepare for to close the year. 

Dinner

Evening -  Welcoming everyone & Temple - A  thanks giving for this year’s harvest, another cycle of growth completing

Sauna, fire & cafe

Saturday

Early morning meditation

Breakfast

Morning: Meditations on the life , death life cycle & the archytypal three stages of life - youth, adulthood, eldership

Lunch

 Afternoon: Tantric meditations on going into the dark

Afternoon  - Meditations

Dinner

Evening Temple - Candle lit Concert, meeting the ancestors

Katie, Hugh, Eulalie & Nika 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 & Eulalie), intertwining with soaring vocal melodies delicately floating over deep delicious grooves from the earthy resonance of the cello (Katie) and exquisite concert piano (Nika). Sensitively responding in real time whilst held by the expansive container of live electronic looping.”

Hugh

Sauna, Cafe, Chill and cuddle by the fire, with live music and singing

Sunday

Sunday snoozing, followed by breakfast.

Sunday morning: Tantric/Celtic meditations on opening to the New year - conception in the womb of darkness - the Challieach's rule of winter inward being - the festival of inner light

Lunch

Closing ritual & circle

3pm Say our goodbyes & homeward bound

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.

THINGS TO BRING 

An offering/flower/photo for the shrine of our ancestors 

A yoga/camping/roll matt if you have one

A cushion to sit upon

Water bottle

Shower and sauna towels

TORCH

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.

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.

BODYWORK

Massage

Hello, I'm Mathu, looking forward to meeting you and creating a magical, warm, and nourishing weekend where you will feel safe, encouraged, and seen.

My natural tendencies for travel, simplicity, and gardening have brought me to live in a tiny house in a community called Coed in South Wales where I grow fruit, veg, and flowers for those around me and the retreats that we hold.

My massages are best described as nurturing and deeply relaxing. My hands are strong so you can feel safe and held. Through intuitive guidance and with sensitive fingers I will find all tensions and underlying stresses in your body.

Please let me know what is going on for you in this present moment, where you feel a blockage or high/low vibrations, so my attention is focused for release and healing fitted to your personal journey. I infuse organic oils with herbs and flowers from my own garden. Prices are on a sliding scale £40-60 per hour, so you can tap into what feels right for you and your situation.

Hopefully, we will meet soon.

With care,

Mathu

Thai Massage

Hello, I’m Peter, I’m excited about joining you on this weekend journey and bringing with me the love of my work. I have enjoyed exploring massage and bodywork for over two decades and I still relish what I do. Thai massage alongside influences from Chinese TuiNa will take you on a dance of bodily inquiry; with the aim to ease muscular pains, tensions or anxieties and to help with feelings of sluggishness and rediscover lost vitality.

An hour session is £60. Massages are clothed and take place on a floor mat. I look forward to welcoming you.

https://peterpackard.wordpress.com

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 

You need to be willing to share with other participants

The Railway carriage - with a wood burner to keep you warm,                                                      

1 double - £60, a bunk bed 2 singles - £40 PP.

The cheerful McGhee Mansion - has a wood burner and a fully equipped kitchenette.

1 double in a loft - £65,  2 singles - £40 PP 2 SINGLE BEDS BOOKED

The Railway carriage - with a wood burner to keep you warm,                                                      

1 double - £60, a bunk bed 2 singles - £40 PP.

Shared Yurt - The red Anastasia Yurt has a wood burner and lots of space.
5 Single Beds in a circle - A Women only space - All BEDS BOOKED £30pp

 Couples cabins

The romantic Dragon Wagon - has a double, a wood burner and incredible views over the fields - BOOKED £180  

The cosy Woody BOOKED - has a double, a wood burner and feels very protective with a huge window to dream away - £140 

Main farm house

The Grand Room - has incredible views and two big single beds moveable to/from
one another - £140 BOOKED 

Rawley’s old room - £120

The small back room - £120

Temple building

Upstairs room - ALL BEDS BOOKED Double bed £80, 2 single beds  £40 pp

Pods

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 

The 4 funky Rock, Bull, Crane BOOKED and Black Sail pods all have 2 singles and electric
blankets - 40pp

The Ball of String Pod has 1 double and electric blankets - BOOKED £90 

Own single pods

On the other side of the labyrinth we have 3 pods, each with twin beds (making it 6
single beds.)  These rooms are compact with a single bed and an electric heater. The wall between is solid, but you might hear some movements from your neighbour. The single pods are Dawn Booked & Dusk Booked, Yin & Yang and Sol & Luna - £80

Living vans

Own camper van park-up (No electric hook-up. Compost toilets & water tap nearby) - £40

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

shantitemplenights@gmail.com 

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, Eulalie & Nika:

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.

Eulalie is a violinist, integral coach and somatic practitioner whose work explores how attention, presence and the wisdom of the body can deepen our relationship with ourselves, one another and life itself.
For more than twenty years she has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. More recently, her work has expanded into coaching, where she supports individuals and groups through embodied, relational practice. An ICF-accredited Integral Coach, she is currently training in de-armouring bodywork with Susanne Roursgaard's Gaia Method.
Whether through music or coaching, Eulalie is interested in the same question: what becomes possible when we learn to listen more deeply?

Nika is a musician, pianist and facilitator who creates musical experiences as a living dialogue with life. Rooted in presence and deep listening, she enjoys intuitive unfolding, drawing from the energy of the moment. For Nika, music is the deepest language—one that invites us into authentic expression, dissolves boundaries between performer and listener, and reminds us of our unity. Each offering becomes a unique journey of connection, devotion and discovery.